Some of us chose to wear party hats to the Birthday celebration!!!! Some of us used those same style party hats for soup bowls!!!!
Caleb and Ashley are enjoying and waiting to see what I open for my birthday...
I had so much help opening my presents. Tomo really wanted to rip the paper and Juda couldn't stop clapping....
Cheryl and Cho are always invited to our Birthday celebrations....they never get the prize for coming the longest distance....they live next door.....
Bethany's second piano recital with Shamako sensei.....VERY ENJOYABLE!
As Bethany would say, "This is my SEESTA!" Smith girl power!
Juda loves his"DANDY"

Introducing 4 of the Smith BOYS enjoying ice cream as we farewell Andy and Jillian as they head off to America, Charleston SC....
Our Farewell Celebration for Andy and Jillian....we are a partying bunch of Smith's...
Instead of "De clawing" Baxter we chose to "Soft Paw" him with glue on nail caps. They are great and he doesn't mind. He can still scratch but not snag the furniture.....This is the Mother'sDay special, pink and blue.....
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Smith................Legally for Ben and Alisha not ceremonially....They wanted to have Andy and Jillian as their witnesses, so before they left island we all piled into the Uruma City Office and viewed the signing of the Japanese Marriage License for Ben and Alisha....Wedding Bells will be ringing August 27.....

And again...Mr. and Ms. Smith
One more time...Mr. and Mrs. Smith....
"Adopted and Loved Forever".....for sure.....
Mr. and Ms. Smith again driving wild....

Speed Racer Juda can get pretty out of control. Slow down #7.....
Ben and Andy are keeping their eyes on something/somebody during Bethany's Birthday celebration at the Ice Skating Rink in Naha.....
Bethany enjoying pushing Katherine....
These three are most likely solving the issue of "Where did all the cupcakes go ...should see some results from their conference soon, watch your nightly news.....
Our very own Mr. Mushroom.....
Our quarterly Okuma visit would not be complete without riding the buggies.....
Party til you drop is what 10 year old girls live by.....
Tomo says: "Does this crown make my ears look big and stick out?" It's just not worth the hastle.
Our very own Princess....
Family style Buggy....Just what Ben and Alisha need.....
Ice Skating is a great way to spend getting cooled off on a hot Okinawa Day....
Juda is skating, wait no,he doesn't have skates on, that is his sneakers.....only Juda could manage that one....
I think Andy was the hired help for the party....
Some of Bethany's friends who joined in on the fun....Little Sam in the number 8 car, he loved it...
Juda is in denial that he is just too big for the little car on ice. Try as he might, he couldn't find room inside the car for his legs.....He just doesn't want to grow up, he's a Toys R Us kid.....

We are always up to something...

We are having a great spring time moving into summer. We enjoyed all the spring birthdays with huge celebrations. Tom started us off in March turning?? then it was Ben and Jillian in April, now for me and Bethany in May. We can take a break til July for Alisha's, then into the Fall.....We are trying to have one a month....not really.....but with our foster babies birthdays too...wooooo, I'm sweating just thinking about keeping up with them and now for grandkids to begin their celebrations, ok now I'm really in a tizzy... Our Sweet Baxter Boy is always able to catch a Cat Nap no matter what is going on, even typhoons!

Typhoon Songda took all our flowers and plants with him/her, EXCEPT one tiny AmericanBlue flower, look really close to the left of the light pole.....ha ha

Kurashiki Dam is a great place to play in and enjoy some water. It is always cold just like a natural spring back home in the south. Bethany doesn't mind the temp at all but Tomo sure did at first....

Can you find Tomo in this picture, he is there for sure, just not easy to see....

Woo dad don't put me in that water it is soooooo COLD......

Matching dresses for our birthdays what a treat....

Bethany loves fast cars......so does Ben.....they can't wait to try it out.....

Yep...count them....she is 10.....she has wanted to be ten for so long.....We were one of the first appointments at the pass and ID office on her Birthday to get her ID card....what a milestone.....

New Bible and New Case and New Journal (thanks Andy)......she loves them all...

Ben took Bessy next door to shop and Tom and I QUICKLY decorated for the Birthday event.....She is such a party planner for everyone else Birthdays, we couldn't let her down, she loved all the decorations and fun....

Her reaction to the decorations.....she is such a funny girl

WHAT do you think this is......?

How about this one??????? Tomo has decided that photography is in his future, near future....when he get's a chance he snags the camera and snaps away. It really has been a good time taker for him. This is his view of his feet. The pic above is his legs. It is hysterical to see what pics he takes.....

Pancakes for Bethany's Birthday Morning....They looked great until I flipped them, just imagine,no pics ...

Our newest family thanks to ANK......they are complete for now....

Bethany and Sam have a special love for one another. Sam was one of our foster babies for the first months of his little life.....We are thankful they live nearby and we get to see him often....

Tomo is not waving he is trying to grab the camera....remember he thinks he is a photographer....

Bessy friend Alicia. They have been friends since yochien days, preschool.....

Bethany passing on the box of goodies for the people of Northern Japan to Mrs. Melody to take with her on her trip there. Thanks so much Vinskus girls....

Our house guest has found his fingers.....mmmmmgooooddddd

We hate to see the Clemans Family move onto their next duty station but that is the military life. We are thankful that their number 7 child is from ANK.......what a blessing for him to grow up in such a godly home....

More WONDERFUL News to Share!!!

We are so blessed to have so many blessing all at once. We decided to pace the news a bit....
Just take a look at the pics of how much is going on in the Smith Family and try and guess our latest news FLASH!!!!

Jillian and Andy showed up one evening with a gift bag for us and this is what was inside. We like the names "GrandPa and GrandMa", but are open for suggestions, LOL. Please join us in praying for our first "Grandbaby", for Jillian to remain healthy and strong during her pregnancy, for she and Andy's safe travels as they return to America (Charleston, SC) for their next duty station and for a good transition for them.

Rejoice with us and the Reimer Family as we celebrate the life of this precious baby and praise God with us as we anticipate what special plans God has for his or her life.

Ben is graduating....

We are so happy and excited for Ben as he graduates from the University of Maryland with a BS in Business Administration. Pics to come after he throws his cap....

Radical by David Platt

Taking back your faith from the American Dream.....
Are we growing more like Jesus daily or are we growing Jesus to be more like us, if so...when you gather in church and lift up your hands and your hearts to worship Him, we may not actally be worshiping the Jesus of the Bible. Instead we may be worshiping ourselves.....!

TheKnot

You can go to this site and view the plans of Ben and Alisha's wedding and join to receive updated information: TheKnot

Jumping for JOY

Well, we continue to grow as a family and add to the Smith name. We are so proud to announce that Ben and Alisha will be getting married on August 27 here on Okinawa. They have set up a blog site for everyone to view. Have a blessed day.