I haven’t written about Sarah for a little while so let me get you caught up with her.
She is loving college and is doing great there. The small size of the school has been an excellent fit for her and she seems to really be enjoying her teachers. Hard to believe that she just has a couple more months before she is a college sophomore!
Sarah especially likes the fact that the college has a large number of international students. Since the OBX is a tourist area, many young adults from around the world come here to work, to save money, to send money back home, and/or go to school.
One of the students there is actually someone Sarah went to High School with. Her name is Gianela and unlike most of the other students, her whole family moved here from Peru. Last week, she told Sarah she would show her how to cook a genuine Peruvian meal. She and Sarah went grocery shopping and then cooked lunch together.
I was at church hard at work when the following text popped up on my phone:
The first meal prepared at Chez Smith & Zafra will be ready at 12:30 should you be interested.
I was very, very interested! And it was very, very good. (By the way, those fries are from scratch; they peeled and cut the potatoes. Impressive!)
Here is a picture of the girls from last year; they both received a scholarship to COA. (College of the Albemarle.)
Something else Sarah has been busy with is preparation for our annual Easter production. She is running media and also participating in a Jewish dance.
The woman to the right of Sarah is Elizabeth. (Even though she looks like a teenager she actually is married with four daughters!)
Having been involved in dance her entire life with innumerable lessons and performances under her belt, Elizabeth serves as our choreographer. She comes up with the most creative and beautiful ideas. Her heart is to do what the Bible talks about in Psalms—to praise God in the dance. And her desire to do that fits in perfectly with the vision Steve and I have had throughout our 33 years of marriage and ministry—to honor God with excellence in the arts.
Since Sarah is related to me, I am especially amazed that she is so graceful and coordinated.
So that’s what’s going on in Sarah World!
I wanted to let you know that Nathan and Meagan have chosen a name for our granddaughter: It is Madison Ryleigh! (pronounced: RYE-lee.)
Isn’t that beautiful? I love that the middle names for both of their children are unusual in their spelling. (Noah’s middle name is Jacksen.) When your last name is Smith, it’s nice to have something a little different in the middle name to set it apart.
Nathan was recently in New Orleans for a week on a work trip. He brought this home with him—Madison’s first outfit.
And when he got home, Noah basically made it clear to his daddy that he was NOT TO LEAVE. EVER AGAIN.
Love that photo of daddy/son love.
I wanted to mention that we have now had page views from 46 states. We are still missing NH, UT, VT, and WY. (If you signed in already from one of those places and I overlooked it, please let me know in comments on this post. It’s been a bit of a trick keeping track of everything.)
If you have ever read this blog from any of those four states, would you please leave a comment here? Or maybe you have a friend or family member who lives in one of those states who could visit and leave a comment. I would love to have all FIFTY states represented!
I love this post. Sarah posts make me happy. Especially the ones that tell of how great she is doing. 🙂
Ryleigh is one of my most favorite names. I think they should make that her first name. There are a bajillion kamillion Madisons in the world right now. [That is a real and actual number. :)] But even if they keep her first name Madison, I know she is going to be adorable and sweet and wonderful! [Just like all the other Madisons I know ;)]
Lizz,
Thanks for being happy about Sarah being happy. That makes me happy! 🙂 Yes, as soon as I heard it, I thought Ryleigh was a cool name too.
The above comment was actually from Becky. I forgot I was on Sarah’s computer. 🙂
I’ve always wished I had the coordination and confidence to dance… way to go, Sarah!
Also… love the name!
Kristina,
I know, right? Coordination would be a lovely thing to have!
The name is great. My great niece is McKaleigh. Enjoyed the pictures of Sarah. She is amazing.
Ann,
Love your great niece’s name! And yes, I agree–Sarah IS amazing.
That should have been “stumbled onto your site” not sight…we have never seen each other 🙂
Great update on Sarah, but WOW, I’ve been a follower since I stumbled onto your sight in the very beginning of Sarah’s story and it is hard to think that she is finishing her first year in college already! She has certainly grown into a multi-talented, graceful, poised, compassionate young woman who’s outward beauty is matched by her beauty within.
What a beautiful name Nathan and.meagan have chosen for their baby girl. Loved the outfit Nathan brought home for her, can’t wait ro see a picture of her in it. Great picture of Noah and daddy telling each other how much each of them missed the other “I missed you more!”
I am praying for continued blessings for all of you as well as your extended family.
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
Well, maybe someday we can actually meet each other and “stumbling onto my sight” will come true. That would be nice!
Thanks for ALL your encouraging words in this comment. So sweet of you!
