Karmen Smith

He left and I couldn’t stop crying

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Maybe a sip of water will help.  

The lump rising in my throat caused my voice to crack,  “Yeah. Sure, we can meet at the store later this afternoon.”

Another unexpected-all-to-sudden departure.

Foster care.  I love it and hate it with all of my heart.  Truly.

Last night from the porch while the frogs at the pond sang us a song I rocked that sweet baby to sleep and heaven felt so near.  It’s those little moments of peace and hope that keep me from quitting.

When he left this afternoon, I couldn’t quit crying.  Maybe it was because he’s a baby or maybe it was because he wouldn’t quit smiling or maybe it was the third goodbye in less than 12 hours.  Who knows why? I texted the placement supervisor and case worker for two of the three kids we’ve had this week, “Three goodbyes in two days is too hard.  We’re going to need a few days for our hearts to heal.”

It hurts.  Bad.

We bring them in, set up their area, give them a tour of our home and farm and welcome them to their “right-now-home-sweet-home.”  Some stay a few days, others a couple of weeks or few months at best. During training, it is clearly stated and often said the ultimate goal is to reunite the children with their parents or people as soon as possible and I get it, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.

If one more person asks me, “Don’t you get attached?”  I may snap.

OF COURSE, WE GET ATTACHED!

IS this thing on? Can you hear me now? 

YES!!! WE-GET-ATTACHED!

Then why keep on? Why continue fostering if you know you’re going to end up hurting?

Because once you know, they’re out there and are in need of care you can’t NOT know.  

It’s sobering really how much I thought I knew about fostering having taught public school but as it turns out, I know very little.  Nine months and 19 children later I have observed and made notes of these things:

  • Every case, every face, every story so unique and very similar.
  • Hugs are a universal language.
  • Stuff: excessive toys, a plethora of shoes, clothing and or tech gadgets are not necessities.  They are luxuries.
  • A warm shower, clean bed, and kindness go a long way.
  • Always say goodbye and leave on good terms.  Life can be up on its head in a moment.
  • I thought through fostering we would and could change the world one child at a time.  What I have experienced through fostering is that children are often the best teachers, and I have much to learn.

J and I, with head and hearts still reeling from the week, were talking before bed when he precisely expressed how I felt.

“It’s like a little death when each one leaves. Like a little part of us is gone.”

Yes.

Death.

It is nothing new nor is it a respecter of persons. Many of you have walked through the valley, and the shadows before as have we.

Even my Savior was not exempt.

Good Friday is the day Jesus died for you and me. Good Friday is the day I delivered our oldest son after years of barrenness and loss.  It is a day I have grown to respect, cherish and hold dear only this year was different. Deeper. Heavier. Much heavier.  It held both weight and wings.  Waking to celebrate Tucker’s 11 years of life and ending with a heartbreaking goodbye to a little one we loved like our own.

It would be easy to quit.  It would feel better to close our doors and say no more.  We could play it safe, love them less and silence the ringer on our phones.  We could stop believing that it matters and doubt that God is working all things together for good.  We could.

“When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from Him but in heaven’s name to what?” ~G.K. Chesterton

…but in heaven’s name to what?  That’s my favorite part.

..”to what?

The word what brings to mind a few more questions:

What IF it does matter?

What if we are making a difference?

What if this was the best week of that child’s life?

What more can we do to let them know they are loved?

What could we do to help them hurt less?

So what if caring is a risky business?

What if death is the beginning of a new life?

Yes.

I say a BIG FAT Y-E-S to all of the above.

What will you say?  And before you say you can’t please consider what you can do as you read through some of the things others near and dear to us have done.  We could not do it without help. Again to your question, “How do you do it all?”

Quite simply, I DON’T.

We don’t.

There are LOTS and LOTS of people in our family and community who have helped.

