Last week we went to a Christmas party for the ministers in the area. Steve and Gage were invited to play along with the guy who was leading the singing.
As I watched Steve and Gage together, I thought of how wonderful it is that Steve gets to play bass with both of his gifted-with-rhythm sons: Nathan, who plays the drums, and Gage who plays the Cajon and makes it sound like drums. Steve definitely loves making music with the people he loves.
I love this picture especially because Gage was looking over at Sarah. She is never far from his mind.
You can always tell where Gage is sitting!
And speaking of Sarah and Gage, here they are with the church group where they volunteer several hours a week.
As before our church passed out hot chocolate, water, and cookies.
And, as always, our church restrooms open to the public were the most appreciated.
I was the person who welcomed people and gave directions to the restroom. About twenty-five people took advantage of the restrooms and every one of them was oh-so-grateful. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to watch a parade with a child who has to use the bathroom but it is not one of life’s more glorious experiences.
we had our church board/staff Christmas party at a nice restaurant in the area.
(Trivia: This is a restaurant where Andy Griffith came to eat a lot in the back room, which is where we were.
Also, a few years ago, this enormous restaurant burned to the ground. One of our board members and his company worked twenty-four hours a day and rebuilt it in just ninety-one days.)
We loved this enormous tree at the restaurant.
It was such a lovely gathering, with each woman invited to share her story.
Last week I visited one of our widows, Libby. She and her late husband used to live in a larger house a few years ago but when they got ready to downsize, their son renovated space in his house to be a small apartment. I couldn’t resist taking a few photos since she has such a flair for decor.
That’s Libby on the front row, on the right side of Sarah.
When all of my lunch guests from yesterday were getting ready to leave, they went to the hall closet to find their coats. Out of all the navy, black and beige coats hanging there, there was one coat that was fluffy and bright pink. I had to smile because I knew just who that coat belonged to.
I hope that when I am twenty years down the road, I will be the one wearing the fluffy, colorful coat.
goes back to last Thursday when we were supposed to go to a members and wives party for Steve’s R.C. Club. I’ve gone to their party before and they are really fun people. But my introverted self was feeling a little partied out and I was dreading slogging through the process of doing hair and makeup and spending the evening with people I didn’t know.
But lo and behold, about 3:30 p.m. a text came through from Steve. “Party canceled. Something broke in the restaurant’s kitchen.”
Now am I not rhythmically talented but suddenly the gift of rhythm landed on me and I did about two minutes of happy dancing all around the kitchen. Summer looked at me in great doggie alarm but I didn’t care. I had the evening free! Comfy clothes and quietude were on my agenda and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
The party was rescheduled for tomorrow night which is great since I will not be so peopled-out.
Tonight Sarah and Gage are coming over to help decorate the tree and, as is our Smith family tradition, we will have breakfast for dinner–pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs.
All three of our grandsons are sick right now: Grayson has pneumonia and Andrew and Noah have ear infections and flu. These are definitely the kinds of times that try the souls of young parents. Steve and I are so proud of Nathan and Meagan and the way they help each other help their children.
my heart is completely overwhelmed seeing the pictures of the devastation brought by the recent tornadoes. I cannot even begin to imagine the entire town of Manteo destroyed the way one of those towns was.
When I got up this morning and put on my robe and slipper socks and went downstairs to the kitchen, all I could think about was the thousands of people who are waking up in shelters or in the homes of friends and family, completely displaced with no hope of things ever returning to what they were. And two weeks before Christmas? That makes it even harder.
Steve was talking about the tornadoes to someone at church yesterday and they both agreed. “We don’t have any problems.”
Just when I get ready to be cranky because I have to come up with yet another dinner plan, or wash yet another plate, or do yet another load of laundry I stop and think that there are so many women that would dance a jig at the chance to go into their laundry room right now and throw in a load of whites.
Counting my many, many blessings today.
What about you? Were any of you anywhere near the tornado’s path?
Have you ever been through a tornado?
Do you look forward to Christmas parties or could you do without them?
What makes YOU happy dance?
