The Travel Date Has Arrived

On December 15 Monday morning. I am working away and I see a %ext message come up on my phone.  Its Amanda from New Beginnings!!!!!  My heart always skips a beat with joy every time her name pops up. 
The message says Call me as soon as you can :-)  smiley face is always a good sign.   So I go call her and she says. Well I have some very important dates. You are going to Taiwan You have to be there Jan 19th to spend all day with Fu Gui (David) and then she gave me some other dates and things we would do. After the first date she gave me I was crying with tears of JOY. This long long wait was over. We were going to get our little boy!!!!!!!!
Well Dec 30 we got our itiniary for our time in Taiwan!!!!!!!  We are to be in Taipei the 18th of Jan and we get Fu-Gui on the 19th that will be our official GOTCHA DAY!!!!!   I still cant believe the day is here. Tonight we will be talking to the lady that has translated our paper work. She will helping us with flights and hotel rooms, tours and other travel information. 
As we set and wait on our call, I keep trying not to fall asleep. This adopting thing will wear you out ha ha. Mike was thinking we were getting the call at 6 but no Mike zhe is 2 hours behind us so it will be 10. 
Ok just talked with our helper for the adoption. She was so awesome. She told us how to fill out more paper work. Ha. Thought we were done with that. It wasnt much.  We got lots of information I cried pretty much the entire time we were talking to her.  Please pray with us , this is going to be so difficult on Fu-Gui leaving the only family he has ever known and his country.  I know God has great plans for this little man. Just gonna be very hard for him.   God will be our strenght. God will be Fu-Gui's comforter, his peace, his helper, and most important his Savior.  Jeremiah 29:11
Please pray pray pray as its All going to take place in 20 days!!!!!!!!!

Skype Date # 2 Dec 5th Whoop Whoop

Not much sleep again ha it always happens after our skype date with our soon to be son David Fu-Gui Smith. We are so excited before and after its hard to get any sleep but its worth every sleepless moment. :-)  When we first answer the skype there David sits with a transformer shirt on we sent him.   They noticed I had on our adoption tshirt and they showed us the one we sent to him and they put that on over the transformed shirt.  He seemed to have really liked it.

First thing we did was let him pick out a Christmas stocking.  I bought a Rudolph and a Snoopy, he wanted the Rudolph so we hung it with others as he watched with a Big smile!!!!!!!!! 
We made another picture book for him and he loveslooking at those and asking us questions about each one. He really likes the ones of Josh acting goofy :-) 

After David picked out his stocking we showed him around the house so he could see all the Christmas decorations. He really liked the little tree in his room. We tried to go out side and show him the lights and Christmas inflatables but it was raining too much.

Next we showed him video of Ballard Park, our house , Mimi and Grandaddys house, the swimming pool and of course grandaddys birds ha ha. We showed him Josh and Kiersten riding around the yard in the golf cart. We just showed the video so he could see outside and things during the day since it is always night time when we skype. 

He showed us the items we sent in his package.  We had a lego in there and he showed us the finished project of the Lego he built.  He also showed us a picture he had painted of his new family.  It had mama Josh , Kiersten and daddy on it.  It was so good and sweet.  He showed us anothed picture he painted.  I think we may have a little artist on our hands.  The biggest and most proud moment of his was when he played the recorder, a flute like instrument.  He had learned to play Jingle Bells for us and then he played another song I didnt know but he did so good. We all clapped real big and he just smiled. So maybe he will enjoy music too.  We know he loves soccer which he calls football in Taiwan. So as soon as we can we told him we would get him signed up to play.

Mimi and Grandaddy were over here and David would see them in the back ground and wave to them and say hey grand paw and grand mother.  He also told Mimi she was very pretty. Then grandaddy says and grandaddys is handsome right?  They all laughed and said yes grand paw is handsome ha ha .  David doesnt know the craziness he is getting into but I think he will love it .

