We Did It!
Ok, I know it has been almost two months since I posted last - sorry to those of you who come by and check my blog.
First off - Happy New Year! 2008, a momentous year for many reasons is behind us, 2009 is filled with new hope, new promises and plenty of broken resolutions! I know I have several that I do plan on keeping, one of which is to get back into training for the triathlon. December was a 'bad' month in that I slacked on the training to focus on horse riding. We were given a horse at the beginning of December and I have been spending inordinate amounts of time at the stable riding our Thoroughbred-Quarter Horse mix. Espresso is a delight and the whole family has enjoyed being at the stables, riding, grooming, bathing and just spending time with one of God's magnificent creatures. Here is Espresso:
In other news - I had blogged in November about 101 days of sex, although in our case we decided it would have to be 102 days in order to ring in the New Year in the best way! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Terry and I completed our 'mission' this morning! Without sounding trite and cutesy, I will say it has been one of the best things we have done for our marriage, for our family and for ourselves.
Not every day was easy, although 99% of the time it was. One night about a month ago Terry had a migraine. Recently I had strep throat which made me feel less than glamourous, but through it all we made it! When Terry had his migraine I sent him to bed to sleep it off for a while and then I came in and woke him up. When I had strep throat we just made sure we didn't kiss! There were a handful of nights where the thought of going to bed, reading for a few minutes and then turning out the light sounded far more appealing than the alternative.
However the days of anticipation, the days of having fun, the days of enjoyment far outweigh the 'blah' days. And I discovered something that I know has been talked about in ladies magazines since time immemorial - having sex does make you feel better! There were a couple of times I had a headache. Pre-102 days I would have begged off sex, taken a couple of Ibuprofen and gone to bed. But instead I focused my husband and our pleasure and whammo - wouldn't you know it - headache gone!
Not only that but whether my appearance has changed or not, I 'feel' sexier! My appearance has changed too though. I have lost weight, become more toned and am definitely more limber. I think it is a cycle - I wanted to be desirable to Terry, so I began to work out; and because of the work outs I feel sexier, which gives me the incentive to work out, which makes having fun in the bedroom easier...
I mentioned in my November blog that one of the biggest benefits has been seen outside of the bedroom - in the area of communication. Terry and I have actively worked on our communication skills over the years; especially in the last two years. But like all couples we come at things from different angles and it is easy to be on the same side of the argument and not even realise it! However, there is something about sexual intimacy that opens up all channels of communication. Plenty of sex does not equal sexual intimacy, don't get me wrong. Porn stars have plenty of sex, but they're not intimate with the people they're having sex with - it is just an act for them. Sexual intimacy develops over time and is more than just a romp in the bedroom! It encompasses all aspects of one's married life.
Since beginning our 102 days of sex in September Terry and I have had exactly three disagreements. And I am not talking arguments or voices-raised-I-am-really-mad-at-you arguments, but small "I thought you said/meant/wanted such-and-such" type disagreements. For two people who are talkers and who have differing viewpoints on issues, that is almost a miracle!
Some may think that the reason for so few disagreements is the idea that you want to keep the peace so that you don't spoil the mood. That might partly be the case, but does not hold true for me. If I am upset then sex will not be enjoyable. And seeing the idea of 102 days of sex was to enjoy ourselves, what is the point of having sex just to keep score? "Yep, 51 down, 51 to go, but I am hating every minute of it!" What's the point of that?
No, the biggest reason we get along so well these days is because we truly communicate on many levels. The sexual odyssey deepened other aspects of our marriage, and cemented our love for one another and our commitment to one another. There are subtle changes in our relationship - a new kind of thoughtfulness has crept in. I don't know how many of you have read the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, but I think that is a book all married couples should read! My primary love language is gifts. Over the years it has been hit and miss for Terry in that aspect. More miss than hit actually! At the beginning of 2008 he really began to improve, but it is during these 102 days he really 'got it'. In the past he couldn't understand why I would get upset when I'd see him buy stuff for himself, and never for me (unless it was my birthday or Christmas). A couple of years ago he come home with some flowers for me and the kids panicked thinking they'd forgotten my birthday! We'd actually have arguments about it because for years because I felt so unappreciated. His attitude used to be, "Well. Just go buy it yourself if you want the darn thing so much." He couldn't see that if he bought it for me (whatever 'it' was) it would mean more, and show me that he was thinking of me. He has become really good at it now. When he goes to the bookstore to buy a magazine, he picks up a book for me. If he goes to the grocery store for groceries, he'll buy a card for me. Those gestures are so meaningful.
