update. in bullets.

1. So, my lungs are much better. I haven't had any more issues since the weekend before Christmas. I am happy. Not sure what was going on then, but I'm glad it's no longer going on.

2. As I already knew, I was VERY well-behaved this year. Santa confirmed this with his generosity on Christmas morning. Pictures to come asap.

3. Am trying to make resolutions. Not sure just yet. Will keep posted.

4. Started drinking more water. Began yesterday. Victory thus far. (Keep in mind that I just said more- which won't be hard because I was drinking close to none. Ooops.)

5. Playing "Words With Friend" on my iPhone. this is possibly the best decision I've ever made. You can play me! My username is CamiSmith.

6. I want a UNC Tarheel's shirt. I'm an Alabama fan, but since I lived in North Carolina for a few years, I love Carolina too. My love for the Heels is NOTHING like my love for Alabama, but I feel like I need a shirt. Also, I tend to look smashing in that shade of blue.

7. I hate New Years. Least favorite holiday. After Columbus Day, and Stab Yourself With Your Fork Day. Ugh. But, I have plans.

8. Cleaned out my closet. 3 bags for Goodwill. Officially have too much crap.

9. Excited to go back to school. SO much to do to get ready!

10. Love my family. Lots. Maybe more than last week.

the past few days of my life. in pictures.

Sunday night. ER. asthma attack.
regular breathing treatment didn't work. continuous nebulizer.
that wasn't working fast enough. IV drugs.
oxygen level at arrival to ER: 82%.
by the time I left: 98%
5 days of steroids. make me hot. and hungry.

In the words of my dad, "It's not Christmas unless Cami's going to the Emergency Room"

mom's bday

My mom's bday was actually a week ago, but we didn't get to celebrate as an entire family until Saturday night.

We took our Christmas card picture (better late than never, right?)- and it's SO great. We all have on "Gameday" gear. Roll Tide and Merry Christmas. :)
Then we went to dinner at Vincent's.

One problem.

Dinner at 7.

Heisman at 8.

Hmmmmmm. Dilemma.

My brother proposed that we all leave our phones at home so that when we came back, we could all watch the Heisman show together. So we did.

Of course, we didn't take into consideration the fact that the TVs in the bar would be on ESPN.

But, never fear.

My brother, sister, and I all sat with our backs to the televisions. My mom and dad had to sit at the end where they couldn't see the screens. My s-i-l and nephew were the only ones who could see the screen- and neither one of them care.

So, we made it through dinner without seeing anything.
Came home and watch it whole show as a family.

Then cried again.

I am SO excited for Mark Ingram! And for running backs. And for Alabama!
I love my family for making the Heisman trophy presentation part of my mom's bday party. And for making Alabama a part of our Christmas card. Love it.

RTR

while we're discussing Christmas presents....

wanna win free stuff?

of course you do!

Thanks to BooMama, you can win $500 worth of beauty products. I've never used them, but they look amazing and everything I've read about them says they will change your life.
So, check it out on her giveaways page!

smelling the roses

For the first time in my adult life, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide has gone 13-0 and won the SEC Championship. I cried during the whole 4th quarter- just overwhelmed by the emotions of it all.
Mark Ingram is a stud. One of the 5 finalists for The Heisman. Love him.
Greg McElroy had the game of his life. Well, at least of this season. He was perfect. Amazing.
Oh, Alabama fans- so witty.

Monday at school. I did wear an Alabama shirt. This picture is ridic. It's in blackandwhite because I looked ROUGH. The B&W helped some.


"Remember the Rose Bowl- we'll win then"

Rue La La

(From www.ruelala.com)

Rue La La is... an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where Members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time. Our focus is a well-edited collection of sought-after offerings from the best brand names in the world - combined with helpful service.

Membership is free. It's also invitation-only. Members shape the community by inviting new Members - and getting a $10 Rue La La Credit when each new friend places their first order.

The discovery of something unexpected, something that imbues the day-to-day with a little magic - these are the "ooh la la moments" we long for. And you'll find them here.

Want to join!?
Follow this link!

My Birthday!

