A few days ago, I felt worn out. Okay–even yesterday I still felt that way. I had been “holding it together” for awhile and even the added craziness to our lives I had chosen to be excited about…the therapies and helping our little man achieve new goals. Then, one thing followed another…fevers, ER visits, UTIs, […]
The Young Family Farm »
Category Archives: Day in the Life A quick update on Mr.Isaac’s pulmonology appointment today: It was actually a really great doctor visit considering some we’ve been through! We took some more not-so-fun xrays (poor guy hates those!) and the doctor has given us a great treatment plan for asthma. We’ve got different inhalers for different occasions…daily use, emergency use, etc. It […] […] healing…and each of us matter deeply to Him (remember the little bird outside OfficeMax?) OR do you remember the bird that was waiting for us out side the pulmonologist that day…when I wa……and the song he sang??? I felt God just reminding me that HE would be my strength in this […]  I think these things are the next best thing to sliced bread…maybe better. Don’t you hate those sticky measuring cups for laundry? Me too. And then powder can be messy. I just had to share my new favorite thing. You toss the little thing in the wash…then it goes with your clothes from the wash […] TOO FUNNY about the neck!!! he’s a cute little rolly poly though! i was wondering how those worked! love the pics! always do! Do you know if you can use those things in an HE washer and dryer? I find that limits me in the detergent area if ya know what I mean. 🙂 Also, I figured they would be overpriced so I didn’t even look at them. 😉 Just a warning on the nerf guns. Our windows look similar to yours. I did find one of those in our ceiling fan light fixture – MELTED. It becomes a gross gooey mess of nerf bullet if the light is on and gets hot enough. Seems like a fire hazard but I have yet to see a news story on a house that burned down from a nerf bullet. Just a little FYI… The McAndrews  Don’t you just LOVE long weekends with your hubby home an EXTRA day?! Oh, I sure do! And we had NO plans–which has made it EVEN BETTER! This weekend…we are just kickin’ it in the Young house. And you know when we kick it–I have my camera in hand. And I even managed to make […] andrea, i really feel compelled to help with “operation silent night”. i’m currently not able to give anything towards it, but i was wondering if i could share about it on my blog? i wasn’t going to ask you this, but then i kept seeing you on fb and then came your p.p.s. on this post, and i knew He was telling me to ask you. so can i please share? needed to read this … your story about Laney and the flowers … about your flower blooming game … hit home. Thank you for opening my eyes … reminders. ooooooh! I LOVE Laney’s bathing suit! Where did you get it? Have a great rest of your weekend! WOW. The photos and your story telling get better and better. Beautiful photos!!!! Beautiful family as well. Hi – I follow your blog and would like to donate toward your “Its a Girl Thing”. I’m starting school this week and not sure I would have time to sew, but I can buy panties and send them. Please email me, and I can get them to you! I always revel in your posts – you have such a beautiful family!!! We just got matched and are waiting to see our beauty in November! Ok I could not be more in love with those pictures of you and sweet Isaac! LOVE them! 🙂 plus they are all just beautiful pictures!  We are home…and ALL FOUR little ones are napping AT THE SAME TIME! I’m working on a Wiphan video to share SOON…and I also have MORE helpful pointers and details on the “It’s a Girl Thing: Pad Party Project”. SO…that comes tomorrow:). Sorry for the delay. Babies come first at our house…so now that all […] When those questions arise imagine how wonderful it would be to share this answer with each person. I love this post…love it. There is so much that goes into an adoption, more than a pregnancy even…and people just don’t know and I want them to know. As always, you’ve said it better than I ever could. Amazing post. … and my son just walked by and said, “Hello Cutie” to Isaac’s photo in your post. =) Beautifully written. So clear. I can feel your energy and love for all of your children. We are currently living with my parents because CA state law requires a 3rd bedroom, since we already have 2 little girls. We haven’t been here even a month yet, and I’m going so stir crazy – BECAUSE while we are waiting for the right home, our adoption is on hold, since our homestudy has to be done in OUR home. Your last paragraph really spoke to me. It will all be worth it, and I will understand it all one day when I’m holding our precious child in my arms. A child that God planned for us before time, just like he planned our girls for us. So glad Isaac is going to be feeling so much better! Thanks for sharing that. I thought of little Isaac as I was doing our adoption education course about medical issues in adoption and it mentioned ear infections as a common problem adopted babes have. your posts always seem to be just what i need to hear! tonight we have our final walk-thru with the social worker for our home study, and we just launched our first fundraiser. in the last few