Our First Christmas as Husband & Wife!

The car is packed and we are ready for a fun road trip!

Bosco and Winston on their favorite blankey.  They have no idea how long this trip will be.  Poor guys.

Reindeer Monica is flying us home for the holidays!

This holiday season has been very interesting!  We are beyond blessed to have families that love us so much and want to spend as much time with us possible. Our families are in Michigan and Colorado so we have been in both states already!  Luckily our families are supportive and understanding of our travel plans and wanting to spend as much time with everyone as we can.  It's been wonderful so far!  Step one was driving to Michigan with the gifts and our little ones!  We left after dinner and drove through the night...it was a 17 hour trip which wasn't too bad.  Winston started going bananas around hour 9 for a couple of hours and kept us wide awake.  Thanks Winny.

Boys playing an xbox snowboarding game

Cute!

Ashton!  Our little cousin :)

Meeeeeelia!

The most complicated game ever.  Title: Puerto Rico

We made it to Michigan!  Pete's parents greeted all of the 4 boys and the wives with a lot of fun signs!  Luckily both of our families are REALLY into games so immediately the brothers started playing games when we got home.  We have put a lot of baby time in playing with little cousins and nieces.  AND we have another baby niece on the way due in April and a niece or nephew due in March!!  In Michigan we have my mom's side of the family and Pete's family so we have a lot of people to see.  Not to mention we both have a lot of friends from Whirlpool etc here.    We had some snow here when we arrived so our puppy was beyond happy.  He likes to chase snowballs.  Next stop Colorado to see my Daddy's side of the family!!!

Amy has baby Greenlaw in there...due March 6th!  We are excited to have a new niece or nephew :)

Drew spotted Santa!

Lots of snow came while we were here which was wonderful!

We love the mountaints!

This is Pete's "what are you taking a picture of me for" face!  Quality time :)

We had a great time in Colorado.  Of course vacations are never long enough but we are so thankful for the time we had there.  And we are back to Michigan!

Bosco and his cousin Amelia!  Cutest little Christmas baby ever!

Christmas Eve with the Smith family is Christmas this year!!!  Mom and the boys loved their gifts from us!  My favorite thing is to watch everyone else open presents...I forgot to open 4 of mine until a few hours later because I was watching everyone's reactions :)

Super excited for this gift!  It was really heavy and I had already opened everything I asked for.  I LOVE surprised.  And Christmas antlers :)

I told Mom Smith last year that I wanted a red stand mixer!!  Since we registered for our wedding I have been going back and forth between red and silver or chrome.  It's been months of me going back and forth so I hadn't actually registered for anything yet but when I opened this, it was absolutely PERFECT!!!  I'm glad someone made up my mind for me.  Plus I forgot how much I wanted a red one last year :)  I cannot wait to start cooking when we get back to Texas and Pete already is talking about buying me some attachments for more cooking fun!

Marcus had a surprise gift!!  Hooray!  It was wrapped in a keyboard box so he ripped off the wrapping paper and everyone laughed.  Then TA-DA!  New snowboard and some boots for Amelia to play with.

This says it all.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  And I can be happy because Jesus was born because that means I can see my Daddy again in heaven!

Love the lakes in Michigan.

Heaven is a little closer in a home by the water.

My precious cousins Makenzy and Madison!  

They love Peter!  We learned a lot about children's toys this year.  I had no clue what a DS was and two of the kids got those.  This is Madi teaching Pete about her new leap frog.  It was pretty funny, she would try to show Pete how to play a game and once she got to the 4th step she would get hungry and want a cucumber.  Apparently she did this about 3 times haha

Playing hide and go seek with Pete.  Great hiding place in the shower.  Their reaction is priceless when they found him everytime.  Just shock and excitement.  It's so precious to see the genuine joy and innocence of children.

It wouldn't be a family get together without Great Grandma leading a game of cards :)

All in all we are having such a wonderful first Christmas as husband and wife.  Our vacation isn't quite over yet.  Pete went shooting today with one of his groomsmen and my cousin Nick and his girlfriend Mercedes.  We had a camping themed shower yesterday with the families.  We are now very well on our way to becoming a camping couple.  We have a few more friends to see, many more games to play and some quality family time ahead of us.  We are just so happy to be surrounded by such love for us, our marriage and wonderful stories about my Daddy after such a heartbreaking year.  Happy Holidays to all!

Everything Happens For A Reason...Be POSITIVE!

I was going to wait to start a blog until we had children but I think this new chapter in our lives is a pretty big one.  So now I can blog and keep everyone up to date with Mr. & Mrs. Smith!!!  This is my first :)

Yes it sounds cliche but it's true.  God's plan is so perfect it's hard to see it but if you keep believing and trusting in His plan you can find peace.   This year more than any other year I am finding that everything happens for a reason.  I've lived in 3 different states already this year and so many things have changed.  I gave up my career and my masters to be a caregiver for my Daddy, I lost the most important person in my world (my Dad), I've seen and experienced things I never wanted to see/experience or imagined I would see/experience in my life, I was proposed to by the man of my dreams, I have lived so close to family, then moved so far away from everyone, I eloped the day before my Dad's birthday because Pete and I didn't want to live with each other before marriage and now...we are starting a new chapter in our lives.  A big one!!!  One of the biggest challenge we face every day is staying positive even in the most horrible storm and uproar.  Letting things go and being thankful for what we DO have in our marriage, each other, friends and family is what we try to remember everyday!

