Unexpected Turns

Wow it's 2014!!! My apologies for the time lapse since my last post but so much happened at the end of 2013. Many "unexpected turns" occurred.

I am so proud of my husband!! He is officially a college graduated. In December, he graduated with his Bachelor's in Social Work. He will be starting a commission only job with Easter Seals for now. He will continue his job search and interviewing until he finds exactly what he's looking for in his new found career. He will also be preparing to become a license social worker.

In the month of December we were blessed to spend so much time with Scot's family and mine too. I know Madilyn had a blast spending time with all of her cousins. It was so great to see them having so much fun together.


I know my family is very happy that 2013 has come to an end. Scot had a terrible health scare in between Christmas and New Year's. He had a heart attack. Super scary for us all especially since he has no family history and he has had no health problems at all. So of course it took us all by surprise. Took Scot by surprise most of all since he didn't even know he had it. We are all thankful and blessed that he has recovered and the cardiologist's prognosis for Scot is very good. He said he should live a long and healthy life now. That little "unexpected turn" I believe is another Blessing in Disguise. It's one of life's warnings to take notice now so we can prevent anything worse.

So the bigs news from our little Smith Family is that we have decided we will not be pursuing our adoption of an infant any longer. Scot and I have discussed it at length, and we've come to the conclusion that it is best for us to move forward and adopt a child from foster care. There are already so many children in the United States that live day to day without a home to call their own and they long for a loving family. Madilyn will still get to be a big sister but it just won't be a baby. She is so excited about this decision. She has asked for a little sister because she wants to share her room, play dress-up, teach how to brush her hair, and so much more! Now that Scot is no longer working/interning with Gladney, we have decided to pursue our adoption through their New Beginnings program. We will continue to post updates to Madilyn's Adoption Spot on Facebook and in our blog. Also we have raised $1500 and these funds will definitely be helpful when it's time to finalize our adoption in the future to cover our attorney's fees and court costs. Thank you everyone for your support!!

Our Ground to Cup Coffee will be ending on January 31, 2014 so you still have a little more time to purchase coffee (http://www.groundtocupcoffee.com/online-store/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=COFFEE&Screen=PLST&Affiliate=smith5100). We will continue to take pre-orders for Madilyn's Spot t-shirts (https://www.beyourownspot.com/products-page/unisex/madilyns-spot-pre-order/).

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous 2014 so far. I know that we look forward to our new adventures in 2014.

Love Always,
The Smith Family!

Madilyn's Spot T-shirts

Thank you so very much to Alicia and Sydney at SPoT oN - be your own spot.

We officially have the link for everyone to pre-order their Madilyn's Spot t-shirts. Copy & Paste the link below, read a few words from our Miss Madilyn and from Alicia too. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, emotional support, and fundraising support. There's no way we could get through any of this without God and our family and friends.

https://www.beyourownspot.com/products-page/unisex/madilyns-spot-pre-order/

ONE CRAZY HOT MESS

Does anyone else ever feel like they’re living in a constant “hot mess” or they’ve gone crazy? Well guess what…that’s me! I think I’ve gone crazy living in our hot mess. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think this is a terrible situation for me and that’s probably why I’m crazy. I actually believe it’s a blessing.

As a family we say grace at meal time, we pray together with Madilyn every night, and then I have my silent prayers. However, for months, I have been praying to God (more frequently, longer prayers) that everything would come together for us as a family. God did it and answered my prayers because in the last few weeks my life has become one hot holy mess.

As long as I can remember, the most important thing to me growing up has been to become a mom. I have always wanted to adopt but little did I know this would be my only option for becoming a mom. This road has not been easy but so very rewarding. Scot and I have been through the ringer becoming parents and a family. We of course wouldn’t change any of it for the world. I’ve been praying so much lately because I was beginning to think that our dreams of growing our family weren’t in the cards so to speak. And of course I can’t just “Let Go and Let God” because I’m a...CONTROL FREAK!

One day after the next I’ve questioned the road we have taken. Scot has had more than enough road blocks with his career and it’s been no fault of his own. In those moments you think “WHY?!” For years we have asked “WHY?” Finally he decided to go back to school after being unemployed for almost 2 years. You add that to the fact that we found out we couldn’t adopt through Gladney again. We had to start all over, research adoption agencies, find the right one for us, apply to the agency, get accepted, attend orientation, and find a way to complete our approval process in a reasonable period of time. This is important because Scot and I aren’t spring chickens by any means. Then I decided to take another position at another firm. Next Scot and I thought it would be a great idea to volunteer and be the co-VPs for our Fort Worth Gladney Family Association (GFA) Board for the next 2 years. Can you see how my crazy hot mess has developed?

God was holding out on us. Ok not really…he just knew the right time to let us in on his plan for us. It’s so hard to explain but it’s as if in one little moment

I can see it all coming together and GOD has placed his plans for us right in front of my little “I think I know it all” face. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in those moments or in yourself. All those hard times have led us to this point in our lives.

1. Scot is coming full circle. He can see the light at his educational tunnel. He’ll be graduating in December with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. I am beyond proud!!

2. I have absolutely no regrets beginning a new position at another firm. It has been a wonderful year!

3. Madilyn has had a difficult transition to her current Pre-K class so she’ll be starting Pre-K in a new school on September 23rd. She is beyond excited.

4. I have enjoyed every moment of my volunteering with Gladney for the 125th anniversary, Blossoms in the Dust this past spring, and the birth mother events. I also love that I was able to get Scot involved as well. Again because we’re crazy, I will be coordinating the birth mother events and assisting with Blossoms again, and Scot and I will be the co-VPs for the next 2 years.

5. Even though we couldn’t adopt through Gladney again, Scot has had the opportunity to intern with Gladney. Not only has he learned so many new things but he has been an asset to Gladney. He was designated as the coordinator for Aunt Edna’s Closet. This closet is available to foster parents, transitional care parents, foster to adopt parent in the DFW area. It’s a place where they can come in emergency situations to find clothes, baby accessories, backpacks, and so much more for children in the foster care system.

6. Finally, GOD also plans for us to continue growing our family and I couldn’t be more excited. We are managing to complete our Wills, get our physicals, FBI fingerprinting, and either this month or October we will have our interviews and home study. And Madilyn’s Adoption Spot is a hit. We are so thankful and blessed to all of our family and friends for joining Madilyn (and Us) on this second adoption adventure.

As you can see, my craziness created from our hot mess is a blessing!

As a side note: I wrote this blog post this past Saturday, and when I attended Church on Sunday I was in awe of the sermon that morning and how it hit home! Pastor Alexander talked about 1) you are doing better than you think you are and 2) God has a dream for your life. Most settle for dreams less than what God wants you to do and be in your life. Live absolute confidence in what God wants you to be over the course of years and not just the next 7 days. God's dreams are connected; therefore, Scot and I both must live/pursue God's dreams for us indivdually to set others dreams free too.

Hugs and Kisses from the Smiths!