Dr Seuss Week!

We have had lots of fun actities going on at school (schools) with Dr Suess week. Sarah had some neat snacks at school with her two year olds and brought home recipes we have enjoyed at home too!!

We has Suess Cakes....very yummy!


We also had schlopp:


I made Suess Cakes for Seth's class this afternoon:



I so enjoyed being in the classroom with Sethie. I love fun days:)

Playing both sides

In a long talk yesterday over lunch Scott and I discussed Sam. So much junk going on in trying to help him. A huge shame, but seemingly the way of life for Sam. His in home intervention faxing paperwork that stated Sam was a threat to other and himself, indicating a need for a higher level of care. In our talking we realize others look at what we do critically. Scott and I believe that perhaps the line of thought "on the other side of the fence" is....

1) Sam can't get by with anything because we are watching him constantly, creating a fishbowl for Sam.

2) We hold him to a level of accountability he cannot maintain.

3) We talk about his behavior in front of him, causing Sam to have low self-esteem.

Scott and I both nod at one another as we talk about these...the answer is yes, yes and yes. We truly cannot change who we are not on these three things.

1) We are unwilling to allow something to happen to Sam or others because we were not being attentive. If I had a child with diabetes I would not stop testing their blood sugar. Even if it was uncomfortable and bothersome...watchfulness in that case is SAFETY. We feel the same is true of the level of watchfulness with Sam. The one time I did leave him in the van alone he stuck his finger in the cigarette lighter and burned the tarnation out of his finger.

2) Sam could not live with accountability. He is rarely held accountable to the degree the other children are. If Sam looses all composure the key to us is calming down, being reasonable, talking about the issue. There are natural consequence and redirection but RARELY do we impose additional consequences because Sam would never recoup from the issue. We would be punishing the whole house to days of bad acting.

3)I understand the talking in front of kids about some things...but in truth? Samuel is 14 and he needs to understand and work on correctly his behavior. It really really isn't secret. If he were overweight we would not talk about him being fat, we likely would talk about eating healthy. Same is true of Sam...we try not to talk negatively, not humiliatingly, but how do you sugar coat so much of Sam's behavior? The answer? You don't and you can't.


We will be having a TN Care hearing next week to decided if they will help Sam or not. Scott has spent, literally, HOURS preparing for that hearing. I know Sam will never understand the "why's" of what we do or the motivation. It sure isn't because finding him help is the easy way out!!

YEAH JOHN MARK!!!!!

John left the house like this on Monday morning...

He was on his way to the Tennessee State HOSA competition!


The 2010-2011 National Theme:

"HOSA: The Hearts that Believe and the Hands that Achieve!"


JOHN MARK SMOTHERMAN WON 2nd in the State for his "Extemporaneous Speech". We are super proud of John!! This is his third year to compete and place. I am so glad he placed his Senior year!!

Prayer life...

I have some crazy kids! Wonderful, inspiring, creative, athletic, musical, smart, silly ...you get the picture? Some very unique and very individual children...even those that are nearly ...all the way...grown, they are still my children.

This week has found my prayer life in over drive. It is nothing for my morning prayer to last an hour. I told Scott yesterday that I was pretty sure I could spend the entire 2.5 hour drive to Memphis in prayer for my children.

My friend Donna said her boys always say, "Nothing can hurt us Pirtle boys!" and she always reminds them it's because those boys have a momma with a BIG prayer life!! Oh how true!!

Prayer List for Mine this morning:

Seth and his temper (a new "phase" we need to see leave)
Victoria and her acceptance of consequences (stomping and muttering needs to leave)
Ryan and his work ethic (Ryan needs one!!)
Daniel as he begins life as a Christian.
Lita ...mostly that nothing mess up her sweet personality!(except her bball coach might ask for a tad bit of aggressiveness...I'm good without it:) And today is softball tryouts...she would love to make the team!!
Bella ..thankful for her willingness to help out and prayerful for her choices
Michael as he dreams of fishing and sports...praying he remembers his homework!
Samuel...today the TNCare Dr will evaluate whether Sam can have treatment(stay in treatment) or not. HUGE GIANT PRAYERS
Tasha as she trys out for softball this week. Always prayers for her wide open personality, prayerful that God smooths the edges for her!
Mercedez as she has a pep rally today and prepares to tryout again.
Rosie...she like Seth gets frustrated with others but Rosie needs to show more willingness to help out around the house and more patience with others.
Zackery, he was placed over the weekend in a foster placement and will enter public school...lots of prayers for his success.
Carlton..help him continue to improve his behavior (after his setback) and make good choices.
John..Today John is in Nashville at the HOSA State Competition. Prayers he did well and is happy with his effort! And Safe travels for his whole group as they travel home.
Jacob...Do I pray he can't get a loan to by a motorcycle?
Doug...praying he is making the right choice in transferring colleges...especially from a Christian environment to University of TN .
Caleb...always prayers for his safety and a passage of time that brings him home.
Joseph..praying BIG TIME for his choices
Stuart...praying for him and his choices as he is nearing graduation. Thankful for his summer internship with a wonderful church in KY and prayerful for his success.
Sarah..she has her consultation today for getting her wisdom teeth.
Chelsea and Bo? Love, Joy, Peace...for the fruits of their wonderful work!


And while I type that list you know there are 5 times as many things a momma prays for that would not be slapped on a blog:)

Prayer life is not about a quick check in at bedtime or a hello in the morning...it's about moments all day and about TIME spent, time enjoyed and time needed to guide me through my day. Prayer life is not a something in this life...it is THE something that gets us through this life!

Trio Basketball

This week my Trio ...Isabella, Lita and Tasha ....all had their first basketball game. I love watching the kids. They did a great job. These three are SO SO different people and boy does personality show in their styles of play!! One game down...a bunch to got:)


This last picture is to show Caleb...Tasha chose Caleb's "21". It seems one of the kids always choose "21" when number picking comes along. I sure hope you bring her luck KK!!

Mr President

I am so very frustrated. It happens. We live on this crazy earth with a wealth of sin. It is a beautiful place, a God given place, but dangerous and hazardous just the same.

Today I visited with Sam. I talked with his therapist, who is a super neat lady. Already insurance is denying treatment. No surprise, but frustrating all the same. That prompted this letter in the working to the President (lol…and every official person from him back to me):

Dear Mr. President,

My family is truly blessed to live in America. We are blessed with freedom and choices. We are ever so grateful to have the ability to raise our children in safety and with opportunity. . Thankful to be able to live in a small town, the kind of town that strengthens and continues to strengthen the very fiber of our country.

Our family was built by choice. Choice after choice led us to the blessings of family we enjoy. A large part of that choice was adoption.

When children were not available in TN to adopt we adopted from other places. We incorporated into our home children who were part of large sibling groups, we did so to keep them together and to love them, to give them hope and roots. We adopted from our country because we knew there where children here, American children who deserved to have a family, deserved to have a mom and dad.

We feel that our country should take care of it’s children. We have food stamps and government assistance to meet (or at very least TRY to meet) the needs of our children. Many of us are blessed to be able to provide for our children without that assistance, that is a gift we are grateful for and none who are so blessed would ever begrudge a child in need.

Our country has a responsibility to protect our children, to meet their needs physically, emotionally and mentally. Our country likely fails many children, but it should not fail those it is AWARE of!

We adopted children, we had private insurance, and never had to even address the government aid through TNCare until we had mental health issues with 3 of our children who had serious losses. We have had to fight to receive help. We have had to give away a child because it was “the only way” to get him coverage. That is wrong on SO MANY LEVELS!! A mentally challenged child who losses TWO families.

In that case we were his family, and willing to buy his clothes, to visit, to do all we could do. But the state of TN does not always have the child’s best interest at heart, money is the “heart” that rules.

We are now, once again facing a child who needs help and once again are fighting for the services he needs.

This country OWES the children who have sustained abuse and neglect, even been affected by drug and alcohol from birth moms, we OWE them resources! When this country fails to meet those needs, it destroys opportunity for all the endless children who wait for adoptive homes. Someone could look at the situations with our boys and say, “You have some great kids who do well, but it’d be my luck to get the tough kid and being stuck with no help!” Those people choose to not adopt and the lack of care for those who need our country affect us all.

I realize the big picture I am painting. Years ago I realized we could find diagnosis’ for our boys, but that would do us no good, aside from being able to say a list of words, there is not sufficient HELP.