I too have realised that his primary love language is words of affirmation, and not just in the privacy of our home, but out in public. No man wants to hear his wife belittle him in front of people. I have never knowingly done that (I know better!) but I have made the effort to actively praise him in front of friends and family - and it is not false praise either. I truly feel blessed to be married to Terry - he loves God with his whole heart, he sacrifices for his family, he works hard to provide for us, he loves his kids so very much, he is compassionate, he is exceptionally gifted and talented, he is witty, smart, bright and most of all, he is MINE!
Some of my friends who knew that we had embarked on this adventure and have said, "Oh. I could never do that!" You don't know until you try! Don't allow the excuses to pile up - 'I'm too tired, too busy, too fat, too upset, too sick, too..." - Just Do It! We did - even with our five kids, our home-based businesses, our church commitments, and everyday activities that accompany all of the above.
I am not sure what we will do next - I do know however that our lives will never be the same again! The things we've learnt about each other, the communication skills we've acquired, the deepened understanding we have for one another are valuable treasures that neither one of us will take for granted.
Stay tuned - knowing us and our penchant for the unexpected we'll come up with something!
Labels: 101 days, 102 days, communication, Espresso, Five Love Languages, kids, sex, Terry
101 Days of What??
"So, do you think it will be like chocolate?" My friend Cynthia asked me recently, "You know, where either you get sick of it, or the more you have of it the more you crave it?"
"I don't know," I replied, "I'll let you know."
And now, 46 days into our 'experiment' I can confidently say I definitely fall into the latter category - I crave 'it'.
Crave what? Chocolate?
No. Sex.
Let me explain:
On August 19th Fox News carried
this story. I was so intrigued by it that I said to Terry, "Hey, wanna try it?" His eyes lit up once he read the story too. Of course, I had just given birth seven days earlier so starting the adventure was out of the question, but it gave us time to plan.
While I was pregnant I had already planned (and paid for) a romantic weekend away for Terry and I to Port Royal. I would be 5 weeks post-partum then and we decided that would be a great time to start our 101 Day odyssey. In doing the calculations I realised that 101 days takes us to New Year's Eve.
I haven't told too many people about our 101 Days, but I did tell Cynthia, Xavier's mother. "You can't stop on New Year's Eve," she exclaimed, "You have to ring in the New Year the right way!" She's perfectly correct of course, so really this should be titled 102 days, but we are following the title of the book!
So, how does this relate to chocolate? Any couple who has been married any length of time knows that their sex life can vary from day to day and from week to week. Sometimes it is erotic, passionate and breath-taking, a foreign rich, exotic dark chocolate, not taken lightly and not brought out every day. Other times it starts out as one thing and ends up being something completely different - a random blindfold-pulling from the mixed chocolate box; perhaps The Three Musketeers lands up on the evening chocolate plate - light-hearted and airy; another time it might be something nutty. We might plan for a certain kind of evening and end up with something light years removed from it.
But that is the joy of our 102 days, the unpredictability of it; the only predictable part is that Terry and I know that during the course of the day we will have sex. No excuses, no 'I'm too tired', 'I have a headache' excuses. There is no fear of rejection from each other during this time, no 'what if he/she says no?' because we have to say yes!
Terry blogged about this a couple of weeks ago and mentioned that this was a little tougher than he originally thought. Here is what he said, "You might be thinking, “But you’re a guy- don’t they have sex on the brain all the time?” Well, the truth is, although we might think of it a lot, the body is not always so willing, especially when the event is occurring every single day. The stresses and busyness of the daily life sometimes have left me with more inclination for sleep than for sex."
