Lions, Tigers, and Monkeys in November

October ended on an excellent note with Lynn, my oldest sister, my niece Abigail, and my little sister Gail coming for a visit. Abigail was able to be here for Halloween and you can see her in the clown outfit her oldest Aunt (me) picked out. It was most ridiculous with a large orange tie but the fabric was the softest in the bunch! We made an effort to have her play with Solomon and Macy but as you can see she was a little shy. We gave candy out until our bowl was empty and my brother-in-law ran to the store to restock. There is not a shortage of children in our neighborhood!Abigail warmed up to her Aunts quite nicely. She is a bundle of personality. Lynn and Jeremy have made it easy to track her growth on the Internet at smithkids.org if anyone is interested in some more footage of my niece. In the strain of connecting those still reading, my parents in Bangladesh had a visit in October from our home church in Nashville. This is the church where Will and I met in 2005 which makes it extra special! Their experiences were beautifully recorded at http://takingupspace.wordpress.com/. Check it out. You can't understand Bangladesh unless you go, but this gives you a good idea. While the girls were here we took a trip to the Louisberg Cider mill and drank hot cider, watched the apples being squashed, and played on the hay bales. Back at home we taught Abigail how to rake:0 With 10 trees in the yard we needed all the help we could get!
The highlight of our outings though, and a darn good excuse to visit Kansas City if you have been looking for one, (since there is a place to stay at 928 East Elizabeth) is the Zoo...

I am not sure if it was the sunshine and gorgeous fall colors or the carousel rides but I am sure it had a lot to do with getting to see a lion and monkeys 3 inches from the glass. It was a frightful site and Abigail was truthfully terrified but the older girls thought it to be pretty fantastic!

We all went to dinner the last night Lynn and Abigail were in Kansas. Abigail liked her special cup filled with water and we all had fun looking at all Bass Pro Shop has to offer. It was a blessing to have the crew here to enjoy the colorful leaves and the great outdoors Kansas does have to offer in the fall.

October

October brought some beautiful fall leaves and different ways to remember Will. A benefit auction for brain tumor research was held by be Head Strong, the same people who organized the race, and they did a wonderful job of remembering those who had passed and continuing in the hope for a cure for those who are still fighting. The photo is from the banquet. On the lines of raising money we were able to raise over five thousand dollars for brain tumor research being done at Duke. The check was written in September after finding out that portion of the treatment that Will had been undergoing that was not covered by the insurance company was going to be covered by the hospital. This was an answer to prayer, many prayers actually.

October

October began with another trip to California bringing a behind the bike trailer for Abigail. She was a smiling rider behind her aunt and mommy!

The trip then led to Hawaii with my cousin Marcelle and her sweet friend from nursing school Lauren....

It truly is as beautiful as the photos with the beaches and palm trees and wonderful sun.....
We ate some wonderful seafood, flew in a helicopter over hot lava, and snorkeled with large and gorgeous turtles.





The flowers were larger than almost believable and more colorful than in Kansas, although Kansas has it's own beauty! It was amazing to see the lava form tunnels in the ground and swim with fish of such amazing varieties.

It made me wonder with all God can make and do, why Will did not get to live longer. It means God's ways really are above mine and His thoughts above mine. (Isaiah 55:9)Until the two meet we and I continue to live and figure out how to celebrate life where ever that might take.