I saw in the paper this morning that the shuttle spent the night in
FTW on the way back to FL from CA. I went to see it take off. A lot of
people showed up.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Billie in Odessa!

Yes I'm thankful

Yes I'm thankful.
I get to have wonderful friends. I get to have a loving family that means more than I have words for.
Yes I'm thankful.
I get to live in a country that happens to be the greatest in the history of the world.
Yes I'm thankful.
I get to live with freedoms that are not free. I get to say what I want. I get to do what I want and when I want to do it. All this with responsibility and sometimes risk, of course.
Yes I'm thankful.
I get to live, love, learn, grow, share, give, spend, earn, and so much more.
Yes I'm thankful.
All these things I have been given by God. My hope is in Him. He is my rock, always faithful, forgiving .....
Yes I'm thankful.
I get to experience all things because I have been given them. I don't deserve them. I have not earned them.
Yes I'm thankful. I'm so thankful that I think I'll just give thanks!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Gameday

We took in the last football home game for the year at A&M yesterday. OU visited and easily won. It's pretty much the only time I see OU play live and in person. They are impressive with loads of talent.
The best part though is just being together as family and friends enjoying the sights, sounds, colors, traditions, celebrations and fun. No band comes close to giving the show you get from the Aggie Band. It's the only halftime band I've seen where the crowd stands at their seat for the performance each and every time. I don't know how they do what they do.
It's a funny thing. I was a student at A&M, enjoyed it, met my wife there, my first born goes there, and I have many good memories. It's a great school! However I grew up, til I was 15 years old, not far from Norman where the OU campus is at. I grew cheering for OU with my dad and others. You get something like OU football in your blood and it doesn't just go away.
My immediate family and most of my inlaws are A&M first. They are forgiving and try to understand how I support both. They actually root for OU with me when OU plays an A&M rival.
We are blessed in being able to enjoy the gameday experience together a few times each year and especially while our kids are in school. It is great fun in a great environment.

Names

It's funny how we get our names. Sometimes newborns get named after family, friends, things, places, or something that seemed really cool at the time. Some seem a bit out there, but I guess you can get used to anything after a while.
I'm told I got named after my big brother's friend. I need to go find that guy and thank him I guess. Mine is a simple name. Three letters, Jay. Some folks just want to spell it J. Then when folks hear my last name they think maybe I just lied to them. Does it get any easier than Jay Smith? Many people try to repeat it back to me thinking they missed part of it. They try Jerry and Jason among others.
Then come the nicknames. Four-eyes was pretty common for me through elementary years since I started wearing glasses in second grade. They paid for it though. At least some of them (just kidding). People tried Smitty and others. Jaybyrd stuck by the time high school years rolled around. That kind of shortened to just Byrd after a while.
Dad kidded that everyone used to be named Smith until they sinned and had to change it.

On another note ...
I've met folks that love to tell people where they are from. This one guy would say, "Hi, I'm Bill and I'm from Earth. " He wouldn't say Earth, Texas. Just Earth. Anyway it sounded bizarre.
Likewise this other guy would say, "Hi, I'm Bruce and I'm from Venus." Yep there's a Venus, Texas too.

trusting

One said, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful."

Understanding?

Are you kidding me?

Run Run Run! But where?

Turmoil

Chaos

Can't we all just get along?

Fear

No Trust

Bailout or Buyout?

Scary

Crisis Point

Back St., Side St., Wall St., & Main St.

Nah, I don't like any of that ......

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

I like this much better!

