If you’ve been reading here a while, you know that in my first post of every new year, I highlight my top five commenters from the previous year.
The 2025 Honorees Are:
Sue Ellen 57
Patti 47
Lee Anne 45
sharynmcd 35
Ellen W 28
Thank you, ladies, for taking the time to share your thoughts, responses, and experiences. We are grateful for your contribution to making Smithellaneous the special community it is.
The weekend held several special events.
On Friday, Steve and I celebrated our 44th anniversary by going out to dinner. When we finished eating, Steve asked our server if she would send the manager to our table so he could compliment her service. He always makes a point to affirm good service; one of the many things I love and admire about him.
What makes his compliments even more meaningful is that he doesn’t just say, “Our server did a good job.” That kind of vague compliment doesn’t mean that much. Instead he he said, “Our server was very patient in explaining the menu, she was attentive but didn’t hover, she has a cheerful personality, and her voice is very pleasant and well-modulated.”
Now that’s a compliment! And I’m sure he made both the server’s night and the manager’s.
We hosted Steve’s friend, Chris Childress, and his wife, Lynette, for coffee and muffins. (The Childress family lived next door to Steve’s parents for many decades; Steve and Chris have been friends for fifty years.)
Chris and Lynette live in Singapore, lead an interesting life, and do a lot of traveling–time spent with them is always full of scintillating conversation on a large range of subjects. They also have extensive vocabularies, so my little brain was racing along feverishly trying to keep up with it all.
When they left, I saw that Lynette had been working on some napkin folding during our conversation; this is what was on her plate.
Meagan recently turned 38 years old, and for her celebratory meal, she requested soup, grilled cheese, and an ice cream bar complete with a variety of toppings. Everyone loved the menu.
Here’s the birthday gal in the birthday hat, beautiful in every way.
This next photo requires a little history.
A couple of weeks ago, Meagan underwent allergy testing and discovered that she is allergic to chicken. (Of all things!)
That’s a tough thing to find out when you and your whole family eat chicken all the time, both at home and in restaurants. Meagan has kept a good attitude about it, but it hasn’t been an easy adjustment.
For her birthday celebration, Gage made one of his signature hand-drawn cards. Turns out he has a pretty good idea of Meagan’s (wacky) sense of humor, and he decided to take a chance that she’d see the humor in his design.
Is that not shilarious?
After dinner, Gage (as per usual) got the kids involved in games and creativity. They love hanging out with him.
Steve and Nathan got in a post-dinner chat.
If that wasn’t enough activity for one weekend, Nathan came over Sunday afternoon to help Steve in the long process of removing and replacing the six rotted pillars from our front porch.
The intrepid team of Smith and Son.
with three completely miscellaneous photos.
Photo One
Meagan sent me this one a couple of days ago, and it brought back such sweet memories. Madi was so young, and now she is approaching teenhood!
A walker and a wheelchair. (They had belonged to Ken and Vernie, and we had loaned them to our neighbor.) A decorative angel. Pieces of a recently broken crockpot headed to recycling. White pillars.
Who else has a walker, a wheelchair, an angel, a crockpot, and white pillars on their deck right now? Pretty sure it’s just us. Thankfully, the stuff didn’t stay there long; Steve whisked it all away.
Photo Three
I was out walking the dogs early one morning and noticed this pattern of frost on Steve’s car. It seemed a shame for God to create such beautiful artwork and have no one notice it. I made sure to get a photo with compliments to the Creator.
James 1:17 says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Forty-four years of marriage, good food, time spent with family and friends, special occasions to celebrate, laughter, the ability to do physical labor, the unexpected beauty of frost… all of those things are good gifts from a good God.
And as I head into 2026, I am grateful for every single one of those gifts–and for every single one of you.
What about you?
When you give compliments, do you think about being specific?
Have you ever known anyone allergic to chicken? Do you know other unusual food allergies?
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?
What is something lovely you have seen recently in nature?
Happy Happy Belated Anniversary!!
I don’t really do resolutions, but I plan to try to be more content with things this year.