Consider these from just this past week:

  • One sister came and held the baby and chatted with the new kids on the block while I did paperwork and talked with case workers.
  • Mother cooked us supper the night the three extra children arrived while I got their belonging settled.
  • A brother-in-law mowed our yard because it needed it.   One of our boys broke the key off in the ignition of our lawnmower. #benearmeLordJesus
  • Dad let us borrow his suburban because our car is not safe for a family of seven.
  • Another sister bought some snacks and personal items for the girls.
  • A local church rallied together and made basic care packs for foster children. They then blessed us by sharing items the children needed.
  • A friend gave me a shoulder to cry on when the last one left us just five days later.

See?  Foster care is not a solo mission.  I didn’t write this post for sympathy or a pat on the back.  It isn’t about me.  I am using what God has given me, this space for His honor and glory. I share these stories as a reminder-It takes us all. I hope you’ll say yes and get involved some way somehow because life is better when it’s lived together.

Oh, and when DHR calls again, and they will, we will say yes.  We will say hello and goodbye, we will laugh and cry, and finally, I will wipe the warm tears and know that I’m alive.

Happy Resurrection Day!

 

 

P.S.  Because it’s fitting and my favorite poem on the planet….  I read Risk for the first time while in college.  I copied it, laminated it, cut it out and hung it by my desk and read it every single day that I taught public school.  I have it in the front of my calendar now.  I hope it pierces you in the way it does me each and every time.

Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose your feelings is to risk
exposing your true self
To place your ideal, your dreams before a crowd
is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
Yet risks must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is risking
NOTHINGThe person who risks nothing
Does nothing
Has nothing
Is nothing

5 NEW YEAR Questions for You to Share with Friends

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We barricaded the living room entry with a recliner.  Determined to have some post-holiday, HAPPY NEW YEAR-adult conversation with our friends.  They have four children, and currently, we have four children who bring us to a ROARING 8 when we are together which is anything but calm but oh-so-necessary.

Surely we aren’t the only parents who have considered a barricade?  Now before any of you, helicopter moms get in a tizz..we could see over the recliner into the dining room where the girls were dressed as princesses (at least I think that’s what they were shooting for)  while they played baby in between dance-party breakouts and playing kitchen with lots and lots of Play-Doh.  That is, when they weren’t running for cover and SCREAMING because of sudden Nerf attacks, hovering drones or RC gadgets running amuck.

After pizza and wings, and redirecting a couple of monkeys who attempted to climb over the recliner barricade we were alas able to share some quality conversation with our dear friends.  (Side note->because of my brain..but if you haven’t read Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist, I HIGHLY recommend it.  The title was enough for me.  For too long, too many of us have worried whether or not our houses or outdoor spaces were acceptable, polished or Pinterest-y enough to share with friends. I broke up with that way of thinking.  Thanks, Shauna)  Meanwhile, back on the ranch my Rainbow vacuum broke way back in October, a new one hasn’t been in the budget; it’s firewood time which means lots and lots of wood debris, dust and lest we forget we live on a farm, so there is NEVER an absence of various manure tracks throughout the house.  Deep breath.  And another deep breath because it’s OKAY!  Real friends hungry for authentic connection couldn’t care less about the condition of our floors or mantle, which is why we’re friends.

Thankful for friends and my dear, dear husband for entertaining my request to have such reflective heavy-at-times-just-a-wee-bit awkward and hilarious conversation.  We chatted through various topics such as their vacation to Disney, to public restroom etiquette and finally,  some thought-provoking questions that I found on the internet (thanks, Holley Gerth dot com).

The list of questions was longer than we have time for but I wanted to share five of my favorites as well as my two cents which as it turns out is exactly what it’s worth.  I hope you will share the questions with your friends because you should.  It’s fun and funny.  They are great conversation starters. We have since discussed them with our small group, and I went through them with another friend whom I consider a gem as well as my mom and sisters too!  So, without further adieu’:

What went well for you this year?

