A Season of Change

Thought I would take some time today and mix it up a bit and share with you what's been happening to the Smith family aside from my Bible Studies as well as Book and Product Reviews, which truly keeps me busy but it laying a firm foundation for our family's faith.

With my youngest, Kailee graduating this year as a Junior/graduating as a Senior, simply means she doubled up on her course work and completed two years in one so she could graduate early and hopefully begin her career in nursing a bit earlier than anticipated. Did I mention she graduated Valedictorian as well with a solid 4.0?  I am so proud of her, straight A's all through high school? Not an easy task to manage. She fell in love with the idea after my husband Steve's heart attack last year and felt God calling her to help. She has such a wonderful caregiver's heart and really had the chance to try out her angel wings a bit, when her boyfriend has leg corrective surgery and was hospitalized for a week with a long recovery time. It has challenged them both in their relationship aspects as they work through the limitations of free summer time, but without some mobility involved. Just causes them both to be a bit more creative. She is also preparing to get her driver's permit so that will mean another driver in the mix.

Since Kailee has graduated, it means that I graduated in a sense as well. It is hard to imagine that my life is changing as well. No longer do I have any more children to home school and when I think back on that, it makes me warm and fuzzy to know that I was there for 11 years of home schooling. I got to see where her strengths and weaknesses were but also see her overcome many of them. Now when September rolls around I get to prepare to spend a life with my husband more, something we never got to do when we married.

My oldest Caitlyn is well on her way in her career as a Cardiac Echo Tech, means she does ultrasounds of the heart and EKG's as well. She is based in Redlands hospital which is the same hospital she was born in. God's got quite the sense of humor to make that dream come true. She and her fiancè Steven are getting married in October this year in Wrightwood, so we are busy making wedding and bridal shower plans. The dress and venue as well as food has all been completed, so really it is just last minute preparations as family will make the trip in from the East coast soon. It also means a new addition to our family having Steven as my son. I don't use the terms inlaws because it sounds so outdated. He joins our family as a member, not an inlaw and we have loved having him for the last 4+ years during family events.

So where does that leave me? Besides continuing to streamline a lot of my book publishers, weeding out those who really aren't family friend and Christian, I have a host of product lines that have contacted me to try out their products and I can't wait to share them with you as well as Christian and family-friendly movies. Got travel plans with hubby after the October wedding and hope to bring you some of California's treasures as we venture forth on completing our California bucket list. Not sure what God has in store for our family, but we are always prepared to go wherever He calls. For now, just staying ever learning more about my faith in Jesus as I will be spending an eternity with Him, I want to know all about Him.

California is still suffering from horrible droughts again this year and so far not one summer thunderstorm. It gets downright depressing when you look at your Facebook feed and see how many days last year we had rain, but so far, nothing in the foreseeable future. That just makes me sad, because I am a rain lover at heart.

Well bloggers, that is all for now, got some chores to get done before picking up my youngest from her Beach Field Trip today. Hope she is having fun with her high school youth group! What are your summer plans?

Moments That Make Your Day

Do you ever wonder when you wake up if it will be a good day or a bad one? What kind of surprises will lurk in the dark corners waiting to completely knock you for a loop? Days that make you cringe wondering how will you get through it all, wondering if there is any hope for a bright moment?

I've been on Facebook lately and it saddens me as I gain more followers through book reviews or even through games I play when the nights get long, to see so many people out there searching for more than what this world will offer.

They want validation for their life. They want to know they matter somewhere. They want to know that today will not go by un-noticed by anyone. We all want great days, days that are memorable in great ways and ones that when you look back will make you smile.

For my oldest daughter, Caitlyn's graduation present from us, we created what I have called her book of Happy Moments. With the aid of all her friends and family I asked 4 questions and for their responses. The questions were:

1. What is your best/favorite memory of being with Caitlyn. Please be as specific and detailed as possible.

2. What are her best qualities that you see in her and why?

3. What is one thing that has impacted your life today by knowing or having Caitlyn in your life?

4. What advice or parting words of wisdom do you want her to remember?

I compiled all the response and had them printed and put in a journal that we began for her but she will work on and create an ending for. I know over time, we can be our own worst enemies and beat ourselves up more than most people can. There will be moments that we will wonder just what does it all mean and at the worst, allow those thoughts to dictate our moods.

This book is meant to counteract that, it's meant to be filled with things, pictures, quotes, or anything that will make her smile. We all know that cloudy, stormy days will come, but we need to remember that above all those clouds, the sun still shines.

Today I received a wonderful and heartwarming email that touched my heart from an author of a book I have recently reviewed. It had to be the best letter I have ever received on my ability not only to review his book beautifully but even addressed my writing. For me, this was my smile moment today and one that I am keeping in my own happy book.

As a believer, we still get discouraged, beat down and trampled, but we need to remember it's a choice whether we stay down, or reach out for God's hand and get back up again and move forward. I hope this post has blessed you in some way. I hope you share your thoughts!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11.

If you are in need of encouragement, substitute your name for the word you and be uplifted. He will not let you fall.

Kat Requests Pray Today!

My amazing and faithful prayer warriors:

I am requesting your prayers today. For those that may not know the whole story, I haven't spoken to my father in 15 years. In fact, my dad has not met my youngest daughter that turns 12 in January.

We are attending my nephew's graduation from High School today, one that we are so proud to be a part of. In the process, Josh has invited his grandparents, my father and step mom, so as you can see what the enemy has planned for evil, God is going to use for good today.

Please pray for protection against the enemy who will try in all his attempts to destroy the day and the purpose God has specifically put into place today, and allow such grace and mercy to be seen by all we come into contact with that, God's love will just pour forth into their lives. They are not believers at all. We are hoping for a special blessing on everyone including my brother that could use this time to witness God's never-ending love and grace under fire.

We will be at the ceremonies with a dinner following from 1:30pm to 7:30pm. Please pray for safe travels and for laughter and joy to be overflowing in abundance that anyone in 500 feet of us, will be splashed on with love and happiness.

I will update you on with pictures and details in tomorrow's post!