All of the church get-togethers look like a great time and you are fortunate to have plenty of members to form those groups. Our church is really struggling…numbers going down and the bulk of the membership are elderly and dying left and right. So sad.
Yay for pink fluffy coats! I, too, will be that one wearing the happy, different coat. 🙂
I am really sorry that the grandsons are all sick. Pneumonia is so scary. But kids get sick fast and usually get better fairly fast. I’ll be looking for the ‘grandsons are healed up and feeling better’ post!
I have never actually been through a tornado. However, yesterday came excruciatingly close to being the first time. We had some really severe storms come rolling through in the early afternoon and as my co-worker and I were looking towards the west through the shop door’s window, we saw a tornado on the ground. It had to be only about a half mile away. It was moving north and ended up going right over the Wal-Mart store that my husband happened to be working in at the time. It wrapped the cart corral around his work vehicle but no one got hurt. It looked like he parked in a cage. Lol That’s also too close for comfort.
We truly are so blessed for sure. My heart goes out to all of those affected by those horrible tornadoes. God bless them all.
LeeAnne,
Wow. That is REALLY close! Seeing a tornado half a mile away would be so scary because they move so fast and so erratically–you never know where they will turn next. Thankful your husband wasn’t in the vehicle when it got wrapped in carts and that you and your co-worker safe.
I think that’s a close enough call to last you for a few decades.
I know the COVID season has been especially hard on churches as attendance numbers drop and then, as you said, it’s sad seeing so many older members pass away. The struggle is real!
Wow, so much going on in your life. I am a homebody and every time something gets canceled and I don’t have to leave the house I am thrilled.. 😀 Give me a good book or a puzzle and I am a happy girl. I live in Mount Airy, NC.. homeplace of Andy Griffith and we have the Andy Griffith Playhouse here where all kinds of plays take place all year. We have Mayberry days in Sept. or Oct. We are known as Mayberry but actually there is nothing here that has to do with the show but people are making money on the concept of it here. Sarah is looking amazing and healthy… that blesses my heart. She just glows. I hate to hear about your sick little ones. Praying they will feel better by Christmas. There is still a lot of Covid around here and people losing their lives to it and it is so sad. Our church is busy this time of year also. Our SS class is helping out a family that the mom has a brain tumor and there are 10 kids. We are giving all the kids clothes and gifts and the parents gift cards for whatever the needs may be. It is such a good feeling to help others at Christmas time.. or anytime. I hope you and your loved ones all have a very Merry Christmas and the New Year brings lots of great things… good health and much love.
Kaye,
Bless you and your church for helping out that sick mom and her family. A brain tumor and ten kids? I have NO problems. I know you are going to brighten up this difficult place in their lives in a great way.
Yes, reading a book in a quiet house is one of my happy places, too. And thanks for your words about Sarah. She truly does glow–with love and good health!
What a fun & happy post – except for the sick grandbabies and the devestating tornadoes. Prayers for MegaNate that they don’t get sick, and their family is soon healthy again. I’ve been as close as I care to be to a tornado – in 2015 there was a local tornado outbreak the day after Christmas that killed 13, 8 of which occured at a major highway interchange just a few miles from our home. I still think of that every time I drive by. The Arkansas town where my in-laws live had warning sirens Friday night, but fortunately the tornadoes stayed north of there.
What a precious gift that your church hosts a get-together for the widows of your church. And I agree – the huge tree at the restaurant where you had your church party is gorgeous! How fun seeing Sarah & Gage joining in “as grown-ups”. I hope you and Steve enjoy the rescheduled RC Christmas party.
Sue Ellen,
I can only imagine that driving by that interchange makes you think of that scary night. Thankful that the tornado stayed clear of your in-laws. Scary stuff!
