I simply think of my favorite things....

Watching M*A*S*H with my whole family (Mama's laughing like a school girl).

Chowing down on the best pecan pie EVER made by my gorgeous sister Whit :)

A smile from my beautiful piano teacher :) (I plan on wearing red lipstick just like her when I grow up).

A new pair of boots to keep my feet warm.

Rereading the Anne of Green Gables series (Gilbert is.... *sigh*)

Movies that give you chills, make you cry and keep you laughing for days.

Discovering how soft Jesse's cheeks are.

Getting the new Anthropologie catalog.

Catching up with old friends (and making new ones).

Wearing my favorite scarf with every top in my closet.

Finding out a friend from church is going to Shorter too!

Discovering a never ending, incomprehensible, life saving truth:

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

To the end. To the cross. Why?

I am surrounded by warmth, laughter, family, love, comfort.... Why? Out of all the situations God could have placed me in He chose this family. Instead of leaving me for dead (as I deserved) He gave me HIS life. Not just any life, HIS PERFECT LIFE. Why? Never will I fully understand this but I have eternity to bask in His Life, His Blessings and His Love.

Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son

Give Him the Glory

Great things He hath done!

You're the reason why

Today was homecoming at our church, so like any good Baptist church, we had singing after the meal. We were asked to sing, and on a whim Marigrace asked Jubilee if she would sing with us.

She said yes.

Today my beautiful new sister sang "Amazing Grace" in front of our church family. Later Marigrace shared that she almost began to cry as she held her African sister and thought of the story behind the man (John Newton) who wrote the song, and his conversion from slave trader to a man of God. By the grace of God both Jubilee and Jesse are free. Free to be adopted, free to love and be loved. Free to be taught God's word and declare their love for Him.

That same grace that Newton discovered is still promised to anyone who will believe. You're the reason why Christ came to earth as a mere man, lived to serve, heal, and disciple, and then died for the redemption of ALL sin. The same sin that He died for will chain you down, and keep you bound for Hell unless you repent of it, accept Christ's forgiveness, and believe that He is the Son of God and His Father is the Creator of all things, the only God.

It doesn't end there. Now comes the hardest and most rewarding part of it all. You will be a child of God; therefore the going will be tough, times will get hard, but guess what? You have the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings on your side! He is dying to hold you, to draw you close and give you His very best for your life; don't settle for less then that.

Stop running. You belong to Him.

You run, you hide

As tears fall from your eyes

They fall like snow

From a wounded soul

You hold inside

The hurt of great divide

The hole is starting to get old

So come back to the light

To the love, you will find

It’s been here all along

So come back to the start

And you’ll find in your heart

That you always belonged

To me

Just take the rope

I won’t let it go

Give in

We can start again

I’m life, I’m hope

And I’m ready to explode

With how bad I want you back home

So come back to the light

To the love, you will find

It’s been here all along

So come back to the start

And you’ll find in your heart

That you always belonged

To Me

You’re my daughter, you’re my son

You’re the one I long to love

And you’ve heard I chose to die

Do you know you’re the reason why?

~ Grey Holiday

Home

These babies have officially stolen my heart. I could hold them in my lap for hours and just listen to them laugh (which they do constantly).

Mama has been blessed with new students!

Whitney-Faith slipped into the role of big sister with ease.

The THREE Travis Smith boys :)

Thank you all for your prayers! Without God on our side these babies wouldn't be here.

Six days and counting....

On Sunday, August 2nd, I will be waiting at the Atlanta airport to meet Jesse and Jubilee Smith!! Our children are being escorted home from Ghana and Mama and Marigrace will meet them in NYC on Sunday afternoon.

In six days I will be holding my dear, precious, LONG awaited siblings! Isn't God good?

Thank you for all the prayers. None of this could have happened without our Awesome God :)

The Wilderness

My sisters and I went on a weekend retreat with our youth group to "The Wilderness", a secluded piece of land conveniently located near an awesome river. It has the sweetest cabins, a pond for fishing, and fields for recreation; all of these combined make for an awesome weekend of reflection and diving deeper into The Word. My morning devotions were spent atop a massive boulder on the trail to the river. It doesn't get much better then that. The splendor of God's Creation is unavoidable at this place. The mission of The Wilderness is to give you a place to worship God (at little or no expense). It is an awesome ministry and if you want more info. just let me know.

The river :)

We had a beautiful hike to the river (even though you were dying on the way back)

Group photo!

"I hold, without appeal to revelation, that when we take a view of the Universe, in its parts general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition. It is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is, in all this, design, cause and effect, up to an Ultimate Cause, a Fabricator of all things from matter and motion."

