The Smith's First Christmas

This Christmas season has been new and different for me. It was my first Christmas as a married woman! It was also my first Christmas spent away from my family. I miss all of you so much! Yet Michael and I enjoyed our first Christmas day spent together. I thought I would post some pictures to chronicle our day...

We woke up early and made cinnamon rolls! Here I am with our delicious rolls, right before putting them in the oven..

Here is Michael frosting them after they were done. There was so much butter in that frosting that we called it butter-frosting and thought of Nick...

After breakfast, we got ready and headed up to Midland with Michael's sister and her boyfriend. Michael's parents and his three younger brothers were all there. When we got there, we opened gifts, ate dinner, then played a game of Buzz Word together.
Michael and I hanging out on the couch at his parent's house...

Michael's youngest brother had built a huge snow fort in the yard, so went outside to check it out. Michael and his brothers hanging out on the fort...
Michael decided to pick me up...

We headed back home around 7 and relaxed for the rest of the evening. We took this picture together in front of our tree in our apartment..
So, that was our first Christmas together! Michael is back to work today. I have another week off from work. We can't wait to come to Cincinnati next weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family:) We love and miss you all!!

talkin' 'bout my guy....NICK

About a month ago, Nick tried out to compete to be the next "Spartan Idol" (as in Michigan State Spartans). It's a singing competition. Ever since Nicky was in Kindergarten, he's been singing. It started with Phantom of the Opera. He would belt out that song at the top of his lungs. BUT, get to school, and Nicky was so quiet. All his teachers would tell Mike and I how they wished he would share more in class! I have a feeling that they would not tell us that if we had a conference with his college professors. Nick is not shy any longer and is just a joy to be around. Oh yeah...getting back to singing. I encouraged Nick to get into choir in high school. He couldn't fit it into his schedule. But, Nick loves to sing. I call him a walking Ipod!

(Mike, Nick and Jen)

This past summer, Nick and I went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he auditioned for American Idol. He didn't make it. We had a blast with that experience.

So, he made the "cut"for Spartan Idol. The competition was Friday night.

He sung "My Girl" for his solo.

This is the group of Spartan Idol Hopefuls.

Nick in the group number.

Talkin' 'bout my guy, Nicholas!

We are very proud of you!

Thanks to Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom for these photos.

Thanks to Sara Ponce for going and supporting Nick.

Thanks to Nick's mentor friends and bible study friends for their support!

A Michigan Weekend

Julia and I went to Ann Arbor on Saturday. Kaitlyn's friends honored her with a "shower of love." It was a great afternoon. Gaia and Julie did a great job planning the shower especially for Kait. The menu was all Haitian foods! Haitians breads, rice, mango punch, vegetables, and a mango pie for dessert. One of Kaitlyn's favorite foods in Haiti was the Mango's. It was so nice to meet Michael's mom, sister, grandmother and aunt. Julie was the shower Photographer and will email photos later. (my camera was in the van) Kaitlyn and Michael received many nice gifts!

On Sunday, we got up and went to kaitlyn's church. Nick drove over from EL and joined us for church and my FAVORITE restaurant for Sunday lunch, Cosi! Below are some photos from the day on Sunday.

'The wedding is 26 days away! I can't wait!

Pumpkin Carvin'

Today we went to Turpin Farms to pick out pumpkins. We had a beautiful day! Tim commented that if Julia was our only child, this photo would make a great Christmas card.

Julia loves "horsies" as she calls them! She got to ride one and she loved this!

She also got to do the tower. Tim did it first but I had the camera with me and missed that photo =-(

Once back home we carved them. A Combes Family Tradition.

Mike's friend, Benjamin, is in the chair next to Tim. He's in Mike's men's Bible Study. He came up and had dinner with us.

One day later this week, I'll post photos of the completed pumpkins.

a battleground state

This election, I am feeling blessed to be living in Ohio. As most of you know, it's a very close race here and the two campaigns have been spending a lot of time and money. Until recently, I was clearly an undecided voter. A few weeks ago, Barack Obama was at a rally at a nearby park. I decided to attend. It was a great experience with over 15,000 people in attendance. I wasn't sure of the restrictions on bringing a camera, so I don't have any photos. I had a pretty good "standing position" and it was very exciting. I met some very nice people.
Two days ago, there was a McCain/Palin rally at Lunken Airport, which is less than 12 minutes from my house. I brought Tim with me, even though he is firmly in the "Obama" camp. I knew it would still be a good experience for him.

