A Bruised Day

We're snuggled in for the night here at the Smith house. (Thank you, Jesus.)

Today was our first day back to "normal" following a relaxing Christmas vacation. I don't think that any of us were quite ready to crack back open the school books and resume learning this morning.

The day was filled with squabbles, impatience, harsh words and a general feeling of overall frustration from all of us. I breathed prayers of peace more than once as the day wore on. I mandated quiet time for all of us this afternoon. The bliss of Monday gave way to the weariness of Wednesday, and today I had to literally choose joy over and over again. 

But isn't that life best lived? Choosing joy in every adversity? Loving despite weariness? Believing in the promises from the Promise Keeper?

Today didn't start out blissfully, but here's how it ended:

Peyton and I were sitting on the couch. He was watching Star Wars Episode I while I perused Facebook. Parker was playing in her room. That's when I stumbled across this: Praying for Haven Grace. 

The status update reads, "Our Precious little Haven is slipping away from us hour by hour..The Doctors Have nothing else to offer but to make her comfortable..Please!! PLease!! As much as we love all of you and treasure your prayers and concerns we can only allow immediate family and a few close friends which we have already contacted to visit @ this time.. Thank You all so much."

I perused the page, looked at pictures of Haven Grace and a flood of tears washed down my cheeks. The tears turned into deep silent sobs that are from such a sacred place in your heart that something inside your spirit begins to hurt too--tears that become prayers themselves.

Parker skipped out of her room, noticed my silent distress and scooted onto the couch next to me to ask what was wrong. I showed her Haven Grace and told her what I could piece together of her story. And at that, Peyton paused the movie and said, "Let's just stop and pray for her all together right now." 

So we all held hands, huddled together on the waxy brown couch, and prayed for Haven Grace. The same silent tears that soaked my cheeks began trickling down Parker's too as we asked God to wrap his arms tightly around Haven and her family tonight. We thanked God for being THE healer. We took comfort together that here on Earth or forever in Heaven that Jesus is carrying that precious little one. 

After we prayed, Peyton resumed watching his movie. Parker grabbed a Kleenex to wipe the tears from her eyes and snuggled in for some extra hugs. And I couldn't help but grieve for all that Haven's mom and dad must be feeling tonight. It moved me to pray for so many of my friends who have had to walk very difficult roads with their childrens' health. Bless their battle-weary hearts too.

Throughout the remainder of the evening, Parker periodically asked me if I was still sad. I assured her that even though my heart still aches for Haven Grace and her family, I'm so thankful to know that God loves her even more than I can imagine-- and I can trust Him to take great care of this sweet little girl the same way that I trust his care for us all. 

At the end of the night I cozied my little ones snugly into their beds and kissed them a few more times than usual. The squabbles, impatience, harsh words and frustrations that bruised our joy today melted away when Peyton compassionately reminded me to stop and look at Jesus. Together. Unified. Choosing to look past our every day inadequacies and look into the face of the one who makes us whole. 

Amen.

Peyton-isms {Day 23}

(This is taken from an email that I sent out to close friends and family on Peyton's awards day back in May...enjoy!) Warning: It's long...but so worth the read!

Today was Peyton's "awards day" which officially marked his very last day in Reading Class (kindergarten). After we left the ceremony and opened up the packet that was given to him with his awards, we discovered what was probably one of the most treasured gifts that we could ever receive-- a whole book of quotes from the kids in his class! Because Peyton really does say the darnedest things, the majority of the quotations include him. I thought that you would all enjoy experiencing just a tiny bit of what his incredible teacher, Miss Martindale, encountered each and every day.

Peyton's year at Christian Heritage School far exceeded what we could have ever hoped or prayed for in a school for Peyton. He learned self-governance and discipline. Most importantly, he was genuinely loved by his teacher. It was incredible to watch Peyton and his classmates learn the word of God and plant it deep in their hearts. When one student struggled, they encouraged each other, prayed over each other and choose to work together to see each other succeed. Wow! We have been blessed. His year at CHS alone was worth the move across the country.

I can't believe that as of this afternoon, Peyton is officially in the first grade! Time flies much too quickly. (Sniff...sniff...) But without further ado, I'll leave you with some comedic reading for your enjoyment!

