Hi, my name is Gretchen Smith and I’m excited to share a little bit about me with you!
I’m a native Washingtonian (Go Seahawks) but after college spent most of my 20’s living in Los Angeles where I met my husband Steve who happens to be a Texan and Longhorn! We met in March of 2007, got engaged that May, and then were married that September!
Steve and I spent the first few years of our married life living in LA LA land, but because of his long work hours we started moving around to see if we could find a better work life balance for him. That search took us to NYC, Austin, London, back to LA, my hometown, Dallas and Austin again… aren’t you tired just reading that! Though it was an adventure to say the least, it was also a very hard, long, and uncertain season for us. But just like any good drama, there is a climax and conclusion. After lots of moving around, saying hello and waving good-bye, we made the decision to make Austin our home (for a second time). After almost a year of Steve looking for work and a baby on the way, the Lord blessed us with a job, and within days our daughter Olive was born in a city we can finally call HOME!
Speaking of Olive… Olive is my “surprise” 9-month-old baby girl who has changed my life, mission, and heart in more ways than one. I would like to say that I was ready and prepared when we found out, but the truth is I wasn’t and it took awhile for my heart to catch up. The shock of expecting also changed our initial course of starting our family through adoption, but we are excited to adopt in the future.
My struggle into motherhood did not start there though. In October of 2011 we went through a miscarriage and I remember that being such a dark time. I was believing lies that somehow it was my fault (SUCH A LIE), but it was a time in my life that God really showed up and comforted me with His truth. That same comfort also took me through my pregnancy with Olive when at 35 weeks we found out that she wasn’t thriving in the womb due to “growth restrictions”, so I was induced at 38 weeks and we spent 10 days in the NICU.
Outside of family life, I really enjoy gathering and getting to know people on a deeper level, football, hiking, trying out new restaurants, wine tasting, fashion, and interior design… but what I’m most passionate above all of that is my Christian faith and growing in that with others.
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