If nothing else, this country needs low level group homes that specialize in helping emotionally disturbed children be successful. If not, our country will care for most them most of their adult lives anyway through the prison system. If money is the issue, why cannot it not be understood that these children left unhelped will be much more expensive for tax payers as adults. Not to mention the acts that will occur in our communities that lead to such prison sentences.

How do you do it? How do you fix it? Provide care for our children. Provide it without the need for Lawyers to sue the state. Give the children a chance. Give families a chance to be successful. It is MEDICALLY NESSESSARY for children to grow up and be whole and successful adults. In our country of freedom, freedom one of our son fights for with the ARMY in Afghanistan, it seems like a hypocrisy. Freedom is for those who have the mind and ability to make it on their own. Freedom is for those who have families with money to pay for treatment and help. Freedom is NOT for ALL in the case of damaged children this country places in adoptive homes and then leaves to fend for themselves. That is not freedom at all, it’s a sentence, a conviction issued with no care or regard, simply the understanding that the “state”, “government” and our “country” are not longer obligated to help. Well, until someone is hurt.

It is such a shame that our country, with all its progressive ideas, is not pro-active in helping children. If our country believed in God I would say it’s a sin! At very least it is a huge injustice from a country who believes they fight for freedom.


Sincerely,

Amanda Smotherman
Wife of 24 years
Mom to 21 children, 19 children who will be productive tax-paying members of society, 2 who are lost..

At some point in my future I will burn bridges and throw caution into the wind and I will advocate. For now, I am trying to raise my children and trying to help our children who are tough. I have whined to Scott in my anguish that I am going to go back to college and start at free group that tells individuals how to make the government help. Isn’t that the most absurd thing you’ve ever heard? The very idea that someone must make out country help it’s children?!

For now? I will continue to write and rewrite this letter ….and I will likely continue to be frustrated with the way our country treats adopted children with disabilities.

New Blog Anxiety

SomeDaysTheDragonsWin

I opened a new blog, for me. There is so much that goes on in my life that can simply never make it's way here. So much that I need to put onto paper and walk away from. My blogging friend Laurie had a by line in an email to me that really caught my attention(the one above). Some days it really seems that evil prevails. I think I can say that...it's true that evil is always around us. I wanted to type my frustrations out. I think sometimes WAY down the road I see how God worked in my life through horrible ordeals and to have that written down...to be able to look back and "see" would be nice.

Today I stood with Scott as he look at my blank canvas of a blog and told him I was afraid to type anything. He laughed and asked, "Why? Isn't it private?" Yes it is and only I can see it, but what about when I die? He laughed at me again. I am not sure I want my kids to think I even thought like I do. Is that crazy? Scott said, "Amanda, when they are grown they will understand." Perhaps, I'm not sure. I'm not sure even I understand why things happen. So as of yet it stands blank.

If I were typing there today it would be long...it would include things like....

A person is NOT a Christian if they use a sentence that says," ..may you be blessed and drunk tonight" or use vulgar words in a paragraph about how much "god has blessed me" and my MOST serious peeve would be ...

If you do not capitalize God's name you are NOT respecting the Lord that created this world. I am a bit crazy about that...no matter what you "name" you use to speak to God??

Overview of the
Names of God in Scripture
(1) Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7).

Compounds of El:

•El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1, 2).
•El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
•El Olam: “The Everlasting God.” Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness (Gen. 16:13).
(2) Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).

Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character.

•Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
•Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
•Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
•Yahweh Sabbaoth:“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
•Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes (Ex. 31:13).
•Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
•Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
•Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
•Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).
(3) Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).

(4) Theos: Greek word translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use teaches: (1) He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30); (2) He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4; 16:7); (3) He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6); (4) He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). This name is used of Christ as God in John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1.

(5) Kurios: Greek word translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Col. 3:22), or even refer to idols (1 Cor. 8:5) or husbands (1 Pet. 3:6), it is used mostly as the equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ meaning (1) Rabbi or Sir (Matt. 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11).

(6) Despotes: Greek word translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4).

(7) Father:A distinctive New Testament revelation is that through faith in Christ, God becomes our personal Father. Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Robert Lightner, The God of the Bible, An Introduction to the Doctrine of God (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1973) page 107.



No matter what "name" you use....CAPITALIZE because you love and respect Him!!!!!