Author Archives: admin SOO…not only did I come home to happy kids on Sunday afternoon from Denver–but I also came home to my mom (aka Nana) AND *my* grandmother being here! (I’m not too proud to say this momma LOVES still needing her momma and grandmother is just icing on the cake!) They’re just here until Tuesday afternoon…but […]  Good question. And while it would be convenient and nice to not dig deeper, learn how to parent special needs differently and be willing make changes–the truth of parenting adopted children actually is that most every adopted child will have unique and special needs quite different than children who have NOT been through transition, trauma […] Thank you so much for this and in the morning I am going to watch the videos. We brought home our son (kiddo #4) from ET 10 months ago and he was about 2 1/2 then. We are struggling!! Things were rough, then good, and now rough again. My good friend Eryn was there this weekend and I can’t wait to read your blog posts and pick my friend Eryn’s brain about this weekend. I am hoping to come to the retreat next year!! Thanks for the encouragement!! Andrea, thank you! I hope alot of this will be part of the CFC retreat next year. Love that you 3 got to go! xoxox Esty Wow, I see a lot of my R in the paragraph in which you talk about tantrums. I’ve wondered for a while if R has some sensory integration issues— I would definitely say she does at this point after reading this post. Thank you. AMEN! What a great recap post. I too, feel incredibly empowered to help my baby girl, and truthfully, some great tools for our WHOLE family. I am so excited about these tools and want EVERY adoptive/foster parent I know to have the opportunity to learn from it! GREAT post! It was nice to catch a glimpse of you in person 🙂 Eryn This post is so good! While I knew that I needed to parent Malachi taking into account his early separation from his birth mother It never crossed my mind that Eli may have similar needs due to his week separation from me in the nicu. I just have to say – I LOVE your blog!! I am mom to two precious cuties through domestic open adoption (and am a friend of Kimberly Chalk…I think that is how I found your blog!). I would love to hear more about the group you mentioned. I will definitely check out the links. Blessings, Sounds like she has had contact with the STAR Center Sensory Therapies and Research. They are doing ground breaking Sensory Integration Therapy which reprograms the brain. All adoptive mommas should read the Out of Sync Child because it tells about Sensory Processing & how to change the brain through meeting their sensory needs. They are awesome!!! thank you for this post. i’m going to link to it! Finally have some time to sit down and catch up on your blog…my, I’ve missed a lot! I love this post and I wish I had known much of this before going to get Caleb rather than months after. This is so right though…even at just 9 months when we got him, Caleb is definitely a child in need of much sensory stimulation! I wish everyone knew all of this going in! First of all, this isn’t Andrea. This is Christy. I am Andrea’s non-adoptive friend who is probably completely opposite from Andrea but our friendship works beautifully! I might be the only person who can completely ruin any craft project I try of hers! Not so crafty here…so this post won’t include a craft! 🙂 Andrea […] Sounds incredible. Christy, I would love to chat with you more on ways that you are able to serve those who are called to adopt since I’m in that boat right now too. That Parenting is your Highest Calling book sounds interesting – maybe similiar to the Missional Mom book that I’m reading right now. Have a great rest of your weekend! 🙂 Hi Christy! It was so great to meet you guys this weekend. Thanks so much for sharing an evening with me! We were rocked by Dr. Purvis this weekend as well, and are excited to see this movement among the people of God. Blessings to you! That retreat sounds wonderful! Hope I didn’t miss next year’s date and sign up! Will have to go check the website. 🙂 What a fun crew to travel with!  