I LOVE the card Gage made for Meagan – how perfetly perfect!
My husband is like Steve – he always wants to inform the manager if we receive exceptional service. He says if he is going to “complain” to a manager over poor service or food, then he feels he should also compliment the opposite.
I always enjoy your photos, but I absolutely LOVE the photo of the frost on the window!!
SuEllen,
Good for your husband for being a complimenter! We need a million more of his and Steve’s type.
Thanks for the comment on the photo; I just glanced over and noticed it and that about what a shame it would be for that beauty not to be appreciated. It’s gone so soon.
I’ll join in with you about trying to be more content with things this year. Happy New Year!
I have not known anyone allergic to chicken. That’s a first for me! I am allergic to sunflower – oil, seeds, etc. That’s wierd I think. Also molasses. Strange.
I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions but have a couple of ideas in my head. 😉
Where we live, we get an unobstructed view of the sunset and there have been some pretty spectacular ones lately!
LeeAnne,
Molasses is definitely a strange one! Fortunately for you, molasses probably isn’t something you crave eating. Or at least I don’t. I seem to have developed an allergy to zucchini in recent years. Who knew?
Enjoy those sunsets. One of my favorite things.
Steve and Becky, Judy and I were reading this post and praying for all there. Wow, 44 years married with a growing family. The walker and other stuff on the porch reminded us that Rachel is expecting our 3rd grandchild in 2026. One of our prayers is that we make it till are three children are teens. As we are bargaining with God like Abraham we then say how about till all 3 are in their 20’s.. We pray for you all in 2026 this from Psalm 28:8-9- Adonai is strength for His People. A stronghold of salvation to His Anointed. Save Your People! Bless Your Heritage! Shepherd them, carry them forever! Blessings, Mike and Judy
Mike,
Great to hear from you and Judy. And congrats on grandbaby number 3. I know Rachel is a wonderful mom.
Yes, we are on the same page as you, wanting to see our grandkids live through a few decades before we go Home. They are such a treasure.
Loved the verse you shared. So good for Steve and me, our children and our grandchildren. Blessings!
Congratulations to 44 years! Wow!! That’s one year less than my age! 😄 Although I feel like I’m wayyyy too young to be 45!
Happy birthday to Meagan! 🎉 I would not survive being allergic to chicken. It’s my favorite! Did she not have symptoms when she ate it? I’m sure she probably did and just didn’t realize it was chicken causing them. I never liked pork, then a few years ago I found out I’m actually allergic to it. And all my stomach issues when I ate it made sense. I never put it together before because I always thought I just ate too much food or something.
Happy New Year Becky and everyone!
Lizz,
What happened to you with pork is basically what happened to Meagan with chicken; she just felt really bad after eating it but never thought about that being the problem because who is allergic to chicken!
The forties are a good decade; enjoy!
First – CONGRATS on your anniversary. God bless you for many years to come. I am allergic to MSG. The last time we went to a Chinese place and unfortunately did not ask if they used MSG, I thought my head was going to explode. She asked if she could get me something else, but I declined. After 20 min. it finally subsided. Am also allergic to cigarette smoke. In a restaurant before no smoke in MN when they had smoking and non-smoking sections – it really didn’t make any difference because it wafted in my direction. I left the restaurant sounding like Alvin the chipmunk. I also start to cough and get headaches. No food allergies, which I am thankful for. Those are great pictures and Happy Birthday to Meagan – loved the birthday card!!! Love looking at the “faces” of flowers!
Sharyn,
I am so thankful smoking has been banned in public places. You’re so right when you said that having “sections” for smoking did not make any difference at all. Smoke wafts–that’s just how it’s designed!
It’s good you know about the MSG allergy and can steer clear of it.
Thanks for the anniversary wishes! 💕
I love to read all the goings on with your family. I really love that your family is so close and spend a lot of time together. My daughter and son in law and grandson live next door to us and yet we hardly ever see them because they are so busy all the time. Happy belated Birthday to Meagan. She is such a special lady.
