Jeremy and Rachel Smith

Updates

• Update 33

  

  Adopt from Liberia. Day 335. Make this place your home.

  February 27, 2023

  There is this song called “Home” stuck in my head..

  music.youtube.com/watch

  Makes me think of our adoption journey.

  Why does public adoption fundraising matter so much? Why not just work extra? Why make it a group effort? Why put ourselves through the work and the scrutiny and the questions?

  Because we have to make this place their “home”.

  “Hold on to me as we go”
  Because we are in this together. Our whole family will hold tightly to each other as we cross the Atlantic Ocean to retrieve the 2 missing pieces.

  “As we roll down this unfamiliar road.”
  Because it is not common to adopt internationally. It is especially not common to do it as a family of 7 with young children.

  “Although this wave is stringing is along”
  The wait is like a huge wave that rises and falls and rises again and looks as though it will hide land forever at times, and other times, it looks like it is just in reach.

  “Just know you’re not alone.”
  Because we didn’t get to you alone. We needed a lot of help and those same people will be around when you walk among them. Alone will be difficult for you to achieve, as there are so many people excited to meet you and get to know you.

  “Cause I’m gonna make this place your home.”
  We adopt publicly because there is a lot to be said about adoption, publicly. Lots of good things to learn about being chosen based on unconditional, persistent love.

  “Settle down it will all be clear.”
  I’m sure they are nervous and I’m sure it makes no sense what is about to happen to them. They will lose everything they know, permanently.

  “Don’t pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear.”
  Those demons are real. Demons of fear and doubt and apprehension. Ignore them. Those demons have no power here.

  “The trouble —- it might drag you down.”
  The wait causes trouble. It causes conflict and suspicion and the wait is expensive. But the trouble won’t win. Pretty soon we will stand on top of the mountain of adoption expenses we have climbed together for the last 335 days as a community of good actions driven by good intentions. Because people are good.

  “If you get lost, you can always be found.”
  As you step out into the light of a dark place of orphanism, know that we found you. And of that darkness, you are cured.

  “Just know you’re not alone.”
  “I’m gonna make this place your home.”
  Adoption fundraising is important to prepare a community for new people, much like pregnancy makes a public announcement all its own, this is the way we find the people that our children will need beyond the walls our home and the reach of our hearts. They need more than just us.

  It had been an honor to meet those that have helped and are helping bring our children home. We could not do this without you. And after enjoying the support of this community we have collected together over the last 335 days, I would not do it any other way.

  You have been the driving force to make this place in southwest Florida their new home. No thanks would ever be enough.

  Keep…. …..going. We are almost there, and they are almost home.

• Update 32

  

  Adopt from Liberia Day 326. Panic moment…

  February 18, 2023

  The Cost for the Cure.

  So I am having a little moment of panic, like that drowning feeling that I know is going to be ok.

  Honest truth and claustrophobic feeling I may be in over my head….

  First thing is to share the info so the panic is disarmed…

  Here it is.

  We are 4-7 months away from traveling to Liberia to adopt our 2 daughters waiting for us there.

  If you are in this group, you are excited about this adoption, and I am so grateful.

  We are going to need a lot more financial help to get this done.

  After spending 2 hours adding up every little expense left to get us to Liberia, this spreadsheet has now become my main focus.

  It represents the reality of international adoption. It’s the ransom for the freedom of 2 small souls.

  How can you help pay the ransom?
  1. Share this post with everyone you know, and pray they actually read it.
  2. Give cash here (it’s tax deductible).

  https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s

  3. Buy Noonday here. It’s a great company with great stuff.

  https://bit.ly/adoptliberiaday309

  4. Bring us clothes and textiles today, and every day for the next 6 months.

  I’m asking you to use your personal resources to push back darkness for my 2 kids today.

  Our collective resources and efforts turn on the lights to push back the ever present darkness that perpetuates poverty and powerlessness that orphanism thrives in.

  Orphanism.

  This is the cost for the cure. $81,190.00

  Keep….. ……going.

  Gonna try to keep breathing…and hoping this is still possible.

• Update 31

  

  Day 321. Adopt from Liberia. I want to pack. But, I can’t pack yet.

  February 13, 2023

  Ready for the next phase and the next chapter and having such a hard time in the waiting. My contentment is fading and our costs are rising and I just want to go. We are waiting for Liberia to finish their case history reports and give us court dates.

  I want to pack. I want to buy plane tickets and book our Airbnb in Liberia. I want to hug my kids all on the same continent.

  I don’t want to miss another birthday.

  River will turn 7 in 82 days. I don’t want to miss it. I can’t miss it. I’ve missed too much already.