I guess the sweetest and the one time I could have cried last night was when it was time for us to go.  We were telling David bye and I said Wo ai ni that means I love you in Chinese . He smiled and said back to me I love you too in English.  Oh how I cant wait to get that little man in my arms and just show him how much we do love him!!!!!!!!   Show him the true Love of family and most of all the Love that Jesus has for him and what awesome plans he has for him. The first verse I want to share with him Is John 3:16 then. Jeremiah 29:11.  Please pray that we will show him
Gods love and that he will come to know him.  Oh what a day that will be!!!!!!!!

We are waiting on another skype date or either a travel date. Gods will and timing is perfect.  We can't wait to go get him though..until next blog

PRAYING PRAYING PRAYING. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord , plans to give you a future and a hope

SKYPE DATE HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!

Can you say EXCITED!!!!!!  There are really no words to express the anticipation we had on this day Tuesday Nov 4th 2014. 8:00pm our time 10:00am in Taiwan.  Our 1st Skype session was AMAZING!!!!!!  We were all setting around waiting on the call.  It was Me, Mike, KP, Josh, Mimi and Grandaddy.  The IPAD rings and we are all on the couch waiting to get the first look at our son/brother/grandson.  Wow, we answer and there he is, SO PRECIOUS!!!!!!!
I compared it to getting a sonogram the way you can see your baby while your pregnant.  Well its much better than a sonogram ha!!!!!  I'm just lost for words to tell you because it was so AMAZING. We cant wait until our next Skype.

Mike and I were talking the other night about how exciting it was.  He said its like when we first started our journey of adoption thats all we could think about.  Then you get lost in the paperwork and the waiting and waiting.  Now a year later we get to see our precious young boy talking and moving and waving to us it just brings that Awesome Excitment right back even after all that waiting. That made the waiting all worth it :-)

There are some many things to share so I will just share a few.  The first thing we saw was his smiling face when we opened the Skype.  All I could do was smile and say awe awe awe.  He was so sweet. 

One of the other things was about his American name.  Alot of children give themself American names.    He had already been given the name David. We love David but thought about using Sameul and  call him Sam, Because we prayed for him like Hannah in the Bible prayed for her son named Samuel.  Well Mike ask him how would you like the name Samuel and with NO hesitation he shook his head and put his hands oved his ears.  Immediately we laughed and said ok ok David is it. We Love David its a great name lol

I think his most favorite time was when Josh introduced David to our 4 dogs and then lots of toys.  Josh did such a great job with David.  He would show him each Lego and tell him all about them one by one.  He loved our dogs too.  He said his favorite movies were Captan America and Transformers

Kiersten was in the room but not always in the picture of the skype and when she would come ba k into the picture he would wave at her and say Hey Kiersten.  Later during the skype he told us he thought Kiersten was pretty. Now you know who her favorite brother is. Ha ha naw just kidding. She will love them the same. She cant wait to take them shopping.  Boys dont like shopping for clothes but she loves taking Josh and now will have 2 to take.  Fun times coming.

Davie told us Yellow was his favorite color. His favorite subject in school is art.  He even had a picture he had painted and showed us. He was so proud of it. 

I dont know how long most skypes go buf ours lasted a little over an hour. Ut it sure didnt seem like an hour. 

Our next big date is Nov 17 next monday.  That is our first court date in Taiwan.  We do not have to be there for that one.  Not sure what all happens then but its just 1 step closer.  We are waiting for them to give us our travel date and more skype dates. So until then please just keep praying for David as he is going a Hugh transitioning time getting ready to become a part of our family forever.

Praying Praying Praying for our little man David until next blog
God Bless you guys

The picture is of things we are sending him in one of our packages to him

Important Dates

We have received our 1st court date, it is Nov 18 in Taiwan so it will be Monday Nov 17th here in America.  We are so excited.  Just knowing things are begjnning to happen is Amazing!!!!!!  Our next date we received was about our Skype Session with our son.  We are waiting and counting down the days when we will finally be able to see him.  Tears of Joy start to come to my eyes as I just think about it.
Until next time Praying and Waiting for SKYPING WITH OUR YOUNG MAN.

