Madison is 8!

Here's the run-down on Madison's B-Day Celebrations. . .

Thursday morning, we had our traditional birthday breakfast.. . she loved it!

At lunch, we delivered cupcakes to the 2nd graders at FBA. They announced her name on the cafeteria microphone. It was so sweet!

Thursday night we ate supper at home then went to McDonald's to play and have an ice cream cone. 

On Saturday we had a family party at the HFBC bowling alley! Madison felt so loved on and so special. It was really fun for everyone.

Tonight I interviewed her about life as an 8 year old. . .Here's a snap-shot into Maddie's world.

What was the best part about being 7? Getting to go to people's houses by myself.

What was the hardest part about being 7? Having to deal with my little brother!

What advice to you have for someone who's turning 7? Have fun!

What is one thing you learned about God last year? That He will be with you all your life. And I asked Jesus into my heart because of that on one Friday night.

What is one thing you learned about yourself last year? That I'm confident to go spend the night and to interact with new things.

What surprised you last year? All the friends I made.

What is the most exciting thing you did last year? Go to NRH2O with all the kids.. . and getting a little sister! That's been my life long dream--to get a little sister.

What are you most looking forward to as an 8 year old? Going to 3rd grade and seeing what that's like.

What will be your greatest challenge? Having to deal with both a little brother and sister!

What is the most important thing about being a daughter? Having fun with my mom and dad.

What is the most important thing about being a Christian? Following God's Word and learning to hear God speaking to you and following Him.

What is the most important thing about being a sister? Have to look out for all the little kids.

What is your favorite subject? music

What is your favorite restaurant? Pei Wei

What is your favorite food?macaroni

What is your favorite song? Here I am to Worship?

What is your favorite band? The Smith Band and Jesus Freaks {Madison and Hannah's Band}

What is your favorite TV show? Fairly Odd Parents and Sponge Bob

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend? Hang out with my family

Friday

We had a delicious and fun Friday night. Can you say "2 desserts"? Well, that's how it ended. It started with a stop at Houston's to eat. Now, I absolutely love their grilled chicken salad with that peanut dressing. Oh, my goodness! But. . not exactly a place for a family of 5.  . . so we left there and went to Amazon Grill. Now--it is in the restaurant family with America's and Churrasco's--2 of my all-time favorite Houston eateries--and it did not disappoint. 

We ordered 2 kids meals, 2 entrees, and a dessert--their delightful table-top smores maker. It is so yummy! Well, then, we discovered that the kids meals come with (drum roll, please) GRAPE COTTON CANDY. Wow! It was actually really tasty. . .so we just basked in our sugar high. Happy Spring Break to us! :)

Jackson thoroughly enjoyed the smores, and was fascinated with the fire. Are all boys little pyros? He really only wanted to burn the marshmallows--eating then was just not necessary!

On the way home, in the context of a conversation I'll spare you, I said "What do you think it will be like to ride in the car with one of your own friend's driving?" Now, this is new conversation territory--we haven't talked about this before that I can remember. Jackson's immediate response was "No. I'll be driving MY friends. They can ride with ME!" What is it with boys and driving?

I'm reading Dobson's Bringing Up Boys, and I am (again) amazed at God's design of boys--my boy! He is in the stage where he continually identifies with Stephen as a male. He says it all the time---"Dad, we're boys. Mom, Maddie, and Hope-y are girls. We're boys." This is completely new and wonderful territory, and I am savoring my front-row seat to the unfolding of the way God designed my little boy!

We're having Madison's 8 year old B-Day party tomorrow. I just can't believe that she's actually 8!! I'll have an "8 is Great" post real soon with all the party pics!

The Tuesday report

Well. Here I am. Hallelujah for an 8 o'clock bedtime at the Smith house! We've had 2 nights in a row of supper at home, baths, books, and on-time to bed. Awesome.

We are counting down to Madison's birthday which is Thursday. Speaking of Madison, she is recovering from HANNAH MONTANA which she went to on Sunday night with my parents. Can you believe it? My dad managed to get 3 tickets, so he and my mom took Maddie. Crazy! They had a blast!!!

My sweet Hope is changing everyday. Her birthday is coming up too, on March 27. I can't believe my baby is almost one! She can say "dada"--her most favorite word which she says over and over and over, "mama"--which she occasionally says!, "bye", "hi", "baba"--bottle, and "bubba"--for Jackson. She's also signing "more", "finished", "please", AND she can wave and play patty cake .. . AND she's just so darn cute! 

Jackson is as much a nut as always. He keeps me hopping. He's happy if he can play with cars and more cars. I love that kid!

OK. That's the update. School's good. Church is good. Life is good.

God is good.

Good night.

A new song from Madison's heart

Maddie wrote a new song.. . .she diligently sat in the back seat of the car with her notebook and pen. . and then sang this lovely song to us. I thought you would enjoy the words, too (the way she wrote them).

