Long Road to China - Our Adoption Story


Trustmark National Bank account set up:

Donations can be made nation wide at any Trustmark National Bank through the account:
Phillip Smith or Niki J. Smith's Adoption Account

If you would like to mail a donation, please mail it to
Phil or Niki Smith
P.O. Box 332
Rienzi, MS 38865




Monday, March 19, 2012

Article in Daily Corinthian, March 18, 2012

Some people have asked me to post the article in the Daily Corinthian.  A special thank you to Angela Storey for writing the story & the Daily Corinthian for publishing.



You can also see it here:

Monday, March 12, 2012

Why adoption is a commandment for us & LID



 I do not judge you for your opinions & Love you even when we disagree. I don’t hate any of you but I do hate abortion! I know some of my friends do not stand with me on my beliefs on abortion. I am not here to start an argument; I do not believe that prospers anything! However, I am a FIRM believer of anti-abortion & will forever stand my ground to defend innocent lives! I believe a child is born once it is in the mother’s womb. 

This has always been my stance but after we lost our child at 12 weeks gestational age, my beliefs were only made more resilient! I do not believe it is a mother’s right to kill their child (gestational or after birth) because they don’t want a child, the child maybe disabled, etc. I applaud those of you females that have given your child life in ‘not idea’ situations (young age, not wanting a child, out of wedlock, birth defect, rape, etc) I believe in women having rights, but there is a big double standard! If a man kills a woman that is pregnant, he faces conviction through the law for the murder of the mother AND child! So, I do not understand how the law can say it is o.k. for a woman to kill this child but not the man.? Please do not argue on my beliefs & do not read further if you do not want to hear my stance!   Our firm stance is a reason I believe we were called/commanded to be a missionary for adoption.  

Phil & I are actually pretty quiet people that often stand in the background & wait until someone needs us to act. We don’t often do public acts but charity from “behind the scene” that others do not usually see. However, we both are so bold with our belief that abortion is murder that we do take a strong stand! If you stand for nothing, what are you? This does not mean we don’t stand strong in other beliefs, but abortion strikes a strong cord with us & I believe this is why we were led to adopt! 

We were commanded to adopt & will take in a child with a disability (as GiGi) or one with no disability. We see no difference in either child; they are just different as any other 2 children. One child is no better than the other & both deserve our love & a family! I’m so thankful that GiGi’s birthmother gave bith to GiGi & did not abort her pre-birth or post-birth! 

We aren’t just saying “We don’t believe in abortion.” We are willing to give an option to mothers who decided to give her child life by adopting these children! If you are pregnant & considering abortion, please pray hard about this. Phil & I are willing to take in children as long as God calls us to & to give them a family, home & LOVE! Even if it comes a time where we cannot take in children, I will always help in an effort to give a child a family. If you are pregnant & considering abortion, we will consider adopting your child. If we are not able to take your child in (maybe we cannot because of laws/etc), I vow to find someone to adopt your child & give the child a Loving family if you will just give him/her the opportunity of life!  This is a big statement, but one we can be held to so do not take it to just be words on a page.  If you are pregnant & unwilling to keep your child for any reason, we are not here to judge you.  However, we are willing to possibly adopt your child, find another loving home, &/or help you to explore other options with you!

Are we wealthy enough to do this………do you hear my laughter??? LOL I’m a stay at home mom (because this is where God wants me to be) & Phil is a high shcool teacher in MS (2nd lowest in pay in the country last I checked). If we asked a financial advisor if it was a wise idea for us to adopt a child which is going to cost about $40,000 in fees on our income, I do think that we would be laughed out of the office! NO, we don’t have the funds, but we have faith…….BLIND FAITH!!!! If God commands us, I believe He will provide the way even when we don’t see all the answers/income/end. 

Others have been kind to help us in our adoption efforts (our MISSION). This is the hardest part for me & how God is humbling me! I HATE asking people for anything……ESPECIALLY financially! We don’t like fundraising!!!! However, by allowing others to help, we are able to adopt & we are able to let others help in a mission! They are helping give a child a life, a family, LOVE! You don’t have to adopt to give a child a home. It’s not for everyone & you must be a little crazy to do this! Lol You can support others in many ways that have been called for this lifelong mission (adoption). You can help in prayer, financially, help with a fundraiser, help get the word out about the adoption, help with babysitting if needed, & the list is endless in the ways to help others! 

Phil & I believe we are on a Mission trip as many others have gone to other countries on mission trips. Our mission trip doesn’t end; it’s a lifelong mission when you adopt! PLEASE don’t take that wrong! We are all called for different missions! EACH one is equally important! My point is just because we aren’t going somewhere for a length of time, doesn’t mean this isn’t any less a calling/a mission for us! We didn’t start this mission with the prayer of God please send us a child that has special needs to adopt because we have a longing to adopt! Phil & I thought we were finished having kids! Our children are old enough to be somewhat self-sufficient (feeding themselves, helping with chores, put on clothes, etc.). Why would we want to start over again? Yeah, we are a little nutty, but it is a lot of fun at our home! HA! Adoption was a calling/commandment from God! Are we any less excited about adopting GiGi than when I gave birth to our biological children? Absolutely NOT! We are ecstatic that God put us in this mission! We Love GiGi no differently than Colt & Macy Jade! Thank you to those of you that give children a chance at life! We all deserve this right!  

Also to catch you up.........We got an email from our adoption agency. Our official dossier log-in date
(LID) is: 3/6/2012 
{LID means China has all our tons of info/paperwork & it is logged into their system -now mainly just some waiting & paperwork. }
It seems like this is the point we have been waiting on since the start. It's like the light at the end of the tunnel! The estimated travel time is a little easier to predict from this point. I expect we will be traveling to China in about 3 months. to bring home our precious daughter!

Please continue to pray for us, for GiGi & that we will continue to follow on blind faith.  With our travel date quickly approaching, our funds need to start coming in to cover these fees.  We have paid fees all along, but the bulk of them will be due soon.  Again, we pray for God's guidance & continue to follow on blind faith!