One More Step Of Being Closer To Traveling!!!!!!!

Got a text today from Amanda at New Beginnings.  Every time I see her name pop up on my phone it really takes my breath away.  She will never know how excited one person me can get just seeing her name.  Her text today was. Your Dossier is in the Courts in Taiwan!!!!!!  You would have thought I had won a million dollars after I read that.  We still have a bit to go.  The average time frame once the dossier is in the courts is 1 to 6 months to we get a travel date. We are praying and believing earlier than 6 hoping by the end of the year!!!!!  But if not we are good with that because in Gods timing we will go. 
We have a new Red Adoption TShirts if you can help us out by purchasing one we would appreciate it SOooooooo much. Go to Teesprings.com/smithadoption3. Order a short or long sleeve TShirt or we have hoodies too. 
In the mean time we will be waiting on a Skype Date with our little man.  I guess so crazy excited every time I think about skyping. My kids say I will scare him with my excitement and tears of Joy ha.
Keep checking for new information on our blog as things take place.
Until then pray pray praying him home!!!!!

HOPE PRAY & WAIT

Well it's been almost 11 months since we started our journey.   Lots of exciting times, lots of paperwork times, lots of raising money times but now the most and longest time seems to be the WAITING TIME. HA  That is the time you just Hope, Pray, Hope, Pray and stay busy Hoping and Praying and that time flies.  That's where we are right now.

Our dossier has been translated and sent to the Orphanage Chung Yi in Taiwan, after 3 or 4 weeks there, it goes to the court system.  We are in our 5th week of it being in Taiwan but not sure if its at the courts or still at Chung Yi.  Once it gets to the courts it can be 1 to 6 months before our travel date is scheduled.  So we are not sure if we will have our son for Christmas or not.

We just have to keep on waiting hoping and praying, knowing that in Gods timing is when we will travel to get our little man.  I get so excited just thinking  about it!!!!!!!!

So until then please keep praying with us.  Remember James 1:27

I'll try to blog more often as things happen.  Love you guys for your Prayer

Until next time.  HOPE PRAY & WAIT

3rd Finger Prints

Well up at 445 to head to Memphis for Biochemical finger prints. Not sure what it is or what its for just doing what I am told. If they havent found out our deep dark secrets after all these finger printings and paper work I think we are going to be ok ha ha. With all the finger prints on us we got to stay clean if not they can catch us in no time. Just kidding for you people that may read this and not know me.
I havent blogged lately cause all we have been doing is more paperwork and alot of hurry up and waiting.  Thats totally ok with me cause I know in Gods perfect timing we will get our precious son. 
Friday is his birthday.  He will be 9  I was hoping to be able to skyp with him on his birthday but not gonna happen  Sending an email birthday card hoping he with get that. Next year he will be 2 numbers Big 10 so we will have a big party next year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMUEL!!!!!
We love you!!!!!
As im riding down the road typing this in my phone a little daylights breaking through.  Just makes me think of what an Awesome God we serve. Im just in Awe of my Lord and Savior how He has all of us in his hands and in control of it all.  So just sit back with me serve Him and serve others and enjoy God in all His Awesomeness  
Maybe ill have some more to share after our little finger print deal. Until next time

