Epic Long Post

For me, this fall has been about catching my breath. Honestly, this is the first time since I got pregnant with Abby that I have felt like I had my brain, my hormones, my SELF back. Life has been very overwhelming for me for a long time and my responses to the pressures have been, at times, less than godly. I am so very thankful to the Lord for the grace he gave during that time and patience he has for sinful and struggling believers on the road to glory.

The biggest change was the opening of Beacon Hill Classical Academy! The Lord is so kind to give us the desires of our heart: an institution which comes alongside the churches and parents of Ventura County to raise up thinking Christians to redeem the culture for Christ. And these kids are absolutely flourishing! It is so exciting to see what is possible in education. And the positive peer pressure these kids give each other--iron sharpening iron--just spurs them on toward love and good deeds. I am very thankful to the Lord carrying us through to the first day and beyond. We continue to look ahead and see what the Lord has for Beacon Hill next year.

Devin has been very busy building up the school and working on his new Master's Degree in Classical Studies. He is such a rock: diligent, hopeful, and persistent even through the busiest times.

I never seen the family so full of purpose and joy. Aiden has been learning the piano and filling our home with beautiful music to the glory of God. We have begun hymn singing nights at our house to give the church more opportunity to learn how to sing well and bring a joyful and beautiful noise to the Lord at church services. Jonathan is learning to read and is bold and excited about his young faith. Geneva is thrilled to go to Awana Cubbies and seems to understand the Gospel more and more. Abby just loves to be with her siblings and it is a joy to see them loving on each other. Life is really good right now.

Oh, and also I'm training for a half marathon. January 9th in Irvine. It's been so fun (I can't believe I really said that). More on that in a later post.

Here are a few pictures from this fall.

Geneva "visiting the ballerinas." She doesn't know it yet, but it really was her free trial lesson at Oakley Ballet School. She will be getting ballet lessons for Christmas!

Decorating gingerbread houses with Beacon Hill classmates and friends, the Spooners.

At the Awana Grand Prix in November.

Aiden and the beloved Mrs. McElroy at the Fall Festival.

Governor Bradford, I mean Jonathan on the last day of school before Thanksgiving.

Yes, this is really what you think it is. Abigail fell asleep standing up.

(By the way--I accidentally reset my camera to black and white and green for a few weeks--oops)

Sweet times. I've been waiting a long time for these moments.

Reformation Day/Halloween costumes. Pilgrim, Indian, and Raggedy Ann.

Here's Aiden rockin' his Martin Luther haircut.

"Here I stand."

Awwwww...

Devin's class eating "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" treats

First day at Beacon Hill!

Date to the Getty Museum in September

Abby's first night in her big girl bed!

By Way of Explanation...

Hi again! Since the last post a lot has happened which I would have normally loved to blog about, but crazy thing...Life got in the way! Now that we're settling down a little (maybe I shouldn't jinx it by saying that), there should be a few more updates.

Coming soon...Halloween, I mean, er, Reformation Day pictures!

Summer in Prineville: Misc.

This was the first day Jonathan was up on a two wheeled bike.

Our days in Prineville are always full of fun activities. Here's a few pictures of them to finish off this series of posts. Can't wait for next year!

Summer in Prineville: Smith Family Olympics

Trevis explaining the rules.


Abby's best event was the aim the water in the bucket game.

The most hilarious event was the baby relay. We all got a bunch of laughs at Geneva's and Abby's expense. They were good sports, though.

6 events. 2 teams. Only one winner. Smith Family Olympics.

Summer in Prineville: Cousin Time!

I absolutely adore my nieces and nephews. There is nothing more fun than to watch my kids and their cousins play together. We missed Xander, Caden, and Hailey this year, but here are a few pictures of fun times with Claire, Jorden, and Ava.

Coming home from my fabulous breakfast date with my niece Claire. Love you, Claire!

We've finally reached the years in our family that we've all been waiting for--those years we can send them out back on their own and tell them to just stay on the property! I'm still watching after my sweet Abby, but the rest of them had a ball creating their own fun. This year we let them sleep in the tent out back all by themselves! Of course, Uncle Trevis sweetened the deal by offering a dollar to any child who could make it out there until morning.

Ava, our fearless one, holding a mouse caught by Pop-Pop's mousetrap.

The boys playing "Mountain Trolls"

It was so fun watching Geneva and Ava hit it off this year. They are really two of a kind: spunky, fun-loving girly girls!

Summer in Prineville: Daddies vs. Kids Water Fight

Ahhh...the moment the kids have been waiting for all year!

Note to the daddies: your years of drenching domination are numbered.

Jonathan's Funny

I have to get this story out before I forget it.

Yesterday I cleaned out the boys room and so the boys spent hours playing together in the living room. They were great for the first two hours or so. Then Aiden comes in and says, "Mom, Jonathan keeps destroying my Lego creation. I keep telling him to stop but he won't." So I said, "Ok, send Jonathan in." Jonathan comes in and tries to explain why he did it: "Aiden keeps taking all the Lego weapons and hides them from me and I don't have any." I say, "So that made you angry and you destroyed Aiden's creation." Jonathan says, "Yea, everything in me wanted to hurt his Lego, Mom. My brain wanted to, my hands wanted to, my eyes wanted to, everything except my skin wanted to Mom. My toenails?...(thinking)...oh yeah, my toenails didn't want to . Everything except my skin and my toenails wanted to Mom." I was already trying to hold in a giggle from the skin comment. The minute he said TOENAILS I couldn't hold it in anymore. He says, "What's so funny, Mom?" And of course I had to say that I was thinking of this thing that happened some other time...nothing to do with toenails, nope, nothing.

Summer in Prineville: Grandma and Pop-Pop

Jan is always cooking up something delicious for her family. Her specialty is pies, crumbles, and cobblers--using berries fresh from the Northwest--mmmmm.

Jan took us all out to a lovely dinner and play. We are very pampered by Jan--she is always treating us to pedicures, massages, and girls nights out. Thanks, Jan! The young lady between Jan and I is Ania, Rebecca and Trevis' friend from Spain.

Don didn't need to go to the gym this week with all the pushing he did this week!

Enjoying Don's special homemade creme de mint ice cream!

Nothing is more fun than riding Pop-Pop's lawn mower.

Don's beautiful garden

Don and Jan are the reason we love to come here. They are absolutely the best in-laws a wife could have. I thank God that I not only married an amazing man but married into an amazing family.