Just a small adjustment, that’s all I need. You know. I’d just like to tighten up my neck a little, and maybe adjust my eyebrows just a tad. I want it to be subtle, but I need this change. Those are more or less the instructions the already pretty lady gave the Doctor. It appeared to me that the Doctor understood her perfectly. The first time I saw after the procedure she looked amazing. I can’t say I had ever noticed that her neck needed tightening, or that her eyebrows were a little droopy, but after the procedure there was a slight difference, and it worked for her. I was happy to see that her eyebrows weren’t pointing to the sky like a couple of teepee’s sitting alone on a barren flat prairie. Her neck as she pointed out to us was smooth but not stretched to the point of looking like her wind pipe was being squeezed. The desired result of the procedure had been achieved. The already pretty lady was now glowing with the result. I could tell how happy she was, and how confident she felt.

I had also gone through a slight change. The difference between her change and my change was that she wanted the change and I didn’t. On the evening Paula and I got together with several of our friends she had gone unseen for a few weeks as the healing process took place. The swelling was gone, and the bruising was gone, whereas the swelling from my procedure was reaching new heights, and the scar was still fresh. The putrid blue bruise was faint yet still visible. As those seeing us both for the first time admired the work of her Surgeon, they laughed at the ineptitude of mine. My only defense was that my procedure had been much less expensive, no that would be a PC way to describe it, my procedure was downright cheep!   Solid glass storm doors don’t charge anything for facial reconstruction work. The down side is, “you get what you pay for.”

Here’s the deal friends, change happens in everyone’s life. Some of it is planned in advance and well executed, while some of it is sudden, unexpected, and many times unwanted. Either way the change still takes place. It’s how we deal with the changes that make us who we are. It’s what we do with the results that define what we become. I’ve never been very good with change, I like for things to stay the same, but I realize that life with no change is a life of stagnation.

Now the swelling, scar, and discoloration is gone I think I like my new look. Just like hers, my change was subtle. Most folks won’t even recognize the difference as they walk away thinking, That Grumps is getting better looking every day.   

Till next time,

Grumps    

Well this has been quiet a week, but I won’t bother you with the details. Instead I’ll tell you what’s on tap for the next few days. Tomorrow morning Paula and I will be heading out to New Mexico for our 2^nd annual Thanksgiving visit to see our parents. Now our visits to see the folks are kinda like driving through a small town, if you blink while driving through you might miss it. We are going to Portales to see Paula’s folks first, and that is where we will spend the most time, I’d say maybe thirty hours. We are extending our visit there because we plan to paint the inside of their house for them. This may sound like a daunting task to some of you, but unlike the monstrosities people live in around here this house is a small two bedroom with eight-foot ceilings. We figure to get there tomorrow a little after noon and get to painting. Whatever we lack we will do after church on Sunday morning. Once we have wrapped it up we’ll head north to my parents house outside of Texico, NM.

We will spend Monday with mom, dad and my little sister and her family. I’ll probably go to the cotton gin my sister Deon runs just to get a whiff of some good ole gin dust. That will give me quick reminder as to why I left the ginning industry after more than twenty years. Tuesday morning we will head back home. There is work to do here on Wednesday, and then our kids and their families will be here for Thanksgiving.

Now about Thanksgiving, seems to me the whole thing was started by a bunch of turkey farmers who had to invent a reason for people to eat turkey.  In my humble, yet correct opinion turkey is one of the greatest diet foods God ever created. Anything that dry and tasteless should be eaten for medical reasons only. And then there’s the dressing. What can I say about the dressing….ok, here it is. Dressing is good providing a body doesn’t need to drink a half-gallon of tea with every bite in order to swallow it. I mean dressing should not be flaky; it shouldn’t fall apart when you put it on the plate. Wait a minute…I just realized, I can’t have wheat products, and bread is a wheat product, and dressing is mostly bread, so go ahead and make the dumb dressing dry enough to blow away in a decent West Texas wind, I don’t care. Anyway, Paula has already bought a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. I like that better. I’ll take a slice or two and soak it with some raspberry chipotle sauce. That way I can actually give the turkey some flavor, and after the first bite my mouth will be burning which will make the subsequent bites doable.  