Thomas Jefferson

Awesome news!!!!!

Guess who's flying to Ghana on Aug. 18th? That's right, Mama and Marigrace have tickets reserved and will be coming home with the babies on Aug 20!!! Mama got a call Thursday that Joha (one of our adoption advocates) was holding Jesse's passport in his hand, had looked it over three times for errors and everything was fine.

Man, God is good :) Thank you Jesus for Your blessings!

A disappointing update....

I don't have words better then my mother's for the sad news we heard a few days ago concerning Jesse's passport. Please be in prayer for our family and check out Mama's blog here to get the details.

Passport :)

I am upstairs at the moment. For the first time in way too long I can hear my mother laughing with sheer joy as she tells the good news to a friend on the phone. You know what the good news is if you know my mother at all. Our little boy has a passport. A little black book that will allow him to leave Ghana and arrive in America with no problems. The laughter dowstairs goes on.... :)

I can finally imagine myself at the airport, welcoming my new siblings home. I couldn't do that before today.... Thank you God! I thought that I would want to shout or scream with joy when we finally heard the news, yet instead I'm filled with a content calm. They will come home. I think we were all beginning to think (and fear) that they would remain in Ghana forever. Mama said her trip to see them seemed like a dream. No more. They are coming home!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The post I didn't want to do...

Making a post for the Carpenters for Christ LA mission trip means that it's over, the end, finished. I didn't want to accept that so I put off posting about it. I have now realized that I have great photos and awesome memories and I need to share them. God did a great work in and through every person who went to help Beulah Land Baptist Church in Haughton, LA. I can say with confidence that we all left changed people, ready to serve the LORD in our Jerusalem.

Here are a few photos....

The roofers were blessed with overcast skies on Monday and were able to knock out those shingles in no time.

Hard working girls

Special friends


This is one unstoppable crew!



Final day group photo :)

Let the fun begin!!

I've never seen that much insulation in my life! A day of working with that lovely stuff means a cold shower at the end of the day :)

Beulah Land Baptist Church

Fun times :)

Thank you Jesus for bringing together an unlikely group of people and using them to further your kingdom. The building that we helped construct is just that, a building. The people who gather inside that building to worship You and learn about You will become the church. Bless Beulah Land Baptist Church as they strive to reach their community. Give them strength as they do Your will.

For Sarah

Below is an amazing arrangemant of Love Story (Taylor Swift) and Viva La Vida (Cold Play) by Jon Schmidt. This song is dedicated to his little girl, Sarah.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

The first five lines of this poem (the fifth line especially) remind me very much of my Mama. She is the bravest woman I know and yet would never consider herself so; her mercy is abundant but she never forsakes justice. Right now Mama's heart is torn between two children in Africa, a husband and seven children in her home and the reminder that her oldest child is about to leave for her own home 400 miles away. This will be an exciting and enriching year (it already has been) but it as not been without heartache and great faith on the part of my Mama.

I love you Mommy and pray for your strength. This poem gives me a vivid picture of your walk with Christ and I pray that I may emulate it in my own life.

When the weather's not so fair....

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

You find out who your friends are

If you've been keeping up with my mom's blog (Streams of Joy) you know all about the outpouring of blessings our family has received for the adoption process. Gifts have come from friends we haven't seen in years, family members who live in other states, friends and family from our community and church and anonymous donors that will never reveal themselves.

It's hard to remember when but I do believe that about two weeks ago we were still unsure of how and when the adoption fees were going to be paid. As of today every single fee has been met ( with gifts and grants), Mama has flight plans (the tickets were also paid for by friends and family and our Grandmother even gave us snacks for the little one's on their flight home), and just yesterday we were given three different gifts from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ which amounted collectively to $500.00.

God is showing my family just who our friends are. Without Him working through them we would still be worrying about a $3000.00 fee that hadn't been met. We felt as if our well had run slap dry, but God knew better. It was as if He looked around and said with a smile "Hey y'all, watch this."

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

Missed Opportunity

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas A. Edison

My Mama is going to Ghana!

Within hours my mom will be holding these precious babies in her arms! No longer will they simply be faces on pictures. She will hear their voices and their laughter, kiss their faces and hold their hands! What an awesome God we serve. The adoption process has seemed to be a dream until now. They are coming home in a matter of months, no doubt about it! Thank you dear Jesus!

This is Home
Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah this is home
I've been searching for a place of my own
Now I've found it
Yeah this is home

~ Switchfoot

2008. What a Year

December has been a full month! I can't believe it's 2009 already. Each year seems to fly by faster and faster, bringing changes that we would never have foreseen.

Never would I have thought that....

My oldest sister would become engaged...



