Author Archives: admin Thought we could use a fun little post and you could maybe use my super easy recipe–it is my current Southern addiction and it must be shared;). Now that the heat is on in the South–out comes the sweet tea. Not everyone loves sweet tea (I can’t imagine!)…but I promise you friends—no one can reject […] This weekend marks exactly 4 months since our 9 month old has been at an orphanage. And I hate to think about him turning 10 months in June…and spending half of his sweet little life in an orphanage as it will be 5 months since he was relinquished. My heart aches—and I just want to […] So hard…Praying for you. i just sit here and my heart hurts for you, andrea. praying for you, sweet friend. praying that GOD will give you a peace and wrap His arms around you and let you know that He is there with you and there with Isaac. 🙁 I’m sorry Andrea. My heart hurts for you. We will continue to pray! I’m hurting with you and praying. this has GOT to be THE MOST difficult wait of all so far… i feel like waiting for a referral is hard, man, this part is going to be worse… praying for the 24th! Hang in there Andrea, he will be SO worth the wait, and this time of wait will soon become a distant memory once you hold him in your arms. Stay busy this week with your sweet little ones.. praying for you and Isaac! I just posted my own “strength will rise” entry and was thinking of you too. It’s amazing how God uses all of our unique and changing circumstances to show us His everlasting and unchanging Truth and love. He doesn’t grow faint and weary like us. May you feel His presence and know Isaac does too. oh sweet friend, i am praying for your heart and know that nauseous feeling all too well. praying for healing for isaac’s mother and praying for little isaac. Praying for strength and peace. This last part of the journey is tough! God is good and keep your eyes focused up…don’t look to the left or the right (what could be….). Our daddy God will carry you through this last part…rest in Him! dear friend – lifting you all up this weekend. For the peace that passes our understanding. For His arms to envelope you as your arms long to hold Isaac. For his birth mom’s health. Love you Praying for you, Andrea. I’m praying for you girl! Keep pressing on! Praying……parents hearts are special things….and it is hard if one is missing. PRAYING he won’t be long!!! I am praying for you and baby Isaac. Right there with you!!!! Praying for you guys. .. my heart aches for your family & esp. aches for you, because I can only imagine how difficult the waiting is, but moreover.. the unknown that you are very much feeling. I know in my heart however, that this is just the Lord showing you that Life around us happens. The unknowns, the unexpected… just when we are trailing down on a flat road, the enemey always tends to throw as many speed bumps our way as he can. But it’s just that my friend, a “speed bump”.. sure, we may slow down a bit but that doesn’t mean that we can’t get on the other side of that bump. And YOU WILL! We serve a MIGHTY God that will always provail. He wants that precious little baby in your arms as much as YOU do. He has shown His face & His hand all through this… don’t lose sight of that. As hard as this is, do not allow the enemy to defeat you.. even for a second. Stand strong & KNOW that God is RIGHT HERE with you, every step of the way. The protecting of your heart is unstandable, but Andrea.. God is growing your heart even MORE so during this time of waiting.. and this time of the unknowns… like you had said before, if He just made this easy it doesn’t testify to how our God moved MOUNTAINS to bring little Isaac home… JUST AS HE WILL. As hard as it is, sometimes we have to let go of the “human clock”, and allow God to work in His timing…His sweet, perfect timing. Isaac’s birth mommy needs prayers for healing.. she is getting them, now.. by who KNOWS how many people..thanks to YOU and YOUR obidence to our Heavenly Father. Just like the way He has used His people, of which some you don’t even know, to lift up your family and your sweet Isaac. He has used YOU and His people to lift up that poor woman who has not only gave up her son for a better life because she felt she had no other choice, but is now fighting a sickness that needs prayers for healing. I know I am repeatedive, but Andrea.. I truly feel this in my heart. Please continue to seek our Heavenly Father for strength.. for peace.. for trust.. for hope.. for contentment.. and anything else that you need, friend. I know you will, and I will br praying for the same things. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you so much with love and comfort that you will wake up tommorow with a new sense of renewal of TRUST and HOPE. It’s so hard for us sometimes, our human hearts can only take so much, but that’s why He is there to carry us through. Everything is going to be okay. God is growing your heart even MORE SO for that precious baby during this time of waiting, as if you thought that couldn’t happen. 🙂 EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. I am praying for you friend.. continue to seek His face so He will strengthen your heart, mind, and spirit. “My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 PRAYING FOR YOU!!!!!!!! ((hugs)) praying that your strength will continue to rise as you wait upon him. actually no, not YOUR strength, but HIS strength in you that i have seen time and time again. may you feel him hold you close and feel him give you the strength you need each day. the strength to long while still living right where you are. …that you can get anti-malaria meds in Africa for $5? …that malaria mosquitos bite at night? …that insecticide treated malaria nets are more effective long term than anti-malaria meds? …that treated malaria nets are just $10? …that you could actually provide anti-malaria meds AND a mosquito net for less than a run through Chick-fil-a? …that […] praying for the healing of those with malaria and for people to rise up and fight with them. praying for those sweet little innocent babes orphaned by it, and for those same little babes who have to fight it alone.  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 […] 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! 