We Would Like to Introduce.....

Introducing Phoebe Anastasia Smith
Born April 18, 2009--Adopted into our family December 6, 2011


Introducing Isabella Daria Smith
Born December 15, 2008--Adopted into our family December 6, 2011

Our Court Trip...1st Visit With Phoebe

Just a short post because we are studying for court and because we are pooped. We wanted to let you know Phoebe is WALKING!! We also learned today that her Grandma and Mother have been visiting regularly, not sure what that means...I can't imagine not having her in my life, but at this point God has this in control. I am hoping it means that we will be able to adopt her and that we will be able to let them know how she is through our facilitator. She has a cold and is congested. Poor kiddo, but she still is able to smile. Nothing a good vicks vapor bath won't cure. Thanks everyone for your prayers. Court in two days!!!

Our Court Trip...1st Visit With Bella

I am so sorry about not updating. Things have been really busy. The first night we flew into the capital city and had medicals the next day. That night we flew into the girls home city and visited with Bella. It is the middle of the night and we are up studying for court. Today we will visit with Phoebe and prep for court again. I will try to add pictures and short posts until after court. Then I will give you all the details. In the meantime..enjoy these pics of our girl.

Puzzle Pieces For Our Girls (Hoping to Fill Every Piece)

This puzzle has been hanging around for awhile. We started this fundraiser a few months after we committed to Yana. We have sold a total of 125 pieces. We planned on running it until she comes home, sadly she isn't (at least not right now.) I thought about just stopping it, but the show must go on. We need to sell 425 more pieces at $5 each. That would make us an additional $2125 for our adoption of Phoebe +1. For every $5 donated you will get your name on the back of a puzzle piece. The winner will be drawn when all puzzle pieces are sold or when Phoebe +1 comes home. Your name will be highlighted. The puzzle will be put together by our family. It will then be framed with the wood of your choice with glass on the back and front (by Bryan's Framing here in Zanesville, OH.) That way you will see what piece you played in Phoebe and Daria's future. God bless and thank you so much for all of your support! Let's get selling-only 435 pieces to go!! All donations are tax deductible.

Bella's Birthday Celebration Donation

Our little Bella (Daria) is having her 3rd birthday on December 15th. Can you help celebrate her birthday by donating $3 in her name to the white box on the right or go to our fsp page and donate? I cannot wait to celebrate her birthday with her. No more birthdays without her family!!! The nice thing is-we will be there to celebrate with her (well Daddy will be home with the rest of the kids...but Mommy will be!!!) We are still $7739 short of what we need to bring her and her sister home. Every donation counts!!!!

We Have A Court Date!!!

It is December 6th! Praying for miracles for the judge to rule in our favor, for the documents they want redone to be easy ones, for the $7739 we still need to be here in God's timing and for a quick trip so we can be home with our other kiddos for Christmas!

The Past Couple Weeks

This past couple of weeks has been getting our dossier ready and sent. Then applying for a grant/loan through A Child Waits Foundation. We should hear the preliminary yes or no this week. Our oldest had some serious soccer games these past two weeks. The ending left me a little bitter. I am a Mom and I don't think she got what she deserved. The worst thing is seeing your daughter upset. I can tell you carrying around that bitter feeling has taken a lot out of me the last couple days. It zaps you. I prayed today for God to help me help myself to let it go. God knows I am human and I am a mother. I know feeling like this is normal. That look you see when you look into your daughters eyes and they are hurt. It's just a little tough to let go. Yes, like I said, I am working on it.

We are about $7739 away from being funded (thanks to a donation from BioPlastics and a dear friend)...barring any crazy fees or huge airfare hikes. We need our white button to the right to say $28,813 to be where we need to be. I am really hoping for the grant/loan to come through. This week we should have our littlest girls' room ready. We picked up their beds last week. We have their bed sets ready. We just need to paint and set up. For those people who say you can't love a child you only met or visited for four days-maybe for you or others, but for me and my husband it is possible. I know we didn't give birth to them, but the feeling is the same as the very first second you set your eyes on your newborn as they placed him or her in your arms. We love these little girls very much. It's not just about getting them for me or us. It's not about the fact that they make us so happy (which they do,) but it's about two little girls who need a family. It's about two little girls that will grow and be loved. It's about the fact that we have open arms waiting for them. It's about two little girls who we know will have issues, but are willing to accept them. It's about two little girls who will need us to have patience along with the love. It's about two little girls God brought to us. A beautiful little blonde and brunette who without finding a family and being adopted, will have no chance at a life outside of an orphanage. To me that is enough. Two little special enoughs. They are enough. Exactly enough. No matter what anyone thinks or ponders, we love these little girls and cannot imagine our lives without them.