We saw a slight upswing in 2016 at our little mom and pop feed & garden, so we shouted HALLELUYAH! Thank YOU, Fort Payne and surrounding areas for shopping local and for loving our family so well.  (If you’re not local and you want to know more about what we do visit our website –> www.fpfeed.com )

#PrayBig the journal and the movement has done exceedingly and abundantly more than I would have ever dreamed. THANK YOU, JESUS.  I’ve loved meeting ALL OF YOU, hearing your hearts and it is my honor to pray with and for you!  I am looking forward to another great year!

http://www.thebeancounter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/iStock_000065269525_Double-630x315.jpg

(photo from Google image)

What did not go well?

When our first foster placement was taken and placed in another home.  He left us forever changed, and he will never be forgotten.

When did you feel the most exhausted or drained?

Numbers.  Anything with numbers makes me tired and cranky.  Numbers and anything remotely akin to numbers makes me lethargic and puffy.  I think I’m allergic.  No amount of milk chocolate helps.  Just no.  There will be no numbers or accounting or QuickBooks in heaven.  Amen.

 

When did I feel most in my “sweet spot?”

Other than the obvious of being with my tribe at the beach of course with my low-rider beach chair in the sand where the surf meets the shore my “sweet spot” would be when I’m encouraging you.  Whether that is at the local coffee shop, the jail, your living room, fellowship hall or a stage.  I never tire of speaking of the faithfulness of God and exhorting you to #PrayBig because with my whole heart I believe when you #PrayBig things happen!

 

What did God teach me that I want to live out this year?

It’s easy for me to tell others to believe in the faithfulness of God, not to worry or fear because He cares and is Lord over all, but I often struggle to believe my words.  I somehow believe it for you, and I REALLY DO but then, when I get in my car, or I find a quiet place at home, or I’m upstairs at the store, I doubt.  I doubt and end up dancing with fear and worry when it comes to my personal stuff.  And I hate it!  In 2017 I am determined to be done with doubt.  Jesus and I have already been talking through these things over the last several days, and I’ve told Satan to take the train. I’ll keep you posted.

There were other questions like what did you say “no” to and wish you had said “yes” and vice versa? What do you want to do differently or the same?  But too many of those questions got a little too close to the subject of exercise which is something I’m not ready to talk about yet. I am thinking about thinking about it because I know my Barbie friend, Tammy wants me to think about it and I will turn 40 this year.  In no way is turning forty a big deal except that it is, and I’m going to try not be a selfish brat and talk too much about my birthday in June because that would be silly because grown women shouldn’t get all wacky about a birthday except that I am but we can talk more about that later.  Because it’s only 156 days until my birthday according to Google.  Not that anyone is counting.

Oh happy day,

 

 

P.S.  But just in case…and this P.S. note is mostly for my family or close friends to remind my husband and children.  #winkwink

 

 

 

 

“Thus far” 2016 the BIG year-ender

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“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”  (1 Samuel 7:12)

 

I could not think of a better way to start a year-end post than to share these words from Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman.

 

“The words “thus far” are like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. It had been a long time, twenty years in all.” (v. 2), but even if it had been seventy years, “Thus far the Lord helped”! Whether through poverty, wealth, sickness, or health, whether home or abroad, on land, sea or air, and whether in honor, dishonor, difficulties, joy, trial, triumph, prayer, or temptation-“Thus Far the Lord helped”!

 

It’s that time of the year when many take a deep breath and look back.

 

Tell me friends.  How does it look from where you stand?  As you glance back over your shoulder are you overwhelmed with gratitude or are glad to call it a wrap?

 

If I may be so direct as to say, “It’s been more than a heck of a year!!!”   As I look back down the dirt road of 2016, I see love and loss, success and failure, laughter and more tears than I’ve shed in several years!

 

I grew up on a dirt road.  My sisters, cousins and I ran barefooted as country girls do.  Growing older and learning to drive we’d do our best to dodge the all-too-familiar-potholes.  There were a few “potholes” I wish we could’ve avoided this year but then I remember it’s the running barefooted on the rocks, and unexpected potholes of life that make us what we are.

