Category Archives: Adoption Preparation I know it’s a few days EARLY…but I had to go ahead and say it because we’ll be MIA for a few days soaking up time with family! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!! BUT I have a few things I just have to document to never forget that happened today. I am so thankful–and not just because it’s […]  Almost seven years ago, I found out I was going to be a mommy. Being a teacher on top of our exciting news–I wanted to learn everything I could to be prepared. I read the books. I sought advice from experienced mommies. I took all the birthing classes…ALL of them. Over six years later, I […] Sounds like a fabulous resource … I am going to forward your post to my SIL! LOVE this Andrea! We read a lot before-hand, but somehow I never found my way to this book. I’m going to order it today! We have seen so much of this in Caleb and did many of the things that the book seems to recommended…love the idea of the charts though and some of the other things we missed. SO true on the birth age/family age…I’ve said that numerous times without having the exact terminology to put with it.Thanks for always providing such great info! Thank you for sharing about this book — I just ordered it from Amazon after reading your post. My husband and I are working on our homestudy and planning on adopting siblings from Ethiopia. We don’t have children of our own, but I have two nephews ages 10 and 7. (Their family is also adopting from Ethiopia — they are waiting for a little girl.) As we are going through this process I have been thinking a lot about how children will adjust. Last night I had a huge thought — I often tell my nephews that we cannot afford something when they ask for a little “treat” while we are shopping. While they may be disappointed to hear that they understand. Saying that to a child who may have been given up because a parent doesn’t have the resources to care for them could be traumatic. Lots to learn through this process. Thank you for writing your blog and sharing your journey and being a resource for those of use following behind you! Andrea, Andrea, I have not read this book, but I think I will. I have read lots of books and taken bits and pieces from most. Because our daughter was 4 when we brought her home, her grieving looks very different than that of an baby or toddler. I have posted LOTS on this lately as I continue to work through…..is this a 4 year old behavior or an adoption issue??? If you want to check it out, our blog is nieuwstraten.blogspot.com. Your journey will look totally different, but sometimes I enjoy looking at what other parents have gone through. Parenting Grace has absolutely been the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. Two books that I have loved are: ‘Parenting the Hurt Child’ by Peck and Kupecky and ‘The Connected Child’ by Purvis. Thanks for sharing this. I think that parents who are in the process to adopt need to be spending tons of time educating themselves. That’s one thing that I really appreciated about AGCI is that they really helped us to prepare for the unique challenges of bringing home a 4 year old. Blessings on your weekend! I just opened this book about l5 minutes before reading your blog post. Another family highly recommended it. I am waiting on a court date as a single parent of siblings, so I expect to need it a ton. I admit it is gathering dust, but I will GET it read! 😉 Awesome post and awesome resource! We’ll be adding this to our lending library very soon for potential adoptive families to read and check out! Thanks for the heads up. We’ve got tons of books on adoption both domestic and international but not this one. I’d picked it up a dozen times at Barnes and Noble and put it back on the shelf, but I think it’s a must have after reading your post. 🙂 Thanks girl! This post was so very helpful for me to read! I’m definitely getting this book. Our little guy does say a peep when we put him in his crib at night… Heartbreaking… I’m so glad that you posted about this book! We had read about it and heard that it was great but had forgotten the name of it. Now that we’re on the waitlist, I really wanted to remember what book it was and pick it up and start reading. Now I know! 