Running Like the Wind

Well,


Braden is turning out to be a great runner. He has improved his time in every race. In fact, today, he took 45 seconds off of his time. Braden won the Sage Valley meet. Yes, he ran against the school I work at and won. I couldn't be more proud to lose. Here are some pictures, and if I can get it to work, some video.

Above: This is the start to the Lake Lowell Invitational Sept. 18th. There were 180 runners.

Above: This is Braden finishing at the Lake Lowell Invitational. He placed 7th.

Here are some pictures.

Catching Up

Well, it's been a while since I wrote last. I will try to catch everyone up on the fam.

Braden: 8th Grader, running cross country and being a teenager.
Camille: 6th Grader, starting middle school, in choir, GT, doing well.
Dallin: 4th Grader, playing tackle football,
Malynn: 1st Grade, full day of school, has no problem falling asleep at night.
Eli: just turned 3. Keeps Nat busy during the day. Is quite the character and all boy.
Natalie: Mother of 5. Is there really much more I can say about that. Needless to say, she is busy and is an excellent wife and mother.
Sean: Still in middle school fitting right in.

We are all well and doing fine.

Sean

What a July

Twin Falls Temple


Eli wanted to see a Giraffe


Hmm, evolution?


Just plain cute!!


What a place


Watch out red baron!


There's always time for ice cream


Watch Out World!!






Well, It has been a while since I posted. I haven't really had a chance to since we have been on the go for a while. On the 17th we took off on a family vacation to SLC. We had a blast. Here a brief rundown of activities.

• 17th: Stopped in Twin Falls and toured the temple. What a beautiful building and more importantly, a beautiful spirit. We all enjoyed it. If you haven't gone yet and are thinking about it, I highly recommend it.




• 18th: Tour at the LDS Humanitarian Center. What an amazing place. If you haven't toured that sight I recommend it also. It helps bring to light the immense humanitarian effort taken on by the church.




• 18th: LAGOON!! What a blast. The kids loved it. Malynn even got to ride Colossus. (Jeff, She even loved the flying aces) We had a blast.




• 19th: This is the Place Monument and Hogle Zoo. We saw elephants, rhino, giraffe, tigers, bears, lizards, alligators, gorillas, camels etc. It is a zoo, what do you expect. The kids had a blast.




• 19th: Family reunion on Natalie's mom's side. Good company, good conversation, beautiful weather. Overall good time.




• 20th: We visited Nat's cousin Lahni and her husband in the morning and then sent Grandma and Grandpa Curtis home with all the kids but Camille. We had business to tend to.




• 21st: Visit to Primary Children's Hospital for a Liver evaluation for Camille. This lasted almost the entire day. It was very informational and very overwhelming. Camille is a trooper and still my hero.




• 22nd: Back to Primary Children's for more appointments. End result, Camille will be listed on the liver transplant list. I will send emails with more info. We then headed back home.

Braden left for scout camp on Monday the 21st and spent the week up there. I went up on Thursday and came home today. What a great camp. It brought back memories. I started up the Friday night campfire and ice cream tradition to carry it on from the days of Dad at scout camp. It is good to be home. I included pictures of some of the events.

Take care everyone.

Tribute to Steve

It was 12 years ago today that Steve left this life. I thought it would be appropriate to post the poem I wrote and read at his funeral. I sure miss him.

I Lived My Life for You

Watch out world here I come prepare yourself for a change.

I’m coming there to make a mark and have people’s lives to arrange.

Don’t worry about me I’m strong and tough and I will do just fine,

It’s my friends and family I need to worry about and then me if there is time.

What do you mean my time will be short, I have too much to do.

I better get busy and never slow down but to stop and enjoy the view.

My life will be a struggle and at times too much to bare,

That’s why I need to keep on moving, I don’t have time to pull up a chair.

What’s that you say, you need to talk, you have a troubled heart?

Well just sit right there let me grab that chair and I promise I’ll do my part.

Time is too precious to squander away by not living for the day,

I have too much to do here and my time is slipping away.

I am not certain when I will go, but know this for sure,

the people that I get to know will be better than they were.

See I was blessed with a special talent that God wanted me to share,

And with this talent he gave me a heart to make sure that I would care.

I can talk to a total stranger for a minute and become old friends in an instant,

That heart of mine will weather much but God made it rust resistant.

I have too much to do today I must be going now,

But by the way if you need any help I will find a way somehow.

Ain’t life just too much fun to sit and be a spectator?

I am going to be a participant just call me your rejuvenator.

What’s that, you want to be a part of this life I was given?

