This memorial website was created in the memory of someone who was and continues to be truly loved, Austin Taylor Smith was born in Kentucky on August 01, 1996  and passed away in Kissimmee, FL on October 01, 2007. He will remain always and forever in all of our hearts, Sweet never ending dreams my precious child...... 



October 1, 2007 started like most mornings during a school year. The alarm clock went off at 630 am. The coffee pot was steady brewing, Todd was on his way out the door to work and kissed us all as he left for his day. Austin got dressed ,woke up Caleb and said good morning to me while he got ready to brush his teeth. He helped me get breakfeast ready for Caleb while the babies (Seth and Kota ) still slept. He ate breakfeast with Caleb while I drank my coffee and watched a bit of tv before heading to the bus stop, just 3 short blocks away. 
At 7:20 am. he left for his bus stop like most other mornings he was telling Caleb to have a great day at school kissing Kota and Seth and hugging me as he went out the door he said " Mom I love you to the moon and back again" and shut the door behind him. And as most mornings I waited till he got just to the corner and looked out the door to say " I love you more" to which he turned to reply with his beautiful smiling face and his laugh " Not possable mom, now go inside give Kota and Seth love for me and get Caleb to the bus on time. I'll see ya when I get home and oh yeah I love you mom."  I closed the door behind me knowing Austin would meet with Stephon and James, his friends he walked to the bus with, as soon as he rounded the corner. I took Caleb and the babies to his bus stop about 20 minutes later and then started my day like many others.

I did the laundry and folded it all  a Monday routine. When the laundry was done the babies and I went to the pool for a swim before a snack and then naps for them. I worked on my studies,  as I take online classes for Photography, while the babies napped.  Then lunch and story time and then before I knew it time to get Caleb from his bus stop. Caleb got in the house and started his homework while the babies and I watched a bit of cartoons. Knowing Austin would be home shortly. Todd had called to let me know he'd be getting Austin from his bus stop that day as he was on his way there to surpirse him and pick him up. That was around 345pm. At around 415 I got a call from Todd telling me to " get to Austins stop something has happened hes hurt stacy hes hurt so bad " The 3 kids and I headed out the door and when we rounded the corner the fire trucks were pulling away. Todd was further down the road and so I handed the kids off to a friend of ours Stephon's mom Sheryl and walked to were Todd was he was an absolute wreck and our friend, Stephon's dad ,William was with him I told him we needed to get to the hospital and William offered to drive. We got into our vehicle and headed out to the hospital Todd kept saying "hes dead Stacy hes gone my boy is gone." But by now my medical training had kicked in and I wasn't hearing anything I was focused on getting to the Hospital.  We arrived moments later and went in where the ambulances load and unload to be met by security and the Chaplain. They walked us to a quite room while the doctors worked on Austn and finally allowed us into the room where nurses and doctors were all over my child doing cpr and breathing for him. The chaplain prayed for us and for him. We held his feet as we couldn't get any closer to him. My boy my poor precious boy was so swollen and broken his little body had been thrown 69 feet after an SUV struck him on his way home from his bus, which that day happened to drop him off 21 minutes early.  The doctor finally feeling they could do no more asked us to let them stop. He and the staff had done everything humanly possable but there was nothing left to do. The rest is mostly a blurr a room where the lights were lowered Todd and I and the chaplain. William was there around I remeber his face in blurts of reality. Todd and I went back to Austin for a while  and talked to him and touched him and kissed his face his poor broken face all swollen and bruised. After a while we left the hospital to return to our other three children to tell them there brother was gone. 

Its been 5 weeks and there are mornings I still wake up thinking I have to get Austin and Caleb up for school. We heald a celebration ceremony for Austin a week later at his favorite place - Old Towne in Kissimmee Florida. We released balloons and butterflies in his honor and friends and family who couldn't be with us did the same releasing 11 green balloons for his memory and blessings he gave each and every one of us.
We go to the bus stop as often as we can and yell at passers by to slow down for the kids still catching busses on that road. We get up every day and throw our feet to the floor and try to go minute by minute caring for our other children and missing Austin so bad somedays I dont know how I'll survive. 
Our road we are on now is a long one. A road were life seems almost double sided anymore. I feel like two people the one who has other children to love and care for the mom who has children missing ther brother but yet still has dishes to do, clothes to wash, a home to keep clean. A wife trying to support her husband in his loss. And the mother who has lost her child who wants to sit in a corner and cry till the hurt eases enough to breath. The mask we wear as parents who have lost a child with the concerned questions of "how are you doing? " From those who care that we still struggle to answer. 
 
Austin was 11 years 2 months when he was taken from us. He was a great student and loved to learn. A amazing big brother to his three younger siblings. A wonderful son that made us proud. And so we go on to honor him to allow others to hear his voice through ours.

Austin is survived by three siblings Brother Caleb 9, Brother Seth 4, and Sister Dakota 2. His Mom Stacy and Dad Todd, Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and the friends whos lives he touched who are forever changed by his presence. 




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When tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
That I would never die.
I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for awhile,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
That I might miss tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at peace.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
Although my time had ceased,
He said "This is your eternity,
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
There will be no pain and suffering, 
There's no longing for the past. 
And you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand
And share your life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right there, in your heart.

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When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want noone in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me - but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone,
It is all a part of the Master plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends you know
And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds,
Miss me - but let me go. 

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If I should go tomorrow
It would never be goodbye,
For I have left my heart with you,
So you don't ever cry.
The love that's deep within me,
Shall reach you from the stars,
You'll feel it from the heavens,
And it will heal the scars.

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