The Beauty College

I don't know what year it was, but I was in elementary school. My mom had been going to Beauty College in OKC to become a licensed hairdresser. Next thing I know, mom and dad bought the Beauty College. The college seemed huge to me and there were several rooms to it. Not long after that, they bought a Beauty Salon too. It was a mile or so from the College.
I quickly learned the skills of janitorial work. Both the College and the Salon were swept, mopped, and then waxed each week. I never saw so much hair. It was everywhere. I tried my best to get all the hair I could while sweeping and mopping, but was always amazed at how much showed up when I started waxing. I was a little guy on that mop and sometimes I thought the mop was working me more than I was working the mop.
We refilled all the coke boxes. This was the day of glass bottles and wooden crates holding the bottles. We wood take a couple of crates home for after school drinks and such. I thought that was kind of special and friends did to when they would stay with me.
Sometimes we would refill bottles of shampoo, conditioner and others.
On the way home from the Beauty College we would stop and do the same tasks at the Salon. It was so much smaller that it didn't take long. It was a snap.
These weekly tasks came in addition to yard mowing and regular house chores. It was kind of neat though. While I didn't really look forward to being on the end of that mop handle, I enjoyed hangin out with dad. No cell phones yet. Just me and him for most of one evening a week.
Dad taught me by example on how to work. He was one of the hardest workers I ever knew and I know he got it from his dad, my granddad. Since leaving home I have always realized in the middle of projects around the house or on the farm we had for a few years, that hard work would get it done and thoughts of dad would always come to me as I poured myself into working.

Karalee

Here's a recent pic of Karalee at a Sunday lunch.

Smith gate

Some folks nearby our house have a nice gate entrance.

We are taking in a Rangers game tonight.

Ever met a Myrtie?

I've only met one Myrtie. She was my aunt and my dad's sister. She taught school for 40 years. She was a farmer's wife. She was tough, pioneer stock, loving, a camper, a fisher, great cook, a shaker and a mover. She got results and could organize people. Myrtie was my dad's first school teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. One story he told was about him popping off to her one day and calling her "ole Myrt" in front of all the other students. She wore him out with the paddle and then when he got home he got paddled again from his dad. Everyone loved Myrtie. She and Uncle Roy never had children of their own, but did have 22 nieces and nephews. Each one of us spent time with with them on the farm, usually during the summer. I helped bailing hay, hauling hay, harvesting from the huge garden, working cattle and horses. We played a little too. We would ride horses, go fishing, go camping, go square dancing, play cards and dominos. There was a lot of room to explore. I even took a go-kart there for a while and a minibike another time. Myrtie made you feel special. Young or old, she valued you and saw the good in you. She was a very positive person and it was contagious. You can mention the name Myrtie to anyone in my family and they will start reminiscing good times. She held a special place in everyones heart. Myrtie whipped me once. I'm sure I had it coming. It tore her up though. She went off by herself and cried for a while. Uncle Roy said "now look what you did." People like Myrtie make this world a better place. I hope she rubbed off on some of us. Her example was a fine one. She truly had a servants heart. I'm grateful to have had a Myrtie in my life. I hope you have one too, even if by another name.

Myrtie Ethel Smith Collins Born: Dec 6, 1908 Death: Feb 11, 1975

My Bud's Ticker

My Bud went in for a procedure today. Had a little clog in the pipes restricting blood flow. They got him fixed up and on the mend.
I'm reminded from this day of what a great God we serve. He loves and protects us. He takes such good care and is always faithful.
I'm also very appreciative of the family and friends we have. The people that mean so much. They care and come through in times such as this.
My Bud is my brother. My dad and his brother referred to each other this way.
Until next time ...

Sturgis 2008

I traveled by plane to Sturgis SD for 6 days this month. It was the annual Sturgis Bike Week event. The little town of 6,500 people swells to about 500,000 for this event. It presents a great opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus. I teamed with many people from across the nation to partner with Dakota Baptist Convention & Ronnie Hill Evangelism. We gave away a 105th anniversary model of the 2008 Harley Davidson Deluxe.
I had the privilege of sharing with hundreds and leading many to salvation. I met so many people (co-workers) on this trip and through our work together I learned many things about myself. Other things I already suspected were confirmed for me too. I have found something I love and it just works for me. I enjoy this season and hope it continues. With each event I do, I find that as I give, I am blessed and learn more about my relationship with God.