 

On this last year in my thirties, less is more.  So instead of a month by month playback, I’m going to share just 3 areas of our life where we have lived, loved and been AWED by the faithfulness of God:

 

FAITH

 

I had heard, been taught and even proclaimed to many the truth of Ephesians 3:20, that God can do exceedingly and abundantly but this year- we have experienced it.  He has strengthened and stretched our faith in ways unexplainable.  God is His wonder has taken the little 6-week prayer journal, written by a woman scared of punctuation to Honduras, Canada, a women’s prison in Georgia, to the Dominican Republic, and more states than I can count.  I hope I never get over it!!

 

With it, He has birthed a message, a challenge, a movement for His people to #PrayBig.  You all have supported us and made my dream of sharing His faithfulness a reality!!  You are praying and listening to God.  Many of you have learned to plead the promises of God through prayer and have seen the activity of God in your lives.  You have seen your laundry list of requests transform into intimate conversations with Jesus!

 

You have bought “PrayBig” journals, mugs, hats, t-shirts, jewelry and you are sharing them with YOUR PEOPLE! (Pause for a –>SHOUT OUT to Gina Dorough, the salt to my pepper, a Godsend who has graciously traveled with me to all of the places and kept us organized and blessed each one of you with her kindness and selfless service!! I love u!)

We love seeing hashtag #PrayBig online and are overjoyed at how the community is growing!  I can’t get over it, and I wish I could hug each one of you and look you in the eye and say, “THANK YOU!!”

 

Thank you for allowing Him to use YOU to grow our faith.  Thank you for sharing your burdens and blessings with me through your emails, texts, calls, and conversations.  It has been and is and my great honor to share with you through prayer.  I consider it a privilege that you would invite me into the intimate places of your heart.  You are loved and lifted up, and I am eternally grateful!!!

 

Lastly, for inviting me to speak to your women’s groups, your podcasts, churches, camps, your living rooms, Mentone Inn den, prison domes, parks and more.   It has been my sheer delight to Skype, encourage, and exhort you in the Lord.  He has fearfully and wonderfully made you and has the-most-perfect plan and purpose for your life.  If I haven’t yet made it your way or you’d like to get together again, email SOON as we are working on our calendar and scheduling less this year because of area number two…

 

FAMILY

Just when I think I can’t love them more, I do.

 

J & I celebrated two decades of marital bliss in October of this year.  Yes, that’s sounds cliché’ but for two who are opposites in every way minus our faith and rearing our children blissful is pretty spot on.  We didn’t go all out and travel out west or get that getaway for a romantic weekend like I had planned because life happens but instead we enjoyed a quiet steak dinner and was able to share an uninterrupted, quality conversation.  That anniversary meal fed more than our stomachs and was more than enough for the day.

 

To know J, (aka the Cowboy), is to know simple.  Honest and upright.  Quiet is his favorite.  He’d rather be at the barn than anywhere else on the planet.  Barn chores are where he finds serenity.   Our feed store is where he makes a living. A very engaged father to our boys and now, a father to the fatherless.  He was recently humbled having been asked to become an elder at our church. It is my honor to be his wife, now forever and always.

 

Our boys.

photos compliments of the uh-MAZING Rachel Clarke Photography (now Mrs.Mashburn)

 

Are you following #adventuresoftuckandjake on Facebook? If not, why?  No really, the hashtag started as a joke.  In sharing one of the boys’ adventures one day with a woman, she said, “People don’t let their kids do that anymore!”

 

“We do” was my response as I share the video from my phone.

 

Boys need to be boys.  Boys need to climb, run, hunt, scavenge, adventure, scout, explore, fight, rescue, fix, create, imagine, scream, innovate, pretend, swim, and jump!!!!!! Did I mention ROAR!   We don’t own a gaming system on purpose.  Before we start homeschool each day on more days than not, I have the boys run a few laps around the pond just because.  Best I can tell, boys and dogs (according to the dog guy on TV) have some of the same basic needs:  exercise, discipline, affection.