Praying praying praying him home

Stamp of Approval!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever dance the happy dance?  Have you ever ran back and forth in a small room with hands lifted high shouting Praises?  I have and I know your not shocked. I did this at 10:14am on March 7 2014.  Thanks to Sherria, Bro Billy and Hillary being in the mailroom to share the dance running and tears wuth me  I will never forget this.  Thats  when I got our Approval call for adoption!  Just another step of a long process  that hasnt seemed very long to us.   Its only been 4 months from the day we were approched about adopting!!!!!!   Know comes the fun stuff skyping and talking to our son  OMG. Can you believe this  I cant  tell you guys in words how exciting this is . 
Called Mike and got him on speaker phone and told him so he could share with me and my sisters and brother in the mailroom.  He was so excited I think he was in shock that the Approval came so fast  Hey when Gods in it Miracles happen. 
I wanted to call everyone I knew but couldnt. Had to wait til I could see Mimi and Granddaddy to tell them in person. The grands were very excited too. Also wanted to call my girlfriends but we were having a girls night out so I waited to tell them then.  I told them I had an announcement to make and they were so excited of the news  Your days coming Charmaine soon and very soon I know:)  Charmaine is my sister that is adopting 2 little girls.
I even told our waiter hey I am Atonya and Approved. Lol.  The girls had a great time out last night acting crazy  and celebrating our Awesome news.   Oh did I mention the news came only 2 days after my  50th Birthday!!!!   I know I dont look nor act like 50 lol well maybe dont act  like 50 but we all know I get that from my crazy sweet Daddy.  
Well I hope to bring you more exciting news soon but for now

Pray Pray Praying Him Home!!!

PS the picture I added is a necklace Kiersten made for me and she would be happy to make you one if you tell her what you would like in it

T - Shirts are In and Auction was A Success

T shirts are in and we all Love them. Shout put to my sister Sherry Naron who designed the shirts and fix it up on the site. Sherry you will never know how special that was to us for you to do that and help us raise money to help our little boy get home to us his 4ever family  We have opened up another tshirt order. So this gives people that did not order the first time to order now. You have 1 more week to order  it will close March 3  So get your order in
I think  the last day I blogged was the day of the auction.   There are no words to express the gratefulness and thankfulness we felt as we set back and watch people come in those doors.
We get there at 5 because Amy Kirby wanted to surprise us with everything. It was so awesome the way she and all the lady's that help set up everything. I just cried when I saw it all. Regina and Dianne you all did awesome. I wish I could name everyone of you that helped but I don t know who all helped. They all did it because of their love for our Father and their love and support of adoption. 
I told Amy they had too many tables set up but let me tell you there was not an empty table.   I think Chaz said he feed over 200 but not everyone ate.  Let me tell you the food was good too but of course it would be with Chef Chaz cooking
Everyone that came out and supported us, decorated,  served food , helped with auction and any other things done that I have forgotten  you we never know how much it meant to us
We ended up with over 200 items donated for the silent auction.  Thanks to all who donated. We couldn't have had this adoption fund raiser with out all those items donated.
Last but not least I thank my precious sister Lauren Kitchen Stuart who took time out of her over busy schedule to come MC our event  Amy surprised us on that for sure  So grateful you were able to come be apart 
Oh yes Mike my sweet husband that never says much tried his best all night to back out of speaking.  God came over on that man and he spoke from his heart and it was beautiful  I was so proud of him 
I could go on and on about the the adoption event but I won't ha. God is so Amazing putting his people together and showing His love through His people helping to live out James 1:27 helping get our little boy home to his 4ever family.
  Pray Pray Praying Him Home

TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE AUCTION

Oh so I'm so EXCITED this blog may not make any sense because if you know me I can't talk right when I'm not EXCITED but when I am EXCITED oh me oh my  Today is the silent auction, free dinner and FUN. Door Prizes will be over flowing too.  
God just keeps on blessing and blessing!!!!  People from my work brought all kind of goodies to me yesterday to auction off whoop whoop. Friends and family from every where giving and giving and showing the spirit of God.  Do you people know how much I love and appreciate you?   No I don't think u can  .I know it doesn't take  much to get me excited but please folks with all ur giving and living and praying.  I'm crying one minute for all ur kindness and love you are showing  and then the next minute I'm doing the Holy Ghost happy dance  
Hey did I tell yall I'm EXCITED   I can imagine after tonight what I'll be like. Hey did I mention Door Prizes.  Please come out tonight or you will miss a blessing of fun and fellowship. Hey  you might even get to hear the most untalktive man alive  speak. Yes that would be my most precious husband Mike Smith .  He doesn't day much but when he does it True Pure and very intelligent.   Yep I'm kinda proud of my man. :)
Last night we put up a bunk bed for the boys. Josh wants his little brother to sleep with him in his room. They are going to be best buddies. This all just makes my heart smile!!! 
I know I am being so random and typing off the top of my head  that's just me don't claim to be a writer. The writer is Kiersten but when I'm blogging early in the morning she is still sleeping. 
Ok Please come tonight  I just don't want anyone to miss out on the fun and blessing of seeing how God is working!!!  It's at 6 First Baptist Church  
Oh I posted pictures of  some items that will be auctioned off. Love and bless you guys

Pray Pray Pray  him Home

FUN With Fund Raising For All

Well its been a great week. The T - Shirt campaign that my dear friend Sherry Naron kicked off 2 weeks ago for us ended Wednesday night   Grateful to say you awesome guys bought 111 shirts and hoodies to help bring our boy home to his 4 ever family.   Amazing I love and appreciate everyone of you.  
Now for the next big fund raiser that my awesome friends at church are doing is a silent auction. Feb 15, 6:00 @ FBC Tupelo.   Its so exciting!!!! They are doing all of it for us. They are surprising us with lots of fun things. They dont want us their until 5 because they are decorating the place up. You can come out to that for a free spaghetti supper and a fun night of auction items and  hear a little about our adoption story.  This is a 2 family fund raiser.  Steve and Charmaine Tybor are adopting two little girls (sisters)  so they will also be telling a little about their adoption story.  So see when you come to the event you will be playing a giant part in bringing 3 children to their 4ever families and fulfilling the Word of God James 1:27 where it tells us about helping the orphans. This just excites me just knowing God is all in this. Just can't wait to see what all He has planned for both families as we travel this awesome journey.
We are also doing a Tag A Bag .  This is where you have a back pack for people to drop donations in and then sign the back pack.  Then when we travel to pick our chlld up we will take this back pack for our him to have and bring home with him as a keep sake with good luck messages from you guys.  I have attached a couple of pictures of different things I have talked about in my blog today   REMEMBER
SAVE the DATE Feb 15, 6:00 @ FBC Tupelo

Until next time. See you Feb 15 and  Praying praying praying
Love and God Bless You All

Blessed Blessed Blessed

Hello friends it's a Friday night and I am at it again still making scarves and every stitch I make is made with Love for our little boy half way around the world and for my special friends and family I am making them for 
Speaking of friends and family, Mike and I have just been talking about how Super Blessed we are with our family, our church family,  our Super awesome friends, Awesome Sunday School class, friends we work with,  and people that we don't even know. We are just over whelmed with all of the volunteering for the silent auction which is February 15 @6:00 @FBC Tupelo.  You just can't imagine all the awesome items that are being donated.   Crocheted coasters , baby blankets, baby hats, wall hangings, art work,  little children furniture, coffee table, couch and chair, jewelry,  catered meals, baked goods, candles, decorative pillows , movie basket, spa baskets etc. I could go on and on. See what I'm talking about.  God has blessed us with so many friends. Almost every other day we are getting donations 

Nine days ago one of my BFF's Sherry Naron set up a T shirt selling site up for us http:// teespring.com/smithadoption  you can go to this site and order an awesome adoption tshirt. Totally designed for us by Sherry.  God puts me around all these smart people because I'm so.....oh well you know what I mean  ha ha If you ever need something designed Sherry can do it.
The tshirt sell is going great!  It last for 14 days and you have 5 days left to order.  We have 69 orders already and counting.  Shery said we are shotting for 100  See again how Blessed we are.
As far as where we are in the adoption process besides fundraising and getting ready for the auction,  our home study is finished.  They have sent it back to us to proofread then to an editor, now it is being translated.   After that they will send it to Taiwan.    There they will read it and send us make more questions to answer  so we are getting closer and closer to going over there.  I just dream of the day we go. 
Our story of adoption will not stop after we are done.  God has given us such a Hugh heart for adoption we will be actively involved in helping others adopt in some form or fashion.