My next trip is to Nicaragua again in October. I have watched Voice of Hope Ministries calendar and a couple of churches from VA and AR are going. Another person from GA that I met on my previous trip is going too. I will meet up with them and serve again. I am really looking forward to it.

the card arrives

My son Clint gets to vote this year. He pays close attention to the politics going on around us and is eager to do his part. His voter card came a while back. Way to go Clint!

swimming in the canal

I mentioned earlier traveling to CA to see my brother and his wife when I was 16. We took a little weekend trip to the Sierra Mountains & Yosemite Natinal Park. Wow! I didn't know you could see so many spectacular waterfalls in one place. Some seemed so high that the water never made it all the way down. It kind of drifted off with the wind.
Another time - I'm not sure where we were at, but I think near Modesto maybe. It was a hot day and Bro said lets go swimming. We drove to this man made looking very straight creek. I jumped in and was shocked at how cold the water was. It was explained to me that this was actually a irrigation canal where snow melt from the mountains flowed through to water crops in the valley below. At that time "the valley" as they called it, produced a very large percentage of our nations fruits and vegetables. We stayed a good while, enjoyed the water, the sun and each other.
I was told that sometimes people would tie a rope onto a car bumper and ski in the canal. I didn't see any of that but I'm sure it would have been a sight.

The Minicar

I was 16 and it was summertime. My sis, Pam, and I took a plane to visit my brother and his wife in CA. We stayed about three weeks. We met a lot of people and saw some great sites. I hope to share some of those another time.
When it was time to return home, my brother and his wife, my sister and I all rode in my brother's car. We drove straight through from near Modesto, CA to OKC, OK. Then on down to TX the next day. I think it was something like 28-30 hours to OKC.
The car was a Toyota Corona. It was the smallest car I had ever ridden in. I can't believe we fit 4 people plus all our luggage in the car. There was little room. You got in the car and closed the door. You did not move your legs until you got back out. A couple of times we stopped after riding for hours and my legs had to get the blood moving before I could walk.
The dash had a little bitty blue light. It wasn't noticeable during the day. At night was another matter. It would come on when the compressor for the air conditioner was running. Don't get me wrong because I was extremely grateful for AC especially while crossing the desert. But that light nearly drove me nuts. It was so bright that it didn't help to close your eyes. It came through anyway. I tried to turn my head and then my whole body. That didn't work. Sleep deprivation took over. Irritability set in. One of us finally found some clay or chewing gum to cover the light with. Some times little things can be a big pain. I never saw another light like that again. I'm guessing Toyota had some complaints over that light.
The minicar was dependable, safe and much cheaper travel than airfare. Glad I was through riding though. Whew!

learning to ski with Linda and Dad

My family got invited to go camping and water skiing when I was very young, maybe 3 years old. It was several families that went together. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen another group like it. So many people and they all got along so well. The adults had as much fun as the kids.
It wasn't long before we were shopping for a boat. Most of the families had ski boats with 35 or 40 hp motors. We bought one with 75 hp. Then every body started upgrading to 90 & 100 hp. Later on, dad took it up a notch. He bought a 165 hp inboard-outboard 18 ft Cobalt. That was some boat and we sure put it to use. I have been sidetracked and will tell more about this another time.
Back to my story. I was five years old and decided I was ready to try skiing. Dad found some little kids skis. I think we were at Lake Thunderbird. Dad through the years was a really good teacher. He taught many to ski. He always got rookies in their skies on the shore and went through everything with them before getting into the water.
When it was time Dad got in the boat and Linda helped me get in the water and hold the skies in place. Linda, a beautiful teenager with another family in the group, was very nice and I thought I was pretty special to be helped out by her. She helped me until the boat took off and then I was on my on. She was there for many of the next takeoffs. I thought it was with her help that it worked and the only way I could do it.
Once on my way it was kind of funny to see Dad in the boat. He pulled me at seven mph. The boat looked like it was standing on end. Dad would stand up to see over the bow so he didn't hit anything. I know it probably took forever to get around going that slow. I don't remember ever hearing no when I wanted to ski. Dad was great. Thanks Dad & Linda.
Those years until I was about fifteen years old were so much fun. I loved skiing. Many family and friends joined us through the years. If they didn't know how to ski, they learned. We got away from it for a while after we moved away. Those relationships still exist today with wonderful memories. Even with the miles of separation, most everyone keeps in touch.
I am back to skiing again now and passing it on to the kids. I actually got out of the boat the other day and went for a ski. My son drove the boat. It had been so long that I don't remember when the last time was. Many years.
Skiing, the lake, and all that encompasses is a huge release for me. It is a peaceful getaway early and late each day. I enjoy all the action in between too!