Yes, it is fun to see Sarah and Gage as grownups. Takes some getting used to (at least me seeing Sarah) but it’s a joyful “getting used to.” 🙂
I have also been thinking about the recent tornado victims. You are right Becky, we are truly blessed. Fortunately I have never experienced a tornado. I was living in Boca Raton, FL when hurricane Andrew made landfall in Homestead on August 24,1992. Hurricane Andrew was a monster category 5 storm with winds 165-174 mph. A friend and I drove to Orlando to escape and ride out the storm. We traveled on the FL Turnpike to Orlando where drivers were using the median and grass areas, making their own lanes. There was mass panic, anxiety, fear and confusion. I relocated back to NC a few months later.
On a lighter note, Libby’s home is so beautiful !! She is a very talented decorator. I especially love the paintings along the hallway walls. The kitchen area is delightful. I’m sure that she enjoys spending time there. Thank you for sharing her home with us.
I love what Ruth wrote, “and the Lord Jesus, guiding us onward and upward each day”
Gloria
Gloria,
I can’t imagine that night when you were trying to escape the hurricane with all sorts of panicked people. I know you gave a prayer of thanks when you made it to your destination safely.
Yes, I truly love looking at pictures of Libby’s home. I am in awe of people who have that gift; such a joy to see all the color and creativity.
Ruth is always coming up with wonderful writing; it all truly reflects what’s in her heart.
Gloria, my sisters in law and brothers in law were living in Miami during Hurricane Andrew, one had just moved there and both their houses were destroyed, that was awful, I remember trying to get in touch with them and not hearing anything, they had evacuated to a friend’s house I think in the Orlando area as well but all the phone lines were down, we finally heard from them, my husband flew down from NJ to try and help rebuilt a bit but they ended up selling the houses as is and moved to Parkland and Coral Springs…..
Dale,
Wow. What a traumatic time for your family. Sounds like you and Gloria can really relate to each others’ stories!
I tried to watch the video on my laptop but it kept starting and stopping every few seconds. Switched to my iPad and it was perfect. I had never heard of a Cajon and had to google it. I thought my former music teacher brother had heard of one though so I asked him. His response “It’s a box a drummer can sit on and play. It’s amazing to me how many different sounds they can get out of them.” He went on to say my niece’s college choir used one on a piece – very effective.
I was not near the tornados – they did hit the east side of Missouri but I’m on the east side of Kansas, just west of Kansas City, MO. I have not been in a tornado but have been in a hurricane and some tropical storms. At least with those you usually have more warning than what you do with a tornado.
It depends on the party, I think. We had a cookie exchange Saturday afternoon for our Sunday School party. There were 13 of us there so a pretty good size. Tomorrow night my neighborhood is having another cookie exchange. I’m going but I’d almost rather just stay home in my pjs. 🙂
What makes me do a happy dance – a good book. Once we get my parents’ house sold, I’m sure I will be doing a big happy dance. The original close date was to be December 31st which I thought was pretty quick since they buyer had accepted our counter on December 3rd. Today the realtor called and said the appraisal isn’t scheduled until January 7th and then it will take several days if not a week to get the actual report. So, we are looking at mid to late January to close on it.
Phyllis,
It really is amazing that a Cajone can mimic so many drum sounds. It makes it the perfect portable instrument. I’m thrilled that Gage knows how to play one and that he and Steve can spend many happy hours playing music together.
Thankful those tornados did not come near you. And you’re right; hurricanes are no fun but at least you have some warning they are coming. Tornadoes can be there in the blink of an eye!
I will be happy right along with you when you finally close on the house. What a process that has been for you; kudos for all the work and time you have put into making that happen and taking care of that for your parents. I know they appreciate you more than words can say.
I loved the video of Steve and Gage playing together. Also love Gage’s haircut! Gage and Sarah always look so happy together in their pictures.
In 2007, when my son was a senior in high school, his school and the elementary school next door and many homes in our town were destroyed by a huge tornado. Eight kids (several were my son’s friends) were killed at the school and my son was sitting about 10-15 feet from where the wall came down on those kids. The entire school was pretty much gone and it’s a miracle that there weren’t more casualties. It was a terrifying day for all of us and one we’ll never forget.
We don’t have many big parties to go to, thankfully, or I think I would get “peopled out” pretty quickly! I would much rather go to small, casual gatherings with family and close friends.
