Created for Care 2013

Kelly and I attended our 3rd C4C conference and our mamas attended their 2nd C4C at the end of January.  As I was flying into Knoxville to meet up with my mom to drive down to Atlanta for the conference, an ice storm hit and the sleet and freezing rain started to fall.  We booked it out of Knoxville just in time to miss the frozen roads so that we could attend the retreat and made it safely just in time for the first session.  We both would have hated to miss it.  

But I'm not going to lie...part of me didn't want to attend my 3rd C4C as a "waiting mom" and since I was going to be a "waiting mom" again after still not receiving our referrals, I had mixed feelings about going to the conference at all.  I guess I just wanted to have a pity party for myself and by myself.  I'm so glad we made though because the encouragement I received from the Lord and from others was exactly the pick-me-up I needed to keep going strong.  

My personal take-away from the conference was realizing in my efforts to not become Sarai (moving ahead of God's timing and plan for my life) that I've become Hagar (where am I going and how did I get here?).  Through this study I now see like Hagar that even though my circumstances haven't changed (3 years-no referral), I am changed because Gods sees me and hears me where I am.  God opened Hagar's eyes to the well that she couldn't see because she was overwhelmed by her circumstances.  God has been faithful to open my eyes to the ways He is using me through this adoption journey and ways He wants to use me in the future too.  I'm finding my "well", and that's my story these days.

Linda (Kyle's Mom), Kyle, Kelly, Terri (Kelly's Mom)

Amazing Worship!

Andrea introducing the PJ Party Panel

Thank you to Andrea and the C4C team for putting on another amazing retreat!  I know that putting on two conferences of this magnitude has got to be a major challenge, but all who attended were so blessed by your hard work!

A new concept that is being birthed our of C4C is the Mini C4C Retreats.  Since so many mamas can't make it to the two conferences in GA each year due to many reasons including distance, cost, and the retreats filling up so fast, C4C is encouraging women who got to attend the big conference to take the DVD's and what they've experienced back home with them and put on mini-retreats in their home towns.  I'm thrilled to announce that I am planning with my adoption care group, Loving God's Children, a Mini C4C for Tampa Bay!  As soon as we have the date and place established, I'll post all the info for any adoptive mama, adoptive family member, adoptive support friend, or any woman interested in adoption to sign up and join us for this Mini C4C by the beach!  It is going to be awesome!!!

Christmas Memories

I know that Christmas 2012 is long past and this blog post is way overdue.  We did not receive the Christmas miracle we were hoping for, but we had a great time with family and friends nonetheless.  We started the week off at Kyle's parents' home.  One night we recreated a "Rustic Tuscan" meal we had enjoyed at the Rolling Pin for Kyle's family to enjoy.  We had a great time together eating good food, reminiscing on funny things my brothers did as kids, and laughing until we cried...

Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Crostini

The Newlyweds, Kari & Neale

Spinach, Sausage, and White Bean Soup

Kyle with Isaac & Maddie

Beef Short Ribs & Pasta with Tomato Ragu

Mom & Dad laughing at Neale

Tuscan Pine Nut Cake

Mom & Dad still laughing at Neale...

Christmas morning was spent at the Smith house opening gifts and enjoying my mom's fabulous cooking.

For the boys from Kari & Neale

Kari got Isaac this shirt since he almost won the limbo contest in the DR

Dad opening gifts-A Christmas Story is always on in the background on Christmas at the Smith house!

Perry with his Bear Blanket-too funny

Mom opening her gifts

Mom and Dad preparing Christmas dinner while Kelsey is hoping she drops the steak on the floor.

Kari & Neale with Perry

Dad and Isaac

After Christmas, we drove up to Lexington to visit Isaac's family and celebrate Christmas with them a few days late.  Isaac and Daniel picked up with their wrestling match where they'd left off at Thanksgiving...

Abby & Jonathan opening their gift from Daniel

Daniel and Uncle Isaac goofing off

Mark, Sammy, Alyse, Daniel and Jan

Isaac didn't hold on to his new iPad for long...Daniel was more than happy to help Uncle Isaac beat Angry Birds.

Aunt Leah and Uncle Owain had sent Daniel an Angry Birds balloon game, so we went on a date to fill up the balloons and for frozen yogurt. 

Daniel and Isaac at Orange Leaf

While in Lexington, we also got to visit with the birthday twins, Hudson and Kate, and their parents Mark and Traci.  We had a minor miscommunication about the day we were coming over and showed up to their house a day early, so I promised Traci I wouldn't post any pictures of her in her sweats!  But, I love that she told us to come in anyway, a true friend!

Kate had the hang of opening presents after celebrating her birthday and Christmas

We also enjoyed spending time with our college friends and kids during the UK vs. UofL game.  I was not a good historian that night and didn't take any pictures.  My BFF from high school Bethany and her son Britton came over for a visit our last night in Knoxville, and again, no pictures.  With or without pictures, it was great seeing our friends and family for the week before starting back to work in the new year.