Coffee CubBuster

And just like that he's exiting the sweet baby stage and moving quickly into the toddler two's. Roman we cannot imagine life without you. You're equally sweet and sassy-- a stubborn snuggler with a soft-side very much like the other Smith boys. As baby boy three, you may think the rules don't apply to you, but you just love to find your own path. We adore you as much as you adore the outdoors, animals, and a good snack. You are a perfect mix of your two big brothers, and you love being one now too! Never forget what a gift you are to us. Happy 2nd birthday boo boo!  We love you! Big boy requested strawberries "on top" of his cupcakes, and I think he like the strawberry more than the cake! But Levi loved the icing best This kid didn't discriminate! And this big boy is almost ready for solids! An aquarium birthday trip! Stop growing so fast!!! :D Now we just need to try to get Big Ro out of th...

A subconscious musing... I must work hard to provide for my kids.  I need to focus on my kids so that they will become moral, upstanding citizens one day.  I should be increasing my paycheck as our family is growing.  I need to put in more hours at the office to prove my worth at work because I have a family that needs a paycheck.  I want my children to know they are loved, so I need to prioritize their needs while they are young.  I need to help shape my kids now so they won't have too many issues later. I have to work for my kids.  I have to help my kids.  These well-intentioned musings end up having the reverse effect on the family unit. Just as no one enters into marriage hoping it fails, neither do people realize their love for their kids can effectively harm their marriage.  I'll be first to agree that every child needs to feel loved by both parents, but too often parents forget how to love one another when their ...

In true nature, after a spiritual mountain top, there tends to come a steep valley. This polar opposite occurs primarily because of the battle that exists for good and evil in the world. As my boys naturally imagine fighting forces of evil through play, we also must choose who we will side with at any given moment. External factors like the common cold (which just so happens to be passing through each of my children this week), lack of sleep, or mere relational strains add to the ugly battle, but it's our tendency towards lostness that fuels the fight. Halloween is akin to Christmas in our home because it simultaneously involves birthday cake and gobs of candy. Thus, my celebratory Silas has been counting down the days and rising early in excitement. This inevitably leads to fussiness for all. But there was a sweet stillness one early morning a few days ago where instead of waking in vengeance, I happily joined him for some one-on-one quiet time where we had a providential po...

I always assumed I'd be a frequent flyer for hospitals (I wish that really did exist. I'd have all kinds of reward points!) because I'm a mother of four boys, but so-far our frequency has had little to do with broken bones or death-defying feats. Instead, I'm merely serving time in hospitals and doctor's offices as part of my mission. The word "mission" has multiple definitions, including carrying out humanitarian work, faith-based service, and the act of being specifically sent. In all its meanings, I did not take part in any mission work until I was in my twenties. It was then that I saw a variety of needs in Haiti, Ecuador, Spain, and the United States. One thing all these trips had in common was the element of discomfort. Whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, attending a mission trip should never look similar to your daily life. It is an experience that erases your normal routine for the sake of serving others. Of course we all have seasons whe...