TODAY is the VERY DAY LAST YEAR that we got that much awaited for phone call for our son! A day I will NEVER forget!!! If you would like to reminisce with me you absolutely must journey with me down memory lane by clicking on the sweet airport run-way call HERE (yes–I was ON an […] I vividly remember you calling me the next morning at 7AM our time to share your amazing news. Isaac is already such an amazing testimony of God’s goodness. I am so thankful that we get to witness the other amazing plans the Lord has for him and your family. Happy Referralversary!!! I remember your listserv posts that day and I could HARDLY WAIT to hear your good news! No, what you actually need to complete your spring break is an airbrush t-shirt that says “Richard and Andrea Forever!” or “Kelly and Andrea BFF!” happy referralversary! i think laney is going to grow up to be a weather girl and parker and frank can be…mermaids???? looks like so much fun! We share the joy of your day! One year ago today we got THE phone call (the call that makes your heart stop for just a second and then beat ten times faster) that a baby boy in PA was to be our son! We got to meet him a few days later and brought him home a few days after that…. such an amazing time. It has been a hard year in many ways but for our sweet son I am grateful! God is so good! Andrea, are you kidding me, girl? NEXT year’s CFC conference? HELLO, I’m there. You 3 gals have a wonderful weekend. I cannot imagine how it’ll be better than CFC was in Feb, but I’ll look forward to hearing how grea it was for y’all. Me?, you ask? What will Esty be doing instead? FLYING TO UGANDA on April 16 to bring home my DAUGHTER. Oh yeah – I said it. :)xoxoox P.S. Anything you want to tell us, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Andrea? Happy Referral day Young Family!!! I feel your pain with having to wait to see the pictures of Isaac, we were about to board a plane when we got the call and had to get all the way to DC and to our hotel before we could open the email! I have never moved more quickly in my life 🙂 Hello Andrea, I started reading your blog recently, and today I went back and read your story you linked on today’s post. I stopped at the line that spoke of how you prayed for your husband to want to adopt as much as you did and your story gave me hope. I felt the calling as a child to adopt, I always said I will have two kids and then adopt a child. I have my two kids and I have a husband who is hesitant. But God is working in his heart and I have learned to be a gentle and quiet wife, constantly praying for God to shape his heart. I see it more and more everyday. I know that God will keep his promises. I enjoyed reading your story and reading your blog. It’s encouraging to find others with a heart as large, genuine, and passionate for our Savior and his children. God Bless your family. -Amanda I remember your blog post of Isaac’s referral!!! OH can it have been a whole year???? WOW!!!! PRAISING GOD!!!!!!!!!! Your kids are adorable. Glad you had fun – looks like they did 🙂 ANdrea, we live around the corner from Fernbank ! Next time ! Paxand hugs ,Marci It’s actually possible to update your blog via your iPhone:). After Monday night’s windstorm in Georgia, Comcast has been out of service for different areas ’round these parts…and we just happen to be one of those it’s out for. Because Comcast provides our Internet, phone and cable, we’ve without all 3 since Monday night! On […] Have a wonderful trip!!! I can’t wait to hear all the fabulous things that you will learn, and your travel buddies – jealous 🙂 Happy referral-iversary!!! Just guessing … because our timelines were kind of similar … is it the anniversary of your referral? :o) Have a great trip! I know, I know! (imagine all the kids raising their hands and about to jum out of their seats!:) your referal anniversary….how far you have come in a year! so you did fernbank….you want to tackle the zoo???? We got a pass and would love to take your crew! That would be 7 kids if we waited for the big ones to get out of school…easy, right? have a great weekend! |
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by admin
Oh Andrea,
I just can NOT get over how amazing he looks. So healthy, so adorable, so secure.
He seems like such a big boy, and such a stronger boy than the one I met 9 months ago.
He’s come SO far! Wow!
Oh.my.goodness!!! Your kiddos are just amazing! I love, love, LOVE the pic of Laney and Isaac! B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L! And the first one with the glasses…..still smiling over that one! Such fun pics! Oh, and girl, you are such a fun momma, bringing home treats for the children and Daddy! Bless your huge heart! Always able to make every day life FUN! I hope to be a fun momma like you (one of these days)!!!! SOOOOO GREAT to see you this last weekend at the conference, my friend!
Love that tummy!
ok, we LOVE HHI!!!! I sang “I want to marry daddy when I grow up” when I got picked as a little girl 🙂 too funny! maybe we’ll see you guys there
Have fun with family!!!! Very exciting 🙂
He is too yummy!!!! Love that shirt- couldn’t say it better 🙂