I am seeing only benefits to this though - we are a lot more aware of our appearance, both in the bedroom and out. I am on a mission anyway to get fit again after Xavier's birth, but this gives me added incentive. We touch each other more during the course of the day, and tend to sit close together even when performing separate tasks. We text each other and call, just to say 'I love you'. In some ways it is like we are courting again, but with the added benefit of years of intimacy attached to the thrill of dating. And because we know each other so well, we look for ways to keep things spicy and fresh. We talk more, and we are a couple of talkers anyway! But subjects that might in the past have been uncomfortable for us to discuss, we chat about with ease. We are more sensitive to each other while at the same time not being scared to express our thoughts on everything ranging from sex to salvation.
Every marriage has its share of disagreements. Terry and I over 15 years of marriage have managed pretty well to 'not let the sun go down on your wrath' (Ephesians 4:26) but there have been a couple of times the ill feelings have crept into the bedroom with us. Well, knowing I am going to be intimate with someone later on that day makes me rethink how upset I get about piddly little things. Am I really going to get bent out of shape because he didn't do something, or because he didn't say something?
We have asked each other what we will do once the 102 days of sex is over. We're not sure, but I did tease Terry that perhaps we should go for 365 days - like
this couple!!Labels: 101 days, chocolate, Cynthia, experiment, Fox News, Port Royal, sex, Terry
Pageant Weekend
Back in March (or April) we received a letter in the post inviting our girls to an open call for
National American Miss. I checked it out thoroughly before taking the girls to the first open call because the last thing I wanted was to spend money and feel we were gypped. Imagine my delight when I realised this is a great organization, with good morals, and they encourage girls to become the best they can be, without relying on looks. In fact, up until the Jr. Teen level (age 13 and up), the contestants are not allowed to wear make up.
The open call consisted of the girls undergoing a short one-on-one interview, and speaking in public to the people who were in attendance. We were informed that we would receive a call back letter if our girls were accepted. Part of me thought, "Yea right, everyone will receive a letter!" However, in looking at the number of girls who were in our open call, and knowing that two more were offered that same weekend in our location, as well as open calls in Houston, Austin and Dallas, I see now that to be chosen as one of the finalists was actually a great honor. If the same number of girls came to each open call, there were probably close to 900 girls in the South Texas area alone who attended open call. Only 140 made it to state finals, and our girls were two of them.
The weekend was an eye-opener for us. We opted to do just the basic pageant - personal introduction, one-on-one interview and formal wear. There is also a talent segment, an actress segment, a spokesperson segment, a modeling segment and a photogenic segment that are optional. It does not affect the judge's scoring if one participates in those optionals (they have different judges for the optional segments), but we noticed that those girls who were involved in the optional contests were also the ones who scored the highest with the pageant judges. I think the confidence the girls get from being so involved carried over to the pageant part.
Already the girls are talking about what they want to do for next year! Of course we have to go through the call backs again, but they should do just fine. And next year Terry and I will be better prepared - there are so many things we need to do as parents to prepare the girls too.
We had planned on doing on some sight-seeing this weekend. Now we know that it is impossible to do that! Once we were in the hotel our entire focus was pretty much on the pageant! Ah well - next time...
I am posting a couple of photos here, but here is a link to an album I created from the photos we took this weekend:
Smelker Girls.
Labels: Hayley, Houston, National American Miss, Pageant, Teagan, Terry, Warrick
Dinner Dilemma
Remember the halcyon days of our youth, where our parents used to plunk a plate of food at the table and we had a choice - either eat it or go hungry? Perhaps if you're under the age of 35 you might not have those great memories! Seems like many families today, parents and kids alike, are such fussy eaters that they now eat a diet of pizza, hotdogs, pre-packaged family TV dinners, chips, salsa, cookies and ice cream. Is it any wonder then that a program like Honey We’re Killing the Kids became an instant 'water cooler' topic the moment it hit airwaves in the UK and the USA. The
Joy of Tech website even took a swat at the issue with a comic strip where a group of overweight kids tease the skinny kid for not being fat.