the go kart

I remember when ...
I was about 8 or 9 years old. We were visiting Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie. For some reason, dad, me and Roy went a few miles over to Roy's brothers farm. His name was Ralph. In my wandering around the barn I found an old go kart. It was really a frame and motor missing a fiberglass car body. Story was that a grass fire burnt the body.
Ralph said we could have the kart. Dad loaded it in the trunk somehow. We got it home and dad would go out and work on it at night. Dad liked tinkering with motors. This motor was froze-up. It would not turn over at all.
I don't recall how long, maybe a few weeks later I was laying on the living room floor and watching TV. Mom was there with me and all the sudden a motor started up in the garage. It didn't have the muffler on so it was very loud. I ran to the garage and there stood dad over the kart, tuning the carburetor. I could not believe the thing was running. We brought this thing home covered in rust from end to end.
The next night dad had the kart back together enough to ride. We rolled it out of the garage, fired it up and dad sent me down a dead end street and back. Wow! That was fun! I think he got nervous about the police showing up though because we didn't keep riding. Before long, like the horse, the kart eventually ended up at Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie's farm. I could ride it all I wanted there. Only problem was I didn't stay there all the time. I still got a lot of riding time in over the next few years.
What great memories.
Thanks to Dad & Ralph

Dopey the horse

My dad came home one day with a horse. It was a Shetland pony that he got from a carnival I believe. We kept it in the backyard for a few days. Dad then rented a lot a few blocks away in OKC and kept him there.
We had a great time taking turns riding our pony that we named Dopey. I can't recall how he got his name. He was the most stubborn animal I ever saw. It was always a struggle to get Dopey to obey what we commanded. He did not seem to respond to the whip either.
After a while I guess it got to be too much trouble to care for Dopey in the city. We took him to my aunt and uncles farm. We visited often and rode him there. That is where the photo was taken.
I rode him in the local rodeo parade and grand entry each year for a few years. One year I showed up with little time to ride him before the rodeo. We skipped the parade. He seemed fine before the grand entry, but as soon as we entered the arena that changed. He started bucking and I couldn't get him to stop. He stayed in line, but bucked like crazy. Half way through they stopped to pray and Dopey kept bucking in place. After the prayer people started cheering me on. Still staying in line we eventually left the arena. As soon as we did, Dopey stopped bucking and acted normal. I was worn out from hanging on though.
Great fun and many memories ...

My earliest driving experience

I remember .....
As a small boy while traveling to see relatives way out in the country, my dad would place me on his lap and let me steer the the car. I couldn't come close to reaching peddles. He would let me steer, but kept a hand close to the wheel in case I needed a little help.
I spent time with my Aunt Myrtie and Uncle Roy on the farm as a child. They had no children, so me and all my cousins took our turn on the farm. I learned a lot there. Uncle Roy bailed a lot of hay each year. Him and other farmers would do it together. I went along and was probably more in the way than anything else. Roy was pretty good about including me though.
I remember being about 10 years old and the hay baler was messing up some of the time. Uncle Roy was always repairing the equipment. This was before the big round bales. We were making the small rectangular bales that you can pickup by hand. They were coming out of the baler standing on end which caused a problem for the loader that picked it up later to be stacked on a truck for hauling to the barn.
Uncle Roy sat me down in his pickup truck. He said, "I want you to drive around this field and knock down these bales that are standing up. Can you do that?" I said I could and was I ever excited. I could sit on the edge of the seat and barely reach the peddles. I did ok and then when we finished he wanted me to follow him home. He was on the tractor and me in the truck. Now I had to actually go down a road, stay out of the ditch and the opposing lane. I don't think I met anyone. We were pretty far off the highway.
We showed up at the house with no accidents and I thought boy I'm somethin now! Uncle Roy never said much more. He expected me to do it and I did. It sure was fun though!