As for Thanksgiving Day, the kids will get here that morning and start snacking, and then we will eat, and follow that up with some more snacking. The guys will watch some football, and the girls will clean up the mess from all the eating. Late in the day the grown up kids will suddenly disappear leaving Nonnie and I with the four little ratonies they have produced. Two of which are still in diapers, so Nonnie will have plenty work to do in that department.  I’ll hug on them, and call them love names like buffalo breath, and silly milly.  All too soon the day will come to an end and the kids will be headed out to visit with the in-law side of family. Nonnie and I will hug when they leave and tell each other how blessed we are. As many of you well know, there is nothing like family. I think I’ll start giving thanks for mine early.

(Disclaimer: The above-mentioned comments pertaining to turkey and dressing have nothing to do with “the hands that prepared it.” It’s all the turkeys fault! Paula’s mom, Nema, our sister in-law Rhonda, my mom, grandmother, my sister Deon ,and her daughter Brittney, and her daughter in-law Mindy, Nonnie, aka Paula, Goob, our daughter Miranda, Amber, or Skinny Minnie our daughter in-law, and since I know Mary Alice our eight year old granddaughter will help cook too, I want to add her to this list, are all GREAT cooks! So in closing I want to say again, IT’S All THE TURKEYS FAULT!)

May you and yours have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. I’ll see you in about a week.

Till next time,

Grump

Early yesterday morning I helped set up the catering room at the new Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The room would be used to feed the drivers, stage crew, and tech crew for REO Speedwagon, and STYX. The two bands were doing a show last night at the center. In the room are three flat screen TVs that were tuned to CNN and Fox. As you know yesterday was the debut of Sarah Palin’s new book Going Rogue, and she was on a constant news loop all day. It was interesting to hear the comments about Palin as the people filtered into the room through the day. Many were against her, and many were for her, and all opinions were proclaimed with adjectives that I won’t use here.

As expected Sarah’s new book instantly shot to number one on the best selling list. I think that’s a good thing, and here’s why. It doesn’t matter if you are for her, or against her, she has a way of getting things done.  People like to listen to her for two reasons, one reason is to agree with her, and the other is to bash her. The good I see in this is that the country is talking about her and the issues. I believe we need someone like her to help stir the pot if you will. One of the observations I made yesterday is that the women and men who came through the room to eat were divided on whether she was good for the country, or bad for the country, and after only a few minutes it was easy tell which side a person was going to be on. If the person had a southern accent they were for her, if they had a northern accent they were against her.  

You know friends that is a general observation I made from the events that took place yesterday, and it doesn’t mean that the country is divided North against South. I do believe however that the country is divided, and I believe that if we remain divided as we are now the country will no survive. Like it or not we are becoming a socialist country, and socialist countries are countries that do not look to God, they look to themselves, feed on themselves, and eventually implode under the weight of so few giving to so many.

I really see only one way for the USA to survive over the next century. I see only one power mighty enough to sustain our country. That power is God. Every time you pray, pray for the country. God is in control, and we need to ask Him to set us on the path to being strong in Him.

Till next time,

Grump

Well it’s official, at least as official as it’s going to get because I’m not going to the Doctor just so he can confirm what I’m already sure of. I did break my nose last Tuesday morning by running into a closed glass storm door. No, let me clarify that, I took one step into a closed glass storm door. The scab from the impact is gone, and I am assuming the swelling is gone since it has been a week, but the tell tale knot or hump if that’s what you want to call it is still there. I have never really noticed before, cause I had no reason to try and see my own profile, but just so you’ll know it is very difficult to see your own profile in a mirror.

I had a great time at the Burleson church of Christ men’s retreat this weekend. The camp was wonderful, the bed was comfortable, the food was good, and the speaker was outstanding! Oh, wait a minute…I was the speaker. Let’s try this. The camp was wonderful, the bed was comfortable, the food was good, and the speaker was AMAZING!!!  Hum…I don’t think this is coming out right. Let’s try it this way. The camp was wonderful, the bed was comfortable, the food was good, and I was privileged to speak to a great group of men. There, I think that works better.

Changing direction just a little let me say that from another aspect the weekend stunk big time. The Loop Longhorns suffered a terrible lose on Friday night, the Texas Tech Red Raiders laid an egg on Saturday, and the Dallas Cowboys looked like “Ned and the third reader” on Sunday after noon. Did anyone else notice how much better the Boys played for the two weeks they weren’t trying to appease a high priced receiver and just played as a team?

