The Young Family Farm »

Masthead header

A sweet night…

After a long day…God had a sweet night in store for me. I was sitting in my back yard with Frank—enjoying the quiet (that is until the neighbor’s dogs started growling at is…if you have a trick for how to stop that one…lemme know;)…and again was taken back by all the beautiful things that surround me dispite the background noise around me…

Like a flower garden that the Lord cares for and grows…Did I grow that? Absolutely not. I haven’t watered these…not done one thing! Yet…He is able. How He cares for these and creates them with splendor…yet how much MORE He cares for us!

Then later I was heading out the door to meet my Bible study girls for a long-planned GNO (girls night out). And I had to run back inside and grab my camera when I saw this beautiful image…Sitting pretty and mounted on my love’s truck…a bottle. I just love the life the Lord has blessed us with. And my mommy heart longs for more…yet my heart is at rest and at peace with where and how the Lord leads. OH…and not to mention—God’s beautiful creation in the back. The clouds! The sky! Again…the Lord blows me away.

As if that isn’t enough—I head to this completely Southern local restaurant…you know the type–Fried Pickles for appetizers and sweet peach tee…just locals working the joint. I’m sitting there with 9 of the girls that I have done life with for the past 2 years. Just happened to have our Bible study night…our last night meeting and our Girls Night…the night I would need most to be around the girls who we have walked through everything with. We’ve seen it all together. A husband fighting cancer. Pregnancies. Miscarriages. Births. Death. Job loss…job gains. You name it…we’ve been holding hands through it. There we all sat…and I didn’t have to say a word about how I was feeling–because they. all. knew. And there we sat…eating fried pickles and talking about our kids (and doing impersonations that make my side hurt!). Love those girls.

Then out of no where—my social worker…whom I have never seen in public—walks up. She just HAPPENED to be having dinner there…and just happened to have read my blog today…and it was such fun to introduce her to all my girls. (Love you Donna!). I love how the Lord surrounded me with the people who have been such a big part of our journey to Isaac tonight. PRECIOUS.

And as if it couldn’t get any better…

Later, one of the waitresses walks up says, “Excuse me…would you like some more tea?” in an ancient my heart some way without every being there knew

and so I asked, “Ma’am, where are you from?”

And in the most beautiful accent and cocking her head she replied, “E-t-iopia.”

That’s. what. I. Thought.

Of course you are.

A waitress at this small country local joint…that serves fried pickles and whom I am a regular at…and I’ve never seen you before…but of course tonight—you are here…and there we sat…talking about Addis and Welayta…and the South region.

Of course.

Would you expect anything else from a God who is so big?

Thank you Lord for showing me that you are in this…over and over and over again. I loved that my Bible study girls were sitting there when Donna walked up. And even more when our Ethiopian server came to talk. I couldn’t say anything but, “This is just crazy! Crazy, I tell you. God is so in this…and I am just amazed.”

And then we left. They actually kindly told us they were closed. So for the next hour we stood in the parking lot and laughed until our sides hurt. Oh, the joys of friends who know you best—and who can make you laugh on days like today. Thank you Lord…for the flowers, the clouds, the reminder of our beautiful life with the bottle…our social worker walking by during our dinner, for the random Ethiopian waitress…and for the best of friends.

So thankful. How can I not praise my God?!

Praying for complete healing of Isaac’s mom. And of course 9 more days until our next court appointment. God is in this! Will you join me in praying for another miracle?!

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE WITH A FRIEND SUBSCRIBE
Vanessa - May 13, 2010 - 11:49 pm

I’m always amazed at the ways God shows himself to us when we are “open” to it. I am sad that court didn’t happen today. I pray for little Isaac’s mom’s healing and give God praise for you and your wisdom. Sending you hugs from TN!

missy - May 14, 2010 - 1:31 am

i am sad that you didn’t pass court this time, but i am joining you in prayer for the next one. i am glad it is so soon. what a precious night god gave you. i am always touched by the perspective you have on things, but i know it is because you gain your perspective from a fresh encounter each day with the lord.

love the gift of your waitress god gave you.from injera to fried pickles…that’s one long journey! 🙂

Shannon - May 14, 2010 - 1:42 am

I am so glad you had this evening. I’m smiling just thinking of the laughter. I am so thankful for the women God puts in our lives that we can cry hard with and laugh even harder with! Beautiful thoughts and pictures. Praying.

april - May 14, 2010 - 1:45 am

so glad the Lord gave you this wonderful evening full of reminders of His love!