I know with the pressures of work and family commitments, and the running the kids a million different places it becomes hard to always prepare a fresh meal every night - but my own mother is a shining example of someone who worked a full day job and still managed to make from-scratch meals every night. Dining out was a rare treat. She also kept no 'junk' in the house, but we always had an endless supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to munch on. And in the days when she cooked, the microwave was a new invention. So what's my excuse?
Five years ago, when our children were 13, 7, 5, 4 and 3, Terry and I did something that I have never regretted, and is something I am often asked to speak to other families about. We created a family of non-fussy eaters. Our oldest son, Warrick does not know the meaning of the word fussy, and was a fantastic eater. My girls followed, and were introduced to a variety of foods at a young age, and have been pretty good about food.
But then along came child #4. As a baby he was all right, and didn’t spit too many things out. As he got older and was able to verbalise, he certainly made me aware that he was not too impressed with the family dinners! If I served pizza (rare occurrence), he was thrilled and hot dogs (maybe served once or twice a year) were heralded with crows of delight; BUT if anything coloured appeared on his plate, we heard all about it too.
One night I reached breaking point. I had made a roast, with potatoes. He liked meat and potatoes, but I had the audacity to also make corn, broccoli and perhaps even carrots. He began to cry, “I hate this. I don’t want this.” I was frustrated and angry. Like my own mother, I make almost all of our food from scratch because I want to know what it is going into it; it takes time to prepare a good meal, and for the umpteenth time it was getting turned down. I am not one those of moms who considers herself a short order cook, so there was no leaping up from the table and consoling him by making him a separate meal. And we don’t carry frozen snack foods, so I couldn’t/wouldn’t microwave some pocket-pizza-type dish.
I suddenly had a vision though, of this child 15 years down the line — refusing to eat any fruits and vegetables, eating only meat, pasta, bread, potatoes and junk food. I could not let him do that to himself. At that point I turned to Terry and said, “We are becoming vegetarians for a week.” It was a sacrifice for me too, as I love my red meat, but I wanted to instill an important lesson in our kids.
I went online and found seven vegetarian meals and the following day went to Farmer Jack and bought all I needed for the next week. I sat the kids down and explained the plan. I would make dinner that night, and we would all sit at the table to eat. If they chose not to eat the meal I made they could be excused. They would spend the rest of the evening in their room, there would be no TV, no snacks, nothing. The following morning those who had not eaten their dinner would receive their evening meal (heated) for breakfast. If they decided not to eat it, they could be excused. At snack time they would be offered their dinner from the night before. If they chose not eat it, they could be excused. The same would go for lunch, and for afternoon snack. At that time, the dinner leftovers would be scrapped, and they would be presented with a new dinner meal. They could drink water (we drink water with our meals) and at snack I would give them milk and juice, but no more than they would normally drink — I didn’t want them filling up on liquid.
The first night the seven of us sat down. Garrick, child #4, immediately started crying about the food on the table. Without losing my temper, or telling him he had to eat, I excused him from the table. Now he had nothing he could control — food can sometimes become a battle of the wills, and I never want food to be a flash point in my kid’s lives.
The following morning Garrick was presented with some of the leftovers from the night before. He cried, so Terry excused him from the breakfast table. At snack time I brought out some of the leftovers. He refused them. He also refused lunch and afternoon snack. Never once did I yell, or try and force the issue.
I made a new dish for dinner that night, and again the seven of us sat down to eat. Once again Garrick refused to eat it. By now my heart was breaking for my little four-year old, but no one said being a parent was easy! We sent him to his room.
The next morning when he came downstairs and found dinner waiting for breakfast, he was that hungry he ate it. A corner was turned! He realized the food was actually rather good, better than he’d expected. And because he ate the vegetables he could now enjoy the regular snacks the rest of the kids ate.
I wish I could say we had a care-free week after that, but that would be untrue. However, what happened was all of our kids began to experiment more with foods, and although there were a couple more nights when Garrick (or one of his siblings) went to bed without dinner, the decision to basically limit their choice to ‘either eat this food or go hungry’ worked.
