I Lava You

 

On Saturday afternoon, six out of the seven of our  tribe caught the 4:40 matinee of Pixar's latest creation, Inside Out. To my surprise, I enjoyed it--specifically, the message. I wasn't a fan of the fuzzy animation and I did fall asleep for a couple of minutes- (sleep is a given whenever I sit down). And still, I adored the message of family and sadness being a necessary element of family and life.











I don't know if it was the movie's message of family or the fact that I'm getting a bit sappy in my advancing years- but I've been thinking of some of the beautiful simple acts my children have preformed regardless of knowing sadness or disappointment in their lives.

 





 

Natalie and Scott- traditional birthday breakfast outing

Yesterday, one of my children was asked to fill up water balloons for a church picnic. The water balloons did not fit our water spigots- so, Natalie pumped the tiny water balloons up with a bicycle pump then carefully filled each balloon with water from a water bottle; needless to say, a tedious and lengthy process. To her chagrin, toddler picnickers arrived and SPLAT! She watched in dismay as an hour of her work was gone in 30 seconds!  In spite of the outcome, I was proud of her ingenuity, responsibility and sense of following through with an assignment.

Anna's favorite company in the universe

All of my children and I'm positive your children as well have had moments that reward our parenting experience. Perhaps when they show compassion for a friend or concern for someone hard to love. My heart soars when I witness the youngest tribe member bring home a half melted snow cone for an older sister or when two of my musically inclined children play Pachelbel's Cannon in "garage band style" on a Saturday night or when my high school senior decides to approach a teacher on her own to opt-out of an inappropriate assignment or when my 15 year old son still kisses his mother and sisters in public or when my oldest- with an infinity for texting as her preferred form of communication decides on her own to serve a mission for our church which will require A LOT of talking face to face with real live people!

What do you do in your hotel room on a Sunday? Ping Pong!

 And then there is the chief of this tribe- my husband. He knows disappointment and heartache, but continues to work with integrity and determination. He has a PhD in computer science. He has a rewarding job at a government lab. And yet, we are still driving our 1995 paint peeling, upholstery ripping, three time smog test failing Prizm and our van of 180,000 plus miles! We don't have enough cash for a down payment for a NorCal home, however, we have no debt. Scott is a rock star- minus the tight pants! The following is a link to an article my smartypants husband published in the esteemed IEEE magazine:



http://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/co/2015/08/mco2015080018-abs.html

Jo Ann Lloyd family reunion June 2015, Boise, ID

Seriously, God knew what He was doing when he planned for all of us to be a part of a family. I Lava my family.

Lake Powell Prowl

Shannon and Steve were our hosts of the MOST!

 Our home for a week: Yacht Yet(i)

Anna chargin' the wake!

Natalie- on her way to the next Wake Pro Tour

Sarah- tearing it up!

Max- Duuuuuuuuude! right?!

Sadie girl

I soooo got

thiiiiiiiiissss-

see.

Scott- 57, BAM!

Another one, just because I'm so proud!

 

Some serious wake surfing

So... the Smith's are just a tad bit more proficient at this water sport thaaang

 

 Too

 

 

Leggit

to quit!

"I Can't Feel My Face When I'm with You"

(lyrics that seem to fit this death-defying activity)

Lake Powell Home-slice

Motley Crew 2K15

For Good

 

I’ve heard it said That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those
Who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
But I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you-

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a Sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we may never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learn from you
You’ll be with me
Like a hand print on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend

  

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind of the sea
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But
Because I knew you-
I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I’ve done you’ve blamed me for
But then, I guess
We know there’s blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore 

 

Like a comet pulled from orbit Like a ship blown from its mooring
As it passes a Sun By a wind of the sea
Like a stream that meets a boulder Like a seed dropped by a bird
Halfway through the wood In the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better

And
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsuiy824IuM