The Young Family Farm »

Wednesday.

It marks 2 weeks home.

Wow. These last 2 weeks have flown by–and also they have stood still. The pictures I’ve shared (like slip-and-slide and such)…are true pictures of what our days with our little man have been like. I’ve read all the books…heard all the stories–and even experienced many of the stories in the past. We were expecting things to be difficult or hard or even to have to tip toe as we did 3 years ago the last time we do–but everything has been so…smooth.

Every transition and change is so different. So if you are in the middle of a very difficult transition–you can NOT compare. Although our new one is transitioning miraculously–it isn’t easy for all the children…and if there is one struggling…it can make all the dough in your cookies not stick together. And there you are on your knees…with God’s sweet grace of a beautiful transition for one…yet crying out for another who isn’t so sure of their new or lost place in the sibling line up. Transition–no matter how or where…always takes some figuring out for everyone.

God knew this. He knew how much this mom could handle. He has, indeed, already given me MORE than I can handle so I need and rely completely on Him.

My newest little bird may not always be easy. But right now–we are experiencing sweet grace…sweet joy and lots of laughter, snuggles and kisses from him…and he isn’t sharing those with anyone else but us right now showing that he really is connecting with us as momma and “baba”…and this–this isn’t what I expected…but it is so, so good.

This momma is so tired as I have a little kangaroo on my pouch going every where I go–and there are lots of heart to hearts with others through our growing and changing…and each day is smoother. In the middle of a serious conversation–I have a little baby kangaroo with his arm wrapped all the way around my neck–that twists and plays sweetly with my hair…and I don’t know any other way to say it–but I just feel God’s grace right now in many different things going on at once. When you have a new one home and 4 other children already settled in with places they must be at different times–“cocooning” and deeply connecting just staying at home is really hard. The Lord knew this…He knew what our little would need…what our other 4 would need…what momma could give…and we have just enough. I may be completely wiped out at the end of the day–but there is enough from Him each day…and that is all we need. In the midst of crazy–my little kangaroo is on my hip…playing with my hair–grabbing my cheeks for a kiss–or crazily diving in their fun and rolling with it. I’d be in big trouble if I looked into others lives and compared what they can or can’t do–but instead…I just have to look up to Him–and look back at my sweet children–and do the best I can as a mommy trusting in His provision. We have had plenty…and my heart overflows.

At night our sweet loves sleeps for a bit beside my side of the bed in a pack-and-play. I lay with him while he goes to sleep and then I put him down while he is still a bit awake and pat his back. Then he snoozes for several hours–and he either stays there until 8ish in the morning OR he pipes up and reaches for me in the middle of the night and he goes right back to sleep until 8ish beside me. The children all come in my room about that time and I whisper for them to be quiet, and they do a pretty good job letting him wake on his own and allowing mommy to stay by his side so he isn’t alone when he wakes. And from there…our day is pretty on the go and crazy. He is napping well each afternoon (usually from 1-3:30) and he is a GREAT eater! He will try anything and waves his hands back and forth to tell you no when he is done. He doesn’t speak any English yet–mama is his only English word…but that’s really a Chinese word too–but I count it as both so he does get credit for speaking 1 English word:).

We go back to the neurologist on Monday–and back to our pediatrician on Tuesday. He follows directions great in Chinese–and can go up and down the stairs sitting on his bottom. He loves to take showers…or baths…or slip-and-slide–and he loves the pool (anything water related!). He wanted to try to the zip line tonight because all the children were doing it–he just points and grunts…so we held him on tight and walked him down and he wanted to do that over and over–he is a brave little boy with an adventurous spirit! I love how he sucks his pointer finger to go to sleep at nap and night time–and I love how he raises his eyebrows and looks at me while I feel him his bottle. Just a few things I have to jot down and never want to forget:)

Please pray for another one of ours who is discovering a new roll in being a big brother:) One day at a time!!! Love all my little chicks so much…and just want to be a good mommy to each of them and make them feel so loved!

