Author Archives: admin Today’s Valentine craft is easy, peasy—and so much fun for all ages! To make your own Valentine Window Mobile, you will just need crayons (pink and red), butter knife, wax paper, iron and scissors. Each child will need two long strips of wax paper (3 feet should be long enough). Give each child a bowl […]  If there is any reason to celebrate life with your kids…I’m in! And February being Valentine’s I can’t help but pull out the fun. So last night we began celebrating the love in our house by making chocolate covered pretzels drizzled in red icing. YUM! We used both big and small pretzels (we used these […] I feel like such a Moses a lot of the time…self doubt creeps in and I forget how God so beautifully uses our weaknesses for His glory. Like Moses I’m so often afraid to speak (or write) because I fear I’m not eloquent enough but He says “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” I pray He will do this for me…that He will equip me and give me the courage to step out for Him. As always…thank you for your words!  African Doughnuts (Recipe included at post’s bottom) Last night, Rico Suave (aka Richard / the hubby) decided Koesisters (African doughnuts) were in order for dessert. YUM! The kids had fun helping, and I had fun eating them;). Making the dough… Waiting 30 minutes for it to rise… Deep fryin’ the doughnuts… I so know this feeling! Some days I am perfectly content in the waiting, but it is becoming more common for me to be struggling in this area. The closer we get, the harder it is (we think we’re at least #9 now for a boy). We got our FDL this week and I am still praying that you get yours in plenty of time! yummy…wish i lived closer to steal a doughnut…:) kj those doughnuts look so YUMMY! Thanks for the adoption update…how exciting that your numbers for a girl and boy are almost equal! Donuts look like fun. Will you post the recipe? thanks so much for the words of encouragement – definitely needed them this week! We are days away (hopefully) from becoming a number and are just waiting for our ridiculously slow home study agency to finish their write up! Those look yummy!!! This part of the wait is so hard – and it is true, the closer you get to the top the harder it seems to get. (So much for encouragement!) So excited to see what little person the Lord has chosen for your family! Praying for you as you wait! Sarah Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog. I so enjoy hearing from others from the agency and on the same journey. I’m so glad that you just got your fingerprint appt. How long did you wait to get it? We are about ready to send in our I600A. Those look delicious! Yay for your new numbers!! Thankful for Job’s restoration and His promise to us! woohoo ! Life is moving closer to Africa….God is helping you move closer to your sweet baby…do not get discouraged. Have patience that comes from the Holy Spirit…keep your JOY flowing…we are waititng to hear the GOOD NEWS…and we are confident that God’s time will be PERFECT. I am off to a Bible Study to have a heap of women praying for your baby’s adoption in Ethiopia. Thanks for posting. Can’t wait to try out the African doughnuts. Are you guys part of the Adopt Ethiopia GA group? If so hope to finally meet in person this weekend!  Some one asked me the other day how in the world I make time for my crafts. I just laughed—but the truth is…we all make time for SOMETHING in our day…and crafts are just my thing. My name is Andrea Young, and I confess—I get high on crafts. Always have…probably always will:). (How’s this for […] LOVE the magnet board:) I am SO glad I found your blog so I can steal all your GREAT craft ideas:) Trying to behold what God is saying – who He really is- and who we are in conjunction with that….is an idea that no matter how long I have been a Christian, no matter how long I pray, no matter how much I read the Scriptures……I am still in AWE. I don’t think that will ever change. What a huge reminder of that. Another adorable craft! Love it and your cutie helper. ohhh…i LOVE it! great idea! Hahaha…okay I had a few laughs with the “My name is Andrea Young…and I get high off crafts.” and “My intentions are often good but my brain is often bad…” I can totally relate!!! I really enjoyed the reading this morning. One thing I wanted to share from my study Bible, is that in the notes it says, “The significant thing about these questions (the ones God was asking Job) is that Job cannot answer a single one! God was driving home the point that Job must let God be God, the sovereign and omnipotent Creator who answers to no one.” We need to let God be God. Because He just is. Chapter 38-39: Woah! The Almighty is speaking now…and with