Coolest job ever!

I love my job as a Chaplain. It's only Monday, and I've helped someone threatening suicide get the help he needs and I got to visit the wife of an Airman who just had (one month early) a 5# baby girl that they didn't even know was coming! I even got to hold the baby! She was perfect, and if you know me very well, you know I could go on and on and on--I won't. Last week, I visited an Airman in jail, and was able to see God doing some work in his life, now that he's hit rock bottom and all has been taken away from him.

Quite honestly, it's satisfying to be used of God in the lives of people. A few months ago, someone told me this--"Life is hard; stupidity makes it even harder." If it just stopped there, with "life is hard," what a waste this life would be! Thanks be to God for taking our stupidity and making it into something glorious! That's an awesome kind of job satisfaction.

Views and Sierra-isms

This is the view from our house. You can see the Rockies in the background during this beautiful sunset.

Sierra, as usual, keeps us laughing. Here are just a few "Sierra-isms" for your entertainment.
1. (After neighing loudly) "I'm kind of like a horse."
2. (After commenting on her roaring like a tiger)
Me--"You're not a tiger!"
She-"I'm just talented!"
3. While putting her to bed one night, she comments, "Dad, you're getting a uni-brow!"
4. Tonight, while she is doing her homework, she asks, "How do you spell 'nerd'?"
Me--"You spell 'nerd' like 'S-i-e-r-r-a'."
She-"Dad, how do you spell 'nerd'?"
Me--"K-a-y-l-a"
Kayla--"Oh, Dad! That was mean!!!"
She-"'Nerd!' Dad, how do you spell 'nerd'?"
Jen--"Sierra, you spell 'nerd' as 'n-e-r-d'."
She-"You know, like 'Leonard'!!"
5. 5. I called Sierra the other day and asked her to do something for me. She said, "I love you," and I said, "You're cute." Sierra responds with "Ah, you never tell me I'm cute." WHAT KIND OF FATHER AM I?

Life is just a barrel of laughs with children!!! Check back often--we'll try to keep these up-to-date.

APB (especially for the Dardens!)

Learned something new today. My sister-in-law turned around long enough for her 3-year old to grab the Super Glue and pour it out on his feet! Picture this little boy with great, big globs of greasy, grimey Super Glue all over his feet! Angela immediately scooped him up off of the floor (before he was stuck there to eternity and beyond!), and attempted the tried-and-true method of . . . . . . . acetone! She continued this treatment, despite Evan's cries of "It hurts, Mommy"! until she realized, with a fright, that she was running low on acetone and Evan's toes were still stuck together!!!! My wonderful mother-in-law recommended the Poison Control Center. So, here's what the "experts" recommend in such a situation:
1. DON'T use acetone. It burns (thus the aforementioned cries!).
2. DO soak in vegetable oil for 5 minutes (the super glue covered appendage, not you personally).
3. DO wash with warm, soapy water.
4. Chisel off super glue (please do NOT use a real chisel).

Bill and Barb--please mark this blog for future reference. You KNOW Owen's gonna need this advice!!!

New Smith Activities!

Hi! This is Kayla and I am starting gymnastics THIS Wednesday! I'm really excited! My teacher, Mrs. Gadlin, also entered my non - fiction book, NEPAL, in a young authors contest. I think it's going to be some real competition! As everyone - I think - knows, I'm going into 7th grade next year. I want my electives to be computers/electronics, a Speech/Drama class, and, as a back-up, Chorus. I think these will be fun but a little challenging. I'm not taking any advanced classes because I want to get used to junior high first. I'm a little nervous about junior high.
Dad is making me read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and there are some REALLY BIG WORDS in there. He's going over with me what they mean. Dad also ordered the next Harry Potter book for me, and it's supposed to be here July 21!
Sierra is taking piano lessons, so Mom and Dad are renting a new, digital piano. It's awesome! She is really excited. She is also getting yet another tooth! Sierra's teacher is supposed to be having her baby SOON! Sierra is excited that she gets to see Mrs. Hume's baby after it's born. I'm really jealous that I don't get to see her baby.
Milo has been very excited to see Dad again. Every time he sees Dad, he jumps on him! It's kind of funny, until he does it to me. :(
Kraig here--it's been a busy week for all of us. As you can tell, it's only going to get busier. Have a great week, and we look forward to hearing from you!