days i have really felt the weight of the mountain before us…so sweet to be reminded of the amazing miracle waiting on the other side! Okay. Tears . . . lots of tears! This is beautifully written. Thank you, Andrea, for putting into words what so many of us adoptive moms feel. I’m so glad things went well with Isaac today, and I hope he finally feels completely healthy soon! I am so glad Isaac T. is doing well and it went so smoothly. I am praying that much relieve is ahead of him and for you. I could not contain the tears as I read how much you loves Isaac T. and how much you have longed for him. It is beautiful! There is so much the world does not know about adoption. Wow! What a blessing we have to really experience it and get a glimpse of Christ’s love for us. Love this! Can’t wait to experience it along side of you. (: I was overwhelmed and moved by today’s post. I sobbed through everything after the clerk encounter. It connected straight to my heart when you spoke of the ache you felt for Isaac before you even knew him or saw his face. I struggle with this feeling, because I don’t understand it. Oh how I long for my little one….the feelings are so fresh today! These are feelings that even my closest friends don’t understand, because they have not been through it. And so often I feel so alone because of that. But then there is this whole world of people I’ve connected with through blogs and emails. If only we could transport ourselves to the same spot once a month so we could all hug and cry it out! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your heart, Andrea. Don’t stop writing, because what you write is SO worth it. it took us an entire year to complete our paperwork due to crazy setbacks and we have been waiting for a referral for almost six months. the most difficult and unexpected part has been the maternal feelings i have for our children in ethiopia. we are not adopting an infants so i know they are there probably waiting too. this breaks my heart for them because like you said, i already love them. thankfully i know the One who knows all things and can trust in Him. i have been incredibly encouraged by your journey. You bring such precious tears to my eyes. We are adopting and are only one month into the waiting phase. Your words are precious to me. So real. So beautiful. You have described my very own heart. I am so in love with our son (and possibly siblings!), and I have not even met him/them yet! I so wish those outside of adoption understood tall that you have said so eloquently. I pray Isaac continues to heal, and that this whole experience helped to bury deep the love and trust between the two of you! So glad things went well…..what a beautifully written post! AMEN!!! Wish we could all walk around with a little video about how we waited, cried- tears of joy and sorrow and fret, and all that went on in our heads and hearts along the way. That would be powerful!!!!!!!! Such great news and what a great story you have to share, praying for your family BEAUTIFUL!!!! We are in the paper chase and today was one of those days for us. God knew that your words would comfort someone else today, so thank you. I have been feeling very discouraged lately about my longing to adopt (that it just may never happen)… I really needed to hear this tonight! As always, thanks for being so real! Love, Bobi Such sweet moments with Isaac and I’m so glad everything went so smooth. Thank for this post! You ALWAYS seem to speak right to my heart. I am so desperately wanting to be finished with the paperwork and homestudy and be on the list but I know there is much to be learned in the process. But my heart aches and I wonder about him and we talk about him everyday and pray for him each night. I thought being pregnant felt long! This is truly a lesson in patience! So thankful for the gift of words the Lord has blessed you with…you bless so many others with your writing and encouragement! P.S. You look beautiful at 6:30 in the morning!! I love this post. It is so true that the people with all the outside questions, they haven’t seen our journey and our adoration for our child, nor have they felt the calling from God the way we did. What a very gracious response you had to this woman!! Oh I LOVE this post, and I love your heart Andrea! I hope I have the patience one day that you do with ignorant questions. Thanks for the encouragement today….I’m definately feeling…exhausted? in this wait. Love this post Andrea! I really wish everyone could read these words and understand waht adoption is all about! I’m so glad everything went well – and I love your words about adoption! I cant wait to meet him tonight 🙂 Lots of friends in common have referred me to your blog and I’m so thankful. We, too, are adopting from Ethiopia and I get so much encouragement from reading about you and your beautiful family. Thanks for sharing! |
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by admin
I kept reading to the end (smiles) and I am so very honored to know you and walk beside you. I am learning by you, and I don’t have similar situations in my life right now … but I see you. Praising God for answered prayers of a renewed heart, Andrea. =)
You all have been in my prayers today! Love you and your heart!
