Just a down right Beautiful Day!

Good to be alive, kind of a day!

Ending with a sunset that dreams are made of...

Ahhhh...what a gift!

Thanks Whitworth Elementary

I had the privilege of taking a few staff picture to celebrate the end of the 2009 school year for Whitworth Elementary. It is the start of allot of transition and new beginnings for many teachers and students as the school district is mixing things up and switching gears. K-3 will be redirected to attending at two other local schools, while 4-5th will remain at Whitworth. Makayla will be moving to Oakdale to start her 2nd grade year.

Thank you Whitworth Teachers and Staff

Best wishes to all of you in the year to come.

I dream of Cherries!

The older the kids get the more cherries actually make it into the buckets...Today was a fun and very dust day in the orchard. Now for learning how to can!

Happy 4th of July

It's hard to believe that it's already the 4th of July...where did June go? Seriously? As you can see, we're back together as a family celebrating our Independence TOGETHER! The kids and I where away from daddy for a total of 24 days. A trip that was to be no longer than a week to 10 days-went horribly wrong. We arrived back to Oregon late Thursday night and have taken a few days to decompress.

Before we left Washington my dad was released from Swedish hospital and was transferred to Cherry Hill Rehabilitation Center. We're grateful that he was excepted to this program, but where shocked to find out that he will only be there for 10 to 14 days. After which time, he will be released into the care of my mom once again. It is one thing to learn how to maneuver through life without a hip, it is entirely another to administer iv antibiotics three times a day without medical assistance for the next two months.

I look forward to returning to some normalcy in my own life between future visits to Washington in the months to come. Between all the medical issues, there continues to be allot of work to be done on fire clean up, rebuilding and property sales. This is indeed going to be a major life change for my parents.

Happy 4th from our family to yours!

New Beginnings

Thank you for all the powerful prayers. My dad is waking up to new beginnings today. Surgery went well yesterday. It was a 4 hour procedure ( much shorter than expected ) and a very long wait in recovery. The long and the short of it is that the doctors removed all of dad's artificial hip and also a spiral wrap and any bone that was infected. The spiral wrap seems to be the main source of infection, so with a continued regiment of antibiotic drip for another 6-8 weeks...hopefully the infection will subside completely. My dad still has a long journey ahead of him to try to adjust to life on crutches, a walker or wheelchairs. This is it...There is no future plan to but a new hip in...he has his life and all limbs to help him balance, he has a strong spirit and the athlete within him is still very much ALIVE! He is ready to press on and do the best he can. Knowing my dad this is just one more challenge that he will rise too. I can just see the upper body strength now!

Again thank you for all the love and support...Praise be to God for his mercy and grace.

Current Prayer Requests:

That recovery would go smoothly , that he will gain weight and strength in the days to come, his protien levels would rise, that he would be able to do what the phyisical theripist ask of him, that he would qaulify to be placed at Cherry Hill Rehabilitaiton Center, that he would be patient with himself and others in this process. That God would cover, protect and provide in all financial matters. Continued wisdom, strength and guidance for our entire family.

Blessings, Peace and Love to you and yours-

The Smart and Totten Family

Major Surgery Today...Please Pray

Just wanted to let everyone know that my dad will be in surgery today at 3pm-on (possibly a 5-6 hour procedure). It is considered to be a major and very lengthy surgery. Your prayers would be appreciated as we continue to hope for God's best.

God Gives...God Takes Away

It has been a difficult week for my dad and family. Doug Smart's time at home was brief and he was rushed back to Swedish hospital last Friday. He had spiked a fever and the infection in his leg was causing havoc once again. My dad went back into surgery Saturday morning ( I think this is #5, but quite honestly - I have lost count). It was determined that if the infection was so bad, the doctor had signed permission to remove the entire appliance and bone from dads body. My dad does not want an amputation of his leg and opted to keep it even if it would not be of much use to him. My dad had no idea what he was going to be faced with when he awoke from surgery. It turns out that the doctor left the appliance in and felt that there was still a fighting chance to control infection and get dad back on two legs again someday. It has been a horrible ordeal in every which way-mentally, physically and emotionally. It has been a time of reflection and deep gratitude as well as surrender and testing of faith. Our family continues to covet your prayers. I have spent the past few days typing out the beautiful eulogy that my dad wrote for Bob Tate's memorial service. In doing so I have come across some fun pics and stats about my dad. Praise the Lord his story is not over yet.

