I just ran across this article from CNN on one of my favorite chefs. A couple of things that makes my heart smile about Chef Marcus Samuelsson… 1. He was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2. His mother died of tuberculosis and a nurse took he and his sister under her wing–and took them to […]
The Young Family Farm »
Category Archives: Day in the Life “Okay—so of course I’m not talking yet…but lemme tell ya…my momma–she can totally read my mind…so check this out…THIS–is my new crew…” “Oh yeah–we get totally O.O.C here. That’s Out. Of. Control. people. And I love it…I thought Hannah’s Hope was crazy–but they don’t have anything on this joint…” “For REAL—these people love to make […] Andrea~This post gave me the BIGGEST smile ever!!!!! How precious!!! I just loved reading I.T.Y.’s thoughts!!! Keep ’em coming!!!!!! Love you all!!!! GREAT!!! Welcome to blogging Isaac. I hope you get a chance to share your thoughts again. That was fun (and you are TOTALLY CUTE in all your photos)!! such a beautiful family, Andrea. You guys truly make me smile. 🙂 Love the pictures and the commentary! 🙂 HAHA! love it!! absolutely ADORABLE:) SO cute!!! This made me smile! They are all so adorable!!! Hilarious!! Love it! Great pictures of all the O.O.C.!!!!! I absolutely ADORE this post!!!! 🙂 Too cute! What a blessing to have some time with Isaac while your parents enjoy the older ones! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that post! He is precious…so precious! Beautiful! Love the pics and the craziness. 🙂 I LOVE it!!! That’s a good lookin’ bunch you have! it amazes me how your photos are SO amazing and like professional! love them! Oh, I am cracking up at all of Isaac’s “sayings”! 🙂 And I just LOVE these pics! Seeing all your kids together is so precious…really, really adorable! What a fun post Isaac!!! You are cute and yummy!!!! I think your crew needs to meet my crew 🙂 I LOVE it!!!!!!!!! GREAT pictures and commentary to go along with them!!!! My husband and I have just started our Ethiopian adoption and I am always excited to connect with someone who has already been there!!!!!!! okay. finally a post that hasn’t made me click off cuz I was in tears and then had to come back to after I regained composure!!!! just started following you when Kristi posted about you while you were in Ethiopia. He is such a ham 🙂 LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!! Jenn that is so stinkin cute and funny! the picture with Parker holding Isaac is melting my heart. 🙂 Thank you Isaac for spreadin the love! Tell yo Momma those pics totally rock! What a cutie! Isaac Temesgen is a serious looker. What a beautiful family picture, thanks for sharing. Your crew is straight up eye candy for the soul! oh my gosh Laney’s smile in those pics are stunning – she looks so much like you Andrea!!! Isaac is sooooo cute! Love the post. I love the pics and your new video! Thanks for sharing with those of us who do not know you but are so touched by your story. We have adopted two little guys (U.S. adoption) and I am now drawn to the country of Africa though I do not know if/when we will adopt again. I have been so “moved” by the videos and blogs of others who have adopted from this beautiful country. You have blessed me- thank you! That just made my day! He is just the cutest thing… I missed so much while I was on vacation. I am going to go watch your gotcha video now! So precious. Gorgeous family and so sweet to see all the little ones loving on each other!  Today was a hard day. That’s about all I can say as I hold back tears. I had passing thoughts through out my day reminding me that… 1. God called us to this. And… 2. It will be worth it. (because obedience is always better than worse case scenerio) Our day started off crazy—it involved […] You are doing AMAZING Andrea, hang in there! The LORD will be your strength….the LORD will be your STRENGTH!!! love that god is strengthening you through his word. he smiles, for sure, and sits up now too! you have seen so many miracles, but it’s okay to be worn out too. i will pray for you right now as i am up late that EVERYONE in your house is sound asleep. Thanks for being vulnerable! We had a tough transition when we brought our baby home over two years ago. So I know how hard it can be. You are right–it WILL get better! With any baby, its hard at the beginning. You will find your new normal! And you have such great perspective to keep your eyes fixed on the Lord to get you through. XOXO I just wanted to let you know that I’m praying for you today. I help run an organisation in Australia which promotes parenting and adoption as positive alternatives to abortion and I came across your blog about a month and a half ago. Thank you for being so honest and vulnerable when you write. I’m praying strength, peace and complete surrender for you today. Thinking of you and praying for you. You are right, He will provide the strength and love that you need. I will be in the same boat as you in a couple of weeks. We can talk each other through the rocking of the waves 🙂 Let me know if I can do anything to help you out. Andrea – thank you for being so transparent and sharing your joys and struggles with us