I am a friend of April’s and have followed your blog. I have been so touched by your family and your story – as it continues to unfold. Thank you for offering so many people the gift of perspective, the story of kindness and grace, and the realization that all of us can make an impact on others through our faith.
Thank you for sharing the ups, downs and joy that your days bring.
Lauren Koontz
Love it! Love you and praying for strength to pour over your family!!! Praise God for little Isaac!!!
AMEN! Sometimes the world creeps in stealing our joys. Sometimes things go wrong…or seem impossible- HOLD ONTO FAITH & HOPE!!!! God is still moving those mountains!
Thank you for your amazing, beautiful, and faith filled honesty!
Thank you for accepting help…God calls all of us to the orphan, for some that is adopting, for some that is feeding the bodies of the new family, for some that is feeding the souls of the new family with prayer…you will bring glory and honor to God by letting these people serve you!
One day at time and remember those beautiful words from Phillipians…I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS WHO STRENGTHENS ME!
I have SO lived these feelings, Andrea…and my heart is burdended for you. It is hard, hard, hard when the Lord brings situations to us that are not what the world sees as “typical” but HE is truly most glorified in these times. I am praying for your weary soul, for sweet Isaac, and rejoicing that God gave you some bright spots today! Love to you!
go look at my post and look at LL one year ago and one of my girls are using their feet to hold her up so she doesn’t fall over…she was supposedly 10 months old…but my dr. says now that he thinks she was 15 months old and couldn’t even sit up…look how far she’s come and we didn’t even know to worry about it…he just says now that he’s always thought she was older…so…he’ll be driving you crazy and running around yourhouse destrying it in ONE YEAR toO 🙂 kj
I just love you, Andrea! The end.
“Their running is not my goal here—instead it is to teach them to run to Him with the feet of their hearts”…my own heart ran to god when i read this. i may have never read a more beautiful sentence in my life. what a beautiful sentiment of what we really want as parents. not that we will for one second stop believing that this boy will run like forrest and it will be all over this blog. but that in all things, we will trust in god’s goodness no matter the outcome.
“Maybe he isn’t at a stopping place–just a resting place…where I also now find myself”… YES. not stopping. not giving up. not giving in. just resting. resting in His goodness and love. wetting the couch with your tears. shamelessly letting others serve you. and turning to god’s word for your strength (you are a champion to me in this).
I am a friend of Kristin Burleigh (adopted Markos through AGCI) and am mom to three girls, one adopted, two biological (4, 3 and 1). We live in Seattle, WA. I have been following your blog for quite some time and gain so much strength from your posts. You are so honest and it is truly a gift to me. Thank you! As you share, you are helping prepare my heart for the future. We are not sure what is in store for us as we consider growing our family through another adoption, but I know I will go forward, very prepared. Thank you for sharing your soul and your family. It is not a coincidence that I read your blog daily.
