Karmen Smith

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The Baby -Part 1

by Karmen |

I praise The Lord she didn’t abort him.  I praise The Lord she tested clean -meaning no drugs in her system and mostly for being a woman brave enough to say, I’m not in a place where I can provide for him.

I was home packing and preparing the teen who had been with us for a couple of weeks to return home when his caseworker said, “Hey, be watching your phone.  They know your house is about to be empty.”  The dust had barely settled in the driveway when I heard my phone.

“Hey, we’ve got a baby being born.  It’s likely to be a long-term placement.  Are you willing?”

Even though she said, “..long-term” placement I didn’t let the words settle in because none of the others had been.  The baby, if we took it, would have been the 34 or 35thchild to stay with us in just under two and a half years.  So, the words “long-term” didn’t carry a lot of weight.

Next, I did what I do when DHR calls-I called my husband at the feed store.

“Hey babe, DHR called and said they’re going to have a baby ready for pick-up soon and want to know if we’re interested.  Are we?”

“Is ____ gone?”

“Yes, he’s been gone about a half hour.”

“A baby is a lot. This is our peak season at the store so it will mostly be you, babe, but I guess I’m game if you are?”

He didn’t say no.  Why didn’t he say no?

“The parking lot if full. I’ve got to go.  It’s up to you babe.”

Up to me.

Ding.

“Hey let me know what y’all decide.  I’m going to have to keep calling.”

I wish I had timed how long it was from the initial call and then her text but my best guess is there were about fifteen minutes in between.

“Hey, yes.  We’ll take the baby. Is it a boy or a girl?”

“I’m not sure. I think it’s a boy.  I’ll let you know but it will probably be ready to be discharged from the hospital by noon tomorrow.  The caseworker will be in touch with more details”

“Okay.  Thanks.”

After we hung up I grabbed the broom and headed toward the room that just an hour ago was home to a teen.  I needed to lift the window partly because I smelled feet but mostly because I needed a breath of fresh air.

A baby.  A baby?  Are we ready for a baby and not just a baby but a newborn? The youngest placement we had had was nine months.  We’d done a week of respite (which is rest/or help for another foster family) for a six-week-old baby boy but that was short-term.

My nervous energy had kicked in.  I stripped the bedsheets and cleaned the room in record time when I found myself standing staring at the walls.

This little room has seen me through my greatest sorrows and joys.

It was the room I had prepared for our Samuel, and then the next year for Karson who neither made it home from the hospital.  It was the room that saw sorrow transformed into joy when we brought home our precious Tucker. It was the room that had become a haven for the many and varied children in need of a safe place and it was soon to become a nursery again.

Now, what does a baby need?

My ‘baby’ was nine almost ten so it had been awhile.

Let’s start with something to sleep in and something to wear.

I sent a group text to my sister, MIL & a friend from church.  In just a few moments The Lord had lined up all we would need.

One thing FOR SURE God has used fostering to show me time and time again -the body of Christ works best when it works together.  No way could we or any one of us in a solo effort meet the needs of the many and varied kids but together it is truly amazing!

The boys were ecstatic when they heard we were getting a baby.  Our afternoon at the store and then home on the farm kept a quick pace much like it does this time of year when the afternoon becomes evening and finally night.

The next morning, I took the boys to school, hurried back home to tidy up before heading to the feed store to reset and rearrange the flowers for the day.  I had a meeting scheduled later that evening to finalize details for a vintage pop-up shop that I had planned to attend after I picked up the baby.

The baby.

It’s funny that it’s taken me a whole year to write this post about the baby that changed everything.  I know, I know, that’s sounds so cliché’ but it’s also very, very true.  For those of you who have biological children, you have weeks and months to prepare.  We nest and decorate and have baby showers and get tons of stuff we never use.  We’re anxious, excited and scared to death and we have lots of time to sort through it all but with fostering everything is different…especially fostering to adopt.

I’ll spare you the wacky details that transpired once I got to the hospital.  It was very Jerry Springer but that’s another story for another day or never.

It’s taken me a long time to choose the words that best describe what happened when I first saw him.

Blameless, precious, new.

I weep at the words but that’s the beauty of the Gospel.

Out of respect for all involved, I will keep the hospital conversation exchange tucked in quieter places but I can tell you from the moment I first held him and breathed him in I knew he was a part of us.

Happy first birthday Baby J.  You are chosen. You are cherished. Now forever & always.

We LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And to ALLLLLLLLL of you who have helped us by praying and providing for baby J’s needs THANK YOU!!! A gazillion thank-yous!

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!  THANK YOU for loving us so well.

We pray God blesses you for blessing us!

Love,

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Filed Under: faith, family, Inspire, Life ~in our neck of the woods, Uncategorized Tagged With: adoption

Are You Physically Exhausted or Emotionally Overwhelmed?

by Karmen |

Can you relate?

The back to school rush is just behind us and we’re moving like a freight train down the tracks towards the holiday season and this week I found myself physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed & almost crawling to my porch for rest. How about you?  Have you found yourself in crawl-mode lately?

How many times must we recalibrate?  The dadgum devil is good at what he does: tempting us with good works, great events, and go-mode until we find ourselves spent, again.  Just when I think I’m on to his deceitful tactics I find myself tripped up and give out!