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! 🙂 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. so glad the Lord gave you this wonderful evening full of reminders of His love! 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! I love friends!!! So thankful that you had a blessed night, full of laughter and joy!!! I’m so glad that we could all have a fun night together! 🙂 I just watched King Burger…..so funny! I woke up multiply times last night thinking about Isaac’s Bmom…thank you for giving us the chance to love her! 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…. I love how you approach your days … eyes wide open in expectant anticipation of God’s hand in the everyday details. 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!!! Oh, what a cool night!! Awesome God, indeed. 🙂 GOD works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He! Praying for you guys & Isaac’s birth mother and family. 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!! Awesome! Just awesome!! 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! 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! 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:) for He is good. His mercies endure forever. In all circumstances…give Him praise. We did not pass court today. BUT…I know my God is in this. If God is for us—then WHO can be against us? Last night, I prayed throughout the watches of the night. From 1am-2:30am, Addie (one of my very bestfriends) and […] This takes my breath away. How GREAT is our God. I love watching your story unfold. My prayers are with you all, Isaac and his birth mom…along with all those orphaned in this world. Your story is a living testimony. What a journey for you,Andrea. Although we have never met we are linked with our love of Christ and knowledge of His faithfulness. I just started breathing again after what you have shared. Yes, we will pray for Isaac’s birth mother to get up and get the strength needed to help her youngest Isaac. God is powerful,mighty and He can do all things. Keep your faith soaring .we all will be praying. Pax, m Andrea, While you did not pass court, you have reached a level of understanding and praise for your King that goes beyond measure. You are an inspiration. You are a true missionary who has the steady love for God and your faithfulness is awesome. I love learning from you. Praises for our King ~ He is with you and all of Isaac’s birth family. Every step. Thy Will Be Done. Continuing to pray right along with you. Praying. praying, Andrea. Because you did not pass last night, this precious widow, created and made by the hands of God, has hundrends of families in America loving her…praying for her. I know I will probably never meet her this side of eternity….but one day I will. “Oh, you are Isaac’s birthmother!…”I know I will have that meeting one day! Though your hearts may ache that you are not yet packing backs and buying your tickets,Isaac’s bmom has a host of “strangers” interceeding on her behalf. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to love on this precious lady! oh, hurt me…I’m so sad you didn’t pass…but I love your heart and mind on all this…praying for that Momma to be healed…kj Praying for everyone involved with Isaac! Praying big things! He can do it! How awesome is our God!! Of course so sad that you didn’t pass, but your story has shown how much bigger this all is than just bringing one child home. We as adoptive parents get the biggest benefit of adoption. We are the ones rejoicing with each homecoming and cherishing these little blessings that we are given to raise-which is an amazing gift from our father. Let us not forget that the reason these children-HIS gifts-are coming home to us is because things are not as they should be in the world. It is just not right that 6 more children’s fate are at the mercy of a disease that we have the ability to treat. I will pray with you for this mother and her other children and God’s timing for bringing your sweet boy home. Eyes will be open because of this post. It is so much bigger than just our stories. Praying for God to get all of the glory from this situation. Defending the Fatherless Jessica First, just WOW, Ang! It is a beautiful story He is writing and thanks for a much needed reminder. Praying for both of Isaac’s moms. Love you!! So beautiful Andrea. You are SO right!! Does our heart break for the people who are in need of God, in need of healing, in need of restoration!? Our prayers are powerful! I will be praying for your son’s BM that she will be healed! you have such great perspective. sooo powerful! I love hearing how the Lord is working in all this.. absolutely incredible! Praying, dear friend, unceasingly for our little boys and their bio mommies… and all who are left behind… my heart just breaks! I love your heart, andrea. praying for you guys& isaac & for isaac’s birth mother to get well, and for her children. So disappointed for you today but as someone else commented, what a blessing that so many people are now praying for Isaac’s birthmom! Your post was a beautiful example of God’s peace in the wait. Encouraged my heart! Praying you continue to hold onto HIS peace. Praying for your adoption journey! |
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by admin
the tea sounds yummy and i’m so excited about the cookbook and all that it represents.
Yum! Love Sweet Tea and yours sounds awesome ~ but I will have to rename it to Sweet Andrea Tea for my recipe box. =) Can’t wait to see the cookbook too.
Can’t WAIT! =)
oh, you have found another sweet tea lover!! I became addicted when we lived down south, and I am ecstatic to report that our McD here in NY just started carrying their biggie sweet tea! Oh, it makes this momma’s day doable:) I can’t wait to try yours:)
LOVE it! I’ll help you sell these!!
Thanks! I’m a wannabe Southerner. After spending two years of my life in the south, my children will forever be dressed in smocked clothing and my daughter will wear big bows. I’ll make this tea for my small group!
Yes! I too am addicted to Fruit Tea (It’s all I drink when I visit Nashville!) I had not found a good recipe for it, so I am excited you posted this!!