After spending a couple of days in the Magic Kingdom with the girls last week I am not sure who had more fun, them or me.  We did it all, from the Bibbidi Boppiti Boutique, to Goofy's Barnstormer, to Small World, to Mickeys Philharmagic, to Space Mountain and back again.  We had more fun than I can remember.  I've never seen so many big people as excited as so many small people.  Our first day at the Magic Kingdom we opened the doors and stayed until the fireworks closed the park.  The whole place is incredible.  I told Sarah that I've never been anywhere else in the world that made me want to skip.  Everywhere we went there was a Princess, Peter Pan, Goofy, or Mickey and Minnie.  I couldn't help but think about several things as we went throught  the park and since I don't want to make 15 posts I'll do a Tony and randomly list the stuff.

1.  Disney was made up of people from all different countries in all different colors and speaking all different languages but they were all there because of the little Mouse.  Need I go further...

2.  If the Magic Kingdom in Orlando is that sweet I can't even imagine what the Eternal Kingdom will be.

3.  Nose hair grows more rapidly on an airplane.

4.  Childlike faith was redefined for me when Caroline got her picture made with Woody and Jessie and clung to their legs until we made her leave.  That's how I want to be with Jesus. 

5.  Everybody wanted to have lunch with the princesses in Cinderella's Castle but you had to have a reservation to get in.   I guess you know where that one is headed too.

6.  Nemo's dad is the man!

7.  Our conference was great and I have so many new ideas in my head and can't wait to see what this year will hold.

8.  Adults are more prone to child "ish" ness than child "like" ness.

9.  I'm going to continue to skip... you should try it too.  It seems to help with the whole child like thing. 

I'm Stuart Smithson and I approve this message. 

  Many of you have been praying for Emily's eyesight.  She has Amblyopia (lazy eye) and Strabismus (a muscle-control issue) in her left eye and in October measured at 20/200 vision WITH her glasses on. (20/20 is normal)  Because her vision was so poor, her brain had basically shut off this eye and was only using the other one.  After a year of wearing an eye patch over the good eye with no results, we searched to find another option.  We switched doctors and started vision therapy where we do an hour of therapy at home each night and Emily goes one hour a week to the therapist... the goal is to improve the vision in the weak eye AND retrain her brain to use both eyes together so that she doesn't eventually become completely blind in her left eye.  The doctor told us that this was the best option, but that there were no guarantees that anything would help.  Emily has worked so hard, but it  has definitely been difficult.

      Today was the first time her doctor re-tested her eyes since we started the therapy.  I am so excited to tell you that her vision in the weak eye was 20/70!!!!  She has also made some breakthroughs that have shown the doctor that her brain is starting to use both eyes together!  To God be the glory!!! We are so thankful!!

    Please continue to pray for even more improvement and specifically that her brain will use both eyes together.  Also, this condition is hereditary and we started noticing similar eye-turn in Caroline about a month ago.  She has an appointment with Emily's doctor next week for an eye exam. 

    Even more good news from St Louis from Benny and a new heart.  God is GOOD!  "He'll either take care of it, or He'll take care of it."