I didn't think this is how my life would be at 26 now 27.  I had so many plans for my life.  If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.  I am learning to trust so faithfully in times of complete confusion.  I had pretty normal plans for my life, nothing out of the ordinary, but so much has changed.  I don't understand why a lot of things have happened before I planned it to be but I know there is a meaning and reason behind it that I will find out some day.  If I don't, then I'll be sure to ask God when I get to heaven.

I'm learning every day more about God's grace and his role in our marriage and in my life!  I always knew that marriage took 3 and I'm so glad I have a Christ follower for a husband.  It's hard sometimes to not turn to your spouse which comes naturally and turn to God instead...but every time I do, I am so thankful!  As I'm finding that my plans are not always His plans I am trying to make the best of every situation (which is certainly not the easiest thing to do).  I had an album on Facebook that I started a couple of months after my father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer...that was a bit challenging at times to keep up with and find something to be thankful for each day especially when you get news that your father's cancer has spread to his bones, or that he no longer can walk and relies on you to get around.   But that's ok!  Because I relied on he and my mom so many times in my life, I was beyond happy to help him any way I could.

I did not stay positive and had absolutely no strength of my own, it all came from my personal Lord and Savior.  It was so perfect, I couldn't even see it at the time.  I was truly truly honored to take care of my father.  Every battle became a positive twist.  "Daddy, we're just going to have to go to the doctor's office a little bit more than normal."  "Daddy, you can't move your left leg but we will have physical therapy come in and we will work on our own to get it working again so you can walk."  Normal Brittany would have been a mess!  I'm so emotional!  I have learned more about positivity in the 10 months that my Dad battled cancer more than I think I have learned in my entire life.  Which is why, when I thought maybe my Dad needed to talk about the possibility of him not winning his battle I made it a positive thing!  I told him that if he were to leave here...it would be ok!  I am including the eulogy I read at my father's funeral.  In it, you can read the picture I painted for him of Heaven.  I stayed as positive as I can and I believe every word.  I know I will meet him there one day and I know he has all of the happiness in the world up there, free from pain!  I'm still down here and will always be a Daddy's girl and continue to be his legacy.  If it weren't for my Dad, I wouldn't be the person I am today.  He was the most positive person I know...now it's my turn to be that to my husband, friends, family and my children one day!

♥ Daddy's Eulogy ♥

Welcome and Thank you to Everyone for coming out to celebrate my dad’s life. For those of you who don’t know who I am, I’m Brittany. The only child he had. The one he always talked about.

First I’d like to share what Angela wrote as a tribute to my dad because I believe many of the things she has said...most of you have experienced:

You're dad was a positive force in my life and many people's lives - kind of like a hurricane of positivity and support and encouragement. We used to joke that if we were having a bad day we would call and get a Patrick Pickmeup. He had the incredible power to cut through people's doubts and insecurities and inspire them to feel and be their best. He spoke of you all the time. He was so proud of you. So proud. Most of all, he loved you so.

Daddy, you are my hero. I look up to you more than anyone else I know. You lived your life with conviction and purpose...You never lost sight of your values and ideals... You brought joy to the people you knew and loved, and you always knew how to smile. You taught me what true humility and grace was all about. Daddy, your strength and love have always been an inspiration to me. There has never been a time in my life when it felt like you weren't there for me when I needed you. This unconditional support has given me the confidence to live my life with courage and follow my dreams. I love you for everything you have given me and taught me and for the person I have become because of you. Thank you for teaching me how to love and be selfless. I love you so much Daddy. You are my hero. I know I won't be able to hold your hand or feel so safe and loved from your big hugs. for awhile..but I can't wait for the day when I can see you again. You are my angel. I love you more than life itself. Daddy, I know you loved me more than anything in this world and that you were waiting to leave until the love of my life assured you that I would be taken care of.

This is a picture I painted for my dad and what we spoke about many times during his last month. If you’re here, it means that my father was very important to you. And I know he would want to see you all again. If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that’s something I would love to tell you more about, so that one day you can see him again in heaven.

I described to dad that we were both walking towards the mountains. This was easy for him to picture because we are so close to the Rockies and he loved to ski. I described a spring day with us walking towards mountains and tulips were all around us (which was our favorite flower). I told him on the other side of the mountain was heaven. There was a beach where he could always lay out, take a peaceful walk and feel close to God. There was a pool with his favorite floatie so he could enjoy God’s beautiful sun rays and read his favorite authors. There were unlimited/free admission to Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan concerts. There were the best golf courses that he could enjoy year round. Everyone who knows Daddy, knows he had quite a sweet tooth. As I described heaven to him, I assured him there would be an endless supply of whoopie pies. He would have his Weber grille because we all knew what a fantastic cook he was. He loved to prepare and cook for loved ones so I know he will be cooking his famous steaks, haddock, perdue chicken, burgers and the best sandwiches in the world for everyone.

Lastly, I told him that as we held hands and walked through the tulips towards the mountain...there would be a time when I would stop walking and he would continue on I promised him I would meet him there one day. We both knew, the minute I stopped walking, Jesus would take his hand and never let it go. He would be greeted by Yia Yia (his mom) and Grandpa Eddie (his dad) and other family and friends who have gone on before him.

We have all walked with him together at some point and we’re all on this side of the mountain. If you know Jesus, you know that you will be able to walk with Daddy again. And that’s why we can celebrate today...because the life he lived while on earth and because of the hope we have that we will see him again. Maybe if we’re lucky, he’ll share a whoopie pie with us.

In closing, I would like to share a short poem.

"God saw you getting tired

and a cure was not to be

so he put his arms around you

and whispered,

"Come to Me"

With tearful eyes we watched you

and saw you pass away

and although we love you dearly

we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best"

"Being positive or negative are habits of thoughts that have a very strong influence on life."