As soon as we returned home from our much needed family vacation, it was time to get to work on the next week...Vacation Bible School. I volunteered to teach a second grade class at our home church. Thankfully, Cynthia was willing to help me...and that makes the "dream team!" Ha! We got to the church at 2:00 Sunday to decorate and get things ready for Monday. This year's VBS theme was Big Apple Adventure...NYC! So fun!

Our classroom
Starring....2nd Grade!

Russ accidentally ended up helping with some of our decorations! Thanks babe! He did a fabulous job sketching our taxis and cutting the best skyscraper ever! His is the pointy one in the picture.

NYC skyline across one wall

The wall across from the skyline

Thanks to Russ's mom for letting us borrow all her fake trees from her house and her park bench for our Bible Study at Battery Park corner!

Battery Park

Our bible study wall where we posted our verses and key words for each day

Once Cynthia and I had the room ready and Monday's lesson together, we met back up Monday morning ready to go! We had a blast laughing and getting dressed up for the day. Cynthia was a good sport and pretty much wore whatever I told her to! Ha!

The teachers were ready!

This is the first time since I was in the youth group that I have helped with VBS. In the past, I was working, on vacation, or in college. It was lots of fun! The music for this year's VBS is by far my favorite, and we had a blast! We had an awesome group of second graders full of big personalities, so we all fit in quite well!

Creating our backdrop for our theater in the park

Bible story time

Lady Liberty relay with review questions from our bible story

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make VBS such a success. Special thanks to Jennifer, our children's minister, for all her hard work and effort! I wish I had pictures of all the decorations throughout the church! Phenomenal!

We had about 15-17 second graders each day, and we loved them all! Thanks to the parents for sharing them with us!

Praying for More on the Beach

Party of Two...Praying for More

Mama and Daddy

Cousins

Jack, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, and Uncle Howard

You can still purchase your Praying for More t-shirt to help support our adoption and as a reminder to pray for our little one. You can purchase on the right sidebar of this blog, through me personally, or Jilli B's in Corinth. We are out of brown larges, but all other sizes available, including one youth medium. Thank you SO much for all the support!

Also...please remember to send us a photo of your and/or your family/friends wearing your shirt so that we may show our baby one day just how loved he or she was! I'm LOVING all the "praying for more" vacation pics!

Priceless Family Vacay

When Nonnie passed away, we couldn't help but see God's hand in her last week and the week to follow. First of all, as I mentioned in my previous post, Nonnie and Pops were able to spend her last week together in the same room. We also had our annual beach trip scheduled for June 5. You see, Nonnie and Pops have taken us to the beach for over 25 years. They have a time share in Panama City Beach. When asked if they wanted to sell one of their weeks, Nonnie said, "No. This way at least for one week out of the year, our family can be together." She loved our beach trip! And, she would have been upset if we had missed it. So after the funeral, we all left for our Smith/Coon vacation. It was a time when Nonnie's family could be together for a week without distractions and enjoy each other. Laugh at our family memories. Smile as we talk about Nonnie. And even shed some tears as we imagine her walking through the waves.


If you know us well, you know that these last two years have been difficult. More difficult for some than others, but we all needed this time away. Everyone really made a conscious decision to do whatever they wanted and enjoy our trip. For most of our trip, the cousins spent the most time on the beach.

Me and Clancy in our matching swimsuits

When you put us "older kids" together, there is never an idea of what will happen. The boys aren't big fans of laying out. They were dying to bury someone in the sand. Not sure what possessed me, but I quickly obliged. So, we started our vacation full force!

Jack and Russ digging a hole

Thank you, Lee! I was parched!

Help! I was buried and couldn't get up alone!

A man watching the scene gave me beads for my performance! Ha!

The cousins and cousin-in-laws (minus Dustin...he had school)

There really is not much to say about our trip because all we did was sit out in the sun. All day. Every day! I was usually the first one out. I would go out around 10 in the morning and have my alone time as I watched the waves crash on the shore. By noon, the whole crew was lined up and conversation was lively!

Aunt Patsy, Clancy, Kristin, and me

Party of Two soaking in the sun!

Most of you know what a big deal it was when Russ would actually get out in the sun. He doesn't do that! But, on occasion he would sit out in the sun and talk or study. My sweet little nerd man!

Russ, posing a goofy study pose, and Lee

The rest of the time, though, he sat in the shade. Bless him! We set up an umbrella behind our massive line of family tanners. There he sat or stood while we listened to the music, read, or talked about life.

Lee and Russ in the shade

Of course, the boys can't sit still for long. That's when it was time for football!

Jack, Russ, and Lee playing ball

...or fishing for minnows by hand! Ha!

Russ and Lee trying to catch minnows in their hands

The Coon family never goes on a normal vacation! This has been proven for the last 50+ years. So, while eating lunch on the balcony one afternoon, we look to our right to see this....

A waterspout!

Of course, the intercom asked everyone to take cover. But, as I looked around...everyone was doing just as we were. Standing on the balcony taking pictures and watching! Ha!

Yep, we stayed out on the beach all day. Until sunset most days....

The only worry in the world was if the tide was gonna reach my chair!

