Category Archives: Day in the Life When I was 18 years old, I heard a still small voice speak to my heart for what I wish I could say was the first time. However–I know I’d heard Him for 18 years–it just took 18 years for my stubborn heart to REALLY listen. We all hear it…just some people don’t want to […]  Tonight’s encouragement comes to you straight from the most recent pics…insights from my iPhone–and moments that just had to be captured when there was no camera with me: Isaac Temesgen doesn’t dig strangers. BUT this one oddly didn’t bother him. In fact, he walked RIGHT up to him and wanted to know what he was […] You need instagram :o) Love all of the pictures!! So exciting for Isaac!! Wait til your older ones get the hang of taking pics and video with your iphone. Oh, the things I find!! Hilarious! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that has a bowl of cereal at night. 🙂 Soo cute and funny!!!! He he he….when we were younger we dressed my younger brother up in a little girls dress. We will never let him forget it either 🙂 His wife thinks it is funny.  Friday night…the mommies (me, Kelly Coury, and Angie Carley) baked away as our kids joined other Cupcake Kids around the nation to make a difference for the orphans of Uganda through 60Feet Ministry. How wonderful it is to involve our little ones and watch THEM make a difference for kids across the world. Here’s a […] Hi, I’ve been following you for awhile. I love what you said about brainstorming with our children about how we could serve our world, rather than being served. I want my son and future children to have a heart for others. 🙂 And my son has the same Show Hope shirt! So cool! Love what you said about helping children learn to serve. I can’t wait to do a cupcake sale – we are going to wait until a friend gets back from Uganda with her son, so I’m just learning from you all right now! 🙂 […] Our Cupcake Kids… » Babe of my HeartApr 16, 2011 … Before dinner tonight–Laney came out of her room and handed me several things she wanted to pass on to others–and to see your kids hearts be … […]  SOO…not only did I come home to happy kids on Sunday afternoon from Denver–but I also came home to my mom (aka Nana) AND *my* grandmother being here! (I’m not too proud to say this momma LOVES still needing her momma and grandmother is just icing on the cake!) They’re just here until Tuesday afternoon…but […] Oh Andrea, I just can NOT get over how amazing he looks. So healthy, so adorable, so secure. He seems like such a big boy, and such a stronger boy than the one I met 9 months ago. He’s come SO far! Wow! Oh.my.goodness!!! Your kiddos are just amazing! I love, love, LOVE the pic of Laney and Isaac! B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L! And the first one with the glasses…..still smiling over that one! Such fun pics! Oh, and girl, you are such a fun momma, bringing home treats for the children and Daddy! Bless your huge heart! Always able to make every day life FUN! I hope to be a fun momma like you (one of these days)!!!! SOOOOO GREAT to see you this last weekend at the conference, my friend! Love that tummy! ok, we LOVE HHI!!!! I sang “I want to marry daddy when I grow up” when I got picked as a little girl 🙂 too funny! maybe we’ll see you guys there Have fun with family!!!! Very exciting 🙂  TODAY is the VERY DAY LAST YEAR that we got that much awaited for phone call for our son! A day I will NEVER forget!!! If you would like to reminisce with me you absolutely must journey with me down memory lane by clicking on the sweet airport run-way call HERE (yes–I was ON an […] I vividly remember you calling me the next morning at 7AM our time to share your amazing news. Isaac is already such an amazing testimony of God’s goodness. I am so thankful that we get to witness the other amazing plans the Lord has for him and your family. Happy Referralversary!!! I remember your listserv posts that day and I could HARDLY WAIT to hear your good news! No, what you actually need to complete your spring break is an airbrush t-shirt that says “Richard and Andrea Forever!” or “Kelly and Andrea BFF!” happy referralversary! i think laney is going to grow up to be a weather girl and parker and frank can be…mermaids???? looks like so much fun! We share the joy of your day! One year ago today we got THE phone call (the call that makes your heart stop for just a second and then beat ten times faster) that a baby boy in PA was to be our son! We got to meet him a few days later and brought him home a few days after that…. such an amazing time. It has been a hard year in many ways but for our sweet son I am grateful! God is so good! Andrea, are you kidding me, girl? NEXT year’s CFC conference? HELLO, I’m there. You 3 gals have a wonderful weekend. I cannot imagine how it’ll be better than CFC was in Feb, but I’ll look forward to hearing how grea it was for y’all. Me?, you ask? What will Esty be doing instead? FLYING TO UGANDA on April 16 to bring home my DAUGHTER. Oh yeah – I said it. :)xoxoox P.S. Anything you want to tell us, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Andrea? Happy Referral day Young Family!!! I feel your pain with having to wait to see the pictures of Isaac, we were about to board a plane when we got the call and had to get all the way to DC and to our hotel before we could open the email! I have never moved more quickly in my life 🙂 Hello Andrea, I started reading your blog recently, and today I went back and read your story you linked on today’s post. I stopped at the line that spoke of how you prayed for your husband to want to adopt as much as you did and your story gave me hope. I felt the calling as a child to adopt, I always said I will have two kids and then adopt a child. I have my two kids and I have a husband who is hesitant. But God is working in his heart and I have learned to be a gentle and quiet wife, constantly praying for God to shape his heart. I see it more and more everyday. I know that God will keep his promises. I enjoyed reading your story and reading your blog. It’s encouraging to find others with a heart as large, genuine, and passionate for our Savior and his children. God Bless your family. -Amanda I remember your blog post of Isaac’s referral!!! OH can it have been a whole year???? WOW!!!! PRAISING GOD!!!!!!!!!! Your kids are adorable. Glad you had fun – looks like they did 🙂 ANdrea, we live around the corner from Fernbank ! Next time ! Paxand hugs ,Marci |
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by admin
Andrea,
Tonight I realized what it is that I enjoy about reading your blog.
