Many thoughts drift in and out of my mind as I sit in this hospital waiting for my 3 year old daughter Dakota to get tested for the COVID-19 virus. Not because she is sick and showing symptoms but because she has to test negative in order to have her tonsils and adenoi...

Hello, My Beautiful People!

With all that is going on, I wanted to take a few minutes and give you all some words of encouragement. 

Please utilize this time to engage with one another and take advantage of quality time with your children and family. 

Dust off that old bo...

There’s nothing like the birth of a child, especially near the holidays. But when that tiny bundle of joy has an extended NICU stay, just getting through the holidays can be overwhelming for new parents.

Fortunately, there are plenty of gift ideas that can help make the...

Hello My Kota Bear Friends,

I pray this blog reaches you well.  As much as I would like to apologize for not writing as much as I would like to, I’m a little hesitant because I know that all things happen for a reason.

Aside from that, I know you are all extremely suppo...

Wow!!! Has One year passed already?

On January 2nd (Dakotas birthday) I woke up with a ton of emotions and could not seem to get myself together as I soaked in the presence of God.  Just thinking about how he has pulled us through one heck of a year alone had me choke...

Hi guys!! I miss communicating with you all, it feels like it has been forever since my last blog. We as a family have been NON-STOP since Dakota came home. When I say it went from zero to a hundred real quick..it did just that! Our lives were transformed from daily co...

To my husband...here are your flowers.
Let me start by saying thank you; THANK YOU!!
From the very beginning in 2007 until now. Thank you for coming in my life and leaving such a lasting impression and stain on my heart. From the beginning neither one of us knew what...

As a college student preps, get ready and super pumped up for homecoming at their college or university that was our very same feeling for the HOMECOMING of Dakota Smith. 

My day started out relatively calm, I awoke to the sound of my alarm with the habitual mindset to...

My mind is all over the world and back! I am a ball of nerves, I know in my heart that everything will be just fine but I cannot help but wonder...overwhelming myself is an understatement and getting rest before Kota Bear comes home does not exist! I know my husband ca...

Please enjoy your special day and acknowledge all of the hidden figures in your very own life. Today may be bitter sweet for some of us and for me that is how my day starts off every Mothers Day for the past 8 years. I'd wake up super happy like awww shoot today is my...