🙂 What a special and sweet day for your family tomorrow. May it be blessed and filled with joy! Thank you so much for sharing this book with us. My husband and I are just entering the adoption process. We live in the country that we will adopt our children from but it will still be a cross cultural adoption. (My husband and I are missionaries in Peru, working with at risk and abandoned children and impoverished families). I would be grateful if you wanted to share any other books that you have foud to be helpful to you as well. Your family is beautiful and I praise God for what He has done. Blessing,  FIRST–I’ve been totally MIA due to retreat craziness!!! We thought we’d have this really fun retreat for 50 mommies…and it’s turned to almost 200…so after a few last minute folks slide in to keep it under 200…we’ll start a waitlist. We want to keep the number lower (although 200 is big!) so we can really […] I totally just DID laugh! :)) I laughed and had a flashback to 6th grade i am in LOVE with your bird. the name is precious! how cool that you turned down the fast and furious movie. i would have trouble turning down fame in any form. lylas, I’ve had a couple of little wild birds. One was found in a parking garage at a mall, with no feathers yet. I thought he would die, but put him on tissues or something in my car so he wouldn’t get squished or die on the concrete. Just in case, we bought formula at the pet store in the mall, and…weeks later, we had a happy, healthy sparrow on our hands. As he got bigger, we took him outside for feedings and free time, and he gradually started to fly a bit. Then would fly off for a while, then he eventually decided he was independent enough to stay out on his own. Same thing with a little robin our family rescued once (and he stuck around that summer to sing & let us know he was ok, after he moved out to the trees). Hope all goes well! Okay, Andrea, your life is officially way more exciting than mine. And you officially have way more integrity than me regarding putting ITY in that movie! That was some great laughs Andrea, thank you for sharing your crazy with us! You absolutely MUST find the Andy Griffith episode where Opie … (well you’ll just have to find that part out for yourself) and he raises the 3 orphaned baby birds, naming them Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. If memory serves, after Opie is pursueded that the birds need to be set free and the deed is done, he says something like, “Paw, that cage seems mighty empty.” and Andy responds with something like, “Yep! But don’t the trees seem mighty full?” BTW,I’m no bird expert but my money is on Princess Tiger being a male. 😉 yes, laughed at lylas…but you HAD to have auditioned for the part, right?? where are you going for these movie auditions..or do you send in a pic?? I want LL in movies…Imean, come on..i could give the $ away to people adopting 🙂 too funny…cute post, kj YES! I sent in a picture—didn’t audition…but I just chickened out when we actually got picked!!! Am I the only one who doesn’t know what “lylas” means? Maybe I’m not from the right generation (I’m 43). Please someone fill me in on the inside joke! LOVE your blog. I stalk your blog regularly, I admit it (I live in Marietta and like to see the places and events that you talk about that I recognize, that’s kinda fun! – not to mention your AMAZING photos)…but I HAD to de-lurk today to ask this question. I realize that you have many, many readers here, not to mention an international presence through Wiphan, etc…but my goodness…what a presence you must have if a casting director was aware of your precious ITY! Perhaps his story is more far-reaching than you knew? (I’m sure there might be a far more boring, mundane explanation…perhaps Frank’s previous acting experience, etc…but I’m choosing to believe otherwise!) What a lovely family you have! I always enjoy your uplifitng words and encouraging spirit! Blessings, Your life is insane Andrea. I love the you somehow fine the time to organize a retreat for 200 women…yet still have the patience in your heart to let your kids love on a baby bird. Truly amazing. I’m feeling inspired…as I always do after I read your blog. 🙂 I’m sad I won’t be able to do the retreat this year but hopefully there will be another one next year and I would LOVE to attend! What an awesome idea .. I tried to make it work:( LYLAS made me smile… and so did this great post!!! I cannot believe there will be 200 women at the retreat, how awesome!!! Now February just get here faster!!!! On my way to my OBGYN tomorrow for a letter requested from AGCI to accompany our application!!! Hope to have it all in to AGCI next week!!!!! AAHHHHH!!!! This is really starting to happen!!!! I am both scared and completely excited!!!! (: So wish I could attend the retreat that I keep hearing so much about. We’ll be probably traveling again in January to bring our daughter home! Amazing the need for such a weekend!!! I’d love to help plan one up around the Ohio area, except that would mean that I wouldn’t get to meet all of you next year! We’ll see when that time rolls around. Praying that all the plans come together as I know God has his hand on this weekend!!!!!! We are back from Fall Break in Borneo and I am obviously way behind the latest news in blog world. I think it is a good thing that I missed the original conference post and that it filled up quickly. Cause I would have been really upset about