I’ll be in Vermont in early June and will check in then!
Anonymous,
Perfect! We can cross off Vermont!
I checked in on you when I was vacationing in Wyoming last summer. Does that help? I didn’t leave a comment, though. I make sure I check in at least once a week to see how the Smith family is doing! ALWAYS uplifted by your posts. And I love the name your son and wife chose for the new baby! 🙂
Kathie,
Yep, that sure does help. Since what we are looking for is “page views for all 50 states,” your page view definitely counts. Thanks!
And I’m so glad to hear that you feel uplifted by my posts. That makes me happy.
Beautiful, beautiful, multi-talented Sarah. Such grace and elegance in her hands. I know your heart is bursting with love for her.
Judy,
“Grace and elegance in her hands.” I love that line–and that thought.
Great meal! And yay for dancing Sarah, she looks graceful 🙂 As far as naming these new babies, nice name! and it is still strange to me how everybody knows what sex they are having beforehand and the name is announced beforehand. My new grandchild is not due till october and i am constantly receiving texts and phone calls from my son and daughter-in-law regarding possible names!!! i don’t want to intrude with my preferences but they keep asking my opinion,how do you walk the fine line? Help! 🙂
Thank you, Lesley! I only discovered my love of dancing once we moved to Manteo. Elizabeth invited me to join the church dance team and I have so enjoyed it!
As for baby name help, I’ve collected three baby name books over the years since I love learning about names and they’re useful for naming my characters. I recommend any baby name book by Bruce Lansky, as he has written several; I have two editions by him and in both, he offers not only enormous lists of boy and girl names, but their meanings, origins, famous namesakes, and alternate spellings. In his “5-Star Baby Name Advisor” edition, he also includes a rating system, first impressions, popularity, and popular nicknames which can be very helpful in narrowing down choices. No matter the edition, he includes very helpful tips, as well, such as making sure the name would have nice nicknames, not nicknames that could embarrass the child.
I hope that helps. I hope the best for your son and daughter-in-law! –Sarah
My youngest granddaughter’s name is Ryleigh. I love how your church has such a diversified age group participating in the dance. Seems like Sarah just did head out to school and the year is just about over. The meal looks great and I would assume you went home for lunch. Have a great day
Becky,
How fun to “meet” another Ryleigh!
Yes, we also love the fact many ages are involved in the whole drama and especially in that dance. I think our oldest cast member is in his 70’s and the youngest dancer is around four. So much fun.
And yes, I definitely DID go home for lunch!
Wonderful!! Love the Sarah updates…food looks good too!
Robin,
Trust me, the food was VERY good. It was some sort of sauce with cumin, soy sauce, and vinegar and maybe one or two other things. Yum.
that looked soooo yummy!
and the dancer looked sooo beautiful.
and MRS is sooo cute for initials…with a pretty name, too.
Mrs.
Isn’t MRS great for initials? Too cute.
I love the name that they chose! And that outfit picked out by daddy is just the sweetest. 🙂
LeeAnne,
Yes, I’m sure Nathan had a very good time picking it out. I would like to have been a fly on the wall watching him do it!
That meal has made me hungry and presented so well! Sarah is graceful and full of grace to boot! Madison Ryleigh…beautiful! I have a very young friend I watched grow up named Madison. She is now in Hawaii at, I believe, YWAM’s school to ready for a mission trip.
Guerrina,
YWAM (and Hawaii) are two great places to be! 🙂
How nice…a mostly-Sarah post to wake up to this morning! She looks so efficient in the kitchen and so graceful doing the dance. (And once again her body language is very Meaganesque.)
Love the name Madison! So sweet seeing Noah welcoming Daddy home.
We’re expecting our own baby boy Bo towards the end of April. I’ll be flying to NY for the event, so I’ll ask the pilot to fly over WY and UT (not sure he/she can squeak in a fly-over of VT and NH) and to turn on the Wi-Fi, so I can check your blog and complete your list. 😉
Jan,
Yes, i think Meagan has had an influence on Sarah–and that’s a VERY good thing! Congrats on the upcoming baby boy! And yes, I really think the pilot should have no problem with a few unscheduled flyovers. The friendly skies, right? 🙂
The Peruvian meal looks delicious. Sarah and her friend look so much alike and look like they have great fun together. Love the sweet photo of Noah and Nathan. And my heart did a dance with the name Madison as that is the name of my baby niece (who lives in Ottawa). Gorgeous name. How exciting that you will have a baby girl in your family! 🙂
Jenna,
How happy that you have a special Madison in your life, as well!