Welcome home Daddy!

Kristen had a surprise for her daddy when he came home. She had all these post-it notes stuck to our bathroom mirror with nice things about daddy. (She use to call this paper "sticky paper" when she was little. She LOVES sticky paper!

Hint, hint . . . . (it has been awhile).

Most importantly . . . . . John has ruined these kids . . . .they love coffee!

Awe . . .

Cute little bunny basket the Smith Girls made. Isn't it cute?!

Watch out . . . .

for that wall Johnathan! The poor kid about fractured his foot. He has a couple broken toes. He ran right into the wall!

Whoa . . . a green fro!

Nicholas being his funny self!

Running on empty?

Lately I have been feeling like my tank is always on "E". I have suffered from low iron my whole life. I haven't always taken my iron like I am suppose to and somehow I always got by. I learned to live with it. Some days were better than others but for the most part I could do everything I wanted and it didn't seem to effect me. But in the last year I have noticed that I am just tired all the time. And other things were starting to happen that got my attention as well. I started having chest pains, couldn't concentrate, poor sleep, dizziness, and my hands and feet were cold all the time! I went to the doctor and he sent me for some heart tests and blood work to check everything out. All my heart tests came back normal, thank the Lord, and all the other test came back okay as well. . . . . all except my iron, which was very low. I had told my doctor that it would show I was anemic cause I have been my whole life. He subscribed 300 mg of iron a day but let me start out with 150 mg a day until my body can adjust to the iron and recommend I see my GYN. After going through some things at the GYN's office, she determined that I have an enlarged uterus causing heavy bleeding, which is depleting the iron in my body. So, she doubled my iron to 300 mg a day because I am going to need to have a hysterectomy done and my iron is not high enough at this point to do the surgery. They scheduled the hysto for April 21st in hopes my iron will be high enough by then. I go back on my 35th birthday, April 16th, for more blood work to make sure I can indeed proceed with the surgery. I have no doubt I will be ready . . . all this iron I am on should do the trick! Even though I an not looking forward to having surgery, I am looking forward to be running on a full tank once again! I was reading a pamphlet on anemia and read this:
Why does iron deficiency rob us of our get up and go? Just as a fire can't burn if we cut off its supply of oxygen, a shortage of iron in the blood means that our cells are deprived of the oxygen they need to burn the body's fuel. The problem is further compounded since iron is required to produce the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) our cells use for fuel. With too little oxygen and too little fuel, instead of running on all eight cylinders, we run on two or three, and sputter through our day.
Well that describes me . . . sputtering through my day! Some days my get up and go has already got up and went before I even get out of bed! I do have to say that this whole process as made me be more reliant upon Christ. I cannot get through one day on my own strength! I need Him to give me the strength to do the things I need to do. He has been so gracious to me and has given me all I have needed for each day, even times to lay down and rest. God is so faithful!
Thank you for your prayers!

John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

This I know . . .

This I Know

I do not know what next may come
Across my pilgrim way.
I do not know tomorrow's road
Nor see beyond today.
BUT THIS I KNOW --
My Savior knows
The path I cannot see,
And I can trust His wounded hand
To guide and care for me.

I do not know what may befall
Of sunshine or of rain.
I do not know what may be mind
Of pleasure or of pain.
BUT THIS I KNOW --
My Savior knows,
And whatsoe'er it be,
Still I can trust His love to give
What will be best for me.

I do not know what still awaits
Or what the morrow brings,
But with the glad salute of faith
I hail its opening wings!
FOR THIS I KNOW ---
That in My Lord
Shall all my needs be met,
And I can trust the heart of Him
Who has not failed me yet.

~E. Margaret Clarkson~

John's cousin Angi emailed this poem to me today. Her husband passed away in January of a heart attack. He was a pastor. Angi's reliance upon God and her strong faith continue to be such an example to me. Please remember her and their fellowship in your prayers.

I love the last part of this poem . . . For this I konw that in my Lord shall all my needs be met, and I can trust the heart of Him who has not failed me yet! . . .AMEN!

Did you know?

Publix pharmacy offering to fill

prescriptions for free!

The grocery chain started offering seven oral antibiotics — Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin (excluding ciprofloxacin XR), Penicillin VK, Ampicillin and Erythromycin (excluding Ery-Tab) — for free at all of its stores.
The drugs treat common ailments such as sinus infections, earaches and urinary tract infections. They also account for 33 percent of all generic prescriptions and half of all generic pediatric prescriptions Publix pharmacists fill.
The free antibiotics are offered to customers regardless of their prescription insurance provider. New or current customers need to provide the pharmacist with their prescription for up to a 14-day supply, and it will be filled at no charge. Publix is not limiting the number of prescriptions customers may fill for free.

Several other companies also offer discount drug programs. Last year, Wal-Mart started offering a 30-day supply of many generics for $4. Target said it would match Wal-Mart’s prices. And at K-Mart, you can get a 90-day supply of some generics for only $15.

For the Walmart prescriptions, you may want to pick up a copy of what meds they offer for $4. We picked one up yesterday after John's new medicines were going to be $50 each. We took the list to our doctor and he re-ordered off the list. John went to pick up his meds and he had to pay nothing after the insurance picked up the four bucks for each prescription. Just thought we would pass along this helpful information. It may come in handy for you too!

Honest little boy!

This is so cute! He reminds me of Nick when he was little!

John & his mom playing Wii track

Run Memee run!! Too funny!

Wow it has been awhile since I have posted. We have all been fighting sickness for over a week and half. Praise the Lord, we are all much better now. John's mom came to visit on Saturday and leaves tomorrow morning to head back to the ice and snow storm that they are expecting in Indiana. Gosh, I do not miss the snow! This picture above is of the sunset in Seaside, Florida from this past week. It was so beautiful! God is so amazing!