My family and I would become involved in the process of adopting two children from Ghana...



I would be blessed with the chance to study under the most amazing piano professor...



I would become even closer to my sisters...



And above all other changes, I would make the most important decision of my life; a decision that made Jesus Lord of my life and left me without a shadow of a doubt that I will meet my Saviour in heaven.

Thank you Jesus for this year, 2008, that you have blessed me with. I love You and can't wait to use the year 2009 to serve You with my whole heart. Direct my steps as I follow Your Light. I love You.

Amen. {Let it be}

May I introduce.....

Jubilee and Julius Smith!

Our babies from Ghana are officially ours! We still have some waiting to do and paper work has to go through, but in Ghana Julius and Jubilee belong to the Travis Smith family.

They are ours. The truth still hasn't sunk in....

Thank you all for your prayers.

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom power and love
our God is an awesome God

~ Michael W. Smith

Reminiscing.......

November is a beautiful month. It has me in mind of Thanksgiving, a time where we gather with our precious family and give thanks to God for all the great blessings He has given us. I love how the leaves change, the wind becomes crisp and the hickory nuts begin to fall; autumn is here!

I found some photos of last year's Thanksgiving weekend and thought I would share them. They brought back great memories; they made me smile. I hope you enjoy them as well.









Thank you God for the beautiful leaves, the amazing sunsets and the cool winds. Thank you for family and friends; laughter and good food! Please bring all of us together again this Thanksgiving. Be with those who are suffering from illness; if it is Your will please heal them and allow them to fellowship with us this year. Your blessings are amazing. Thank you God for saving me, a sinner. I love You.

Andrew Trimble: Modern Day Eric Liddell

In a magazine published by Billy Graham my sisters and I ran across an article about Andrew Trimble and his amazing testimony for Christ. See, Andrew is an very talented Rugby player for Ireland yet in the midst of all the fame and privilege that one man could hope for he declares that there is nothing more "excitin" then talking about Jesus. In the video below Trimble makes a reference to Eric Liddell, a missionary to China and an amazing Olympic runner who gave all glory to God. It is obvious that Trimble has learned from Liddell's example and is proclaiming his faith just as boldly. I was so excited to see a man who has such influence in his country shine his light for Christ without hesitation and with all sincerity. I hope you enjoy the video :)

My Sisters

Don't they look like twins? We love and miss you Noel!

Two of my best friends.

Look who just turned 15! Isn't she gorgeous?

Who are these characters I'm associating with you might ask?
Well, it seems my sisters got into the spirit of our Fall Festival which invited everyone to come dressed as their best impersonation of a hick. LJ's choice of character was Daddy!
MG chose to powder her hair, don an apron and wield a gun, impersonating none other then Granny Clampett. WF and I chose a more subtle approach :)

Thank you Dear Jesus for blessing me with five supportive, hilarious, and loving sisters. Please be with my sixth sister in Ghana; please comfort her with the knowledge that someone loves her and is waiting anxiously to hold her in their arms; let there be someone to kiss her goodnight and tell her good morning. Bless Noel as she goes about her day; give her strength and patience. Be with MG as she goes to college and lets her light shine bright; let her be an influence on a lost generation. Strengthen LJ as she works so diligently on her school work; thank you for the joy that she has brought into my life. WF is turning into a young lady of wisdom, knowledge and insight; please guide her steps and bless her hunger for learning.

Thank you God for sisters.

Freedom Isn't Free

We had a great week with Noel but alas this past Saturday we had to take her to the airport for her flight back to Jacksonville. It was hard to watch her go because we couldn't go past security with her, we just had to let her go. We waited around until she gave us a call saying she was in her terminal and everything was good. As we waited we observed that there were several small groups of men in their Army fatigues walking to different terminals. As we were leaving Mama went up to a group of three soldiers sitting in our waiting area and asked if they would mind telling her where they were headed. She was hoping they would say somewhere like Michigan or Wisconsin. She hoped they were headed home. Without flinching the (seemingly) oldest of the group said "back to Iraq Ma'am." My heart sunk. Without even thinking Mama gave them all hugs. My sisters and I shook their hands and thanked them for their service. The third man was no older than Noel. He looked frightened. Going out the door of the airport we were all speechless. All of a sudden telling my sister good bye and knowing she was headed a mere four hundred miles away to be received and welcomed by a man who loved her didn't seem so bad after all. I didn't cry when I watched my sister walk through security but after looking those three men in the eyes and seeing their courage and commitment I was brought to tears.

May we never forget the sacrifices made for us daily so that we might be free.

Tonight, three mothers are thinking about their boys. They're wondering if they are all right, worried about their safety....

God, please bless America.