However, all of those losses were wiped out and joy brought back into my life when Miss Milla, my ten month old granddaughter cried when I left the room. I know that statement may sound a little strange, but there is just something special about knowing a little princess thinks her ole Grump is a pretty neat guy.

Till next time,

Grump

It’s shaping up to be a great weekend. This afternoon Paula and I will be heading down to Crowley. Paula will spend tomorrow shuttling Mary Alice back and forth to play practice. This evening Josh and I will going to the Burleson church of Christ men’s retreat where I’ll presenting three sessions to the men on passing their faith on to their children. Please pray for me and that God will give me ability to help these young men become better dads, husbands and Christians.

In my post on Tuesday I told you about knocking myself silly by walking into a closed glass door while picking up so stuff. Well that stuff can now be found at www.ibtj.net . IBTJ is an acronym for I Belong To Jesus. The IBTJ logo features a cross as the letter T and an attractive font for the other letters that is unique. I have put this logo on tee shirts, sweat shirts, and caps, and I am offering them for sale on line at the www.ibtj.net web site. 

You know I am all about openness so let me tell you up front the IBTJ concept is designed two purposes. First it is a great way to let the world know who you are, and Who’s you are. Making the statement I Belong To Jesus is bold. It tells those you come into contact with that you are a child of God, a follower and brother of Jesus. Second, by purchasing and wearing these eye catching shirts and caps you will be supporting the Grumpy Smith preaching and teaching ministry which will allow me to grow in my service to God as I use the gift He has blessed me with; the gift of helping others by sharing my life with them. Please check out the site http://www.ibtj.net and tell your friends and family about it. While you are there take care of a few folks on your Christmas list. 

Till next time,

Grump

Friday, November 12, 1976

I was living in Lubbock, Texas in a new one-bedroom apartment. The day started out normal enough, the weather was crisp yet clear. I had several things to do that day, changes were about to take place in my life, and I needed to get ready for them. Early that afternoon I met up with a few guys for a little male bonding at a bowling ally. My plan for the rest of the day included washing the car. Around 5:00 pm I headed to the car wash and I must say I looked like a dummy for being there. The weather had changed from clear and crisp to cloudy, cold, windy, and snowing.

A short time after washing the car with snow coming down like I’d never seen before, I headed to the church building. By this time the snow had begun to accumulate, and the driving was already becoming hazardous. We would later learn that some of the family members headed to join us had rolled their car on the way in from Eastern New Mexico. Another family got there, but it was well after the event was over.

At a few minutes after 8:00 pm I stood in front of an audience of friends and family, and sang a John Denver song; Annie’s Song as the woman of my dreams, and my life walked down the aisle to join me. Thirty minutes later I was a married man. My live has been nothing less than a beautiful dream ever since.

Friday, November 12, 1976 is the day Paula Kay Goyne became Paula Kay Smith. She has been an amazing gift. God blessed me far beyond what I deserve when He sent Paula my way. She has been my strength, and my support for the last thirty-three years. She is the only woman I have ever made love with. She is the mother of my two children, and the grandmother of my four grandchildren. Joshua, and Miranda got their inner and outer beauty from Paula. They got their brains from her, their athletic ability from her, and most of their faith from her. She is an amazing woman.

Our lives have taken a few turns along way, some wonderful, and some trying. We have shared numerous honeymoons together on weekend getaways and spring vacations, and we have clung to one another through some not so good times. Paula was my strength as I suffered with depression after a failure that we are still recovering from. A few days ago as Paula and I were eating supper at our favorite bar and grill, I told her once again, “Loving you is the easiest the thing I have ever done.” 

Friday, November 12, 1976 the day I became one with Paula.

Till next time,

Grump

Today is Veterans Day. Today is a day set by our government as a remembrance for those who have served in the military. Thousands upon thousands have given their lives so we as Americans can live free. Millions of others have served, and suffered wounds that leave them scared for life, all for our freedom. Many more have served during times of peace and have not suffered the loss of life, or limb yet they have willingly given themselves for the love of their country. We owe all of these men and women a debt of gratitude, a huge thank you. They deserve to be honored, and applauded not only today, but every day for what they do.  

