A Brookhaven family with dreams of having a house full ofchildren had their wish come true a few weeks ago with the additionof five children to an already growing family.

Mitchell and Beverly Smith have found happiness in their NorthJackson Street home , which is now occupied with eight other people– two of their biological children and six adopted children.

“Us taking on this many is a ministry,” said Mitchell Smith. “Ifeel it’s a calling from God.”

The Smiths began their family 13 years ago with the birth oftheir first daughter, Mikell, followed three years later withKason, their biological son.

“Then in June 2000, we adopted Jeremy, who is now 11 years old,”said Mrs. Smith. “Even with Jeremy here, though, we still didn’tfeel like our family was complete.”

They began searching for a group of siblings in need of a lovinghome, and they found them in the Midwest about a month ago throughthe help of the Harden House in Fulton.

“I went up there the first weekend of September to get to knowthem. Then they came home with us about two weeks later,” said Mrs.Smith.

The newest Smith additions are Natasha, 11; Jalissa, 10; Davin,9; Tristian, 6; and Tazia, 4.

The Smiths remembered that they were immediately impressed bythe children and fell in love with them before they even gothome.

“They’re a good group of kids. We’ve adjusted real well,” saidMitchell Smith.

Only a few bumps were noted as the Smith household doubled insize the last month. The Smiths had to make a few structuralchanges to the house. A dining room and closed in porch wereadapted to bedrooms for the children, allowing for a five bedroomhouse.

Each bedroom is neatly decorated and occupied by two people. Theboys have one side of the house with their own bathroom and thegirls fill the other side, also with a bathroom to share.

“The worst part so far is the clothes washing. It’s at leastfour loads a day,” said Mrs. Smith. “I’m hoping to get a washer anddryer for Christmas.”

Mrs. Smith has already developed a routine to bring someorganization to the enormous amount of laundry each week. Shewashes the boys’ clothes on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the girls’clothing on Mondays and Thursdays.

Cooking has been a fairly easy transition, too, even though Mrs.Smith cooks about 50 percent more now. She gets help with the setupand cleanup from the children as they do their chores. The entirefamily tries to eat together every night if possible.

“The fun part is getting around together. We have a van thatfits seven, and I take the rest of me,” said Mitchell Smith.

Keeping up with one another proves to be a tough task at times,but constant communication is the key.

Anytime a dispute breaks out, Mitchell Smith, thedisciplinarian, referred to as “Judge Smith” by the children, takescare of the situation. Court is held on an average of twice a weekin the family room.

Everyone is cleared out except the judge, defendants andwitnesses. Each gets a chance to tell their side of the story andpresent evidence to “Judge Smith” before he makes a decision on whois guilty.

“The innocent one he dismisses, and the guilty one he keeps,”explained Jeremy about the sentencing phase of court.

Punishment ranges from no television to not being allowed toplay outdoors. Sometimes the guilty party’s allowance is hinderedin the reward system kept on the refrigerator.

However, discipline is not a major problem in the house. Theyall know their roles and try to be obedient and courteous, said theSmiths.

The house that seems so quiet and still before 4 p.m. comesalive every afternoon with laughter and conversations as thechildren head to their rooms to begin homework. Mitchell Smith alsooversees all the school work. He often makes visits to the schoolsto check on the children when he isn’t driving a school bus orattending classes at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he ismajoring in diesel mechanics.

The oldest child, Mikell, also keeps a watchful eye on hersiblings, whether it be taking them to the bus stop at the cornerin the mornings or checking on them during the day.

“If somebody messes with them, I don’t like it,” she said.

Their family ties are strong and already developed after just amonth of living together. They often laugh at funny situations thatarise from having 10 people in one house.

“At night, it’s like the Waltons,” said Mitchell Smith.