Posts by Jim Smith (Page 3)
On the day of Maddie’s birth
I wrote this: Maddie birth Surrounded by prayers of many who love us, not because of us, but because you brought them to us. There’s a machine making easily hearable Maddie’s heartbeat. All weekend long, through pain and through smiles and tome killing- in everything we hear, her heartbeat just keeps pumping away, marking the minutes and hours- the rhythm of our lives from here on out. It’s amazing to hear it so clearly and feel it so distinct. Praise…
Overwhelmed by kindness
I’ve sat down to write this post about 20 times. Each time, before I can finish, I have yet another occurrence to stop, ponder and start again. I’m quickly coming to the point of calling it overwhelmed in the best of ways. Natalie and I have our little Maddie coming soon, and there’s apparently a lot that needs to go into getting ready for a human life. Tiny little details, things I’d think of and things I wouldn’t. They stack…
Tidal Lines
I’m sitting on the beach in Cayucos California, at the yearly vacation we take with Natalie‘s family and I am shocked at how thankful I find myself. I have a wife I do not deserve, friends more kind than I could ever ask for. I have a job I am unworthy of. I have a God loves me. I have a God who loves me, how can that be a real? How is it even possible that a perfect being…
Small group
Getting ready for Great Escape 2019- summer camp with my high school small group for the 13th time. I’ve had great co-leaders and terrible ones. Small groups that loved Jesus, and guys who were just there to make out with their girlfriend. Decades of students leaving high school to go on and love Jesus with all the life they have, and some who leave to crash and burn. For whatever reason, I’m really looking forward to this year. Job-duty wise,…
Baby Maddie
Hey Kiddo… Man, even that feels odd- I haven’t settled yet on what I’m gunna call you. Sometimes it The Kid, other time TK for short. Kiddo, Maddie, Laney, Maddie-Lane- I’m all over the map. Who knows… I love you. Right now, you barely even exist- you’re just a dream and a bump in my mind and your mothers belly. You kick back when I give you a jostle, much to your mothers delight and then pain. Sometimes you’re moving…
Tiny Human
Holy crap, holy crap… holy crap. Some moments, you wonder what they’d be like if they ever happened. You wonder if you’d be excited, angry, sad, or what? Moments that transcend life as usual, and change the course of your thoughts and actions from there on out. I’m experiencing one of those now. But I’m always surprised to be an accurate assessor of self on the big things. I always wonder if this time I’ll be wrong, be timid where I…
Bahama’s year five / provision
It’s an interesting thought to me that so much of what I hold dear or find “normal” for goodness in my life, I know are in no way a given or granted to me. What I mean by that is that right now I’m typing this on a current macbook, with my iphone xs max sitting to my side, in my office, at my job, and when I get off work I’ll ride my motorcycle (one of three I have)…
Open Water weekend November 2018
I had a good weekend this last few days, and I wanted to reflect a bit about why it was so enjoyable. I dove in a place I’ve been before many times, at this point so often it feels just as much like home as home does. But yet it stood out. This weekend was special in that it highlighted why I teach in the first place, and what makes teaching SCUBA so much fun! This class I had a…