More Swim Photos

Rain, rain, rain...that is the story for the day!  Tried to carve pumpkins, but for some reason we couldn't get the knife to penetrate the large orange orb!  Weird.  Both the girls pumpkins were so tough we gave up.  Olline was able to carve my smaller pumpkin and Melina is still working on Jade's pumpkin.  It is a strange year!  I am at a loss of words.  I find myself starring at the computer.  So I leave you with more swim meet photos:

Melina, Coach Mike, and Jenna.  Love our Coach Mike.  He cares and loves his swim team! 

Sweet Olline practicing.

Melina in the center, practicing for her events to come.

Super Shark Swimmers

We had a fantastic swim meet in Moscow last weekend!  Both girls improved all there times in each event!  We couldn't be more proud.  It is so wonderful to see your children work so hard at something they love!  God has blessed us so much.

Dad and Olline after her swim events.  Good job Olline!

Emily, Payton, Melina and Ellie ready for their 200y freestyle relay!  They took 3rd place over all!!!!  So proud!



The girls were in the local newspaper!!!  Melina was rewarded for for her Relay team, 3rd place overall 200y freestyle relay!  Olline was rewarded for 4th place-200y freestyle relay, 4th 50y butterfly, and 5th place for 25y breast stroke!!!  SO COOL!



Sunny Days

There is nothing new going on here...just the daily living with laundry, dishes, vacuuming, schooling, swimming, chickens, dog training etc... We are very thankful for the beautiful sunshine today!  It was a very cold morning with a crisp layer of frost on the ground.  I noticed even last night, when taking Bison potty, that the ground looked like stars were shinning on it.  Fall is here and winter is just around the corner for us.  The mountains do not have any snow yet, however I know it will be here soon. 

May God bless you today.  May He open new doors for you and guide you in His light!

 The chickens have been running loose in the whole yard!  I never really intended them having that much freedom.  So Jade put up a nice fenced area off of the coop.  It is wonderful, so now the chickens won't poo all over our backyard!!!  They are doing so well and we are getting about five eggs a day.

Love this photo of our Bison boy.  I put the black and white version on Facebook.  So cute!

Thoughts for Today

Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

The Sun is Rising

I am up this morning (which is unusual for me, before we got the pup) with my doggy! He slept through the night, PTL, and starts to call me around 6am! I am so thankful to sleep all night, just wishing for a morning I can sleep in...maybe someday.
I wanted to try a new photo I took yesterday on my blog. Testing things out a bit. We were blessed with a new computer from a most WONDERFUL friend and I have been playing on it. I have also been playing around with a trial version of Lightroom 3! I am LOVING it.

It is a super cold 32 degress this morning. Taking our puppy out this morning was a bit of a shock! Can't await for him to go out on his own. I just have to walk him over across our deck (leash on) to let him in his new "dog run" area. I just don't want him going to the bathroom all over our backyard. So for now I will endure the cold!
I shouldn't complain too much. I am so in awe at these beautiful mornings! I can see the sun rising up over the east side. It is gorgeous! Thank you LORD!
Okay, enough of my weird rambles...here are two photos for you today...


GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Trying to Update

I am trying to figure out this blog stuff this morning. Not having any luck. I am just hoping that whoever may be reading this, it is coming in clear.

So far October has been a whirlwind!!! Jade had a birthday, Bison is a spaz, swimming has taken over, and school is a lifestyle! I try to remember that God is in control and that all I need to do is follow Him and all will be good! Whenever I try to be in control...well, it just never works! I love the fact that God is our guide and all I need to do is let Him take the reins! He is so good and never fails us! What a great feeling it is to have our Lord be there for us through all things. Hard times and good times, He is there!

Bison boy is growing fast. I believe he has doubled in size. I will have to post current photos because even in these photos I think he has grown! He is going to be huge!!! He seems to learn fast, but only in short lessons. He seems to mind Jade really well. Jade's presence is good to have around, because Bison seems to be more calm. He pushes Melina's and mine buttons and we are always having to show Bison who's boss. He is sleeping longer through the night and that is a blessing!!! He is eating like 3 cups a day of food...sounds like a lot to me, but I guess it is normal for a 10 week old puppy that's HUGE!
Our chickens are fantastic and I hope to get new photos of them soon. I believe 4 out of 6 are laying. It is fun to check the nesting boxes to see if we have eggs. They will slow down a bit, because we are losing daylight. Though, 3 or 4 eggs a day is plenty and we may have to start giving some away to the neighbors.
Like I said, swimming is taking over. Melina is swimming 3 days a week, Olline 2, and I am back swimming 3 days! I feel like I am living at the pool. The girls will have a swim meet at the end of the month and we are looking forwards to that!!!
School is going great. Can't believe that we have put in about 160 hours of school so far!!! Girls love it. Need a good push of motivation once in awhile, but I can say that for myself as well!

I am experimenting with a 30 day trial version of Lightroom 3! It is a photo organizer and editor. I like it so far, but cannot figure out how to save my edited photos to share on the web. So I hope to figure it all out and start posting more current photos! Again, just be patient with me. I am a bit slow at blogging with all the things happening here in the Smith family. Wish I could just play on this computer all day and edit photos, but my life is busy and I am happy!

9-28-11 Bison "looking calm"

9-28-11 Jade and girls putting up our dog fence. Now he can't roam the whole yard! This is a lifesaver!
9-24-11 Here is my crazy boy!!!! LOL!

9-24-11 Love this one! I love his back side!

These photos are also on my facebook, plus more. Like I said, I am trying to take more new ones, but it will take me a while to figure out Lightroom 3!

Please say a prayer for my sis-in-love. She will be traveling to China this coming week to help children there and hopefully share our Lords love! I admire her for her compassionate heart and deep love she shares. I pray that God will give her strength, encouragement, an open heart, the ability and opportunity to share His word, and much protection! May her travels be safe and wrapped in God's angels!!! (love you J)

God bless you all. May He guide you in your thoughts and day!

Blog Design Problems

Please hang in there...I am trying to re-do my blog design! Again, I have NO idea what I am doing. So please understand and hopefully I will have this all figured out! Why can't it be easy? Or why can't I understand how to do it? Ahhhhh!