Happy Birthday, Bobby!

We celebrated Bobby's birthday way back on Oct. 17. We knew that we were going to be out of town around his birthday and that his birthday was on a weekday. So we picked a day in October and invited Fred & Barbara to eat w/us. I made him a yellow cake with chocolate icing (his request). He got lots of clothes from the kids and me and cologne from Fred and Barbara. I think he enjoyed it very much. I hope so b/c I love him so much!

The County Fair

On Friday night, the kids and I went to the fair. Their school choir performed a song there in the civic center. I have a video of the performance that I will post eventually (maybe). Anyway, they sang really well and I was so proud of them. While we were there, we did some exploring and Makensie showed me their ribbons they had won. I didn't know it, but their art teacher had entered their class drawings in the exhibits. Matthew won a 2nd place ribbon in his category and Makensie won a 1st place ribbon. Makensie's class had been to the fair earlier that day for a field trip, and so she had already known that they had won ribbons. I was pleasantly surprised, and of course...VERY PROUD :)

Weekend Get-Away

For a couple of months now, Bobby & I had this romantic get-away planned for just the two of us. He had planned to take his vacation the week of Oct. 24-31, so we decided to book a condo for three nights on the beach. Since the stay was from Saturday to Tuesday, we asked my parents to keep the kids for three nights so they wouldn't miss any school. Well....when Bobby & I got to the condo on Saturday afternoon and I saw the kids' room with the twin beds, I just really missed Matthew & Makensie. So I told Bobby that I was going back to get them! And the next morning, I got up bright and early and drove back to my parents' house and brought the kids to the condo. Yes, they missed two days of school, but it was worth it for them to get to experience this with us and for the time we shared as a family. Family time is so important to us~we just can't get enough!

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE...
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

In Memory of:

~Zachary Jacob Reed~

October 21 , 1982 - June 25, 1999






















Zack was my nephew, my sister Beth's oldest son. In the Summer of '99 he came to visit from Colorado for the summer. While here, he went swimming with my nephew Shawn, my niece Dana, and his sister Ember. He passed away that day through a drowning accident. The ironic thing about his death was that he was an avid swimmer and even a lifeguard.

Zack was such a sweet little boy and young man. At just 16, he had already given his heart to the Lord and loved God with all his heart. I remember him as a baby, as I helped my sister take care of him. His mama was like a mama to me. Before they moved to Colorado, they lived here for a while and I spent a lot of time at Beth's house with her and her family. She was literally my second mother. I got to watch Zack grow up into a wonderful person. I have thought of him so much over the past few days.

I miss him and the man that he would have become.

Zack (the blonde, fair-skinned one), Shawn (the dark one). Yes, they were cousins!

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Zack!

Top picture: Zack, Shawn & Bradley

Bottom picture: Zack, Ember, Joshua & Jesse (the baby)

~LINDA LEE SMITH~

July 13, 1944 - July 30, 2007

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in honor of that, I wanted to post a few pictures in memory of my sweet mother-in-law, Linda. I think of her often and miss her dearly. I know her family thinks of her and misses her every day too. I can't wait to see her again!