Nicaragua Trip in May 2008

I completed a trip in May 2008 to Leon, Nicaragua. This trip was so good for me on many levels. I experienced the joy of leading many each day to salvation in Jesus Christ. I was thrilled with the experience of seeing new brothers and sisters enter the kingdom.
The trip was a partnership between the evangelist Ronnie Hill & Voice of Hope Ministries. The organization prior to our arrival was excellent. The local pastors, interpretors, drivers, cooks, and others all did such a wonderful job and it allowed us to be the most effective we could. It was fun getting to know the interpretors and quickly developing those friendships.
This trip really exercised my faith. By preaching, teaching, trusting, believing, waiting, loving, and sharing. God's protection , provision, and guidance was felt so strong throughout the week.
Conferences went on, many fiestas were done, preachers and music were supplied to many churches, and the nightly crusade was done. The fiestas consisted of games, a skit, passing out candy and prizes, and prayer. The skit was called the sinbox and is a very simple but effective presentation of the gospel.
I had such a great time sharing that I am now going to the Sturgis Bike Rally to do it some more. This is again part of Ronnie Hill's evangelism using our three minute story. I look forward to this with great anticipation.

Paint Day

If memory serves correctly, I remember this one time .....

Boarding a bus one day with my dad in OKC, OK. We road down to Walters, OK where my dad's parents lived. The bus ride was great fun and an adventure for me. Mom and my sisters came later in the car so that after the work and visiting took place, we could all ride home together.
I remember those present being dad and myself, uncle Roy and aunt Myrtie, grandad Smith and grandma Smith.
We were at my grandparents to paint their house exterior. This included the wood roof which was extremely steep. The house exterior was to be white and the roof was to be red.
Once we arrived I began playing. Cars in the dirt, kick the can, terrorizing the chickens, etc. While living in town, grandma still had chickens in a penned area behind her house. Behind the pen were railroad tracks and I had very strict orders to stay away from those tracks.
I had my baseball bat and ball with me. This was a small toy bat about 18 inches long and made of oak I think. I still have this bat and it has a few drops of the red roof paint on it to this day.
A couple of times during the day the men would stop work and we would play ball in the front yard. I was maybe four years old and not good at hitting yet. They were patient and pitched to me at a very short distance. Once the ball was hit, I would run the bases. This is my oldest memory of playing baseball.
Late during the afternoon, there was a bit of an accident. Fortunately no serious long-lasting effects. The front gable was very tall and the ladders could not reach. Uncle Roy tied two ladders together and sent my dad up with a bucket of paint and a brush. I was just inside the front screen door when I heard aunt Myrtie scream. I looked out and the ladders were falling. Then down came dad landing on the sidewalk below. He hopped up but his hip was hurting him pretty bad. Next thing I remember is aunt Myrtie giving uncle Roy an earful of what-for. She let him have it pretty good. This was very interesting for a small boy like me. Adults getting worked over instead of kids. Huh!
During the course of painting the roof they had to be careful. It was so steep that a rope was tied to a car bumper, thrown over the roof, and tied around the painter's waist so he could pendulum side to side while painting. About 40 years later I heard Paul Harvey (the radio personality) telling a very similar story. His finished very differently, in that while the man painted, his wife came out to go shopping. She got into the car and drove off. After dragging him over the roof's crown, he hit the ground pretty hard, and then was dragged two blocks before someone shut her down. I think he lived.