The Young Family Farm »

Masthead header

Praying for Ethiopia…

Parker had his FIRST baseball game of the season–but I can’t blog about it tonight. (Although he did AMAZING!)

Frank–oh you should SEE the picture of Frankie Baby helping his daddy coach this morning…they’ll melt you! But can’t blog that either.

Laney…she and I went shoppin’ today–found a table and chair set for just $25 in an antique store for their new clubhouse that I want to show you guys…but it’ll have to wait.

And Isaac–a HIT at the park today…pictures of that to come too. BUT as I watched him WALK…WALK (something we were unsure with his hypotonia WHEN or IF he’d do)…all I could do was think about the hundreds upon thousands (even millions) of orphans in Ethiopia…who will be effected by the new policy in Ethiopia.

I’ve heard some say they don’t like how the petition is worded. I’ve heard others say it might not even help. But the bottom line is–that this petition just MIGHT be the ONLY thing you and I can do to play a VERY, TEENY part in letting the MOWA and Ethiopian government know how many thousands of people here in America love them…and love their children. We are moms and dads whose hearts have been CHANGED by adoption from this beautiful country. Some look at us and say, “Your son is lucky…your son is so blessed…” and without fail…and without knowing how each of YOU respond—I know in my heart that we all most likely respond the SAME, “We are the lucky ones…WE are so blessed. WE are the ones who are changed.”

Signing this for ME–is showing the government that we were not only called to grow our family through adoption…but we aren’t just going to walk away either and live our normal, happy lives. We are INVESTED in this country, and it’s children. Whether they have HIV, HEP A,B or C, walking or not…we love each and every one. We are changed–and we will spend our lives investing in NGO’s, nonprofits and ministries that pour into this beautiful country…

While some may see a petition as requesting things on our terms…it is not. It is a PLEA. I plea to take our hands and interlock them with theirs…and to say–we don’t care that we are a world apart–but we really want to be in THIS together. We support your overseeing orphan investigations to protect the family until–and if it means waiting a bit longer to open our hearts and homes to orphans–then we will not walk away–but we will wait…and while we wait–we will support you.

Some times I look around my world, and I get frustrated by worldy things I see…but right now I feel like I’m looking around and I’m seeing a lot of people who REALLY CARE…and they just don’t know what to do…how to help…how they can do something. THIS might not look like a lot–but joining us in signing this petition IS something. And while you might not have a child from Ethiopia…while you might never adopt…you just happened upon my blog and you’ve read thus far–and I’m going to just type among tears and say it would mean the world to me if you prayerfully considered joining me by signing this petition and sharing it with others.

You can read and sign the petition HERE.

And while my words just bleed my heart–my dear attorney friend and fellow adoption mom Angela does a much better job explaining this petition and the current state and what is happening on her blog: WITH LOVING ARMS.

Here’s a walk down memory lane…to think how MUCH our boy has grown…how much he is THRIVING…all because of the openness of this PRECIOUS country. We have until SUNDAY NIGHT to hopefully reach around 250,000 signatures. How thankful I am for these memories…and praying that EVERY single orphan will one day have a family to make moments like THESE with…

His FIRST week home he started imitating and he learned to shake his head (he thought this game was SO funny!)

Just his SECOND week home he starting SITTING unassisted—and playing peek-a-boo too…(STILL MELTS MY HEART!)

He had a first birthday party!!! With a BIG crazy family!

He started bearing HIS OWN weight!!! We were SO proud!

At 14 months…another miracle moment for us he started crawling!

AND THEN…the finale! He started walking just before 18 months!!!! WE were ALL so excited!

*OUR* lives are the ones that are changed!!! And it has been a PURE JOY to go to physical therapies…doc visits…late night wakings…finally getting rid of parasites (YES…this is a JOYFUL thing!)…and to watch Parker, Laney and Frank fall in LOVE with their baby brother. Praise be and glory to God for these memories…I pray that EVERY. SINGLE. ORPHAN HAS MEMORIES LIKE THESE!!! For those of you adopting…and waiting…and wondering–we hold our hands with you and support your choice to stand firm and wait–in love and in perserverance because He called you love one of these most precious of His perfect creation.

Our weekend happenings and a really cool invention from my uncle is soon-to-be-shared…but my heart can only share THIS this weekend…and pray for those little ones who need us to be their voice.

HE is enough for me–and I know He can and will be enough for all of those who wait.

XOXO,

Andrea

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE WITH A FRIEND SUBSCRIBE
Sandi - March 13, 2011 - 1:10 am

Leviticus 2613 I am the LORD your God…I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high…. Psalm 56:12-13 12 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life…. jOB 29:3 his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!… Genesis 48:15-16 15 “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and ISAAC WALKED FAITHFULLY, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and ISAAC, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”…. Isaiah 40:31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint….Proverbs 4:11-1311 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble!!!! AMEN! (Praying for Ethiopia & for the children!)

Bobi Bobbitt - March 13, 2011 - 11:23 pm

LOVE everything you said, Andrea! We must interlock hands and fight for the well being of the Ethiopian children! In a world where there is so much evil, it is heart warming to see so many people banding together and praying that this policy WILL NOT come to pass! I have to be honest, I am very worried, but I am clinging to what I know is true, God loves adoption and I know that He will be glorified through this trial so many of us are facing!

Love - March 14, 2011 - 3:01 pm

i came here after seeing you had a lot of the same friends as me on facebook. your boy is PRECIOUS. your family is precious. =)

our life has been changed by a watching our son grow, learn, love, too. and it’s getting ready to again. my prayer is the same with you…that every orphan have memories like these.

[i have to tell you that when i opened your blog i was so confused at what happened to my music. it sounded like it was double playing. it was! i was listening to Better Together and that’s what came on here.] =)