Peyton’s Reading Class Quotes:

Peyton to Miss Martindale on the first day of school—“Since you’re from another country, and you’re a missionary, we’ll go easy on you!”

After Miss Martindale told Peyton to do something:

Peyton: “Yes ma’am.” Then, looking up at her, “Do you feel real respected?”

Peyton: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for His populations.”

Peyton: “My prayer request is that I’ll get to go the bathroom soon!”

Peyton: “I want to pray that nobody will die and that when I die I will go to a new world!”

Miss Martindale: “Which world is that?”

Peyton: “Narnia!”

Miss Martindale to Peyton: “You need to do a good job writing your letters so that you will get a good grade in penmanship.”

Peyton: “Yeah, and so that I can go to a good college.”

Peyton: “I’m a philosopher.”

Peyton: “My prayer request is that I’ll stay six for a really really long time!”

After reading a funny story about a girl who found a kangaroo, a llama and other animals in her bed:

Franklin: “If that happened to me, I would call the exterminator!”

Peyton: “If there were a million trillion animals in my house, I would ask Parker to do ballet for them!”

Peyton: “When I was a baby in my mom’s tummy, God knew that I would like a trampoline ‘cause I jumped up and down so much—but I couldn’t jump too high because something was stuck to my belly button!”

Peyton to Miss Martindale: “I know what you can do so that you won’t have to come all the way to us every time we have a problem at nap time. We could have a walkie talkie at each spot (then, in an imaginary walkie-talkie official voice) ‘Hello, Miss Martindale.’”

While discussing Matthew 25:31-46

Peyton: “Is it really talking about sheep and goats? ‘Cus in my mind I see a sheep that can talk standing up and letting Jesus in a door.”

Mrs. Whetzel: “What did you notice about Jamaica?”
Peyton : “Nobody needs to have a swimming pool because everybody’s house is by the water.”

While reading Charlotte’s Web:

Peyton: “I’m glad he [Wilber] is going to die—because he tastes so good!”

Peyton: “There are little printer dots on here (his coloring sheet) and I’m using them as snowflakes.”

While playing “Guess the Animal” in response to “Is it a mammal?”

Peyton: “It’s nothing. It doesn’t do anything. It’s kinda creepy. But it’s alive and real.”

What was it? The top of a cave! (Guess we’ve been watching too much Planet Earth at the Smith house)

Peyton: “I know what I’ll give my dad for Valentine’s Day! I’ll ask his boss if he can stay home for two whole weeks.”

While watching Miss Martindale eat an apple:

Peyton: “I sure wish I could try one of those, but I’m scared to.”

Peyton: “My dad told me today why girls like flowers…but I don’t think I’ll tell you right now because it’s complicated and I might get embarrassed.”

Miss Johnston- “What was Charlotte’s triumph?”

Peyton: “He saved Wilbur from the knife—actually the big huge axe!”

Peyton: (about why he doesn’t like love stories) “I don’t like that because it’s not boy stuff.”

Miss Martindale: “Well, didn’t your dad fall in love and get married?”

Peyton: “No—well, I don’t even know ‘cause I was in my mom’s belly, but I think they were just friends.”

While discussing a boy who was Miss Whetzel’s reading class student over 15 years ago:

Peyton: “I’m really good at smells, and I think he sat here…And was he good at drawing? ‘Cause on the metal down here on my desk, there is a drawing—and I didn’t do it.”

Miss Martindale: “Do you smell him?”

Peyton: “No, but I think so.”

While spelling the word “love”:

Peyton: “My dad told me that we should talk about love until we’re older. ‘Cause it shouldn’t be talked about in front of kids.”

Peyton: “The Bible is God’s college because it tells us what to do.”

Holding up a Gideon Bible:

Peyton: “Don’t worry if you lose all your Bibles Miss Martindale!”

Peyton: “I’m sure that I’ll be president someday.”

Peyton: “I know what it’s like to be an orphan…really, I do! When I was in my mom’s tummy, I didn’t know that I had parents. I didn’t even know that I was in the world! I thought I was an alien!”

About a John the Baptist movie:

Peyton: “Don’t show us the movie about him anymore because he’s scary. He has poufy hair and he wears animal skins.”