It will be easy to say thank you today, today has been set aside for that purpose, but what about tomorrow and the next day? Friends give these men and women their due every day. I want to encourage you to say thank you to every enlisted person you see. I want to ask you to go out of your way to say thanks every time you see a veteran or an active duty Service man or woman. Pay for their meal, buy them a cup of coffee, do whatever you can do to let them know how much you appreciate them.

Finally, pray for them, and their families. Pray that God will keep them safe, and guard their families as they serve our country.

Till next time,

Grump

I don’t think it’s broken. It is a little swollen, and it’s beginning to turn a light sissy shade of blue, but it didn’t bleed so I don’t think it’s broken. Well it didn’t bleed from the inside like I thought it might, it did bleed on the outside which is kind of hard to figure out because there was nothing that should have cut it. It really might be a good thing if it is broken. I realize that for the past fifty-plus years my astoundingly amazing good looks has cause the female species to swoon when they see me. Maybe now they won’t be tempted as much as they once were.

“Kent!”

“What?”

“Get a grip, you’re hallucinating again.”

Ok, ok, I hate when that happens, the dream world is so much fun.

Let me tell how my day started. I went to a man’s house this morning to pick up some stuff. (I’ll introduce you to the stuff sometime in the next day or so.) Anyway he answered the door, and opened it up wide, which I took as an invitation to come on in. So I took a quick step and abruptly met up with a nice sparkling clean glass door. Nose first into a hard surface that I didn’t know existed. Well I should have known it existed, I’ve been to this guys house a number of times before, but I had never been there at 6:20 in the morning while it was still dark and I’ve only had one cup of coffee. I stood stunned for a moment. I had almost knocked myself silly. My nose hurt, my neck hurt, and my pride hurt. I finally reached up to feel the ole snoz and discovered blood. I had no idea that my nose was sharp enough to cut itself but I bled like a stuck hog for the next thirty minutes. 

Anyway, I’m not letting a little messed up nose ruin my day. I’ve got work to do, work having to do with the stuff I picked up this morning while my nose was gushing. Like I said, I’ll let you know about that stuff  as soon as I can. I am excited about what I’m about to introduce to the world, and I hope you will be excited when you see it.

Ladies please have my nose in your “thoughts and prayers” the world is ugly enough as it is, so it wouldn’t be right for my rugged good looks to be taken from you.

“KENT!

“OK!!!” 

Till next time,

Grump

Hi Friends, I want to share this with you. The blog below was written by my amazing daughter-in-law, Amber.

Sweet Music To My Soul

I have a confession to make. I want to let all of you know why I write a blog. Why I put myself out there on a regular basis. The first and foremost reason is because of my desire to serve where I can. If anything I have done, or experienced can help others I want to help them. If my failures can keep someone else from failing, if my experience with depression can help someone else overcome their depression then opening myself to you is worth it. The second reason I write a blog, and why I am on FaceBook is to help me accomplish my ministry of service to others. I need exposure to people so I can reach people. I need exposure to others so they can be assured that if they ask me to come and share with their church or organization the message will be handled in a Christian like manor, and the message will touch those who identify with me, and believe me even though I am an uneducated country boy, everyone can identify with me.

That is why I want to share a short email I received from a friend at church yesterday. I want you to see the impact that God is having through my ministry. Not only that, I want you to know that I have dedicated my life to speaking whenever and wherever I can in an effort to use the gift of communication given to me by God. Please allow me the opportunity to come and share my life with your church, company, or organization.  

Kent,

I just wanted to thank you for your lesson Wed pm – I thought it was one of the best – perhaps the best – lesson I’ve heard you give (and, as you know, that covers quite a bit of territory).  It was very thought provoking with a powerful message, and the delivery was excellent!!!   

I had a wonderful discussion with my oldest son (age 14) about your lesson on the way home from church.  It gave me an opportunity to help him better understand that if you live for the Lord there is no reason to fear death.  Should I end up leaving this earth earlier than anticipated, I hope that discussion will stay with him and give him some comfort should the unexpected occur. 

I continually appreciate all that you do for the Body of Christ – I know many others do as well.  I pray that God will continue to bless you, Paula and your family. 

Thanks! 

Tom

To God be the glory.

Till next time,

Grump