Thanks!!

Just in case you are sending money to Texas for the Tom Lee family, please note that the address below has been changed just a bit. We got an update on that address in Sunday School this morning.
You guys have all been amazing! There have been responses from Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and even California. Thank you so much - this is a huge blessing for the Lee family, and their neighbors who also lost their homes!
Also, in case you are local and want to help with the clearing of debris and/or rebuilding, this blog http://shoalcreekvalleyrelief.blogspot.com/ has been set up to tell you in what ways you can help best (days, times, tools needed, etc.)

How you can help...

A fund has been set up to help the family of Tom Lee through their church back in Texas. You can send checks with a note saying that it is for the "Tom Lee" family or for "Sherry Lee and family" in Alabama.
Please send it to:
Fredricksburg Christian Fellowship
157 Schmidtzinsky Road
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Thank you guys so much for all of your responses! I know Sherry and family greatly appreciates it! When her daughters Emily and Tiffany were visited in the hospital yesterday, someone asked them what they needed...how we can help. Here is their response, "Please just pray that God will be glorified in all this." He already is, dear ones.

Shoal Creek Road...

A dear family's home...

another dear family's home...

The kids and I just returned from taking lunch out to the families and workers out in Shoal Creek Valley. These are small glimpses of what we saw. Words cannot exress...pictures cannot convey... I drove in silence with the kids looking out the windows, not really understanding what they were seeing. People had spray painted names of insurance companies on poster board and hung them on their mailbox. Many were just walking. Many were just standing beside a concrete slab that used to be their home.

Some of the families were gathered at the home of one family whose home was at least still standing, although they did have a tree in their second floor and no power. They were working hard. All of them were amazingly kind and grateful for everything we had to give them. I asked Nan, the lady in charge of co-ordinating donations for that area, "What do you need most right now?" Food and clothing. But, they don't need an abundance of it, because there is no where to put it. Absolutely no where. She said the main thing they are going to need right now is money. They have to move debris, clear away trash, tow cars that have been tossed like they were toys, and they must rebuild. Sherry Lee is making funeral arrangements for her husband and the father of their 13 children today. Please pray for her. She had to search through the rubble of their home just to find insurance papers and her check book...I can't even imagine.

God is amazing. His power has been so evident. These people are strong because of their faith in Jesus, and it has been amazing to see the body of Christ come together. They will rebuild, Pratt City will rebuild, Tuscaloosa will rebuild, and most importantly, God will be glorified.

Wait...wait...wait...GO!

Ready.... Set.... And waiting for Him to say "Go!"

So, the Lord has been really working in me on this waiting thing. I can't even begin to go into everything we are waiting on as a family...tax issues, real estate issues, information, etc. Waiting has been so, so hard. Everywhere I look, I see/hear the Lord saying, "Wait for Me...just wait." It has been in my devotionals, friends have been speaking of it, etc. Anyway, I started thinking of all the times I have to tell the kids to WAIT...wait until after dinner for your treat, wait to cross the street there is a car coming, wait until the officiant says "Go" or you will be disqualified, on and on. I expect them to trust that I know what is best for them - that is why I am telling them to wait. That was my "Ah-HA" moment. The moment when I realized that Lord was saying, "Wait, child. I know what is best...I see those cars coming. You will run ahead of Me and be disqualified. The treat will be sweeter after dinner." Man, it is easier when it is me giving the lesson to my kids! :-) Oh, to be teachable and smiling as I wait (like Drew is doing at the starting line).

In my devotional ("Streams in the Desert"), one of the quotes was, "Did you ever hear of anyone being much used for Christ who did not have some special waiting time?...so, He withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what will really ripen and further His work in us." Can I ask that the work be furthered quickly or is that defeating the purpose? :-)

Running to win or running for the love of the race?

Maggie running hard...

Maggie before her race....

The kids had one of their track meets on Saturday. While this was nothing new for the older kiddos, this was Maggie's first track meet. She loves to run...LOVES it. She runs because she wants to - not because she is told to (like the older kids :-) In each one of her races, she had that smile on her face - the one you see in the picture above. She kept that smile, loving the RACE - not the ribbon at the end. I felt so bad because in each event she competed in, she was an inch away from first place...literally. But, you know what? She didn't care. She didn't know that her ribbon had a "2" on it. She was thrilled with her prize. She just kept asking, "When can I race again? When can I run again? Is it my turn yet?"

Oh, how I wish and pray for that attitude in life. I pray that I will enter each day with an attitude of love for my Savior, husband, children, and even an attitude of love towards the challenges that are placed in front of me...not so that I can get the best reward, but so that I can get the reward that He has for me...that special reward that He has in mind just for me. Running the race for the love of the journey. I could learn a lot from my kids if I would just take the time to do it!

Awake after hibernating?

I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation...I had decided to quit blogging after getting really tired of blogging addictions, facebook mania, and the technology craze that seemed to expect everyone to keep up through some form of media. Then, a wonderful, old friend from Florida contacted me...encouraged me and (without realizing it) inspired me to keep on blogging - even if it is just for my kiddos to look at years down the road. Since my last blog in September :-) ... We survived and even learned to love the ice.....

Visited our local science center....

And we are finally enjoying the awesome spring weather! And if I can EVER get good at this insane blog thing, I will figure out how to post pictures in an orderly fashion...if anyone knows how to post pictures with little quotes under them, could you let this technologically illiterate person know?? I hope to be updating with more pictures and a few more postings of our "goings-on" here in the Symasek house.

Happy Birthday (late) Abby!!

Abby turned 2 on August 25th...so, I am a little late in this post, but better late than never. :-) She knew JUST what to do on her birthday - she loved having everyone sing to her, and opened her presents like a champ! I can't believe that she has been with us for 9 months now! She and Maggie are becoming quite the little duo...the best of friends, the worst of enemies, and double-trouble when they put their minds together. We love you, Abby Grace, and are so thankful that the Lord blessed us with you!