I'm going to try to attach some pictures of some of the auction items.
I try my best to explain to u how Blessed we are but words just can't express it cause I could go on and on.
Tomorrow we are going to a Chinese New Year gathering. So maybe next time I can share with you all about that. I do know this is the year of the Horse 

I was in tears today just humbled by everything everyone is doing and donating  I asked my BFF'S Amy Kirby  Why has God bless me with a friend like you?  She said He knows just what and who you need  and that is so right

Praying and Praising
WE ARE BLESSED
James1:27

Adopting & Pregnancy A Lot A Like

Well its 1 am and sleep is not happening.  Mike is sleeping very well tonight.  The reason I know is because all the snoring I'm listening to.
KP is in Nashville with friends from college for a girls weekend  Josh has his best buddy Thomas over and then my other son I haven't yet met is in Taiwan.  I wonder what he is doing  It's Saturday afternoon in Taiwan so I hope he is playing and having fun.
We found out he was here in the states this summer at a Host home for a while.  I finally got to talk with the Host home mom.  She told me somethings about my son to be.  The feeling I had waiting on her every response to my questions were like waiting for my doctor appointments when I was pregnant.   Ha ha for real  it so exciting.  Then she started sending pictures she had made this summer and that was like waiting on getting a sonogram.   I just never knew how much adopting was so much like being pregnant.  
The information she was sharing is telling me we are getting a little boy that is very VERY ACTIVE.  He loves the outdoors and he does not like being still lol.  The host mom said the only time he is still is when he is eating.  He is a very fun loving active little boy.  God knows what he needs and what we need. I think it's God's way of keeping Mike and I young .  It's just so exciting thinking about our life as a family with all the changes to come.  I welcome it all with open arms. 
The one difference in adopting and being pregnant is No Morning Sickness  Praise The Lord for that. 
Well as I write in this blog in the early morning I pray for my little boy across the ocean many many miles away .  Hoping God is preparing him to become a part of his 4 ever family in Tupelo, Ms.
I must try to get some sleep I have a lot of crocheting to do .  So I will try to go to sleep with that red headed bear snoring   AKA Mike :)

 So until next time Praying

Busy Busy As We Sit And Wait

Well its been a while since I have posted. It's been Christmas, work, planning Fund Raiser and making fund raiser projects.   Kiersten has started making jewelry just to raise a little money to help bring her other little brother home.  She took it to her first place to sell it and they loved it so much they encouraged her to make more and gave her ideas of how to do this. What started as a sweet fund raiser for her little brother may become a little side job for her. 
God is showing everyone new and great things through our awesome journey of adoption.
I know this means so much to Kiersten for several reasons. The verse we picked to be our main Adoption verse is James 1:27. It tells us to take care of the widows and orphans. I once was a widow and know how it feels for others to come and help in anyway I needed them to  Kiersten was not an orphan but she did not have a daddy  So many people reached out to her during this horrible time of our life. This is a reason for sure I know God has given us a Hugh heart for adoption  So we can reach out to a child in need.   Like we were God's children in need at that time in our life 
I'm going to try to attach some pictures of Kiersten jewelery
Now Josh is also doing a project to raise money. He is collecting cans. This is for sure a family matter. Everyone has their own way of making money to help get our little brother home . 
I just want to THANK everyone that is lifting us up in prayer as we travel this precious journey.  God is blessing us all so much with a little boy we haven't even met yet.
We are in the process of making a fund raiser page on Facebook. I will let you know when we have that up and going.  
Until next Post Pray Pray Pray.  We love you all