That was five years ago. We have learnt that Garrick and Hayley will gag on cooked spinach, so if I make spinach, they don’t have to eat it. But they love raw spinach. All of our kids love vegetables now; and often we buy a vegetable tray from Costco as our evening meal. Garrick gravitates to the broccoli, the carrots and tomatoes. Even when I make a meal that has meat and potatoes, the kids know they have to eat some vegetables first. As a result our meat consumption has decreased, as they fill up on veggies, fruit and salads.
We are not 'food Nazis'. If you look in my pantry you will find pretzels, granola bars, and even the occasional box of Oreo's (although I make most of our cookies myself). I am not averse to a bowl of ice-cream every now and then, and my kids can spend part of their allowance on candy if they choose. But those foods are not an everyday, all day part of their lives.
I feel we have armed our kids with the ability to make wise food choices, and the knowledge that truly, veggies will not kill them!!
Labels: food, Garrick, Hayley, pizza, Terry, vegetables, Warrick
Special Mother's Day
Some Mother's Days stick in your memory like super glue. One year Terry and the kids bought me a diamond solitaire necklace. Last year we were driving home from a vacation from Disney World.
This year has far surpassed my expectations. Firstly, on Wednesday morning I was featured on
Great Day SA as they told our story of being a surrogate. That show was repeated this morning - Mother's Day.
Terry has booked a massage and facial for me at
Spa Jane. I will go and enjoy that on Thursday morning, and I am thoroughly looking forward to it.
But my biggest surprise came this morning as I made my way downstairs after getting ready for church. On the kitchen table was a smallish bag with a couple of cards. I read the cards and then took the gift paper off the bag. I was expecting something small like perfume, or perhaps a watch, but what I saw instead was this:
Warrick and Terry decided to split the cost of the phone and yesterday while they were out picking up Warrick's new bed, they stopped off at The Apple Store and bought me the one and only cell phone I have said I wanted! I am not really a gadget kind of person, I seldom use anything other than my iMac on a regular basis. But when the iPhone debuted last year, I said to Terry, "I want that phone!" It's the only time I have ever asked for a gadget! Terry was thrilled, thinking that maybe I was becoming a gadget geek like him.
So, welcome to my new phone - like any Mac product in this house, it has a name. I have named my phone Aidan, it means 'happiness' and was my first choice as a name for Warrick before I was persuaded to choose a different name. This is my first iPhone and therefore seemed appropriate.
This Mother's Day will certainly stick out in my mind!
Labels: cards, iPhone, kids, massage, Mother's Day, Terry, TV, Warrick
Happy Birthday My Love
I have known you for 5,475 days (give or take a day).
We have been married for 5,178 of those days.
Today you celebrate 43 years on this earth - that is 15,706 days (I included leap years too!), or 516 months.
Can I love you more tomorrow than I do now? Well, I love you more today than I did yesterday!
Happy birthday my love, may the next 15,706 days be the best of your life!!
Labels: Birthday, Love, Terry
Terry's Idea of Heaven
I am not an artist - I make no claims to be one. I love art, I can appreciate paintings, photos and the like, but when it comes to how they are produced, you lose me. Terry on the other hand loves all things art - technical, creative etc. We'll be travelling down the freeway and he'll say something like, "Did you see that billboard we just passed?" Yeah, I saw it, I checked it for grammar and spelling as we went by. He however will say, "That font is the [insert font name here] and it was used by [insert name here] when he/she/they did the ad for [insert company here]"
He will show me photos that are reversed (I think that is the right term). I try to look interested, really I do, but unless the dog is on the ceiling, or the cars are driving upside down, I probably would never be the wiser. But I am glad there are the Terry's in the world - they make our world a happier, brighter and altogether prettier place!
Like any other professional field out there, you need to keep abreast of changes, trends and what the future holds. For artists like Terry 'the' conference to attend is
Photoshop World. Unfortunately finances have dictated that he has only attended one conference, and that was back in 2003.