I sure hope your grands are on the mend soon! It’s so hard when they don’t feel well. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas season! I know it’s a busy one for you!
Gayle,
I know. Isn’t Gage’s hair so cool? 🙂
For your son to see a wall fall on his friends and a building collapse around him would be such an unspeakable horror. Thank the Lord there weren’t more casualties and that he survived. I know that experience will affect his outlook for many years to come.
Thanks for the good wishes for Christmas. Sending them right back to you.
I loved the video of Steve and Gage playing music together. Gage’s new haircut looks great and the photo of you four by the tree was lovely.
What a wonderful idea, to have a dinner for widows. I know there was a wealth of life stories and wisdom at that table.
Very glad you got an unexpected night off–good for the soul! ♥️
I have been thinking of those affected by the tornados so much–heartbreaking. Like you, I am counting my blessings. Someone sent us a link on FB of a video of a man who lost most of his house to the tornado. However, his piano still stood intact in what was left of the living room. There he sat, in the midst of the wreckage, playing “There’s Just Something About That Name”. What a powerful act of worship in the middle of so much loss.
Love, Deb
Deb,
Yes, although they weren’t wealthy widows, they certainly had a lot of wealth to share in their stories and wisdom. I could listen to them all day long.
I loved that video with the guy playing the piano. What a small mercy that his piano survived and he was even able to make some music in the midst of the tragedy. Inspired by example.
The tornado damage is just heartbreaking, my closest friend lives in Nashville and she spent the night in her bathtub. I drive from North Carolina to Kansas City a lot to visit my son and I pass right through some of the hardest hit areas, in fact, I was just there 3 weeks ago. We lived in Kansas for 16 years so we were always as prepared and diligent as you can be for tornadoes, we had a section in our basement, in a windowless room, with tornado supplies….water, blankets, flashlights, transistor radio, batteries and shoes which I never thought about but during a tornado training class, we were told to include extra shoes because most people aren’t wearing shoes in their homes, especially in the middle of the night. Luckily we only had a few times spent in the basement when the sirens went off, it is a terrifying sound. We moved to Kansas in March of 97 which is the beginning of tornado season, and like most schools have fire drills, tornado alley schools have tornado drills. My poor daughter was in 3rd grade and during her very first day at her new school, they had a drill, the sirens went off, the lights flickered and they were all rushed to the cafeteria which was windowless and underground…..she thought it was a real tornado as we had gotten kidded a lot before we moved from NJ to KS, Wizard of Oz stuff……she panicked, thinking her brother and I were in danger at the apartment we were staying in and they let her call us .We also lived in Kentucky for awhile and a lot of people do not have much there so this loss is just breaking my heart thinking of some of the towns there in which the people were already struggling. And yes Becky, you are right, I was thinking about how lucky we are to just do ordinary things like laundry, watching football, making dinner…..
Dale,
What a great idea that you had tornado supplies–including shoes! That’s something I never would have thought of.
So sorry your daughter had a tornado drill her first day of the school year. Not exactly a pleasant way to start the year.
I’m right there with you–giving thanks for the smallest things in my life, simply because they are still there. Fuzzy socks, a cereal bowl, a light switch. Blessed beyond measure.
I have been through quite a few earthquakes and a hurricane, but that is it. The sun is out and that makes me happy dance! For over a year I have three friends over for dinner, but have stayed away from large crowds. Three of us have been out to dinner quite a few times. Last night I made meatloaf, baked potatoes, olive bread and a salad for the three of us. I am dismayed by the damage from the tornadoes, and just as unhappy with all the wild fires CA. I am happy I moved to MN before they became so frequent and fierce.
Cindy,
Yes, it looks like moving to MN has been a very good thing for you. I know you’ve enjoyed it and glad you had a sunny day to enjoy.
It’s nice you’ve found those three friends that you are able to spend time with and cook for. I know how much you LOVE to cook–and you’re so good at it!
Yes, we are blessed beyond measure everyday… Food -clothes–shelter- and the Lord Jesus, guiding us onward and upward each day. Ruth
Ruth,
Guided onward and upward. So true.