  Pray for things to hurry up. Pray we get a call this week that we have case history reports and are allowed to schedule court dates and travel. Pray everything moves out of the way for just my 2 kids to walk through their doors of adoption straight through to the permanent protection our our household.

  I want to pack. But, I can’t pack yet.

  This holding pattern is driving me crazy. It’s putting me on my knees and making me sad. I do not like the unknown. And I know God does not ask me to be idle. This part is torture and I knew it would be.

  I want to pack. But, I can’t pack yet.

  We don’t have the money to pack. We need at least $21,000.00 to be able to travel when we get permission.

  One day I will look back on this chapter of our adoption and judge myself for my impatience. Life with 3 kids is relatively easy and I should just enjoy it. But I can’t. Because her birthday is coming up quick and I don’t want to miss it.

  River will be 7 on May 7th. And she should be surrounded by us on her birthday. Because that is what happens when kids have families. And she has one.

  I want to pack. But, I can’t pack yet.

  So with all the energy I have to pack, I am instead collecting trash bags of clothes, shoes, purses, belts, towels, sheets, luggage and fabrics to trade in for plane ticket money.

  Instead of making my checklist of things to pack, I’m making lists of Noonday items to sell as quickly as possible to find the money to pay for our accommodations in Liberia. I love that my efforts secure hope and fair trade for my artisan peers all over the world pushing back the threat of orphanism as I push forward to cure it.

  I want to pack. But, I can’t pack yet.
  I want to plan her birthday party. Her first birthday party. Her 7th birthday. But I can’t. I can’t be her mom in person, yet.

  And that part is bitter. Nothing sweet about it.

  Keep…. ……going.

  Ways to help:
  Give here again on this site. It’s tax deductible. And you are our biggest support.

  Buy Noonday here:

  Shopping link: https://bit.ly/adoptliberiaday309

  See the photo attached for what to bring for our clothing drive.

• Update 30

  Day 314. Adopt from Liberia. The weight of the wait and the fees for their freedom.

  February 6, 2023

  https://adopt100morehappykids.wordpress.com/2023/02/05/adopt-from-liberia-day-314-the-weight-of-the-wait-and-the-fees-for-their-freedom/

  Copy and paste this blog post please for our latest update! Thanks so much:)

• Update 29

  

  Adopt from Liberia, Day 307.

  January 30, 2023

  If I call you one of my elephants, will you still be my friend? Adopt from Liberia. Day 307.
  I’ve decided my spirit animal is an elephant.
Because adoptive mommas need an elephant herd…
  I want my kids on the same continent. We are getting close. The end is the hardest part. It becomes overwhelming and scary and exciting and exhausting. And as everything seems to be going “right”, everything feels so out of control. Reminds me of labor with Little, who is now 6 years old. (“Little” is my 3rd daughter’s nickname). Daughter number 1 is “Original” and daughter number 2 is “Middle”..
  Transition….
  Transition in natural childbirth is intense to say the least. I remember it so clearly when my 3rd daughter was born. I chose natural childbirth with her. It was a personal choice, for no particular reason other than I did not like the big needle in my back the first go around.
  Here is what happened:
  I don’t want to minimize how hard natural childbirth is. Especially if you don’t have time to prepare for it. For others it can happen so fast, it’s not really a “choice”. For me, it was a choice. And as those last few moments occurred, I remember them more clearly than I remember anything else.
  We had to induce at 37 weeks because of my escalating blood pressure. 12 + hours or so of labor later, no baby. My doctor said I was at “4” and she was going to go home and take a shower and come back and be with me all night if that’s what we needed. We had been at this for several hours already. It was 4:30pm. My 2 dear friends (Devon and Audrey) were with me the whole 12+ hours, and Audrey also went home to check on her kids and get ready for a long night of labor. Devon told Jeremy to try to take a nap and she sat with me and held my hand and continued to reassure me I was doing good, and that everything was going beautifully. Didn’t feel beautiful. But Devon is someone I trust, and my trust that day was hard to obtain.
  Then there was that moment of panic. That moment of me feeling like I was staring down this long dark corridor of apprehensive unknowns.
  Transition.
  I did childbirth before, but not naturally. I’m not a panicky person. Exactly the opposite. The bigger the crisis, the calmer I tend to be. But I had a moment of panic. I pushed it back, prayed for God to just be present and protect “Little” through this next part. The darker part in me that needed to heal. Had I known entering into natural childbirth transition would pull out all kinds of things in me I didn’t know needed healing, I would have not gone down that road. The darker parts in me that needed to learn I could trust and depend on people, especially Jeremy, needed to be brought into some kind of light. The part in my heart that needed to know that although I may feel alone in that dark corridor of apprehensive unknown, alone is a choice. I asked for everyone to wake up and everyone to come back. I told my dear friend, Devon, to wake Jeremy up because I can’t do this next part without him. To call Audrey and get the nurse and doctor back. So Devon listened and left Jeremy and I alone in our delivery room while she circled my resources. As Jeremy reassured me he knew what to do if this baby showed up before everyone else made it back. We are good, he said. You are doing great. It’s fine. Everything is fine. We get to meet our next daughter soon. I’ve been here for this part before. You are fine. Keep going.

