What a fun summer this has been! Can't believe it's drawing to a close, but that's what "Back to School" means, right?! I've gotten behind on my blogging, and I'm hoping everything imports into Facebook, it's been hard to keep them both up!
Here are some of the things going on with the Smith Family in the next couple weeks:
***David heads back to Florida on Wednesday.... :( BooHoo! He has been such a huge blessing to us this summer and we're so proud of him! We will miss him so much... Not sure the kids realize he'll be leaving or for how long, but we'll deal with that when it comes! He will be going to work as a counselor at a Camp for disabled children near Tallahassee for a week before starting back up for his final semester at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. He'll graduate this December ( a semester early!) and then enter law school next fall. Please keep him in your prayers as he studies and enters many new phases in his life in a short amount of time! Oh, and he turns 21 next month! WOW!
***Ma-lak,6, will be in First grade starting Monday, and Rea, 5, will enter Kindergarten! I wish I could explain in words the excitement in our house whenever school is discussed! Rea starts talking about it the moment she wakes up, and heads to the calendar to count the days. She spends most of her waking moments "practicing school" and working on her writing and drawing skills, and is so delighted to be going with her big brother. Ma-lak has done great with his reading this summer, and can't wait to meet his new teacher! They have both been taking Tai Kwan Do this summer as well, and got their white belts a few weeks ago. Their first competition is next month near Sacramento, and we're all looking forward to going and watching them show their "skills"!
***If there was a way to get Ni'ke into Kindergarten early, I would've done it in a heartbeat! She's such a bright and smart and funny little girl with such passion in everything she does! She's a SPONGE when she's around Ma-lak and Rea and picks up on most everything they're learning or doing at the time! And wow, is she a great swimmer! Totally fearless in the water, and actually swimming under water several feet! We call her our little "hillbilly" because she tends to have this hilarious southern drawl that comes out when she's really involved in a story she's telling. Wonder where she got that from?.... :)
***Ya'shar is the family entertainment. Period. He has everyone of his little facial expressions and mannerisms down pat, and he has mastered the art of pestering his sisters! He's such a joy and delight, and several times throughout the day I find myself grabbing him up in hugs and saying, "Ya'shar you are so YUMMY!!!" because that's the only word I can think of! He and I will be flying to Ohio the end of October to meet his new little cousin, due to enter the world via C-section on Sept 21. We pray all goes well for Brent and Jess and Ava as they prepare for their new little family member! (I'm thinking BOY, for sure!!! We'll see!!!) Can't wait to reconnect with our family and friends there, and though it will be quick trip, I hope I get to see many of you!
***Between fun summer family adventures, I'm managing to still work at Memorial! The economy has taken it's toll here, just like everywhere else, and tomorrow our Nurse's Union is taking a vote on a proposal made by the hospital administration to the nursing staff, asking for our approval in allowing them to freeze our wages and NOT receive the next two pay raises that were written into our most recent contract. Obviously this has been a huge point of contention between nursing staff and management/administration, since many of our coworkers were laid of this past year and our jobs have become 10 times harder. My sincere hope and prayer is that a fair resolution will come soon, and that working conditions AND morale will improve! Until then, I remain grateful to be employed and blessed that God has provided for us so thoroughly.
***Daryle continues to work closely with a church in Vancouver, BC Canada as well as local churches in the south Bay, and travels often, working our schedules around together. We are anxiously waiting on our next instructions as to where God's ministry will take us next, excited that we get to participate in what He's doing in and around the Bay area!
Thank you again to all of our friends and family who continue to support us, pray for us and encourage us in all that we're doing here! We love you all so much, and miss you beyond words! We would love to hear updates from all of you as well!! Email us at swordoffire@sbcglobal.net (Apostle Daryle) or to me at sheila_911@hotmail.com.
Blessings to you all!
Love,
The Smith Family
