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




Friday, April 20, 2012

WEEK 2 Cards for children Info! House fire

(I'm sorry I've not kept up with the blog as much as I should have!)  I've been posting on FaceBook & most everyone is friends with us there so I've not been posting here.  The date is the actual date this was typed. 
March 29
At the end of February (I think it was 28th), there was a house fire that involved 3 children & their parents in Booneville. I do not know this family but I met their cousin 9 years ago while I worked at the hospital. Their cousin (also named Rena') has always had the biggest heart & has always helped others!

On the morning of the fire, the children escaped & were treated/released from the hospital; however, John & Rena (parents) were not as fortunate. John & Rena Brumley both suffered burns, smoke inhalation, & other injuries. They were both sent to the Med. Sadly, Rena Brumley lost her battle & gained her wings last Friday which was also her eldest son's birthday. Not only have these children lost their home & all their possessions, they have now lost their mother & their father is still in the Med with a long road of recovery. They needs our prayers! You can read about the fire here:http://issuu.com/dailycorinthian/docs/022812_corinth_e-edition

Rena's obituary can be found here:http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Rena-Brumley&lc=1676&pid=156715656&mid=5044803&locale=en_US

This week these 3 children will be our children for cards.
 Hunter, 17 - Rena, his mom, died on his birthday
Gunter, 14
 Paden, 11
Address:
24 931 hwy 4 west
Booneville, MS  38829

Their father, John is still in the med. He needs prayers and support also! It is my understanding that he was not able to leave the Med to go to his wife's funeral.

Thank you so much to the ones that sent letters to Zack last week! For those that didn't, you can still send him cards. To my knowledge, 4 classes of school children & 1 youth group sent letters to Zack. I'm estimating he has gotten over 100 letters from your support (these are just the ones I'm aware of being sent to him)! THANK YOU so much to each of you that sent him cards & for the teachers/leaders/mentors that got your group to send cards making his day a little brighter!

My goal is to send even more letters/cards this week to these 3 siblings to show them our support & encouragement! I cannot imagine what they are going through! Please keep this entire family in your prayers! Since I have not gotten the address, I will wait until Monday to send out the bulk of cards I get. If you aren't aware of what I'm referring to, please look in my notes (left under my profile pic) "Help Needed from YOU! Cards for children"



 Thank you for helping our children to make a difference!
 

Missing our GiGi & her friend goes home

(I'm sorry I've not kept up with the blog as much as I should have!)  I've been posting on FaceBook & most everyone is friends with us there so I've not been posting here.  The date is the actual date this was typed. 
March 28th
GiGi has a friend in China that was united with her family last week (they are still in China finishing up the adoption). I'm having an extra emotional Mommy disconnect from her baby day after Macy Jade coming to me with her $ for GiGi's fund & watching how precious Lila (GiGi's friend) is with her family. If you go here http://emmalis.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-25-evening-pearl-river-cruise.htm...l

& scroll down to the video, I think you will see how remarkable happy these children are to have a family & love. Lila is just 2 weeks older than GiGi & they were buddies at the orphanage. I hope GiGi hasn't been lonesome without her! In many pictures I've seen of GiGi, Lila was usually close by her. We are really missing our GiGi & are ready for her to be home! Please pray for this family as you also pray for us & GiGi! I pray GiGi's bond with us is as awesome as Lila's bond is with her family! Our patience is getting thin for waiting on our angel! We are still hoping to go the first of June! That seems so short, but so far away when your child is in an orphanage a world away!!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

If we all had the heart of a child..............

Bless her heart! Macy Jade came with her life savings last week (above) & said "Is this enough to cover?"
 I said "Cover what, baby?"
She said "GiGi's adoption! I'm ready to get my baby sister!"
How wonderful life would be if we all had the heart of the children!!!




19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;   
Matthew 6:19 (NKJV)


35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 
Acts 20:35 (NKJV) 

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!


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Valentine’s Day Cards for GiGi

It’s been a crazy busy year already & time is flying by!  The adoption is moving forward & GiGi will be with us before we know it!  Things got delayed with our holidays & China’s holidays so maybe we are back on track.  It still looks as if it will be a few months before we are headed to China.  We Cannot wait to hold our daughter & to bring her home!!!!!!  With time approaching quickly, we need to get on the fundraisers for adoption fees/traveling fees/medical fees/etc.   

Today I posted on my Facebook 2 Pictures of cards.  This will be our fundraiser for Valentine’s Day.  It will be here in 13 Short days!  We have the following card types:
* Valentine's Day to wife designs
* Valentine's Day to husband designs
* General Juvenile Valentine’s Day designs 
* General Valentine's Day designs (includes sweetheart & to the one I love)
Basically, we have something for everyone; I think there are 50 designs.  The cards have a retail price printed on the back of $2.50.  These cards are thick and of nice quality.  We also mail them to the name/address you provide with a note saying that you have helped support an orphan home with this card.  The shipping stamps are Valentine stamps & they will have cute return address labels with a return address from Cupid’s Castle.
I know most of you purchase cards so please consider getting them from us to help pay fees for GiGi.  Adoption is not cheap & adoption fees are expected to cost us between $35,000-$40,000.  This does not include GiGi’s medical expenses.  This is something we were called to do & we believe it is our mission.  We know if God has called us then He will provide the way!

You can get cards on a donation basis.  You can mail your check to:
Phil or Niki Smith
P.O. Box 332
Rienzi, MS  38865

We hope to have another PayPal address set up tomorrow so you can send the donations through PayPal  Please, please help pass the word along & share this message.
Tell:
Friends
Church
Co-worker
Classmates
Neighbors
Etc. 

 Would you help this fundraiser be a success & help bring GiGi to her forever home?  Everyone LOVES getting a card in the mail to feel special -even your children & spouse(Please make sure not to forget our service men/women).  We also have religious card & will post more details on them soon.  We are very grateful to each of you for your support!