POWER! “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.” (38:2-3) That makes me shiver. And who said sarcasm was bad? “But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!” (38:21) LOL…now I know where my sense of humor came from. God used these questions to show Job how little he knew about the universe, about creation, and about God. If Job couldn’t answer those questions, then how could he question God? We need to remember that our God is infinite, all-powerful, and has all authority. Our job is to trust him. And while we are waiting, we need to praise him. Chapter 40: Job responds to the Lord that he is nothing. He has no answers. He has said too much. Foot-in-mouth…we’ve all done that before, haven’t we? God doesn’t give Job an explanation to his suffering. He reminds him of his sovereignty. He reminds him of His power and majesty. It is only through God, that we can be saved. It’s good to be reminded of God’s power and authority. Not just so that we fear him (although that is important). It reminds me of how capable He is. That seems like such a pathetic word in comparison to our God, but let me explain. Again, this is in relation to our adoption to me, but it can be related to many aspects of life. But specifically, this adoption process keeps reminding me who is in control. Although sometimes I am frustrated with losing any sense of control, I’m finding it comforting that it IS in God’s hands. This is too big for me to handle! It’s too big of a responsibility. Could you imagine if it was up to ME which child out there was to be my daughter!?! What if I chose the wrong one? Or the right child at the wrong time? I’m comforted to know that God has the perfect child chosen for our family, and that I don’t have to worry about it! Everything that happens (and yes, even the timing) is in God’s hands, and I know that He won’t give me more than I can handle! That sounds too generic…too cliché. But I can’t even describe this revelation I had while reading today’s scripture! God is capable of making that decision for our family because He already knows the outcome! He knows every little thing that’s going to happen! I can’t even put it into words. He’s AMAZING, let’s leave it at that! Let’s praise HIM while we are waiting!  Remember when I went to the furniture auction a few weeks ago? Ok…so if you don’t–we were stir crazy at my house with NOTHING to do…so we drove by a furniture auction. Richard circled the warehouse while I ran inside, got a number, won 6 dining room chairs ($30 each!) and this for 50 BUCKS! […] Love the furniture piece. Great deal! Boo Richard…Yea Andrea! (Just kidding) i think its a beautiful furniture piece and what a great deal! Oh my goodness I love that piece! I bet you made it beautiful! I love doing that as well… so much. I wish I had more time for it now. I am not allowed to bring another piece of furniture into his house. There is no room! lol! I guess my next project will be the kitchen cabinets. 🙂 I peeked ahead a few chapters a couple of days ago and saw the heading The Lord Speaks and I’ve been anticipating it ever since:)!!! Love the furniture! I admire you so much Andrea for not having the TV on in your house. We are far from that at our house, so I would love to pick your brain about how to keep a 3 year old entertained without the TV running. Love the dresser! We just painted a piece of furniture in our house a light blue. So pretty! Hey girl its Mitzi Aylor from the bookout forum. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I read here as much as I can!!! I have been sharing your love with some of my other friends that are in the process of adoption…the encouragement is a blessing. Anyway wanted to share with you another blog that I look at…I thought of it when I saw your auction piece. Love you Mitzi |
|
by admin
Cute Andrea! All 3 of mine have bad colds right now, so I needed a few activity ideas to get us through their sickness and these cold rainy days. I am going to do this and your pretzels today 🙂
That would be a hard step to take! To talk to the pharaoh & tell him to let God’s people go! God told Moses that He would harden pharaoh’s heart. He said that the Egyptians would know who God was. He was going to keep on until they knew Him. How long does it take for God to get through to us? I want to listen the FIRST time He speaks to me. Of course that’s not always the case, but I strive to hear God’s voice. It’s hard & I often fail. This Bible study has been a real help. Being in God’s Word allows you to be more sensitive to hear His voice. We just have to keep reading & encouraging one another.
I just finished your Valentine Fortune Cookies. They turned out great!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!