When asked what they thought Jesus meant by “You will be fishers of men”:

Ravi: “Maybe it means that they would catch people in their nets.”

Peyton: “Maybe it means that they would catch a random scuba diver!”

Peyton: “When I go to heaven will I still have a chance to aggravate my sister?”

Miss Martindale: “His name is Gaddafi and we should pray for him.”

Peyton: “I know who else we can pray for... Owaka Bama!”

Peyton: “I have information for you [Miss Johnston] and Miss Martindale. When I am in first grade I will always live at…(then he proceeds to give turn-by-turn directions to his house and tell us his address the best he could)”

Why We Homeschool? {Day 22}

I'll raise my right hand here at the get-go and confess up front that for most of my life I have been guilty of judging the entire idea of homeschooling. It didn't help matters any when Jeremy and I attended our very first home school convention in Indianapolis in 2008 and saw one particular momma-hen walking around in her denim jumper wearing a fanny pack that held her knitting supplies so that she could keep stitchin' while her brood (of stereotypically socially maladjusted children) trailed behind in a single-file line. Incredibly, that encounter didn't sway me nearly as much as the overwhelming evidence that, contrary to my presuppositions, Momma Hen was now the minority-- everyone else, well, we seemed to have an awfully lot in common. We left that convention excited-- and maybe a bit overwhelmed-- to begin our homeschooling journey.

When Peyton was four, we began doing "school" at home. I ordered a much-too-robust preschool curriculum, so we pared that down and threw in a few other resources that I really liked, and 1-2-3 our homeschooling journey began.

Fast forward to our move to Texas in May 2010. Peyton was on the cusp of Kindergarten when we learned about a little school run by YWAM (Youth With A Mission). We prayed about what do to-- and I labored over the decision all summer long, but ultimately we felt like sending him there for a year was the right move for our family. And we are soooo glad that we did! It was a phenomenal year.

So, you ask, "Why are we even discussing homeschooling again if you adored Peyton's school?" (FYI, I'm sitting here with my seam ripper and a sewing project alternating between typing and ripping...maybe I AM one of those "weird" homeschooling families after all. YIPES!)

Well, the answer is simple: It's just what we feel is the very best fit for our family at this season in our lives. We aren't opposed to private schools-- and we aren't opposed to public schools. For Jeremy and I, we just want the best fit for each member of our family during each season that we walk through. Different seasons may well bring different schooling options. But for now, we're about to dive into 1st grade and preschool at the Smith house this year. Thankfully, the Lord has surrounded this decision with the sweetest peace that I've felt in quite a while. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to spend this season with them (and I was thankful for the season of someone else pouring into Peyton last year).

As we gear up for the next school year, I'll post more about our curriculum choices, projects that we tackle, how in the world I'm going to organize our home school/family/work priorities, etc. It'll be fun to keep track of it all on here.

Can you believe that it's almost time for school again?! Yeah, me neither! What are your school year plans?

And for your amusement...what homeschooling post would be complete without this?

A Day at the Beach {Day 18}

We had an incredible day at Bahama Beach in Dallas, TX.

Parker loved every last minute...especially floating along the lazy river cozied up in the tube with her momma.

Peyton (our cautious lil monkey) is a water slide pro. He went down the HUGE ones-- until they changed life guards and the new life guard said that Peyton wasn't tall enough! Oops! I'm so glad he was safe. I wouldn't have gone on some of the slides that he braved with panache!

Our children befriended a different life guard who pulled Jeremy aside just to tell him what precious children we have. What a blessing to our hearts as parents.

And it wouldn't be a water park with a lil mullet action... good times.


To cap off an already great day, we got to meet up with "Aunt Emmers" for some Panda Express. She trekked clear across the metroplex just to love on us a little. What a perfect end to a perfect day.

"This is the very day God acted-let's celebrate and be festive!" Psalm 118:24 (MSG)

Who knew? {Day 13}

I never would've thought...

...that he would love football so much.

But that spiral...
"Wow, Little Bug, way to go!"

Sometimes I'm simply reminded that no matter how well we think that we know someone (even our children), there are always new discoveries waiting to be unearthed.

It's like opening a hidden treasure-- and I love it.

Peyton's brain.

The 3 Dudes (aka The 3 Doods-- symantics)
I have a funny feeling that these guys are NOT nice.