Let me open the giant door to my heart that’s all it will take, get in.

My time is up I must be going now, OOPS I didn’t leave time for me,

My family’s all right my friends are great and that’s the way it should be.

God gave me a talent and a heart to match and I used them the best I could.

But just remember when you are down and need a friend, think of me, I wish you would.

God Bless

Happy Birthday America

On July 2, 1776, 56 men signed a document that might as well have been their death warrant. These men were committing treason to the British Crown by signing this Declaration of Independence. Each of them knew this, yet, each was willing to give their lives if it be required to obtain the freedom they so greatly desired. For the past 232 years we have honored these men and the birth of this great nation on July 4, which is the date the document was actually made official. The nation went through a bloody and terrible war to obtain the desired freedom.

In 1787, many of the same 56 men gathered in the same room and crafted one of the greatest documents ever written, the Constitution of the United States. This was ratified in by the states in 1789 and became the governing document for the United States. In 1791 the constitution was amended with 10 rights that we know as the bill of rights. In 232 years the Constitution has been amended a total of 27 times. What a testament to the brilliance of the founders and the guidance by the Almighty.

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln gave a short eulogy we know as the Gettysburg Address. The nation was in the midst of a Civil War. He took the opportunity to re-invoke the declarations made in 1776 that all men are created equal. Looking back on the history of this great nation it is easy to see that at the crossroads of time, the crucial turning points in history, we rise to the occasion and meet the challenges before us. This is not done alone. Our pilgrim ancestors came to this land seeking religious freedom. They wanted to be able to practice their religion without government interference. Those values became woven into American society. The founding fathers looked to God to assist them in their task. Ben Franklin said during the convention,

“The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

I love this country. I love the freedoms my family and I enjoy. I love the blessings of liberty. I am grateful to men and women of the past who believed in something bigger than themselves and all of us and were willing to give their lives to make it a reality. We must show our gratitude by not taking it all for granted. This nation was founded and exists today because of good people and a God who set this land aside as a land of promise. Yes, we have our problems, yes, we make mistakes, but look back in history. When the chips are down, we come together as a nation and answer the call of liberty.

Happy 232nd birthday America. May God continue to smile upon the good in this land.

I forgot to mention

Okay,

In the last post I totally spaced talking about the Tshirts Mike did up for the reunion. You will notice in the picture of mom and the boys we all have different colored shirts. It really helped keep track of kids. All we had to do is count the shirts of our color and we knew if we had everyone. Thanks Mike for using your talent and know how to add that dimension and memory to the reunion.

Smith Family Reunion at Warm Lake June 27-29

Mom and the boys
Fun on the Lake
Logan and Braden with a minnow
Cheese!!!
Would it really be picture time without some wackiness?

The Sean and Natalie Smith Family at Warm Lake. Pardon the hair
All of the cousins
Mom's 5 generations in a chain
Natalie and Eli
S'More Time

We had our first Smith Family Reunion June 27-29. All I have to say is that it was a blast and a successful reunion. What a beautiful setting it was for this reunion. Brian was able to reserve a church camp that sits about a mile from Warm Lake. Each family had their own cabin (bunk house) for sleeping. There were 2 shower houses as well as a dining hall complete with a commercial kitchen. There was a horse shoe pit, volleyball court (My team dominated games 2 and 3) a basketball court, a back stop and plenty of open grassy area for fun. Kids were able to wander and parents didn't really have to worry about much because there wasn't any water close to the camp and there were enough eyes to keep an eye on the kids. We thoroughly enjoyed the time up there. Friday night mom had a fireside speaking about our heritage and that no matter where we are we are never alone because there are many who came before, are here now and are yet to come to add to this legacy. She had the grand kids help her make a paper chain to give a visual of mom and dad's 5 generations. It was good. Saturday we went to the lake and had a great time swimming, boating and fishing. Thanks to everyone who brought the toys and were so willing to share them with the fam. That night some of the boys went fishing again while the cousins played kick ball, kick the can and had a doughnut eating contest. Each night some of the adults got together and played game. I now have a new favorite game. It is called Curses. It is a fun game to play. Hilarious actually. Thanks mom for the reunion. Thank Brian for getting the camp reserved. Thanks Jeff and Tim for bringing the water toys. Thanks to everyone for everything you did to make it a success. The weekend just reaffirmed what I already knew. I have a wonderful family and am blessed to be able to see you so often. My kids are blessed to know their aunts and uncles and all of their cousins. When all is said and done and the fluff and frills are taken out of the whole picture, what remains is family and that is most important. Thanks for the memories.