 

If you are a #boymom and you struggle as we all do from time to time– try this!  Get them OUTSIDE, make them run, touch five trees, race back and forth down the driveway or sprint five laps around the house before they get in the car.  It helps. I promise.  Their teachers will hug you!!

 

Speaking of thanks, one of my most cherished friend’s, Jeanne Manning, sent our boys a Christmas card.  In the card, (which just so happens to be my favorite gift this Christmas) she shared words of love & gratitude for our two superheroes.  She encouraged and thanked them for the ways they have loved the new children God has brought into our home which leads me to…

FOSTERING

 

I had no idea that prayer whispered from a porch in Honduras would lead us here.

 

I had to take a few deep breaths and wipe a few tears before beginning this final part of this post and believe it is doubtful you will feel the weight of the words shared in this last and very best part of 2016.  It was a couple of weeks ago now that I wrote in my journal things fostering has taught and continues to teach me:

 

It’s not about us.

 

With each child that has visited our home whether for a day, a week or months God is his graciousness has reminded me this life is not about me.  How comfortable I am, what I want or what we think we need.  This life is about more-so very much more than that.  Down to my bone marrow, I’m convinced the reason any of us are here is to bring God glory.  We can do this by sharing and showing others Jesus.  Yes, once again, I realize that sounds cliche, ‘ but it’s true.

 

More than what I know, may achieve or attain- Am I making the most of every opportunity?  does my life cause others to marvel at Jesus in me?? Am I loving the unlovely?  The unclean?  Those invested with lice, the downtrodden, deserted?  Do I love them like Jesus loves?

 

Love without abandon.

 

Unconditional, relentless, immeasurable love?

 

Fostering has forced me to stay offline and be present with the people under this roof.  We look each other in the eye more.  You can tell a lot about where a person is and has been by simply looking them in the eye.

We have read books, listened, talked, laughed, and cried.  Lots and lots.

 

Fostering is HARD.

 

We have gotten attached and had high hopes of forever only to find ourselves disappointed and heartbroken.  No words, class, or training could have prepared us for the gut-wrenching pain of the first removal, but God is near to the broken hearted-He binds up their wounds.

 

Just a few weeks ago after losing one whom we cherished new littles came in need of as much or more love than the one before.  J turned to me as he closed the new little one’s bedroom door after giving big hugs and ‘sweet dreams-goodnight.’

 

“What will we do when they leave?”

 

My tear filled reply, “We’ll cry and love again.”

Which is what we are doing.  Crying & loving again.  While we are talking about crying.  If Facebook doesn’t lie (LOL! surely Facebook wouldn’t lie???) Nonetheless, hundreds or according to Facebook thousands of you watched the video where I fought the gigantic lump in my throat the day after we lost out little buddy.

 

While we are talking about crying.  If Facebook doesn’t lie (LOL! surely Facebook wouldn’t lie???) Nonetheless, hundreds or according to Facebook thousands of you watched the video where I fought the gigantic lump in my throat the day after we lost out little buddy. We were seriously overwhelmed by your compassion and comforting words.  If you missed it or struggle with what to do when you #PrayBig and the things you want to happen you can catch it –> HERE

 

We’re often asked, “How do you do it?”  “How do you bring them in, treat them like your own and then let them go?”

 

We pray more, pray always, pray hard, #PrayBig and trust God with the details.

 

Many people choose a word for the year.  I have chosen words over the last few years and have been fascinated by the ways I have seen the word play out in my life throughout the year.  My word for this past year was “watch.”

 

“Watch for the new thing I am going to do….”  Isaiah 43:19 (GNT)   I have seen Him do things I never could’ve or would’ve imagined.  I will praise Him as long as I have breath for ALL of it. The good, bad, ugly and GREAT of 2016!

