New Year, New Post

Our little family has certainly grown and changed over the past 7 years. After 3 miscarriages, God blessed us with our little rainbow baby, William Andrew, on September 8, 2014. In February 2018, God opened a door for us to move to a much larger home in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We renovated our Cordova home and placed it on the market in March. We sold it in 15 days and moved into our new home on May 3.

December 29, 2018

Smithhart Home - Columbus, MS

(Will-4, Elizabeth-10, Sam-13, John Martin-19)

All of the kids began at new schools in the fall of 2018. Will began at Lewisburg Primary School 3 days a week in the SPED program. Elizabeth began the 5th grade at Lewisburg Elementary School. Sam began 7th grade at Lewisburg Middle School. John Marin began his freshman year at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia commuting 3 days a week.

Marty had a 7 week vacation between his I-Screen Visions position and his job with TruGreen. That was an unexpected blessing in disguise. Thanks to that extended time at home, we were able to clear out the garage and office. He is also preparing to be examined by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Presbytery in March. He is in the process of being bi-vocational.

My mom, aka Honeygram, also moved into our Olive Branch home on that day. John Martin graduated from high school on May 12. Honeygram had multiple strokes on June 10. She entered a Rehab facility and was also informed that she had been misdiagnosed with Parkinson's Disease three years prior. She was told that she had Small Vessel Dementia and potentially Normal Pressure Hydracephalus.Honeygram had a VP shunt placed in her brain on November 16, after a confirmation of the NPH diagnosis. Due to complications, she was transported to Rehabilitation where she stayed until December 1. She was very unhappy to miss out on Thanksgiving with the Brueggers, Hammetts, and Smithharts. She was able to spend time with family during Christmas. Hope flew in on Christmas Eve and was able to stay until December 30.

John Martin was hired by Crew Pros over the summer of 2018. He was a plumbing apprentice. He had a great first semester in college! He will be taking several Criminal Justice classes this next semester. He is still undecided in his major but has mentioned Criminology as a possibility. He is also debating whether or not to join the armed forces once he graduates from NWCC. He has gotten in excellent shape and is very health conscious and committed to working out 3-5 times a week.

Sam has really enjoyed his first semester at LMS. He was a bit uncertain about returning to the public schools after being homeschooled his 6th grade year. He is growing to be a compassionate, strong, brilliant young man. He has also joined the LMS Chess club. Sam is also beginning to train under John Martin at the gym.

Elizabeth is enjoying LES. She has made several good friends. She is very helpful, artistic, loving, and hard-working. We haven't gotten her back into gymnastics at this time but home to return her to that passion very soon.

Will is a WILD man!!! This kid has all of us wrapped around his little finger. He is the king of the castle and he knows it. He LOVES the color RED, trains, cars, puppies, and dinosaurs! He grazes throughout the day and probably drinks half a gallon of milk a day. He is very smart and keeps life fun for all of us.

God is good all the time! I am having a very difficult time accepting all of the changes in our life over the past year. Living with my mom again after 21 years has proved more challenging than I could have ever imagined. I pray for grace, patience, and compassion as I try to be an encouragement to my family. I am desperately hoping to return to the work force in the next few years. At this time, however, mom's needs as well as Will's schedule demand me to stay home.

December 29, 2018
Smithhart Family - unfortunately Anna Kathryn was out of town