Lee, Kristin, and Rhonda

Soaking in the sun

Trust him. He's a doctor! Ha!

Each year, we celebrate a few things while on our beach vacation. First, we all celebrate my parents', our, and Kristin and Lee's anniversaries. We also celebrate Uncle Howard's birthday each year!

Our Big Energizer Bunny! He works harder than anyone I know!

We stayed in and cooked every night except one. For our nightly entertainment, Russ brought his guitar. Not everyone can sit around a guitar and have family sing-a-longs! Ha! We requested he learn some of our favorites including "Dirt Road Anthem" and Zac Brown Band songs. We had the best time!

Take a look/listen for yourself! Don't forget to mute my playlist.

Of course, we took some beach portraits before leaving too!

Clancy and Jack

Russ and me

Oh, how I miss the sand between my toes and tide reaching my chair!


And, who knows! Next year we could be carrying a new little member of the family! I certainly hope to carry on these happy memories for our children as they grow up.

Priceless family vacation!

Wishing We Were Back...

I love the beach! Summer doesn't officially start until I go to the beach.

Now, we've been....

We're back...

And we wish we were there again!

More on our trip coming soon...

For This Social Worker We Have Prayed...

Last Friday, Russ and I had our first home study interview. It was an hour long joint interview. Despite all the comforting advice about home studies, I was still quite nervous. Mostly because we didn't know exactly what to expect. I helped give a bridesmaid brunch Friday morning in Corinth, so Russ and I met in Oxford for our interview. We were very pleased to meet our worker. She was all smiles, and she actually probably never stopped smiling! Now, that's one way to make a couple feel comfortable! Unfortunately, I was so nervous, I didn't get a picture of us with her. I'll ask her next time, and maybe I'll have that for the baby book!

We started off by introducing ourselves and all the formalities of meeting new people. Then, we jumped right in! Our worker pretty much let us start by telling her how we met, how long we dated before we were married, our schooling, our basic background information, etc. Then, we talked about what led us to adoption. She took some notes as we talked, but I really felt like she was simply trying to get to know us. It was very pleasant. We talked a little about our families and our support at home and all over the country...that's where YOU ALL came in! We told her how overwhelmed we have been with our t-shirt sales, and she was amazed too. This baby is already so loved! There have been several recent ways we have seen God's hand at work through this story, and I wish I could share them all with you. It really has been such a joy to let Him lead and watch as He works! You should try letting Him lead if you haven't already!

Once we told her a little about us as a couple (and directed her to our blog to see more), it was time for the paperwork! It really was not as daunting as I expected. Maybe it is spaced out for us, so we won't be overwhelmed. I'm not sure yet. We each have many, many essay questions to answer for our self study that will be used to guide our individual interviews, physicals including a drug screening and TB skin test (this has been quite the ordeal today!), financial statement (which we had already completed before starting the process to be sure we would be okay to continue), copy of birth certificate, tax form, copy of marriage license, insurance coverage affidavit, and criminal background check. We only have to complete our financial statement, self study, and physicals before meeting for individual interviews! We are a little behind since the passing of Nonnie and our family vacation, but we are now steady at work on the paperwork. We will send it in chunks to Bethany, and then our worker will be ready to continue.

I know many of you are not interested in this post, but I would have LOVED to have someone spell it all out for me when I was researching the process. I asked SO many questions to SO many adoptive parents before I even began looking for an agency. I like to know exactly what I'm getting into, although adoption doesn't really work like that. Ha! I hope this helps others and offers a little insight for those praying, so you know exactly what you're praying for!

Gotta get back to work! Still praying for more...

Nonnie

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your sweet texts, precious emails and messages, and much needed prayers over the past two weeks. I also apologize for my lack of blogging (if anyone has even missed it!), but we have just had a whirlwind of emotion and activity over the past couple of weeks.

As our family prepared for two weeks of nonstop activity, flurry, and fun (in true Smith fashion)...our world came to a screeching halt on Friday, June 3rd, when our Nonnie went to be with Jesus. Although she was in the later stages of Alzheimer's, we were in no way prepared for this. She had even had a great morning, breakfast, and lunch when she was taken from this world where she has been trapped in her earthly body and entered His presence!

Russ and I were on our way home from Oxford when we got the news. It was a long ride home. Tears streamed down my face as I drove my car and Russ was ahead in his. They were tears of joy for her freedom and tears of sorrow for me and my family. We will miss her. I wasn't ready to let her go. No one was. Then, I think of the amazing place He has prepared for her (and us). What joy she must feel! I pictured her walking around in the ocean waves, running around with her mom and dad, talking and laughing with Aunt Num Num, and simply smiling her smile...eyes focused on anything she wanted. No blank stares and no more laying in a reclining nursing home chair. Nope! She hated sitting still. Always busy and in motion. And, I can only imagine her dancing as she entered His Kingdom. I'm not sure what she will clean there, because I'm sure it is cleaner than we could ever imagine! But, maybe Jesus left a spot for her to scrub on. Ha! I'm so happy for her.

Then I thought of those of us left...