The Fathe (faith)

The fathe I have in Jesus is the strongist bond with anyone. I love Him and one thing why is I mooved and allredy he is helping me. I love the lord! He is the Best. repeat.

I love the Lord!

Hallelujah!! Is that precious, or what! Thank you to all my blog-land friends who have prayed for our family--and especially my sweet Maddie--during our transition. It means so much!

OK. So Hope is 11 months old. On Tuesday, Hope, Jackson and I went with my BFF Tara to our other BFF Jennifer's house. Can I just express how grateful I am to be able to hang out with these girls? It's a huge blessing to my heart! Anyway, Jennifer (who is the mother of 4 girls), couldn't believe that I was still feeding Hope jarred baby food. I've been slowly transitioning her to table food, but when Jenn cut up some grapes for Hopey (very small), and gave Hope a bite, my girl when nuts! Jennifer did NOT say this, but what my heart heard was, "You're baby-ing the baby. Give that girl some food!"

So. . that night, we went to Friendswood for supper with the family. Again, AMAZING that we can be spontaneous with our family. I called my mom at 3 to see if we could come, and at 6 we were sitting at their table--with Mel, Nathan, and Caden--eating my mom's yummy food. Anyway, I cut up chicken, green beans, bananas, and peaches for Hope--and she went NUTS! She loved it! I promise you she ate for 45 minutes--it was the best meal of her life! She clapped and signed for "more" again and again. . and again!  There's been no going back since then. .  . no more jars. My baby is growing up--so quickly!

Nathan and Caden hanging out. Caden is GROWING like a weed! He is adorable!

Wednesday is chapel day for M & J. Here they are in their chapel uniform dress. Too cute! Jackson has to wear blue slacks with a white oxford (tucked in) with belt. Maddie wears a plaid dress with white, peter pan-collared shirt.  Can I just say it again--GRATEFUL! 

We're Here!!!!

We are in Houston. . .we are doing well. . and we finally have Internet again. Yippee!! I've missed blog world.  So much has happened in a week, that I don't think I could type it all, but one thing I will say is that God is good.  He has been giving us grace upon grace to meet each day's challenges.

My Jackson started school at FBA on Wednesday and described it as "perfect"! He is so adventurous, friendly, and has jumped in full force. (I also started reading Dobson's Bringing Up Boys today! :)  )

My sweet Maddie started at FBA on Tuesday. She is hanging in there with courage and perseverance. I have been praying my heart out everyday for her as she encounters new experiences and people and expectations each day.  She is still suffering from the cold that has had so many of us down--so she doesn't feel her best in the middle of all these changes! Poor baby!  On Monday, they had a holiday, and our friend, Allison, organized a playdate for the second grade girls. What a huge blessing! She had about 8 familiar faces on Tuesday morning! Her teacher is sweet and kind, and she's settling in pretty well.  Academically, she's facing some challenges--they've already learned all the lower-case letters in cursive--and she'd only learned 4 of them! AND the homework is a bit overwhelming. . .but we are confident that He who has called us will provide everything we need! She finished the week strong and told me today that the girls like her! :) I'm so happy to hear her that her confidence is up and she's feeling accepted--and liked! Hallelujah!

I am so extremely proud of Stephen! I am in awe of the annointing and grace and wisdom and discernment and leadership that God is giving him moment by moment. He has worked so hard this week and is enjoyng some R&R this weekend. I love him so much and his absolutely biggest cheerleader. 

We had a near perfect Saturday today. . I got to sleep late--til 8:30--again, Hallelujah! Then the girls and I wend to get Madison a Brownie vest while Stephen took Jackson to get a haircut. Yes, Madison is joining the Brownies-the have their meetings on Monday--and she will be there in her cute brown vest!

After our errands, we met up at Memorial park and had a ball! The kids played and played. The weather was perfect, and it was one of those days made to be outside.  Here are some pics.

We are looking forward to our first Sunday at First tomorrow morning. We're going to be in "observation" mode--walking the halls and getting to talk to people. We are super excited. . .I better head off and get my beauty sleep!  Ha! Ha! Good night!

Moving Day

is tomorrow!! Oh-my-goodness! I can't believe that it's here.  I have been sooo sick since last Wednesday--and finally today I'm somewhat better.  In other words, I had done NOTHING to prepare for our move since last Tuesday!!! I am so serious! I have been in bed every possible minute--in between FBC Grapevine's D-Now (Smith Band sang this weekend) and our last Sunday at FBCI. One word-brutal.  

Praise the Lord I felt better today.  I managed to pack A LOT.  Somehow I'll finish tomorrow--before 3 pm when we head out.

I'm feeling a little sentimental about saying goodbye to Boundbrook Lane and all it represents to me.  I have a thankful heart for all that the Lord has done in Irving.  Two hugely personal things come immediately to mind-Hope's birth and Madison's salvation. . . and much more than I can unpack right now.

So.. . tomorrow it's hello Houston! For now--I'll finish American Idol! :)