Off to crash…as you never know what the night holds:)

Blessings!

Tonight bed time took what seemed like forever.

It’s been 3 weeks tomorrow since we first met our new one. That first night–bed time took 2 minutes. It was like a drill–please no singing…please no rocking…just put me right down–and let me sleep.

For some parents…you might think this sounds like a dream. Yes–easy. And for my littles who have been with us for a long time–this is some times what night time can look like.

But in just 3 weeks–it now takes an hour. Someone has learned that being rocked is pretty sweet…that you can cry and someone runs to pick you up…that you can make noises and someone is there to hover and smile…what it feels like to just rest under your momma’s chin–with your head resting on her chest…when you grab your toes she touches them too…you look to smile–and she smiles back…and this–this is worth stretching out that bedtime. Connecting. Being heard. Learning that we are made with a voice…and voice matters…and a momma is there to be the first to hear it–and teach you that it matters…a lot.

I breathed his breath. So close it was warm–and I thought how sweet this is. This I have longed for and dreamed of. And hear now…so close–connecting as mother and son. This time is so precious and sweet. We don’t speak the same language…but we are starting to understand one another…each day sweeter–and longer night time routines…have become a treasure.

Right now, I have very little time for myself…none for phone calls…or even much time to just unwind. Thankful that His strength is sufficient for me. Each child has greater needs during change–and I’m choosing to turn to Him and bring them with me to Him in the morning…and afternoon…and night. Reading time out of Jesus Storybook Bible…talking about it together…and realizing the more we have around us–the more sweet ones to care for–instead of filling the calendars for each…our focus instead needs to be on going deeper. Lot of dying to self for each of us right now—and so thankful and in amazed at the work the Lord is doing in the hearts of all my children. Such beautiful children…so blessed to be their momma.

Some times during change–the enemy would whisper that you are missing out on a lot…but in reality–you have more than any momma could ever want–and you just need to keep your eyes on Him and allow His love to be poured into YOU…so you may turn around and pour that same love right back into their hearts and lives. One day at a time as tomorrow has enough of it’s own…and it’s the sweetest thing to know that He has everything…while He’s making you a mountain that cannot be moved.

Blessings this night…and may He fill you with strength and a desire to sit before Him in the week ahead…

Andrea

Today–Richard and I celebrate 10 years! We were married in Alexander City, Alabama on June 21, 2003…

10 years {happy 10 year anniversary to my love!}

So much has happened in these 10 years. 5 children…that’s averaging a child every other year:). Parker was born August 2004…just 14 months after our wedding day–so needless to say we wasted no time in starting a family. We dreamed together of having 2 children–Richard playing golf on Saturdays–me teaching–and lots of traveling as a family. All of our dreams have slowly changed–the traveling we have been doing lately is to grow our family:). I would have never imagined our family of 7…5 beautiful children–and more JOY and love than we could have ever hoped for. There is no golf on Saturdays…because with 5 kids 8 and under–sacrifices are made–but as much as I encourage this man I love to go do leisure things he used to love–he says there is no place he would rather be on Saturdays than with us and helping me…giving me a break and time to rest. It’s no surprise with a heart like that–that we are in love more 10 years later. So thankful for his servant heart and how hard he works for our family.

My best friend Kelly is coming over tonight to babysit so we can go to dinner and celebrate together these 10 years. Going to put our little new one down for the night and slip away to celebrate. Thankful that we can at least go grab dinner–and dream together over dessert what the next 10 years might hold for us!

And just to make YOU laugh. Right after that LAST picture was taken (the “Just Married” one on a golf cart)–yes a golf cart because I married Mr.Frugal–and this was a free get away ride;)…the driver of the golf cart (aka RICO SUAVE) ran right over my dress pulling his new bride OUT of the golf cart–and leaving golf cart tire skid marks all over the dress. THIS is how we started our wedding bliss…and although mistakes happen–we chose to always follow it with lots of laughter. AND this memory still brings us much laughter…with the ONLY regret that our videographer didn’t capture it…because we are certain it would have won us a great vacation from America’s Funniest Home Videos:) Hoping you all are just as blessed with crazy, fun, sweet memories with the one He made for you. Never give up–when it’s hard…just hold one another’s hand tighter–pray together and never go to bed angry…and if you do…quickly forgive over coffee in the morning and work through it with open hearts. Put one another first and tell each other what you love about each other as often as you can. Marriage is always worth fighting for…and so thankful to have my Rich to run it with.