Memories filled my mind in between the visions of her in Heaven. Memories of mud baths at the coast, sponge rollers in our hair as we rode the wheel barrow, all the animals she would find in our ears during bath time, all the hours she spent scratching my back, trips to the mountains, trips to the beach, the "Worm Song", her "Hmmmm" when she found something interesting or funny, the hairbows we had made out of anything recycled (2 Liter coke wrappers, balloons, bottle tops), her big purse, the smell of cedar in thier house, jelly shoes, watching Little Women everytime I visited....

Then, I thought about Pops. If you haven't read my post about them, catch up here. Truly a Notebook story. I couldn't stand the thought of him finding out. This is where we saw the hand of God even more than we had before. You see, Nonnie and Pops have lived apart for the last two years because of Nonnie's advanced Alzheimer's. Pops was able to stay in his assisted living, but Nonnie had to be placed in a nursing facility. The week before, Pops' health urged us to move him into a nursing facility as well. We found a nursing home that could take them both in the same room. They lived in the same room the last week of her life. The nurses said that every single morning, Pops would get out of his bed, get dressed, and sit at Nonnie's bedside holding her hand and rubbing her arm. Every single day. All day. I don't know about you...but we couldn't have planned that. It was all Him. We are so incredibly thankful for the time they had together. It was almost as if she had been waiting on him to be there. So she could exhale, say goodbye, and meet her Creator. I'm sure she's standing there watching just waiting on the day when she and Pops can be together to see the Great Smoky Mountains from above!

Yes, we are sad. Still hard to believe some days. Still an unspoken quiet around our homes. But, oh how wonderful it must be to see what she's seeing! What a legacy she has left us! What fun memories she left for us laugh about over and over again now that she's gone! Maybe, just maybe, one day I can leave that kind of legacy for my children and grandchildren...filled with memories (crazy, fun, and awesome!) of a life well-lived.

We miss her so! But, we look forward to seeing her again! Because our life here on earth is but a vapor.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14

What will I do with the time I have left? What will my legacy be?

How about you?

Positive Adoption Language

Like infertility, adoption is one of those things you really can't totally understand unless you are in or have been in the process yourself. Although adoption is different from how many people grow their families, it is how we choose to begin to grow our family. I want to use this blog as a place for others to watch our journey, pray with us and for us, and also to educate others on the adoption process. During the four (I don't count the last year because we were no longer "struggling") years Russ and I struggled with infertility, there were always well meaning comments that just hit me wrong. Of no fault of anyone else. But, once again, unless you've been there...you can't totally understand how words can affect people. I have found that many others feel the same way, and I came across a great resource that I feel is worth sharing. Especially to those who are a part of our daily life. So, I'm passing it on...

Positive Language - Negative Language

Birthparent - Real Parent
Biological Parent - Real Parent
Birth Child - Own Child
My Child - Adopted Child
Born to Unmarried Parents - Illegitimate
Terminate Parental Rights - Give Up
Make an Adoption Plan - Give Away
To Parent - To Keep
Waiting Child - Available Child
Parent - Adoptive Parent
Child Placed for Adoption - Unwanted Child
Court Termination - Child Taken Away
Child with Special Needs - Handicapped Child
Child from Abroad - Foreign Child
Was Adopted - Is Adopted

Words not only convey information, they also evoke feelings. One of our required readings is Dear Birthmother. This book talks about misconceptions of adoption. Many times, the language we have heard on TV dramas or movies have contributed to these misconceptions. We use positive language to educate others and help alleviate these misconceptions over time. I'm sure no one is ever ill-meaning when using negative language. I have been guilty of it in the past. They may not be educated on true adoption. I hope this helps to encourage others and help some as they educate themselves, and in turn educate about adoption. Using positive language, we say that adoption is a way to build a family just as giving birth is...one no more important than the other.

"The Legacy of An Adopted Child"

Russ and I have been reading Dear Birthmother as we prepare for our adoption. This is a requirement with our agency, but it is also such a moving book. The focus of the book is to recognize the four main myths of adoption. The book is laced with letters written to birthmothers and by birthmothers.

The more I read the letters, the more my heart ached for the birthparents. I could never imagine having to make the decision to make an adoption plan for a life growing inside of me. I'm so thankful that these women have chosen life when there are certainly "easier" options now. I respect the women and their families who watch as the doctors check ultrasounds knowing that they may or may not see them after their birth. Such sacrifice. Such love. Children who enter families through adoption are blessed with two different loves. That of their birthmother, the one to whom God gave them first. And that of their "Mama," the one who longed for, prayed for, cried for, and begged for the chance to mother one of God's children. Scouring other adoption blogs, I came across this poem, and I love it!

"The Legacy of An Adopted Child"

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other.

One you do not remember,

The other you call Mother.

Two different lives,

Shaped to make yours one.

One became your guiding star,

The other became your sun.

The first gave you life,

The second taught you to live in it.

The first gave you a need for love,

And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality,

The other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent,

The other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions,

The other calmed your fears.

One saw your first smile,

The other dried your tears.

One gave you up,

It was all that she could do.

The other prayed for a child,

And was led straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,

The age-old question through the years:

Heredity or environment - which were you a product of?

Neither, my darling, neither -

Just two different kinds of love.