It was held in a hangar at the airport. Tim and I took positions outside along a fence. The secret service or security was on top with machine guns; interesting to watch. Below is Tim and you can see inside the hangar where the speeches were given.

Tim and I waited for over three hours for the rally to begin. I loved it!

The plane on the left (below) is a smaller one that says "McCain-Palin." I think this is the one that Sarah travels in. It arrived first with Gretchen Wilson and a hefty press corp. About 15-20 minutes later, the bigger plane arrived! It was so exciting!

Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin were the first to get off the plane! We had such a great view of the tarmac and all that goes on out there.

Below is Todd, John, Cindy and Sarah! They were waving to me (well, not really).

They walked across the tarmac and into the hangar for the rally. We could see them via a big screen while they gave their speeches. Everyone spoke, but Todd.

You can't really see, but the Palin's two youngest daughters were signing autographs in the shadows. They hung out and talked to other people while the speeches were given. After awhile, a young lady exited the jet with Trig in her arms and boarded the "Straight Talk Express" bus. Willow and Piper went on stage right at the end of the rallies.

I was so hoping that I would get to shake someones hand. John and Cindy McCain were making their way towards me. Secret Service finally reached where I was standing...making sure the floor was cleared and made me put my pen away!

I got to shake John McCain's hand and we looked each other in the eye! I also got to shake hands with Cindy. It was very thrilling. Oh, Tim got kinda bored and gave up his place along the fence and missed out on this chance.

Here he just past me. Sarah and Todd Palin did not make it to where I was standing. They waved, but that was all. Their family boarded the bus for Dayton. John and Cindy were off to Florida on the big jet.

No matter who wins, I want to support our next President. As my dad said today, we need to support him and get rid of the partisan politics and get our country on the right track.

Now, I just want this election to be all over.

Karen

Last Weekend

Last weekend, Kaitlyn and Nick were home. We had such a grand time (as Julia would say it). Below is Julia with her coach and a friend at the soccer game. (Julia on right) The morning started out rather chilly. Kaitlyn was prepared!
It was great having them home for the weekend.
It was our last weekend all together before Kaitlyn gets married in five weeks!!! YIKES!

My four kiddos!

The "fam"

This is a picture of our debris pile after Hurrican Ike came through.

Our pile actually grew after I snapped this photo!

Nickenson

Nickenson is a 17 year old Haitian that Kaitlyn met this summer. Nicky and Kaitlyn became fast friends. Almost from the first meeting, Kaitlyn felt a "big sister" type love for him. You see, Nicky would come to the orphanage almost every day because his friends work there. He is rather quiet and Kaitlyn didn't notice him the first month she was there. She got to know Nicky in June when Michael was in Haiti. Nicky is a kind young man. He helped Kaitlyn speak Creole and she helped him learn English. He is very patient and I see humility as a strong character trait.

Nicky's mom is pictured below. Her name is Marie and she is 38 years old. She works sometimes cleaning people's clothes but it hard to find a job. Nicky has two younger brothers, Spencer who is 12 and George who is 10. They do not go to school because their mom cannot afford it. I learned that Nicky's dad has another family and does not live with them. Nicky and his family live in a one room house with two mattresses and a tin roof. When it rains, they get wet. They share that home with his grandma (the mother of his father) and an aunt. So, you see, there are six people who share that one room. There is no kitchen, no bathroom, no electricity. He is one of Haiti's poor. Our entire family has been praying for Nicky and his family. He calls me "mama" and Mike "papa." We have been emailing Nicky very often and Kaitlyn has spoken to Nicky by phone. It might seem strange to most of you, but it is very common for Haitians to have a cell phone.

A blessing that has come to me from my August trip to Haiti is meeting Nicky. I have a "motherly" love for him. Nicky shared with us how sometimes he doesn't have hope that going to school and getting a good education will help him. He sees some of his close friends who are older and who have gone to school, still not able to find a job. We would very much like to help Nicky. We desire to bring him here to study and get a good education that he can take back to help his people of Haiti. We are not sure how this will work and are praying about it.

We took Nicky with us to the Hotel Ibolelee for the afternoon. We had lunch on a beautiful patio situated in the mountains near Petionville and then we were able to swim in their pool. We had such a fun day.

I feel I have a Haitian son. I desire to let him know that he is loved and that we care about him.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."

what makes you smile?

photo credit Linda Tomala

This photo came up on my computer this morning and it made me smile. I thought I would share it!