Blessings!

xoxo!

Andrea

We are forever grateful for your love, encouragement and support
along this journey as we grow our family.

“For this child I have prayed…” 1 Samuel 1:27

Ezekial WeiMao Young

Born in Chengdu, China ~ May 10, 2011

In Our Arms and Family ~ June 3, 2013

Over the last 8 1/2 months, we have seen the Lord move mountains over and over to bring our son home to us quickly. We were told in the beginning it might be closer to Thanksgiving when he would be home–but mountains were moved time and time again–and here we have all summer to play, connect and just be together. I can’t explain the beautiful, sweet connection we have–but it is God’s grace and truly amazing. I will never forget when we were in Guangzhou at a restaurant–sitting there and our sweet Chinese waitress came over to our table–clapped her hands and picked up our son from his high chair. And I felt it. It was as if someone had just picked up my heart…and I thought, “I remember this–and I’ve felt it before…and it’s excruciating! Please put him back!” Immediately I remembered where I first felt this. It was in the recovery room after having Parker almost 9 years ago–and as the nurse picked him up–I felt my heart being pulled across the room and I held my breath. Something you can’t explain–but something so natural you aren’t prepared for it the first time it happens. But it feels like your very heart is being picked up–and you can’t really rest until that sweet new love is back in your arms. This isn’t how everyone feels as a new mom–but for me it was. And it took me back in that restaurant in Guangzhou.

I sat there–wondering…the same thing I did 9 years ago in that recovery bed…NOW what do I do?? Do I risk offending the nurse OR do I just do what I need to do?? I looked over and my sweet boy in the waitresses arms was bending over at the hip–and already knowing his body language I knew he wanted back…do I risk offending the waitress or do I just do what I need to do?? THIS is the question you will ask yourself OVER and OVER and OVER again as a mom. And by now–I knew the answer. “Xie. Xie. I need him back please.” She immediately handed him back–and she might have walked away thinking I was edgy–but one of the greatest things I have learned as a mom is we must parent our little loves from the moment they enter our world making decisions for what is best for them rather than to please others. We have to tune out the world–and tune in to our children…

So when we are the store or a restaurant…and they start throwing a fit–INSTEAD of reacting in a way to make it stop or in a way to make us look like a good mommy…we need to just tune in to what is really happening in the moment. The fit, the tears, the hard–it will always stop as we hear them and they feel heard. And instead of walls built up–connections will be made. And maybe it took five little sweet ones to finally get me where I hear better. But I will tell you this–I’m listening…and our connections are so sweet. It by no means is EASY–but it is truly so much easier and joyful and even sacred as I slow down to just be…to listen…to connect…and not worry about how crazy we might look to the world around us.

How thankful I am to have the support and love of so many friends and family…for a Sunday school that is bringing meals to us every other night so we can just huddle in as a family and be together–so when things like our air conditioner break just the week after getting home…it doesn’t seem like such of a big deal as other things are already being taken care of. We truly are so blessed. And I wish you could be a fly on our wall to see the dancing, the karaoke, my sweet boy’s EYES light UP…with simple things–like the first time he saw an umbrella open yesterday! I’m getting to see so much through his eyes right now–and it is a pure JOY. I feel so blessed that the Lord would bless us with 5 beautiful children. So thankful for all He has done…and seeing His faithfulness and His goodness over us right now–makes me want to continue to open my hands and walk wherever, however, whichever way He wants us to.

Thank you for praying for us and being there for us!

Blessings!

Andrea