Peace-
Anne
i think lots of us momma’s find it easy to compare our stories to other momma’s stories and find our own lacking, especially when things get tough. i’ve just also been reminded that my value doesn’t come from anything but HIM alone. i am his creation i was born in God’s thought. i delight his heart because he made me, knit me together for his perfect plan. he made you too and what a beautiful life he has woven together for you! blessings & strenght to you! olivia
Another beautiful reflection of the Lord’s work in your life and your obedience to Him. I feel blessed that somehow I didn’t see this post last night. What a great way to start my day!! I got up extra early to prepare for a long day at the hospital for more tests for BA. Yes, the endless appts are part of the journey God has chosen for each of us, but it is indeed a privileged calling to raise a child who requires more care than his/her peers. As you beautifully stated, we mommies are SO blessed with the fruits of our labor and we learn a LOT of patience in the process! Hang in there with the PT… they get stuck and resist and everyone gets frustrated, and then their development spikes and you’re working towards the next goal! Keep persevering my friend… Can’t wait for a playdate! Thanks for blessing me with your heart this morning!
sweet andrea…the Lord has blessed you with such a beautiful heart. your honesty thru these struggles will help so many other mommies and families. i pray the Lord will continue to strengthen you and show you His purpose and grace thru all these hard days. i can picture little isaac running down the soccer field and the tears streaming down your face…what a day that will be!
Thank you for sharing your heart Andrea! My baby brother has lots of special needs, including CP and neurological issues. Doctors said he would never sit up. With prayer and joy, my mom had him sitting up by the time he was 3, and WALKING by the time he was 9. He defied every “hope” his therapists ever had for him! To God be all the glory!!!
Sweet friend – thank you for the beautiful reminder to keep Him as my focus – definitely needed that today. You are in our prayers, for strength for today, for healing and rest for Isaac, and for His joy to permeate your day – You all are going to soar like eagles!!! (again – my favorite verse:). Also – I must thank you again for your sees cd that you send months ago – Hannah and I have been listening to it every morning – starting our day in the Word:)
Very encouraging, Andrea!
Yes! I read all the way to the end.
I’ve walked through these very same difficult days.
And the lessons from learning to trust in His promises vs. the doubts of dozens of specialists and therapist are invaluable.
Equally valuable was learning to accept help from others and realizing that what I feared was burdensome was an opportunity for others to participate in the miracle God was doing in our family!
Wishing HK was just around the corner so I could lend a hand!
Love & Blessings,
Kim
Wow, this is so powerful! Your perspective is so insightful and you my friend get the big picture!! I am so proud on you and continually encouraged myself. xoxo-Rachel
I, too, read to the very end. Not sure how I found your blog although I have two children adopted from South Korea so adoption was probably the cause, but this is the first time I’ve commented. I just wanted to say this post was so encouraging and such a good reminder that our trust and faith is in God alone.
This is a song I take comfort in. I wanted to share it with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUyR4-2g68M
Your post is beautifully honest! My husband and I have begun the adoption roller coaster, and therefore we searched for blogs in reference to Ethiopian adoptions…God most certainly put your blog in our “path”! I am so thankful to read your blog as your honesty, love for Christ, and love for your children are wonderfully expressed. Thank you for sharing your heart with us blog readers! 🙂
Thank you for being so honest and sharing your true heart. So often we want to be an encouragement to others but not at the risk of revealing our “weak moments”. Your honesty is encouragement! Wish I lived near you…. I love to hear your heart. And by the way, your little man is adorable.
Thank you, Andrea, for pointing me again to put my trust and faith in God alone. It’s so easy to get distracted by worries and fears and I’m so guilty of putting this adoption process in the Lord’s hands and then taking it right back again. I needed to be reminded to trust my faithful God, knowing He sees the total picture! I’m praying for you and for sweet little Isaac. I can’t wait to see God unfold the good plans He has for that precious little boy!
Just wanted to let you know my son has hypotonia with NO underlying cause. We also had to see a neurologist and all of that just to be sure, but there is no reason. He started walking at age 2. He is now 4 1/2 and his motor skills are about a year behind his peers. He struggles especially with fine motor. Most importantly though….it doesn’t stop him from being a normal, active, crazy 4 year old! It can be hard at times with all the therapy and the frustration…..I just try to remember that Our Father made him just perfect in his eyes. Isaac will be just fine. Thanks for your awesome, funny, inspiring posts. I love them….