Dearest friends, from our herd to yours we wish the HAPPIEST OF NEW YEAR’S.  May it be one of peace and hearts overflowing.  Do not lose heart.  Be confident:

“The Lord who “thus far” has helped you

Will help you all your journey through.” ~L.B. Cowman

 

Much love & always,

 

 

P.S. You know the post wouldn’t be complete without at least one P.S.

2017 plans/DREAMS/things to do:

  • Turn 40!
  • Finish the manuscript of our story
  • sit on the porch more in the evenings
  • adventure more WITH my boys instead of watching from afar

 

P.S.S. If you’re new or late to the #PrayBig party

Follow on Instagram @blessingsbrnyrd

Facebook: Blessings Beyond the Barnyard

Visit & share www.karmensmith.com for questions, prayers or speaking inquiries

 

 

The Day My Son Thought I’d LOST IT!

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“Mom, this is crazy.”

 

Is what he said just before we marched around a picnic table in our backyard seven times.

 

I’m sorry, you did what???

 

We marched around a picnic table in our backyard seven times.

 

Who: the cowboy, me, and our two boys.

Where:  on our farm

When: Wednesday afternoon, July 14

What:  I placed a #PrayBig journal in the middle of our picnic table and asked my family to pray with me as we marched around it seven times.

 

WHY???  Because sometimes God calls us to do crazy things to show us how GREAT He is!!

 

Remember that BIG DREAM I shared in a recent post? (If you missed it you could read about it HERE)

 

It had been seven days and no word.  I submitted the When You Pray Big Things Happen journal and  #PrayBig products for consideration for the Dave Ramsey/Christy Wright Business Boutique.  I’ve already seen God do exceedingly and abundantly more with this little journal than I ever thought He would or could so, why not?  Desperate for a yes or no because the unknown makes us CRAY, right?  Recently having read the story of Joshua thinking about the wall of Jericho, what he must have felt like facing such a task and pondering the question,  what is my current Jericho?”  That thing that seems impossible..too big?  Too far out?  Too crazy? Something only God could do?

 

For me, the thought of #PrayBig + anything related to Dave Ramsey seemed just, too BIG, too grown-up and mature for me.  It’s Dave Ramsey for crying out loud.

 

But the idea of marching and praying wouldn’t leave me alone.  So I did what I do.  I told J, “I have a crazy idea.”  And then, he did what he does.  He looked at me exhausted with raised brow and said, “Ok, let me hear it.”

 

“I want us to place a #PrayBig journal on the picnic table in the backyard, march around it seven times and pray.”

 

“Ok.”

 

“OK?!”

 

“Yes, ok.”

 

Before he could change his mind or I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed a journal, we gathered the boys and headed to the back yard.

 

I shared the idea with the boys. Without hesitation, my younger asked where to stand as my older declared, “Mom, you know this is crazy, right?”

 

“Yes son, I know it is, but sometimes God calls us to do crazy things to show us how GREAT He is!”

 

And with that everyone got in line.   J lead us, and I began to pray out loud as the boys followed us around the picnic table.

 

old-picnic-table

 

Lord, we trust you.  We believe your ways are higher than our ways.  We’ve asked you to enlarge our territory and provide opportunities for us to speak of your goodness.  You are faithful, good and true. We rest in your perfect will and want no more and no less than exactly what You want for our lives.  If you bless us with a yes, we will praise You as long as we have breath.  If You say no, we will praise You still. If You say wait, Lord, we will wait.  We fix our eyes on You the Author and Finisher of our faith.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

As we headed inside I whispered within, “Lord, do this one for the boys.  Grow their faith.”

 

The next morning during my quiet time I felt a prompting to fast.  Something you should know.  I don’t fast much.  I just never have.  That’s one of the spiritual disciplines that has always intimidated me. What if I don’t do it right?  What do I fast from?  How long do I fast?  