Last night he was watching some online demonstrations and I overheard the announcement for Photoshop World 2008. It is to be held from April 1, 2008 and at Terry's
favourite vacation town. My ears perked up at that! About a month ago he had made mention that he really wants to attend one of their conventions again (and in all fairness I did fly to Michigan for a writer's conference. I was one of the speakers, but I still benefitted from listening to and talking to fellow writers.) I told him to start making plans to attend and to tack on a few days before or after the conference to see
Mickey at
Disney World. 
He's already making plans!
Labels: Disney, husband, Photoshop, Terry
Summer Days
I thought summer was meant to be a time to relax, sleep in a bit, take it easy, take time to smell the roses as it were (although Terry bought me some last week that I have been smelling!) But since the first day of summer the kids and I have been on the go! I looked at my blog and realised that I hadn't posted anything in three weeks.
The girls have joined a swim team again this summer. We bought a family membership for a local neighbourhood association pool and they have a strong swim team. Every morning from 8:30 to 9:30 the girls train. They have had 2 meets so far and they are 2-0. Already the kids are turning blonde and my freckles have emerged in full force!
Terry and I were roped into going on the chidlren's church camp again. We went last fall and I suppose we must have done a good job of supervising the kids because we were asked to return. Coffee was my salvation from the sleepless nights (as you can see I am holding a cup here!)
Hayley participated in one of the 'electives' held, Butterfly Ballet. She loved it and it was great seeing her dance in front of 700 people. Terry as usual had a great time with the kids - being a big kid yourself I suppose helps.
The girls have swim practice for another month, and then I suppose we might be able to sleep in a little later than usual.
I have been very busy with freelance work. Just this afternoon I signed off on a 700 page manual I had been editing for a client. That was a great feeling - it was a lot of work and I know more about retirement communities than I think anyone should ever know! The local papers have also been keeping me busy and I have actually been given my own weekly business column for one of them. That is fun because I get to choose what business I want to showcase and interview the owner.
So, the Smelker Summer is shaping up very well - perfect weather, wonderful pool and long summer days - my favourite time of year.
Labels: church camp, Hayley, swim, Terry
Time Flies By
When you're having fun! We returned from a wonderful vacation last week (I promise I will post photos on my .mac account as soon as I get a spare minute!)
This photo was taken on the monorail after a long day at the Magic Kingdom - you can tell it's been a busy day when the kids are zonked!
Our first day was spent at Typhoon Lagoon - we got the first shot of all 5 kids together in a long time!
I hit the ground running when we came back. I currently am about two-thirds of the way through editing a manual for a client, I have several articles to write for the papers I work for, and just returned from a trip to Dallas to visit the wonderful ladies at
Surrogate Parenting Center of Texas. I have worked through their agency twice now. I first contacted them in January 2004 but have never met any of them. I spent one full day with the owner on a road trip as we drove to interview a prospective surrogate and I made an instant best friend!
Summer is just around the corner, and in fact the last day of school for the kids is tomorrow. Instead of buying season passes to
Fiesta Texas as we have done in the past, we decided nothing can compare to Walt Disney World and instead chose to join a local sub-division pool. The girls will swim competitively again this summer, and Hayley will be able to join the District team and swim at a city-wide and hopefully soon, a regional level once more. This is the pool she'll be using next fall.
Oh, we also got "Little Red" a new (well new to us) car for Terry. We have had to share a car for the last 17 months; not that it is necessarily bad, but the busier I get with the freelance reporting, the more the need for a second car became apparent. Terry is now the proud owner of his first 'foreign' vehicle; a 2-door Honda Civic with sun-roof and 5-speed stick. We both love to drive it, and in fact I took it to Dallas this week. It's a zippy little thing with great gas mileage!
Labels: Disney, Hayley, SPCT, Terry
Growin' Up
Drake has been with us for almost a month now, and like a human baby we are amazed at his development! Of course a human baby would take a lot longer to get to the point he is now. We have completely weaned him, he sleeps downstairs with the other cats, instead of in a box in our room; and the funniest thing of all is that he chases poor Josh around the house. He is certainly ALL male!
