~Hams, Flu's, and Visit's with the Pethtel and Edwards families~

Well, the Smithy clan is back on it's feet again Praise the Lord! We have all been down with the flu, and various other little things that folk have been sick with round here, for the past couple of weeks. Hence the neglect of the blog lately.

Michael and Kressant were soo kind to come up and look after some of us, and filled the fridge with all sorts of delicious dishes whilst Dat and Mumsie were away to Florida for the NRB Convention (National Religious Broadcasters.)
The Lord greatly blessed the trip to Fl. and they came back with all sorts of interesting new contacts:) It's so exciting to see our mighty God move, and direct the Patriarch of our family down the paths He wishes our family to go down!

Mumsie, we girls and the little boys have been tackling the house over the past few days. Organizing, rearranging and cleaning... I think people usually call it "Spring cleaning" but I'm not sure what you call it when you're doing it in February, lol.

The weather was just lovely today! Upper sixties, and the sun was shining so beautifully.
The Lord is good!

We're looking forward to the Father/Daughter Retreat at the end of March. Hope to see you girls there! We're also looking forward to having a third sister in the house again, when Madara comes:) Whoo hoo, and just imagine...Six little boys!!! We are soo excited! The adoption process continues, in the Lord's perfect timing, though it may seem slow to us at times. Isn't this fun?!

The other day I spotted the household ham sitting on the couch, just as thrilled as he could be, holding his rapidly growing nephew, so we snapped a bunch of pictures of them. They were so cute! What a joy.

But alas, six AM is quickly coming, so I'm going to traips off to bed.

Grace and Peace,
~Rachel

Thread organization endeavors, brightened by jolly chat's with Mrs. Kim.

Ahh, I could just eat 'im with a spoon he's so sweet!!

The Pethtel's new chauffeur;)

Mrs. Kim, sweet and lovely as always!

Preparing for take off.

Making the most of the resources at hand:)

Trees and tire swings ~ and corny captions when one can't think of anything interesting;)

In which the Edwards chaps further their acting careers. (Undoubtedly resulting from our watching an old western flick the evening before;)

Despite it's having nothing whatsoever to do with the theme at hand, everyone liked this pix allot, hence it's appearance on the blog:)

"Take a walk back to the saloon."

"Uh uh, can't...*pff*...it's gone too far."

"Sackett...turn around Sackett."

"C'mon Farmer DRAW!!"

*Silence hangs over the scene*...that is untill a muffled giggle breaks in, and everyone erupts into a jolly burst of laughter, and the boys decide to put their acting careers on hold for a bit:)

Amused bystanders.

Yes, once again...The Tire Swing! LOL;) Yeah I know, it's getting old. We had fun though:)

The two masterminds of the TV show, hard at work, planning, editing, filming and of course entertaining the rest of us with their exciting narratives and ideas throughout the weekend:) Ahh, what a joy it is to serve such delightful fathers as these! Three cheers!!!

While the father's continue working tirelessely on the show, in the den a monopoly match is under way.

Aha! The most desired piece of property, and i'm headed it's way!

"Shall we?..."

"...Shall we indeed."

Charlie, being a dear and starting us a fire:)

Thanks Nick for your assistance!

The hum of the machine...the pleasant disscussions and sweet fellowship. Simply charming:)

Mumsie dahling, sewing away on a winter petticoat.

Hungry anyone?

The Schultz Brigade strikes again!

Hmm, I think I like it better in black and white than in color. Well, they're adorable either way:)

Lovely, my dears.

A fine troop of chaps.

"I would paint a shawl on her, as one can't help feeling that she will catch cold..." LOL

~Emma

Let's hear it. Awww...Ohhh...Aw...Awwww!

LOL, aren't they cute!

In which Bethany sets a new (first, but hey) Bethy-record, of walking on a rolling log.

Umm, well it seemed a little more exciting at the time;) LOL

A mid-swing chap.

The whole kit and caboodle pausing (once more) for the amusement of the photographer, before lighting into a game of tag.

Let the games begin.

Miss Anastacia adding her touch of elegance to the scene.

Jake-O, on the prowl for his next victim.

Beth.

See Beth run.

Run Beth, Run. ;) LOL

Yes, can you tell, we've dug back out those little books we learned to read with when we were little, lol. Ohh man. The little boys are such cuties!

"Bob. See Bob run. Run Bob, run. - Sit. See Bob sit. Bob sits and sits." Hilarious :)

Faster Ben!

Jake, having served out his time, hands the role of... umm, well, "It" I guess it's called, over to his most worthy adversary:)

Your up next Ben.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Go Nick, go!

Round three.