  This calm surrender and confidence washed over me. “Little” was born just 18 minutes later. My doctor barely had on gloves as she ran to deliver my daughter.
  Transition complete. Trust achieved.
  Since then, I’ve been different. I’ve been healed from things I may never fully understand. One thing, I am not alone unless I choose to be. God is there. He sends extra people, too. He just waits for us to choose to ask Him and to ask them.
  Now, I ask without fear or reservation. Today, I’m calling my friends my “elephants”.
  Why elephants?
  I’ve decided my spirit animal is an elephant.
Because adoptive mommas need an elephant herd…
  When an elephant gives birth in the wild, she is surrounded by a herd of 60 other elephants. These 60 protect her during transition and the time period after birth where she and her baby are vulnerable to predators. The trumpet and stomp as they circle around the mother delivering as they face out to protect her, watching for attacks, and creating a safe space circle for her to get through this next part. Elephants stand shoulder to shoulder in a posture of strength and solidarity. They celebrate after the birth by trying to touch the baby with their snouts and flapping their ears and stomping their feet. Sounds like my people. Sounds like my herd.

  I think I have more than 60 “elephants” surrounding me as we near “transition” during adoption. We are nearing the end of this journey, and I think my dear friend, Devon Crews describes adoption transition best.
  I’ve decided my spirit animal is an elephant.
Because adoptive mommas need an elephant herd…
  Words from Devon in italics the night before she left to adopt her 2 Liberian born children.
  It’s 2245 (10:45 pm) the night before I leave, and I’m still not packed.
My kids are fighting bedtime and I’m struggling to make them go to bed as we soak up this last night as a family of 5.
Emotions are high. Tears are frequent. “I’m not excited, not at all” has been the chant of my middle about my leaving tomorrow. The youngest is primarily angry that I’m leaving and acting accordingly. The oldest is quiet, keeping to herself. I have tried to make time for everyone and hold them all together.
  Preparing for a trip like this takes months. Highly recommend making a detailed to do list at least 2 months out. I marked the last thing off that list today with the exception of two things that I chose to postpone until after I’m home.

  All that’s left is to pack my suitcase. I’ve had the kids suitcases packed for weeks, and was full of eager anticipation as I chose what to bring for them. In addition to clothes and shoes in varies sizes, there are toys, and art supplies, and things to occupy our time in Monrovia. There are vitamins, and medicines, and toiletries and every thing I could think of they might need. Even though they are 13 and 7, these are our newborn weeks. This is Erikson’s stage of trust vs mistrust and it is important to me to make sure I have what’s needed to meet their needs on hand.
  Packing their suitcase was exciting, and happy ….
  Packing mine is sad and overwhelming. Leaving home is hard. Leaving my children is hard. Leaving the farm and my parents is hard. Leaving my best friend and love is hard. There is labor in adoption too and this is transition. This is the time – when homebirthing my daughters, that my support people had to remind me to breathe and tell me I could keep going when I wanted it all to just stop. It hurts and I don’t want to hurt anymore. It’s heavy and I’m tired. The pressure is too much and is there another way through this?
  I know there’s not. I know I need to take this one breath at a time. One moment at a time. One tear-filled hug at a time. One “do you really have to go mommy?” at a time, and breathe.
And I need to pack my suitcase and get ready for delivery.
  I really can’t wait to meet my kids.
  I’ve decided my spirit animal is an elephant.
Because adoptive mommas need an elephant herd…
  As a side note, I sought out my new friend, Mallory Adkison, who is at the beginning stages of her Liberian adoption and have totally “elephant style” herded her towards fast fundraising opportunities and coached her with lots of trumpeting and stomping to get her going quickly in the direction of her baby in Liberia. We don’t know who her child is. We do know where they are. And, based on what we know about Liberia, we need to hurry. We know what Liberian orphans face.

  It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of Mallory’s “elephant circle” this past month as we kickstarted her fundraising with a Noonday trunk show.
  Thank you for being a member of my elephant herd of people who have encircled me. You encompass the protective herd that celebrates life, guards against death, and sees transition to its completion.
  Thank you, to all my elephants, who are hovering close to me and preparing to circle, as we walk through this next part.
  and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
  Isaiah 58:10

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