Drake and Serena seem to have bonded pretty well. This is the first kitten she has actively liked - Chloe she tolerates.
Terry was playing with Drake and in mid-play he fell asleep!
Next Friday, the 20th he goes in for all his shots, and then I can set up an appointment for the 'big snip'. Terry and I believe very strongly in spaying and neutering pets, and we have done all of ours at the earliest opportunity. And with a male the earlier the better, otherwise he may start 'spraying' to mark his territory and there is no worse smell in the world.
Labels: Drake, spay and neuter, Terry
Kitties and their Owners
Drake has now been with us for a week, and is getting litter boxed trained, but still is only on kitten formula although I have tried to introduce him to solid food. He licked some gravy off my finger the other day and that was major progress!
Yesterday while I was driving through to Houston to pick up the girls from their long plane ride, Terry put a movie on for the boys. The opening credits had some loud music and Drake immediately went into attack mode! As you can see, the fur on his back is completely raised, the ears are back and he's looking for the danger.
This evening as I was helping the kids put away laundry upstairs, Terry fed Drake. I came downstairs to find them both on the couch, and could not resist taking this great shot!
Labels: Drake, Terry
Drake - a 7-inch bundle that has the dog petrified!
A couple of weeks ago I had to visit our local vet to pick up some medicine for our one cat (who is getting surgery this week). While there I saw the receptionist feeding a tiny kitten. Apparently it was found abandoned at a local
Vulcan Materials company, when he was about three days old. (I think the mother cat might have been trying to move him and lost him somehow.) The workers took him to the vet's office and that's where I first saw him. He was all of 10 or 11 days then.
Last Thursday Terry suggested I go and fetch him. We knew they were looking for a home for him, the receptionist had asked me if I wanted him; so they were most happy to hand him over with a can of kitten formula! He is about three and half or four weeks old, and still needs to be litter trained, and to be taught how to eat solid food. It really is like having an infant in the house again!
Joshua, our dog, was petrified of him! Today is the first time he has relaxed somewhat and follows the kitten around as he stumbles through the office. Serena, our 'senior' cat (she is almost eight) has warmed up a little, and will give him the occasional lick, but gets most indignant if he tries to nurse. Chloe has taken to hiding in the boy's room and hisses every time she sees me. Her nose is out of joint anyway because her girls are not here - she will feel much better about life when Teagan and Hayley return.
Here is the 'huge' kitten who's causing all this commotion!
Labels: Drake, Joshua, Terry
13 Years Ago Today...
Terry and I said, "I Do". The day was sunny, but freezing (well in reality it was below freezing being only 26 degrees) but we weren't about to allow a HUGE snowstorm from the day before and the subsequent non-arrival of some guests who were meant to fly in from Chicago spoil our day! I was excited, not nervous, and ready to start my life as Mrs. Terry Smelker. We decided to get married at a church Terry used to attend - Woodlawn Church of God, and I wish I had a better photo of it, this one doesn't do it justice!
After a brief honeymoon we settled into a two-bedroom apartment in Dearborn, one that for the next 18 months we were destined to call home.
We have moved many times since then, but that doesn't matter - where Terry and my kids are is where I belong. I love you honey - may the next 13 years be as exciting and wonderful (although with less births!)
Labels: anniversary, Terry
Wonderful Sunday Preaching
Terry and I are priviledged to attend a
church with incredible teaching, caring pastors and a group of people as diverse as the city from which they come! Part of the reason I love to come to the church is because of the sheer number of
South Africans and the best part is that sometimes Pastor Theo invites special guests. Today he invited Allan Bagg, pastor of one of the 'plant' churches that Pastor Theo has founded. It is inspiring to hear the Word taught with such authority and with a fresh perspective. I teased Pastor Allan after the service that he gave Pastor Theo a run for his money with the sheer depth of his teaching.
Tomorrow night Pastor Theo has organised for the leader of the African Democratic Christian Party, Dr. Kenneth Rasalabe Joseph Meshoe. We are looking forward to hearing him! Pastor Theo has known this man for over 20 years and is impressed with his stance for Christianity while working in parliment.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Pastor Theo, Terry
They Call It Puppy Love
Just a couple of photos of my dog and one cat - a love-love relationship
And tonight, Dad and Teagan decided to enjoy some time on the floor together - it was not long before Josh and Serena decided they needed company!
