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Happy Birthday, Phoenix!

On Monday, August 24th, my son turned a year old, a whole year. Wow! He is not my baby anymore, but has grown into a toddler who walks and throws things and gets dirty and everything.

We went to Austin for a few days and had an early birthday celebration for Phoenix with my family. Phoenix had his first piece of cake, an organic chocolate double-layer I baked for him to enjoy. He mostly threw it all on the floor and squirmed to get out of his seat. He also enjoyed playing with Grandma and Grandpa Ortiz, and his aunts and uncle, especially Aunt Lily. It was all very exciting.

What's more exciting is that we are back home now, and by home I mean in Mesquite, the town where Isaac and I met and can't seem to leave! We left Sunday afternoon after church and lunch with my family in Austin, and then drove the near-24 hours it takes to get here. SO HAPPY that drive is over! Phoenix was great, just sat in his seat with his toys and Baby Einstein playing on the DVD player. Isaac was my hero, he drove the night shift so I could sleep. My mistake was eating McDonald's in El Paso at midnight. Ugh, the grease did not settle well with me and I felt sick the entire rest of the trip. Too bad it was the only place open. Another exciting fact about our trip: the restroom stalls in El Paso did not have doors. That was the scariest bathroom trip I ever made, just waiting for someone to walk in on me tinkling.

We are so thrilled to be back with family, with our awesome dogs, in a place that feels familiar. I don't know what the future holds as we still live day by day. Isaac is looking for a job here in Mesquite, and we're praying about where the Lord wants to take us next. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my first Isaac-filled days in a long time. It feels great to be home.

Frog-O-Sphere!

This past Sunday we went up to San Antonio again to spend time with our friend Pat and watch him practice football. It was a lot of fun, especially since our friends Nate and Taryn (and their little daughter Brooklyn, 6 weeks old and adorable) came with us. We ate lunch at the same place as last time, SMASH Burger. Mmmm...so delicious, the best burgers I've ever tasted.

In the afternoon we walked around the mall, and Phoenix was getting a lot of attention...he decided he didn't want to sit in the stroller, but he wanted to help me push it. So as I pushed the stroller, he walked right below me and helped push by holding onto the basket at the bottom of the stroller and pushed as if it were his own little handle. It was hilarious to see my little boy walking so fast and thinking he was the one pushing the stroller! What a hard little worker, what a Smith! I'm working on posting the video of him doing this.

We went to Brookstone, and they sell these new things called a Frog-O-Spheres. I might be amazed by not much at all, but these things are amazing! It's a little square aquarium with 2 frogs, a snail, live gravel, and bamboo. It's a mini eco-system. You feed the frogs twice a week and only have to change the water 2 times a year. The snail eats up all the waste, like the friendly janitor of the place, and the live gravel helps converts excess food and water into something the bamboo plant can use to release oxygen, which helps the frogs and snail thrive. And the whole thing lasts for 2-4 years! I was amazed, but alas, I didn't buy my own Frog-O-Sphere because it would have had to sit in the hot car for a few hours...not good for Mr. and Mrs. Frog. But next time I get the chance, I'm buying one of those awesome things!

Only 2 more weeks until we get to to go Mesquite and visit our family! It's been too long, almost 3 months, since we've seen everyone. We are so looking forward to this trip. After so much moving, change, and hard work, it will feel great to rest for a week and spend time with what's familiar to us- family.

Dallas Cowboys

Sunday was a lot of fun. We went to visit Isaac's friend from college, Pat McQuistan (#77), in San Antonio for the Dallas Cowboys training camp. It was so much fun! We got to watch them practice and met a few of the players. I talked to Jason Witten's wife and mother, since Phoenix was playing with Witten's little boys, who are so adorable. We also got to spend time on the River Walk, see the Alamo, and we ate dinner at a DELICIOUS Mexican restaurant. We got some pictures of Felix Jones, which Isaac was excited about, and we saw Tony Romo. I was starstruck! We are planning on going to the Cowboys vs. Giants game in September. I am PSYCHED because the Giants are my favorite team. Ya-hoo!

I am so proud of Phoenix lately. He is such a good boy. When he was a baby, Isaac and I struggled with him so much. It has always seemed like Phoenix doesn't do anything the way the books or doctors say he should. But I've learned what it means to be a mother and how to trust my instincts. Thank goodness, because for months I stressed over doing things the "right" way and worrying about Phoenix being "normal." Now I just set our own routine and it works great for us. Phoenix travels well, which is a blessing since we are either in the car or airplane every couple weeks it seems.

Isaac is on the home stretch, so close to meeting his sales goal for the summer. Who knows, maybe we'll get to come home early...wherever home is?

Loving Laredo

We are here in Laredo, and we love it. Very hot, very busy, a lot different than Springfield was. The best part about Isaac's job right now is that we get to experience so many different cities, and we are both learning so many great lessons we would not have been able to learn otherwise. God is great!

I just got back from visiting my family in Georgetown, and that was really awesome. I got to visit their church, Calvary Chapel Georgetown. The pastor is awesome, the sermon was convicting, and the fellowship is so warm and welcoming. My family is very blessed to be able to go to church there. Also I was able to spend some time with my family in Austin, where my uncle is very sick. It was neat to pray over him and see God working in their home while we were there.

Isaac works a 12 today, from 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM. I'll hang out at home a lot, since it is so HOT outside, and maybe spend some time with my friend, Taryn. Her little girl Brooklyn is just 5 weeks old and she is adorable! Tomorrow, Isaac is taking me and Phoenix to San Antonio to watch the Dallas Cowboys practice. He is friends with one of the players, and we are excited. We might also go to Sea World, I LOVE the dolphins! I keep asking the Lord if there's going to be dolphins in heaven. I would sure love that!

Thankful, Grateful, Joyful

THANKFUL right now for more than I can possibly write. We finally got a car, praise the Lord! We are all healthy, happy, safe, free, and provided for.

GRATEFUL for the opportunity to move to a new place this weekend! Laredo, Texas, will be home to us soon. I am excited to become a part of a new church body, make a new apartment our home, and experience a new part of the country. I only wish I was 100% fluent with my Spanish, but at leats I know enough to carry on a conversation with a child!

JOYFUL...I have learned something over these past few months. Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Being happy seems to be the goal these days, but happiness is so shaky because it depends on your circumstances, which change from day to day. Who knows if you will have enough money next month, or if you will have reasons to be "happy?" But joy, true joy, comes from the Lord. It's being content with what you have and trusting God, because even at my lowest point, God NEVER abandoned me. Even at my lowest point, God revealed to me my true wealth, and showed me that I am richer than most of the world just by having a safe place to sleep and food to eat. JOY:

J- Jesus first,
O- Others second,
Y- Yourself last

Jesus promised in John 16:22, "I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."