 

So many questions and so often when I don’t know what to do I opt to do nothing.

 

But that day it was evident.  Knowing I wasn’t mentally prepared to fast from food and convicted over how much time; I WASTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!!!!!!! the decision was easy.  I will remove the social media icons from the home page of my phone and every time I think of vegging on white space I will pray.  I will declare, “Lord, Your will be done in my life.”

 

Before we go any further a few noteworthy mentions:  God is God, and He can allow or not allow whatever He so chooses because He is God. He is sovereign and Lord over all.  He is rich in mercy to ALL and is better to us than we deserve.  Sometimes when we pray, He says yes, sometimes He says no, and sometimes He says wait.

 

Now, finally,  as I removed the last icon from my phone’s home screen and just as I go to lay the phone down, I felt it vibrate.

 

A number I did not recognize from Nashville, TN.

 

“Hello, this is Erin from Dave Ramsey Solutions.  If you are still interested, we would love for you to join us as a VENDOR at the BUSINESS BOUTIQUE!”

 

My legs became noodles, and I found myself short of breath as I offered my-cool-don’t-FREAK-THE-FREAK-out-response,

 

“Sure, I’d love to come.”

 

We exchanged info and said we would be in touch over the next few weeks.  I couldn’t hang up fast enough.

 

I wanted to tell J, and I couldn’t wait to tell the boys.  Particularly one.

 

I tiptoed in his room, whispered, “Hey bud, guess what?”

 

Sleepy.  So sleepy he cracked one eye open.

 

“Hey buddy, guess what?  We got a yes! #PrayBig is going to the Business Boutique.”

 

He sat up and gave me the biggest smile.  He knew, and I knew, only God.  And, well, that’s better than a personal phone call from Dave Ramsey himself.

 

So what??

 

Friend, what’s your crazy?  What outlandish thing, DREAM, hard situation or impossible circumstance are you facing in your life right now??

 

I hope this story challenges you to keep praying.  Keeping trusting.  Keep believing in our great God. Keep resting in His perfect timing.  Keep giving thanks in all things.  He alone is trustworthy, faithful and good.

Tell fear to take the train!  Have fear grab his pal doubt as he heads out the door!!!!!  Fix your eyes on Jesus, be still and know He is God, get into The Word, #PrayBig and march forward into all that He has for you!

 

Waiting is hard, frustrating and rarely something any of us would choose but God knows best.  Truly.  And His ways are higher.

 

And don’t forget or be afraid to believe~

 

“…. sometimes God calls us to do crazy things so He can show us just how BIG He is!”

 

And if you are a small business girl or want to be or dream of becoming– COME TO THE Business Boutique!  Use #PrayBig for a discount:

 

Instagram_PrayBig

 

In other NEW/UPDATES & such:

 

~Late to the party or still wondering,

 

“WHAT IS #PRAYBIG?”

 

Visit & Subscribe to Karmen Smith on YouTube! Then, leave a HUGE!!!! ALL CAPS  SHOUT OUT in comments to our friends Chris & Gina Dorough! They are our gifted, generous video editing team and by gifted editing I mean Gina shades out all of my sweat and perspiration because recording videos HACK ME OUT!

 

 

~Oh, and we are now a family of 5.  Our lives forever changed on July 19th as we welcomed our first foster child.  We have so many feelings and stories to share, but right now we’re savoring them offline.  We are praying through which stories to share or not.  THANK YOU to ALL who have sent messages, given gifts and mostly for your prayers.  We are eternally grateful.

 

~A 40 under 40 nominee!  Speaking of crazy!  I LOVE and admire and look up to so many of the incredible women on this list and am still searching for a thank you word big enough for those who nominated me to be a part.  YOU, seriously, are the BEST!  I know that sounds so cliché’ but I am so.very.thankful.for.you.

 

~Speaking page has been updated 🙂 View here!

That’s all.  The End. for now- Sweet dreams. Goodnight.

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