Labels: Joshua, Serena, Teagan, Terry
Formal Evening
Last night, our senior pastor, Beverley, had a birthday celebration for her 50th birthday. The party was held downtown at a really cool hotel called La Mansion del Rio, a 4 star hotel right off the Riverwalk:
It was a formal evening and so I bought a beaded, sequined gown and Terry dressed in his best suit. Warrick took this photo - not the best and I am hoping there are photos from the actual evening that we can get. There were plenty of photographers there last night!
The food was excellent (Filet Mignon), the company great and the music reminiscent of the 1950's - we listened to jazz all evening and then the dance floor was opened at the end of the evening.
The best part was getting out all night sans kids in an adults-only evening; dressed to the nines and with people we know and love. I can't wait for the next event!
Labels: adult, Christian Family Church, Terry
Like Some Water?
Visitors to the Smelker house beware! Tonight Terry poured a glass of water for himself, and then went upstairs to help Carson with a game. I came into the kitchen and looked over into the living room to see Chloe, our Calico dipping her paw into the glass and licking the water off her pads. I grabbed the camera from the office and took several shots until I got the one where her paw was in the glass.
I called her name and she looked up at me with this expression that clearly said, "What?? I am busy here!" No guilt, no, "Oops! Busted, better get off the table!" Nope she was a cool cat and just looked at me with this affronted expression on her face because I dared to disturb her.
Well, I was tempted to let Terry return downstairs and drink from the glass, but I took pity on him - this time at least...
Labels: Carson, Chloe, Terry
Our 'Baby' is 6!
On Sunday, March 5th, 2000 in the wee hours of the morning my first contraction came. I called the midwife right away and then woke Terry up. This was our fifth child and our second home birth and we had everything ready because the baby was already a couple of days late. Although we (actually I!) had chosen not to discover the gender of the baby, I just knew it was a boy.
Two and a half hours after my first contraction, Carson Lee Smelker made his entrance into this world. The dawn was breaking and he was welcomed by his oldest brother, and two sisters (his other brother was still sleeping), his grandmother, Daddy and an exhausted Mommy. Carson weighed in at a respectable 8lbs 8 ounces, but his length is what got us - 24 inches!
Today Carson is 6, attends Kindergarten and loves all things Thomas, and Buzz. He is a bright, happy-go-lucky boy with a smile to melt all hearts, and a hearty laugh.
We love you Carson!
Labels: birth, Birthday, Carson, God, Terry
Teagan is 10
Last night at dinner (spaghetti, the birthday girl's choice) Terry and I reminisced about the day Teagan was born. She arrived at 12:10pm after a six hour (drug free) labour, weighing in at a tiny 7lbs. With a shock of black hair, and tiny features she was so different from her big brother, Warrick who was born with blond/reddish hair.
I remember as though it were yesterday, the nurse handing a neatly wrapped Teagan to her Daddy and watching the tears of joy and pride trickle down his cheeks. There is no better sight in the world than to watch a father connect with his child for the first time. It was love at first sight for him.
And so our lives with Teagan (an old Irish name that means Beautiful One) begun. She has brought great joy to our lives and as we watch her grow we are amazed at the wonderful gift she is to us and to our family.
We love you Teagan!
Labels: birth, Birthday, God, Teagan, Terry
Daughter Dad Dance and Silliness Prevails
Last night (February 10th) Teagan and Hayley dressed up, I did their hair and their Daddy took them to a dance. Apparently there was a sign on the door, "No Mom Zone" and an evening of fun was had by all. Terry treated the girls as though this was a real date - he gave them each a rose, opened the door to the van for them, and basically showed them how a man is to treat a lady.
Last week the kids had a theme week at school and Friday was wearing sunglasses day - so of course our kids had to pose!
Labels: Carson, Garrick, Hayley, sunglasses, Teagan, Terry