I'm 29.
Not a whole lot to celebrate if you know what I mean.
But I got some great presents!!

~~~~~~~~~~
New digital camera!


Necklace :)
Take-and-Bake (I am SUCH a nerd for being so excited about this!)
ALABAMA WIN! 10-0! RTR!!!

this made me laugh.

College Football and the Women We Love

and my Cole Haan's don't match that

I went to TJ Maxx with my mom the other night and purchased the greatest pair of shoes I've ever owned. Their Cole Haan's Nike Air line. Brilliant. Truly magical. They're cute and look great with jeans, but are also SO comfortable. Like Merrell's comfortable, but a lot cuter than that. And for the joy of the Maxx, only $60. LOVE THEM. I've worn them about 6 days of the 7 that I've owned them. You can copy me if you'd like. I would if I were you. Just sayin.

wanna change the world?

You can.
For kindergartners in Vietnam.Join Jon Acuff at Stuff Christians Like.

Donate.
They raised OVER $30,000 in UNDER 24 hours.
So, he doubled the goal.

I like it.

GIVE ~ GIVE ~ GIVE

Matt Wertz

Matt Wertz is precious. His music is great.
And now it's free.


He's changed labels and decided to give away free music! Who doesn't love free music?

Just bebop over to his web site www.mattwertz.com and you'll see a little button at the top of the screen. Then the clicking can ensue, and you'll get new music!

You WON'T be disappointed!

Thanks, Annie

Needed this.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (The Message)

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.

Thanks, Annie.

Nien Cheng

I'd never even heard of this woman until today. I was reading James Fallows and he posted about her death.

His summary of her life (and memoir) made me want to read this book- just added to my wishlist on Amazon!

To quote Fallows:
Life and Death in Shanghai, her memoir of her life in China in the pre-Communist era, and then her daughter's murder and her own imprisonment and torture by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, was one of the first notable accounts of those years and remains a powerful work of modern non-fiction. Although it has been two decades since I read it, many of the scenes are still vivid. Soon after it was published in 1987, my wife and I were in Shanghai and traced the neighborhoods she had described.

Nien Cheng never returned to mainland China after she got out in 1980, and over the past twenty years she lived mainly in Washington DC. Several times while walking my wife or I had the amazing-each-time experience of passing on the sidewalk a tiny, increasingly frail, but elegant Chinese woman whom we knew to be her. I never dared to say hello or thank her for writing the book, which I now regret all the more. None of her family is left, but her book will endure.

Flying Solo

My friend and one of my favorite authors, Denise Hildreath, has a blog about living single called "Flying Solo". It's one of those things that I wish I didn't read because it challenges me so much. She has a "guest poster" on their a lot named Ken.
Ken is smart.
And now he's talking about sex.

Which is always interesting.

What I read today was really good- but the part that hit me the hardest was the end.

Most modern Christians don’t do well with being raw. We are afraid that God won’t show up. But Jesus said in Luke 4:18 that he came to set free those who are broken-hearted…that’s us! We need to be set free not in order to sin but to live passionately with God and for Him. Take a risk with God by beginning to take your desires to Him. Be patient with yourself because it will take some time to grow your understanding of God in this way.

Shook me.
I liked it.
And didn't.
You know what I mean?

annoyances

There are things people say in the Christian world that drive me crazy. Not because I'm super sp or anything, but because I noticed. I'm not saying haven't done/do these things, but I'm annoyed with myself if/when I have/had.

For instance.

It really annoys me when speakers/worship leaders/prayer people/Christian talkers of any kind say that the Bible "reminds us that "quote said scripture here".

I heard a guy say the other night-- "the Bible reminds us that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose".

That doesn't even make any sense.

It's not reminding you. It told you first.
Maybe YOU were reminded by the Bible's words.
But the Bible isn't reminding.

That would be same as saying that "Shakespeare reminds us that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet".
Uh, no. I'M reminding you. Shakespeare said it first!

This may be stupid. And it may not even make any sense. But it annoys me for some reason.

THE OTHER THING. (and I know this one makes sense.)
I HATE when people say that "worship was good".
Uh. Pretty sure that worship is YOUR response to God, and what you meant was that you liked the music. Just say that. Don't over spiritualize something that IS NOT spiritual.
Your worship can be good in any setting. Good music or not. Fast or slow. Loud or soft. Crying or jumping. It doesn't even have to be music. Because worship isn't music.
Worship is a response.
YOUR response.
YOUR choice.
Stop making it the responsibility of others.
OWN it.
CHOOSE to worship.
Make your worship good.
And let the band know that you liked the music.

My African friend

When I moved to Georgia, one of my very first friends was Kari. She and I went to church together and quickly became very close "church friends". Kari grew up in the Ivory Coast because her parents were missionaries there. Her family moved back to the States when she was in middle school. After college, Kari went back to Africa and began serving in Senegal. During her time there, God did crazy stuff in her life- and she came home, got married, and then moved with her new husband to France for him to go to medical school.

(Kari and her husband being tourists in Hungary)

She has a blog that I love reading- mainly because I get to know what's going on in her life, but also because she often makes me stop and think about things that my mind wouldn't normally venture toward.