You too?

If so, my steadfast prayer for you and this is online space is to encourage you with real stories, about real life, and a real faith.

May these words from the most recent Facebook Live strengthen the weary as you allow God’s Word to saturate your soul as you seek rest in Jesus name.

much love,

 

 

 

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Filed Under: faith, Inspire, prayer, Uncategorized

Are You Authentic, Transparent, Both or Neither?

by Karmen |

Can a person be authentic without being transparent or be transparent without being authentic?  What does authentic faith look like in real life? What does authentic faith sound like? And why does it matter?

These are just a few of the questions we discussed in last week’s Facebook Live.  Obviously, authentic faith is something I am very passionate about and down to my bone marrow, I believe if there was ever a time or a generation that needed to SEE –>REAL FAITH it is NOW!

I’d love for you to take a listen and let me know your thoughts on authentic faith.

Paul Trip says, “Biblical faith looks reality in the face and does not flinch.”  I believe we could substitute “Biblical faith” with “Authentic faith”  and I would like to add an exclamation mark.

Authentic faith looks reality in the face and does not flinch!

Do you want to know why or better yet, we can endure great suffering, hardship & not quit the faith?

Jesus.

He is faithful.  He is trustworthy and He told us,

“In this world, you will have trouble but DON’T LOSE HEART!!! I have overcome the world!”  John 16:33

 

I’d love for you to give a shout out to those in your life who have modeled or inspired you by their authentic faith.

If you’re in a tough place, a hard season and you’re considering quitting I want to encourage you to hang on!  It’s gonna be worth it!

Much love & prayers,

 

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Filed Under: faith, Inspire, Uncategorized Tagged With: authentic faith, be AUTHENTIC

We’re Not That Different After All

by Karmen |

I recently sat in a living room wrapped two circles deep with women. I strategically placed myself behind a lampshade kind of because I wanted to blend in not stand out. Introductions moved clockwise and were, for the most part, kept brief. Listening intently the Lord quickened me at a couple of their stories but even more so to what wasn’t being said until she spoke.

“May I be honest?” she inquired of our hostess teacher who nodded and said, “Of course!”

Hardship. Heartache. Loneliness.

At her words, I began to exhale. FINALLY someone brave enough to share what others held back. Finally, someone willing to be TRANSPARENT.

Not to make light of circumstance but it was so refreshing to hear the heart of someone who wasn’t “fine.” And even more encouraging was the response to her transparency. One dear began to pat and comfort as she shared, another passed the Kleenex, one began to pray aloud followed by a multitude of others willing to whisper a prayer for a sister in agony. Lastly, one crossed the room to offer a heartfelt hug of assurance accompanied by a smile, “You are not alone.”

The women of whom I had the great pleasure to meet and begin to get to know crossed generational lines and represented multiple denominations and once again confirmed, as it turns out -we’re not that different after all.

You’re struggling in your marriage
She’s struggling with her loneliness
You want to be sober
Her husband passed away
She wants to be okay
Your raising grandchildren
You wish you had her confidence
She wants your waistline
Her husband is an alcoholic
She wants her heart work to be published
You want your life to matter.  She does too.

Yesterday I stumbled upon these wise words from Warren Wiersbe and I hope I never forget, ‘Discovering our uniqueness and using it to the glory of God is the challenge that makes life what it is. Why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original?”

Isn’t that good?

“Why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original!”   I’m changing the punctuation because a quote that good needs an EXCLAMATION MARK (or 2)!!

We are unique because we have been fearfully and wonderfully crafted by The Creative Creator of the Universe!

We are made to glorify Him.  We do that when we use the gifts He has given us for the good of others and when we allow Him to use ALL the messy parts of our lives, to bring Him glory- the parts we adore and the parts we hate.

We are valuable because The God who knows the number of hairs on our head is CRAZY IN LOVE with YOU & me!  So much in love that He sent His only Son, Jesus to pay our sin debt and die for us.  In Him, we have salvation, forgiveness of sin, find our worth & righteousness! Thank you, Jesus!

The challenge: Embracing our lot, accepting the hard seasons and surrendering completely to Christ, The Sovereign King.
Even as I type #thestruggleisreal!! With my whole heart, I believe every single syllable of the redemptive Gospel but I battle with the enemy daily, hourly and even moment to moment at times to surrender my full self, to resign as manager of my life and walk faithfully forward with my eyes fixed on Jesus.

The truth is, whether or not we love what’s going on in our lives doesn’t change what is true: God is Sovereign & His TRUTH stands.

It is by faith, we believe.

I suggest we take Mr. Wiersbe at his word and accept the challenge by embracing our uniqueness and give God glory in spite of our circumstances trusting that He is working ALL things together for our good & His glory.

 

 

Remember dear, YOU are a valuable original crafted by The Creator of the world and He loves you! Oh-how-He loves you so!

🙂

 

P.S. Have you been following our Facebook Live on Thursday nights @8:30? We’re having a great time and would be thrilled if you would tune in and join the conversation!

–> STAY TUNED for more information coming soon about our PRAYER CHALLENGE!

 

 

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Filed Under: Inspire, Uncategorized Tagged With: be AUTHENTIC, encourage, sisterhood, truth

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