missing the chance to hang out with you! Ya know … cause I LYLAS and all! We hit 100 today–and we decided to see if we could increase our numbers a bit to allow a few more mommies to join us! For right now–we are opening it up to 150 mommies!!! Currently we have about 110 signed up—so 40 more spots are open! That is wonderful! I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for us! I just put a “link list” up if anyone wants to see who is going or add their name/website. I just registered!!! YAY!!! I cannot wait… just hope to be officially in the AGCI program by then! And hopefully working on our dossier in February!!!! Now to find roomies!!! (: I registered! So excited to meet you and get to know some adoptive Mamas!  Registration is on like Donkey Kong…I kid-you-not…we just put up the registration site–and we already have 35 registered in just a few hours!!! SO…spread the news—share the excitement…adoption mommies are getting together for a weekend in February to be inspired, to be encouraged and to relax and be restored…TOGETHER! Oh yes…we’ve prayed one another through […] quick question…do we pay the full amount to register or just a part of it? :0) I just registered!! YAY!! Cannot wait!!! 🙂 Just registered!!!! Soooo excited! I wish I lived closer, that sounds amazing:) I want to go sooooo bad!!! Trying to work it out 🙂 I can’t wait. It is going to be so much fun. Have you warned the lodge how loud we can be? Amy! Are you going?!?!? I cannot wait to meet you! Can you do a post on how the t-shirts run, if you know any more info on them? Would love to get them and wondering if they are unisex, preshrunk, etc. THanks! 🙂 So I have been reading your blog for months, and one of my other blog friends posted something about the retreat. So I very joking sent a link about it to my sister-in-law saying “In my dream world we would get to go to this retreat together.. would it be wonderful?”. So her and my mother-in-law actually got online and registered us for the retreat…surprise! I cried and was blown away, because I was totally joking! This is a huuuuuge blessing for me, so thanks for all you are doing for the retreat. I am waiting for our baby from Ethiopia and now I get to go on this retreat with the women in my family.. I have never felt so loved in excited, I really needed this blessing this week! THANK YOU THANK YOU! -Kerry I am a mom to 12 children, 10 through adoption. This is my heartbeat and I love to meet others who share in this journey of love. In HIS Grace, Teresa Rima. |
|
by admin
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Andrea, and your sweet family. What a fantastic day! I am thankful for you – for all that you share, for all that you do for others, for your leading example in living life for God and praising Him for all He provides. So Thankful!!! Hugs and Blessings this Thanksgiving!!!!
oh,this made my day..what a sweet post….can’t wait to see yall tomorrow (or today really..i’m up late cookin for ya 🙂 Ok, so i was jealous that you don’t take all the kids to the dr…. I love my doc, but he just sits and stares in shock and laughs cause I have to take ALL 5 kids with me EACH time someone is sick..and yes, they are always licking the walls and always sick the next day…LOL
What a beautiful post – thank you for sharing your heart. I am not a AGCI mommy, but your friendships and muffins make me a bit envious =) – lol.
Ooooooh so amazing! Praising the Lord WITH you! Can’t wait to see all the cute pics of your Thanksgiving! have fun!
I’m so thankful your pediatrician decided to share all of that with you! Praise the Lord for ITY!
Andrea, oh how wonderful! Can you imagine what you life would be like right now if you hadn’t said yes to God? You wouldn’t have that little miracle to watch grow and become an awesome man of God. Thank you so much for sharing…
Wow–what a powerful story…! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Your post was just completely moving, I had to write! I found your website through friends of friends and had to start following you. Your children are all so beautiful and your heart for the Lord is even more beautiful! You uplift me with your posts and bring me to tears at the same time. God knew what he was doing when he picked you, your husband and your family to take care of that miracle baby. Praise His name!
Love this story and am holding the tears back myself!
Melt my heart! So much warm and fuzziness. I PRAY that I handle the transition home as gracefully as you have.
You mentioned in one of your earlier posts that Dr. Penny is your pediatrician. My children both see Dr. Penny as well. Last time we were there for an appointment I told Dr. Penny that I follow your blog. He went on and on about what an incredible family you have…he really cares about your family and Issac Temesgen. We love, love, love Dr. Penny.
Kim Z.