I have a room full of medical equipment…. wheelchair, knee scooter, bedside commode, just to name a few. We may need them one day as my hubby’s PSP disease progresses.
I am beginning this new year by reading a lot of books. I read 82 last year! I work jigsaw puzzles and play games on Facebook. I am a homebody so it is nice to have things to keep me busy.
I hope and pray that you and your family have a healthy, happy New Year and make many more wonderful memories.
Kaye,
Good for you reading 82 books. That is amazing. You’re my inspiration!
Yes, you are wise to gather up some of those medical supplies gradually so when/if they’re needed, you have them.
I’m glad you have family nearby, but sorry that you aren’t able to see them more often. I know that must be difficult for you.
Thanks for your encouraging words and all the sweet comments you have left over the years.
Happy 44th Anniversary
I try to be specific on compliments, but I think I need to work on giving more.
I have not heard of a chicken allergy (love Gages card) but the oddest allergy I heard of was cinnamon.
I don’t write resolutions, but a list of 52 things I want to do and need to do (26 each). I only accomplished 11 last year, but it is fun to try
I was up at 1 last night and saw 7 deer in my yard. One was just laying by a tree. The first time I saw a frost pattern on a window I was in awe as I had only read about them before. Love the picture.
Patti,
What a great idea to make a list of things you want to do in a year; that’s a fun way to start things off. And accomplishing almost one a month is nothing to sneeze that; I know you had a great time!
I’ve never heard of a cinnamon allergy. Isn’t is crazy how the body just suddenly decides to be reactive to certain things? I’m hoping Meagan’s allergy will resolve at some point; it’s a tough allergy to have.
We ALL need to give more compliments–especially me!
When I give compliments, I definitely try to be specific. For example, today, I noticed that one of the students in a third-grade class I am in each day had turned his body so that he could give each of his classmate attention when they were sharing at morning meeting today. I made a point to tell him that I appreciated how he was attentive and gave him a fist bump.
While I have not known someone allergic to chicken, I have two colleagues who are allergic to milk chocolate and I am allergic to shellfish.
I have not made any new year’s resolutions. I am trying to work on having a better servant attitude.
Rachel,
A perfect compliment, pointing out something specific and following it with a fist bump. I know you made that student’s day. Words are so powerful and many times, things we hear as a child stay with us for a lifetime. Thanks for investing in our kids.
I would do okay being allergic to shellfish but not milk chocolate! 🙂
Having a servant attitude is a wonderful thing to aim for this year; I will join you!
I always look forward to Monday because I know Smithellaneous will be in my email Congratulations on 44 years of marriage, such an odd things to see these days Most of the time people give up now a days rather than working on a problem My precious hubby and I will celebrate DRUM ROLL PLEASE 56 years of marriage on January 10th Every marriage has its rough spots but I can honestly say that there weren’t that many of them we were serious when we said our vows even though we were 20 and 22 years young at the time. We both lost our dads at age 70 , his of a heart attack mine in a car wreck and leaned on each other through that and cared for our moms when both passed away from dementia in their 90s Last year he saw me through a serious illness and surgery and was the best nurse ever I can honestly say he is my very best friend and the one (other than Jesus) that i count on the most, the first face I want to see in the morning and the last one I want to see at night. Okay that is my thought for the day and I am more blessed that I have any right to be.
Thanks for sharing your life and family with us. I started following you when Sarah had her bone marrow transplant. I happened on the site by chance and have followed since praying for Sarah and for you when you had cancer.
By the way i have a daughter named Sara and a granddaughter named Sara named for my maternal grandmother Small world Huh? On that note I am just over the hill from you in East Tennessee.
See you next Monday.
Gail,
Aw, that warms my heart that you look forward to Mondays (partly) because of the blog. Thanks for telling me that.
And congrats on your upcoming 56th anniversary; that is incredible!! I really think you need to show your husband the comment you wrote. You summed up the highs and lows of marriage so well and “bragged” on how fabulous your husband is. He definitely needs to see it. 🙂
I think Tennessee is such a beautiful state. Nice to know you’re a next-state neighbor. See ya Monday!