This entry on her blog is recognizing a French-Senegalese author that Kari recently read about.

But, the last sentences in her writing stopped me on a dime.

She wrote, "our roots are just the beginning of who we are"

Isn't that true? So much of who I am relates to where I'm from, but it's not my entire identity. I'm not just from the South. I'm not only from a Christian home. I'm not just a Smith.

Those things are just the start of who I am. But I'm not defined, limited, or acclaimed by my beginnings. It's simply the beginning.

Gene Stallings

This is one my favorite pictures of my sister and I- sitting on the Bryant bench in Tuscaloosa with the Gene Stallings quote above our heads. The quote is so true- and funny- about Alabama fans.

Stallings coached at Alabama under Bryant during the 70s, then came back in 1990 and proceeded to lead us to a National Championship in 1992- in a HUGE upset over Miami. (He's got the ball! He took the ball away from him!)
And Stallings would have been welcome to stay much longer than he did, but chose to retire in after the 1996 season (and a bowl win over Michigan to end his career at Alabama).


But Coach Stallings left The Capstone.
To focus on "Another Season"- John Mark Stallings. John Mark is Coach Stallings's special needs son. He was born with Down Syndrome and battled congenital heart disease as he aged. Coach Stallings left coaching to focus on life with his son.
John Mark was one of those kids that was almost more famous than his famous daddy because everything that John Mark did was influential on his influential father.


John Mark passed away this past year at the age of 46. It made headlines in the state of Alabama and was on the cover of the UofAlabama campus newspaper, The Crimson and White. The story of John Mark's life was even made news here in Georgia. "Another Season" was written by Coach Stallings and Sally Cook- it's such a great story.

Alabama fans love Bryant, but I'm pretty sure most of us love Coach Stallings and John Mark too.

Daily Drop Cap

Has Jessica at Daily Drop Cap posted your letter yet? These are mine! Very cute- all very unique!

welcome to 7th grade

I told one of my students today to "stop being a gossip monger"

He replied, "I'm not a monkey!"

Welcome to 7th Grade.

Biggest Loser Makes me Happy. And Sad. And Angry.

I hate Tracy on Biggest Loser. She makes me want to scream. UGH. And the fact that she didn't get voted off tonight makes me want to SCREAM. Literally. UGH UGH UGH.

These were my favorite quotes from tonight. GLORIOUS.
If she wants to win, she can do it at home. -Liz

Vomit. Or don't. -Jillian

Are you gonna bitch and cry, or are you going to do it?! -Bob
I'll bitch and cry, but I'll do it! -Rebecca

I don't think I ever met anybody who got fat eating vegetables. -Bob

When I came here, I didn't even know about the prize money. -Coach Mo


But, I still hate Tracy.

Postcards From Splitsville

Have you ever seen this website? It's called Postcards from Splitsville. It's the saddest thing I've ever read. It's kinda like PostSecret, but it's kids mailing in postcards about their parents' divorce.





It's just heartbreaking. I was tearing up reading them. So sad.

Kate Spade is mean

I mean, seriously? Make a bracelet THIS cute and then make TWO colors so we have to CHOOSE!?!?! MEAN!!

But seriously.
SO adorable!!

Honestly.

I went to church w/ my bff last week. Andy Stanley started a new series called "Your Turn"- all about the questions you ask when facing life's tough decisions. You can listen/watch the messages here.

When Rachel wrote about it, I think she hit the nail on the head....

I lie to myself about "punkins".

They're only sold during Halloween season(which Wal-Mart seems to think is August-October)They are my favorite fall color.

They taste AMAZING! Sugary, mallowy, sweetness.

Did I mention, you can only get them for 3 months out of the year?

So...I lie.

I tell myself it's ok to eat an entire bag.

I hoard them like a squirrel.

I don't hibernate or have to save up all of my food until winter....but I eat them like I do.

I tell myself lies. I make myself believe that its ok to binge on "punkins".

While "punkins" may not seem like that big of a deal, it's still a lie.

The real reason I ate the whole bag is....I have no self control.

I have no self control in other areas of my life, as well.
Eating candy is just one of those areas.

If I lie to myself about my lack of candy eating self control...

what bigger lies am I making myself believe?

Just being honest.

not to be an etsy stalker... but...

I love this.
From My Flip Flopz. They make all kinds of wooden signs. Precious.

adorable etsy finds

Grease 2

I'm not embarrassed to say I've had this song in my head ALL day. It makes me laugh out loud.

One of my 7th graders told me she "got" this song- and I had to look her straight in the face and promise her that she didn't. But she would one day. And we would laugh.

Enjoy. Sing along!

Polyvore

I just found out about this fun fashion website called Polyvore- it's so cool- you can create outfits and wardrobes. Very fun. Very cool. Check it out!

houndstooth by camismith featuring Alexander McQueen accessories

Want to Help?

This is Clarkdale Elementary School in Austell, GA- which is a part of the school district where I teach. It was flooded this past week during the rains in Atlanta. I can't even imagine if this was my school. I would be devastated. So much lost.
But, the kids are headed back to school tomorrow. They won't be at Clarkdale, but rather split between two nearby schools.

Obviously, the recovery is gonna take a while. Not only does the physical building have to be restored, students and teachers lost all of their supplies. (Last time I moved classrooms, it took 12 boxes to move all of my stuff!!)

If you live in the Atlanta area, you can partner with 11Alive and The School Box will be taking donations at any area School Box during the week of Sept. 26-27.
If you're not in Atlanta or just don't have time to go by The School Box, you can give online. You can give here. All gifts are tax deductible.