More flood info and mess

WOW....it stinks so bad!!! But so many have lost everything or nearly everything. Uncle Kenny has worked everyday to clear the hay and debris from the yards. He only let me help for about 3 hours. He didn't want me to leave the girls unattended in the house.

So today I went to get lime for the slime. The utility company suggested that we use that to try to kill whatever nasty stuff is in that water.

Here are some more pictures, of the little community north of us....and one close up of THE SLIME!!!

Flood Pictures

Stinky, rotten, worm carcassed water.

N-A-S-T-Y

Clean Up Begins

We are so fortunate!! We only have some hay to pick up and a tire or two. It's smelly....WOOHOO.....worm carcases everywhere.

Uncle Kenny started on things while I took the boy to camp. My camera's battery died, so I'll charge it up overnight and post pics tomorrow. I'll be helping Kenny and then taking the girls to the pediatrician for their well checks.

Hope all is well where you are

Long Time No See!!

Welcome to our version of the ARK story. We've been flooded in for two days. Columbus hasn't seen a flood like this in over 100 years. The train track down the street were washed away...there are hay bales and straw over the field....and we still can't get into town without an hour + trip around.

I'll post pictures shortly. We did not have any damage to the house, but the water reached the front porch early this morning. Scary...never thought it could happen. More rain is expected so I hope we're not going to do this again.

More later

Gordan Cherry Andis

Our cheagle.....Japanese Chin and Beagle.....named for Erik Gordon from IU...and Coach Dan...our friends, Sarah and Kevin Cherry....adopted him at 8 weeks, but as they've learned that they're expecting....Gordan is becoming too much to handle.

With the girls to run the little man...we've got that covered. We're so thankful that Sarah and Kevin thought of us.

Blessings,

Traci

Magic at the Aquarium

For our Spring Break...a trip to Berea and to Newport Kentucky's aquarium. We had a blast.

There were penguins to pet...jellyfish to watch...manta rays....an owl....whatever.......face painting. The girls loved it and the boys were very supportive of their new "beauty."

Neal liked the girls' extra bling that he got a grill of his own. Sometimes I think the kid is totally crazy.

Noland Turns 16

I can't believe that my baby is now 16 years old. Unbelieveable!!! We went back to Berea and had a little surprise party for him at church. Following that we went off for Spring Break.Then we had a little one at Aunt Jenni's house...Uncle Adam was away on a business trip and missed it. WE missed him. Aunt Lisa and Uncle Dodge came to hype up the party.

A Blue Day for me....

Just had to talk....ignore if you don't want downers.

Daddy died a year ago today. What a year!! What an amount of change is ones life in such a short amount of time. I don't want to sound like some public service announcement, but all the stupid cliches are TRUE....

Don't sweat the small stuff......you waste too much time

You can't take it with you......enjoy the time you have

Tomorrow is not a promise.....you don't even have any guarantees for the next minute

Make a Difference....once you're gone...what's really left??

Anyway....I'm just thinking a lot, and have been over the last year...about what's really important. I think that helping others is probably the most important and the hardest thing to do. Everything in this world is "me me me...mine mine mine...gimme gimme gimme." One of Naricyn's favorite things to say is, "Hey, what about me?" We laugh now, but how horrible to live an entire life with that mentality.

I give this to you because I know I get it back someday.

I share with you so you'll thank me and tell people how great I am.

I work so I can get the praise of my superiors and move up in ranks.

I love so that I can have someone to take care of my needs.

I help you so that I can look good to others.

I think we all know people like this...some of us have these people living in our homes....and I don't think they realize that Naricyn's 4 year old train of thought hasn't left their 30+ year old station. These people basically don't care about anyone but themselves and have learned how to use EVERYONE in their lives to get what they want. So much of a gift of life to be used this way. Scary to me that I was so naive to it....even to my 40th year. I always thought that people were generally good, giving, God-made creatures. Now I know that most take God's gift of life and become self-serving.

There wasn't anything that my parents had that they wouldn't give to someone else. I wish now that they had been a little more self-serving and left less for me. For me, they were priceless and their loss will affect the rest of my days.

Some time with China Sisters

So much fun with the newest Americans we know. Lilly, Kailee, Jiali, Karsynn and CJ.....and Emma, Niah and Naricyn

The Museum

Just before everyone decided to get sick...we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

Misc. Christmas Pics

Aren't they all so cute? Pictures with Grandma, Grandmother...cousins Drew and Daly.

Sicko

Again, I apologize for not posting.....we've had viruses ALL over!!!

Naricyn has been running 104+ since Saturday. The doc gave us amoxicillin for an ear infection on Tuesday. The fever hasn't shown up as often, but it's still there.

Niah has a cold-ish. So she's got OTC med. Noland and Neal too.

Big news though.....Neal got a HAIR CUT!!! Can't wait to be able to take pictures of him to show y'all. Hopefully I can get a new battery over the weekend.

God Bless,
Traci

Picture Troubles

Hi Everyone,

I've been having issues with my camera. GGGrrrrrr!!! I guess that the cold just got to my battery. It won't charge, so I have to get another. Hopefully that's it, and it's NOT my camera.

There are Christmas and other pictures coming!!!

The Day Before the New Year

So we're off to Greene County for a family Christmas with Grandmother. It's 6pm and we haven't left yet. It's about 2 hours to Grandmother's so it's going to be late, but we always stay up past midnight...so party on.

Then tomorrow we have our Christmas meal and everyone has to go home. It's sad that we can't stay longer, but Greg and Dodge both have to work. The kids don't go back to school until next week. I'll be totally out of the habit of getting up at 5:30. Oh well.

So how many of us are going to try to be healthier in 2008??? I need to.

Be safe everyone....lots of CRAZIES out there tonight!!!

Love,

Traci

News of Adoption

It looks like God has plans for "Naomi" that don't include us. We are not eligible to apply for her since we have not started a new adoption process. If, for some reason, she is not selected, we might be able to apply. That is sometime down the road. Please pray for her and the other children as they wait for their forever families.


Blessings,
Traci

Merry Christmas

We're here and Santa has come!! Now we sit watching the boys play video games, and the girls are drawing at their desks. The American Girl dolls are out and have been dressed and redressed. Naricyn is doing better with her twins than Niah is doing with Josefina. Maybe there are too many details with that one. Anyway....here are some pics.

God Bless!!

Smith Family Christmas

We celebrated Christmas yesterday here at the family homestead. Doug and his family came in from PA, so everyone was here. Dylan is growing like a week; what a doll!!! Doug also came with his mother-in-law. Jenni's clan was here too. Finally, Bev and Kenny made us complete.

Mom and Dad were surely pleased as they watched the families together.