Today I had a chat with a friend and we talked about the topic of raising children to love the Lord and love others. I referred my friend who has a very large family, to read your blog because it allows someone to get a glimpse of what a family who loves the Lord looks like. She is a new believer who wants to bring Jesus into the lives of her children. I referred her to your blog because it’s a place to see into the life of a family that lives to love and serve the Lord. And that my friend is why I like your blog. 🙂
God Bless, Rachelle
Oh what amazing words the Lord gave you to speak to us! Funny how we dyed eggs yesterday too, and I got a different lesson out of them. Without Jesus, our lives are boring, plain, and missing much life. The more time we spend with him, the more He changes us and makes us full of new life and color and shining to a world around us! 🙂 it was a cool lesson to teach the kids. I love your lesson as well! Be blessed today, my friend. You certainly have blessed me!
Love this, Andrea! It reminds me of our “Date with God” sessions at Created for Care. Ever since then I have been so much more open to God’s voice in my heart. I often think about what my life would look like if everything went according to my plans… I could never have planned something this beautiful!!
Especially loved this post… reminded me of a plaque on my office wall that says, “Make time for quiet moments – God whispers and the world is loud.” So much easier said/intended than done. Thanks for the important reminder during this Holy Week when our hearts should be particularly reflective in the midst of the busyness and anticipation of the great celebration! Hope your family enjoys a blessed Good Friday and Easter!
Your story is so beautiful. Our sweet God whispers here too. Just a few months ago we chose to turn off our cell phones and switch to a cheaper plan. This required us to be cell phone free for about 15 days while we waited for the next offer to take effect. We had brought home our sweet foster baby just weeks before. We were making changes in our budget to further ensure that I could stay at home with her, just like I did with my boys. A close family member called our home and repremanded me for taking in a foster child when she felt I could not pay my cell phone bill. She would not listen to our story of God, or using our resources wisely, she just knew that our phone was not working when she called it, so she assumed we could not pay the bill. She was in such a tizzy about it that she cancelled our Christmas gathering at MY house with them, and refused to come. This broke our hearts. Not because she was upset, or that she would not hear reason, or even because she did not come. We were heart broken because she didn’t get it. She could not see following God’s call as being worthwhile. In the end we have realized this reaction came on the heels of her realizing our baby is black. What a loss of joy for HER to not get to be involved in this precious treasure’s life. We are so blessed to be following God, whatever the cost!
VERY MUCH AGREE!!!! What if we thought such and such was too important to give up or push aside (not a sacrifice just decisions that help grow us)? What would we miss??? WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!! Praising God that we listen…praying for more listening…more growing….more giving….more doing for HIM.
Andrea, thanks for sharing your heart. Several pieces resonated with me. I have struggled in recent weeks with “others” in my life, knowing that following after God’s heart will be foolishness to some–yes, even some family and close friends. It is always a challenge to walk in love and yet continue to move forward, knowing that there is a cost to following. It is hard to feel rejected at times for doing the hard thing, for laying down your life, for being “radical” (which I find funny because I always feel like I’m barely touching the edge of radical when I look at the book of Acts and all the disciples of Jesus)…anyway, God has given me Hebrews 12:1 and reminded me to keep my eyes on HIM, and to not compare my race to anyone else’s. I know as believers we are ALL running the race, but each of us has our own “leg” to run as well, and oh do I want to run it well and with ENDURANCE. I am thankful God uses so many around us (including “friends” like you in the blog world) to encourage us along the journey. I keep telling my kids that this life is NOTHING compared to ETERNITY. God bless you guys!
Love,
Rory
woosterweester@aol.com
The verse that popped in my head after reading your post was Matthew 16:5- “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” I’m finding this to be sooo true! The more and more that I listen, the more and more that I “lose” my life to the world’s standards…the more and more that God is glorified and then as a bonus, I get to experience some pretty incredible things! Heres to losing more of our life…. 😉
this was enough of an answer! Thank you for writing this post and reminding me to listen to and follow the only One who matters
Love this, Andrea! Thanks for always being encouraging and reminding us of the truth of God’s Word! Hope that ya’ll have a wonderful Easter!
Each year at Easter we forgo buying the super expensive outfits & shoes & give to as many families in need as we can. Boy it baffles my mother-in-law’s mind when we show up & don’t have those 50 shoes on our kiddos. I can’t help but think that Jesus who wore worn sandals & robe would rather that we “clothe ourselves” with the fruit of the Holy spirit when we celebrate his resurrection. Kudos to you for listening to your heart & turning your eyes on him instead!
I really enjoy your blog. My wife and I are in the process of adopting from ethiopia so that is what has brought me to your blog. As i read the blog the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11-13 come to my mind, I pray Gods blessing on your family.