Tracy - May 14, 2010 - 6:05 am

I’ve been in your shoes with the anticipation of passing court, only to receive news that you didnt. Its such a disappointment. Hang there. His timing is PERFECT!

Becca Harley - May 14, 2010 - 7:03 am

I love friends!!! So thankful that you had a blessed night, full of laughter and joy!!!

Kelly - May 14, 2010 - 7:54 am

I’m so glad that we could all have a fun night together! 🙂 I just watched King Burger…..so funny!

julie@Flitterbugs - May 14, 2010 - 8:00 am

I woke up multiply times last night thinking about Isaac’s Bmom…thank you for giving us the chance to love her!

Chrystal - May 14, 2010 - 9:25 am

Andrea, God is watching over you & that sweet baby Isaac.. protecting your heart in ways that only He knows how. I shared your news yesterday with my sister in law, who is adoption from Tawian, about not passing court and just how your post from the previous day couldn’t have been any more perfect for what news was awaiting the next day. THY WILL BE DONE. I hit refresh on my computer NO LESS than 10 times yesterday morning, awaiting the news. I KID YOU NOT. You are on my mind and on my heart SO VERY MUCH I think it would blow you away. God has used SO MANY of His people to PRAY for your family & for that sweet, sweet baby Isaac. In my heart today, I feel that maybe the reason WHY all this is happening is because little Isaacs birth mommy NEEDS PRAYERS FOR HEALING. Think about the AMOUNT of people that now know of her need, that are now lifting her up to the Lord and asking for complete healing. Not only for her, but for the other 6 precious children that she is caring for. There are so many unknowns in life… but we can rest assure that God watched over us, protects us, guides us, and loves us. Isaac’s birth mother & children are heavy on my heart right now, as I’m sure she is PLENTY of others. THIS IS SO GOD. He uses US to lift up those in need…

I am praying for you friend, my church is praying, my friends/family are praying… I can’t explain the connection that I have felt with you during this process. SO GOD. I love how He is reconfirming His hand through this amazing journey that you have allowed Him to take you on. I love your heart, I love your spirit, and that sweet baby boy will be in your arms soon, just where he belongs. Hang in there… keep the focus on all things GOOD.. oh, what a amazingly precious day that will be when you are holding that sweet baby in your arms. I am praying for you, friend….

Kim - May 14, 2010 - 9:57 am

I love how you approach your days … eyes wide open in expectant anticipation of God’s hand in the everyday details.
You inspire me.
Covering you and Isaac in prayer from Hong Kong!
Love ya,
Kim

Elle J - May 14, 2010 - 10:38 am

I can picture this perfectly. The girlfriends that can make your side ache with laughter, shutting down restaurants, and spending extra hours in a parking lot are THE BEST GNO’s! 😉 Not to mention the comfort and honesty you share in the difficult times too. God is so awesome!! Love your connections in all different points last night. Hugs to you, Andrea!!!

Gini - May 14, 2010 - 10:44 am

Oh, what a cool night!! Awesome God, indeed. 🙂

natali - May 14, 2010 - 11:16 am

GOD works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He! Praying for you guys & Isaac’s birth mother and family.

Alison - May 14, 2010 - 4:05 pm

What a cool night…I just love it when God just brings so many neat circumstances together that is just undeniable…it’s all HIM!! So precious…praying for your next court date and your sweet baby boy!!

Katie - May 14, 2010 - 4:39 pm

Awesome! Just awesome!!

Crissy Sorenson - May 14, 2010 - 8:55 pm

The Lord did something like that for me a few weeks ago- I had read on someone else’s blog about them ‘happening’ to meet someone from Ethiopia, and I thought surely never in my small town…..so we were in Atlanta in front of our hotel and a man who worked there saw our Ethiopia sticker on our van and asked us about it. I probably scared the man, I scream, “can I hug you?!!?” and gave him a big ol’ hug, and we all talked for a while…he is so excited for us. It is so awesome- I didn’t even ask God for that and He knew one of the little desires of my heart!
BTW- our fam prayed for Isaac’s birth mommy during our family worship tonight…….we’ll keep praying!

Jackie - May 14, 2010 - 9:47 pm

I love to read this! It doesn’t surprise me one bit. I’m telling you it brings back such memories of how God would remind me that he was still in our adoption. It just puts a smile on my face and all I can do is shake my head. Yes, He is in this! Praying for your next court appointment!

Heidi - May 14, 2010 - 11:24 pm

I’m praying for you and your little miracle to be in your arms soon! God’s has the perfect timing and I know you know that:)
I just love your eyes that fully see God wonderful beauty!