My little 2-yr old has also been wanting to take all his lovies with him out of the crib in the morning (he still has his paci too). Recently I nearly dropped him going down the stairs because there was so much between us: 2 blankies, puppy dog, bear, Elmo, Elmo fireman, and bed water! Your stories of Frank are too cute. I’m so glad my guy can’t open the fridge because who wouldn’t want to drink that open container of whipping cream I have in there.
Happy Thanksgiving – glad you have so much to be thankful for.
Oh how beautiful! What amazing work God is doing through you and your family!!! What a testament of faith you and your family are for the love of our God!
Andrea – We are so lost in this paper chase. We just finished all of our education, and it can be a little scary and overwhelming. I thank the Lord for your miracle baby. What a great reminder. Thank you. Now I need to find the Kleenex.
God IS already using little Isaac to touch the heart of your Dr and his staff!! So precious.
This is a beautiful post, Andrea! Isn’t it awesome to see doctor’s hearts softened?? There have been so many healing miracles in my daughter’s life and I love to smile when the doctors say, “I don’t know how to explain this.” Well I do! Have a beautiful Thanksgiving!
Reading your post this morning…tears…what a great way to start my day…praising the Lord for his miracles!!
Oh my! Now I’m wiping away tears, too! How wonderful! (And that Frank drinking the heavy cream cracks me up!)
Oh lovely! Precious. Happy Thanksgiving to your beautiful family full of miracles!
Precious story! What a little miracle he is! And we have the FP Little People nativity set too…and the kids love it! Can’t wait to get it out this year!
That was just too sweet… tears are now streaming down my face. God is SO good! He surely gives us the strength we need to get through difficult things…”I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 I remind myself of this verse often. =} Thank you for sharing this! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Andrea….your family is amazing! You have taken the leap of faith and God has BLESSED THAT in AMAZING WAYS!!!! He is truly a miracle. I remember after you accepted the referral….knowing this could be really really hard. Knowing that Isaac could have not survived…knowing that God had placed him in YOUR HOME for a reason. It just thrills me to see him change the world already! Just think of what he will do in the future!!! 🙂 YEAH ISAAC!
Andrea, your post made me cry! I’ve spent lots of hours in specialists office with my kids and am always preplexed by how the Lord can use our circumstances (especailly the ones that aren’t fun for us or our kiddos) to His Glory. Thanks for the reminder that there is always someone watching and we can be a witness of God’s sustaining grace in how we handle life’s difficulties. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Sobbing as I read about your day. Thank you for sharing your miracles with us. As a momma who is walking the special needs adoption journey-you are such a huge blessing to me!
how amazing our God is and how wonderful He is showing His love through your family. His mercies never cease! i also have to say frank is a man after my own heart…i love heavy cream!!! jennifer
Such a miraculous little baby boy! SO GLAD for you that God chose this little angel for YOUR family! Very excited that God is uplifting you and breathing energy into you. So thankful to you for blogging your story! Have a blessed Thanksgiving! :o)
Oh WOW! That is a moment to remember! Blessings to you this Thanksgiving Andrea!
Now you’ve got us all crying!
That is the sweetest post ever.
In fact, I brought back a similar experience with our miracle Sam and one of his doctors. I wish I had been blogging back then.
You and your ITY are a blessing to us all!
Happy Thanksgiving from Hong Kong,
Kim
That just blesses my heart. I love when God breaks the “walls” of professionals and we all just become people with love for one another and tears and joy. I had a very cool experience with my Dr. as well, when I was getting a yellow fever shot to prepare me for going to Africa and getting our daughter, and he began to share with me how his son is a total miracle, and God saved his son’s life when he was just a tiny baby born prematurely, and we both just had a precious moment talking about our kids and God and miracles. I left there feeling like I’d had a “devine appt.”.
LOVE THAT STORY! How awesome. Hey, and we also get the Little People Nativity out first each year! My kids love it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow! What an inspiration. I am looking around trying to research Christian women blog sites and what I like and do not like on each…I love yours. It has you as a writer and God has blessed me today with your story and a blog I will always check in onfor more! God bless you and your family!