I really don't have much else to report. Our weekend was spent watching Julia play soccer and then church on Sunday. Julia and I went on a long walk to the Farmer's Market. She used her own money and know what she bought???? Two tomatoes! The whole way home she kept kissing her tomatoes and expressing her love to them! She refuses to eat them. I hope she knows they will not last forever.

Tim auditioned for a commercial last week. He played the part of a "bad used car salesman." We haven't heard anything back so we assume he must not have gotten the part. It's been a fun "hobby" for him/us.

Julia had an appointment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital last Thursday. Routine visit which included an echo cardiogram and an office visit. She loves the attention she receives whenever we go for a doctor/hospital visit. The news is good in that there is no change. Her next visit won't be until next July, so that was another piece of good news. Dr. Hirsch is impressed that she is playing soccer.

Nick went to Univ. of Michigan to visit Kaitlyn last Sunday. Kaitlyn shared a "slice of life" at her church. This is a cool part of their church service. Each time someone gets up and shares what God is doing or has done in their life. Some of the stories that I've heard are amazing and I feel these people show bravery in sharing them. I know others can learn from them. Kaitlyn shared about her heart for Haiti and our "adopted" son Nicky. (Some day I will post about him.) Kait and Nick are coming home the weekend of the 18th and we are all looking forward to that visit. I miss my "big kids."

Well, I guess for thinking I didn't have much to say, I've said alot! Hope to get a photo up soon of our HUGE debris pile in the front yard. The city of Anderson picked it up today, free of charge. HURRAY!

Love to all!
Karen

a very special gift (and girl)

Mike and I had a very nice 25th Anniversary. Julia was very excited about this anniversary. She asked me often if "I was excited about my anniversary?" She made this card for us! What a treasure we will always have.

Then I found out that Mike and Julia were in cahoots. They went shopping to the local jewelery store (while I was in Haiti) and purchased some "bling." Mike bought me a very beautiful diamond pendant (past, present and future) and diamond earrings. Julia helped him pick it out. Mike didn't want me to get him anything because he said he will be able to look at the jewelry on me. Julia kept asking me what I was going to buy Mike. She told me I "needed" too. She knew how special this gift was for me. (I didn't buy him anything because he said he would be "mad" if I did...I feel guilty now)

Another touching thing was she gave Mike and I each $5. She knows we are on a "budget" and knew that would make a thoughtful gift.

Thank you, Julia, for helping to make our day so special!

ps Not to be outdone by his little sister, Tim presented to Mike and I nearby items: a Scrabble game and a book that Mike hasn't finished reading. lol!

What Does 25 Years Look Like?

1983: Get married to my best friend. Take a honeymoon to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. Begin our life together living in Normal, Illinois.

1984: Move to Cincinnati, Ohio (for the first time). Find out that we are pregnant, but miscarry our first child.

1985: Find out we are expecting again. Move to Evanston, Illinois.

1986: Kaitlyn is born. Our life was enriched.

1988: Nicholas is born. We are busy.

1989: Move to Lake Villa, Illinois. We bought our first house.

1991: Sold our house and moved to East Lansing, Michigan. We rented two townhouses.

1995: Bought our first house in East Lansing. Tim is born five weeks early. Life is full!

1999: Decided to move to Louisville, Kentucky. Mike is transferred. Our life is blessed during this time as we grew closer as a family. Kaitlyn and Nick were challenged to meet new friends and start in a new school.

2001: Back to East Lansing again. We are all pretty happy about this move back "home."

2002: Adoption is first on our hearts when I traveled to Haiti with my sister.

2004: Kaitlyn graduates from high school and begins college at Univ. of Michigan.

2005: Decide to pursue adopting Julia who lives in Russia. We find out about her heart condition and Karen and Nick traveled to Russia to meet her.

2006: Mike and Karen travel to Russia to adopt their precious daughter, Julia. Karen is diagnosed with breast cancer. Julia has open heart surgery to repair her VSD that wasn't repaired at birth. We are thankful for our health.

2006: Nick graduates from high school and begins college at Michigan State University. Mike is pretty excited to have a Spartan in the house.

2006: (more) Decide to move to Cincinnati, Ohio. (2006 was a BIG year)

2007: Mike begins his new job in Cinci and Karen and kids stay back in EL to sell the house. We were blessed with God's perfect timing on that. We spent our first summer in Cincinnati as a complete family.

2008: We are blessed by the announcement of our daughter, Kaitlyn, getting married.

I love you so much, Mike! You are my best friend and I cherish our life together. Here's to 25 more years of marriage!

Love,

Karen