Agh! Aliens.

Making it to the moon.

You [must] get past the sun first.

But beware of the aliens that might just capture you and suspend you in a cage over a fire and boiling lava.
They're a tough crowd.

Worn out and relaxing beside his masterpiece.
{you can do that here in December}

I guess Peyton isn't worried about the boiling lava. *shrugs*

BIGGEST.NEWS. EVER!!!!

(and even that isn't quite emphatic enough...)


Tonight, July 6, 2010-- The angels rejoiced-- moreover, they partied like it was 1999 (or something like that) as they inscribed the name "Peyton Calloway Smith" in the Book of Life!!!!

This is for you my son:

Dearest Peyton,

From the moment God placed you in my womb, I've prayed for your heart to belong completely and fully to Him. Even though I want to hold you close, hear your giggles, kiss your sweet cheeks and listen to your boundless questions every single day that I have left on this Earth, my heart knows that you are mine to hold only for a season. And when that season ends, I've longed to know that we will be together on the other side of eternity.

Tonight, my deepest prayer for your life was answered. You decided that you want to be God's friend and commit your entire life to loving Him and making His love known to the world. You have asked so many deep and introspective questions for such a long time. Yet, even though you asked question after question-- and told us repeatedly that you loved Jesus-- you knew that something was incomplete. And so you kept seeking. You kept praying. You trusted us to share everything that we know about our Father with you-- and we did, we are and we ALWAYS will.

Tonight you and Daddy sat out on the back porch with a caramel Drumstick and you asked some very pointed questions about being baptized. Daddy patiently answered your questions.

When it came time for me to tuck you in, you told me that you wanted to say the "special" prayer. I checked and made certain that you understood what it meant-- that "the prayer" in and of itself is just words, but the commitment that you make in your heart to enlist in God's army (just like Teddy in Teddy's Button) means everything.

You went and got Daddy and we all three sat on your bed as you shared your heart with us. Daddy helped guide the words of your heart-- and you responded with the most sincere acknowledgment in prayer that I have ever seen from you, precious son. As I sat beside you, holding your hand, and with tears streaming down my face, I realized that *this* is why I am a mommy. To lead you to the heart of God-- and to be an example of how we, together, help lead other people to Him too.

Afterward, you were smiling the BIGGEST smile ever. It was a new smile-- and it was contagious. You were giddy with excitement. You told me that God gave you your new smile.

You asked if you could call Halley [Skidmore] tomorrow to tell her, and I said, "of course." You also asked if Pastor Randy could baptize you. Since we are all the way down in Texas right now, this is going to be QUITE the undertaking, BUT it is soooo worth it. We'll do everything that we can to make it happen-- I pinky promise, Peyton!

Next, you called Mama and Papa (more phone calls are coming in the morning-- Jeremy and I were in the middle of a conference call so we couldn't share the news personally with anyone else tonight) and they had just prayed for you when they crawled into bed. Isn't that awesome?

To cap off the night, as I was leaving your room, you asked, "Is God in it [my heart] now?" To which I replied,"He sure is!" You (in your typical Peyton-y way) responded, "I guess He's moving all of His stuff in!"

And you couldn't be more right.

I love you. I am so proud of you. The Holy Spirit working in your heart will transform your life. What an adventure we have ahead. I'm in for the entire ride-- always and forever...for all of eternity.

Love~
Your favorite mommy

PS Daddy said that was the most important ice cream dessert ever!

Significance on a Wintery Wednesday Morning

Good morning, friends.

It's a biting 27 degrees here this morning. Peyton and I are the only two who have managed to crawl out from from the big cozy nest of blankets on our beds to brave the chill downstairs. Peyton is eating breakfast and contentedly watching PBS Kids, and I'm sitting down for a quick rendezvous with my computer before the rest of my world wakes up.

This morning I have a simple thought: What do I want to make significant today?

You see, on a typical day surprisingly too many things become "significant" in my mind. Unfortunately, almost none of them are things that I should attach significance to.

sig⋅nif⋅i⋅cant- adjective. important, of consequence.

So on this chilly Wednesday morning, as this year nears its segue into the next, I commit to being intentional about where I attribute significance in my life.

Will you join me?