UPDATE: As I was writing this my mom just called with the news that the infection is to much and a new bacterial has taken hold. The appliance needs to be removed and life is forever changed for my dad. I will keep you updated as best I can...The next surgery will take place within the next few days. This will be the beginning of a new song for all of us as dad faces life in a wheelchair or crutches. A rehab facility will be his home for several more months to come, as we work together to support and encourage him through this life change. For those of you close to my dad. He is needing space and time to grieve.

Amazing God knows what we need, right when we need it.

This was a scripture and prayer sent to me today that I believe is timely and meant just for my dad in his greatest time of need.

Isaiah 40:31

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not be faint.

Thoughts on today's verse
It is easy for us to live victoriously for the Lord when we soar on eagles wings. It can be exciting when we run and don't grow weary in the work of the Lord, buoyed by his power and presence. But it often takes heroes to keep walking and not faint when trying times come. Keep on walking, brother and sister. The Lord is there when you most fear he has forgotten you!

Prayer:
Majestic God, whose voice holds together our universe, give those who can barely walk under the stress and assault the strength to continue. I specifically want to pray for those I know personally who are facing trying times. Please, dear LORD, give them strength and meet their most pressings needs.

DOUG SMART Garfield1955A 6-7 forward who scored 30 on Wilt Chamberlain in college and still holds Washington records for rebounds in a season and a career. He is ninth in career scoring with 1,478 points.

STATE OF WASHINGTON
SPORTS HALL OF FAME

"Recognizing Talented Sports Figures Around Washington"

Doug Smart
Inducted: 1994
One of the University of Washington's premier basketball stars, he starred for the Huskies in the 1950's. He won numerous all-star honor, gaining All-America recognition in his junior and senior seasons. He led his Garfield Bulldogs to a state high school championship in 1955. He is now a prominent Seattle dentist.

Doug Smart DDS
Dr. Doug Smart is a 1963 graduate from the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
He brings his patients over 40 years of practicing dentistry in the Seattle Northgate area. He enjoys his family and love of horses in his leisure time.
He was one of the UW's premier basketball stars and starred for the Huskies in the late 1950's. He won numerous all-star honors, gaining All-America recognition in his junior and senior seasons. Dr. Smart still follows his alma mater closely.

Summer has Begun!

Our family has a favorite place that has blessed us with refreshment and family time over the past several years. The creak that runs right through our neighborhood, just two blocks from our home has been a place of retreat, reflection and solitude from me as well as a place of adventure and discovery for our children.

The above pictures where taken just a few days ago and the following photos are from last summers fun, that I just never got around to posting.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8

Wishing you all a blessed summer as you drink from the living water that will refresh, restore and bring forth new life. To God be the Glory in our lives and yours!

Life is so Random Sometimes!

As some of you have already heard...we had a visitor in our neighborhood last week.

First it was a kitten rescue then it was a rooster...

Life indeed is random at times. The kittens and rooster have been a fun distraction from the norm and it makes us keenly aware of Gods awesome sense of humor.

The rooster found a good home by nightfall and the neighborhood is more connected because of his visit. God can use anything to bring people together.

Double the Fur...

Just over a week ago, Scott came home with a little grey kitten. The poor little thing had been abandon at our church. He could barely walk and was very, very hungry. We think he was about 3 weeks old. The very next day Scott found another kitten ( same place, different bush) and the two brothers where reunited. Over the past week and a half we have enjoyed bottle feeding this little pair. They have gone from being weak and frightened to strong and playful in no time at all. We still have yet to officially name these two-so if you have any fun ideas...please feel free to post a comment with your suggestion.

Some possibilities are Mike and Ike, Jazz and Taz

or

Moses and Aaron?