all. Praying for Frank specifically today – for him to be enveloped in his Father’s peace and to simply know that your love abounds for him. Praying for peace for you, because you are right – He will provide the strength that you need! Hang in there sweet friend! I would like to have the perfect words to encourage you, from one who has been in almost exactly your shoes, but you already know where the best encouragement comes from…God’s word brings life, peace, and a hope for tomorrow!! We had some tough days that would continue through the night without a break when we first returned home…..God is faithful, that you know, and His mercies are new each morning (even when you haven’t slept). Keep filling your empty cup from HIs word and it will overflow!!!!!! Thank you for being real!! It is hard, no doubt, but obedience to the Lord is a beautiful thing and His promises are real. Love to you and your beautiful family. I promise it will get easier. R was 24 months when E came home. It was soooo hard at first. But then, she started to see E as her sister and not someone trying to steal mommy. The first month home was very difficult in that way, but they love each other now and are doing much better. Beautiful writing, Andrea! Your attitude towards these struggles is inspiring. You are making it work for your four more than you recognize from where you are at ~ “we” all see success ~ your steadfast faith is awesome. God, no doubt, is smiling upon you with great joy. Gather these days ~ you know how fast life moves with little ones. I love your heart and your honesty Andrea. The adjustment will be trying, for sure. I too don’t know how people do life without Jesus…to face the struggles and trials without the peace and purpose – I can’t imagine. Praying for all of you, but especially for you…for discernment, patience and endurance as you love all of your little ones. Hang in there! Smothering you with prayer today and calling on other prayer warriors to do the same! Hugs and Love sent your way!!! Your blog has moved me and I’ve been praying for you throughout your journey. I know all too well how difficult it can be to be in the will of God. There’s no better place to be, but when He’s reshaping and stretching us it can be so difficult. I was raised Baptist and read a lot of Corrie Ten Boom’s writings. She touches me so much with her eloquence and this is one of my favorites, “It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” God delights in you and it’s evident He is your strength. Continue to allow the gift of the Holy Spirit to fill and lead you. Your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers! ♥ Sleeping is big. My guy was the same barnacle sleeping on top of me clinging for MONTHS. It has been 6 mo now and he still sleeps with me but only periodically goes through phases of needing to cling. Keep praying. Those hard hard hard weeks…. well “hard” isnt a big enough word. Taking care of yourself can be swamped if you are not careful. Praying helps. Showering Helps. Clean bed sheets and clean side boards help. I swear. You have to feel like you are still in your own environment. So you have help in your family- but do not be afraid to ask for help with the basics around your home. Routine in the day also helps. It helps him to know what is happening next and know that he can count on you all. I remember praying similar prayers, seemingly hundreds of times a day. And when I was so tired and weak- He rose and held my child. It does get better. But it WILL TAKE TIME. If you don’t have an ergo – get one. If you have one- see if you can borrow another from a family and carry one guy in front and one on the back. It is hard physically- but with only a couple times it may help your bigger guy feel more secure. I will be praying and remembering how hard these weeks are. You really are doing great. It may not feel it. But you are doing exactly what you need to and praying is a big part of it. You are on my heart and in my prayers! God is BIG! Thank you so much for sharing this Andrea.. I am praying. I so appreciate your realness. Thank you for being so open with us. I know God will use this in so many lives… but for mine it’s being used to open my eyes to reality. This won’t be all fun and games. But, like you said, following Jesus is always worth the personal cost. That scripture is wonderful and I will pray it over you! Strength and persistence will come from God…lean on Him!!!! And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it 🙂 I SO WISH I was closer to come and run a load of laundry for you…fix you dinner…or just let you vent. Praying from here though!!! Jenn My heart aches for you as you go through this difficult transition period. It’s so heart wrenching to have to divide yourself between your children when you want to give each one of them all of you. I’ll be praying for your little Frank as he adjusts to his new role (I have a 22 month old boy and can imagine Frank’s reaction to not being the baby anymore). Hang in there and know that people are being inspired by your family and prayig for them as well. I wish I lived near you and could do something tangible like deliver a casserole and a cobbler, but know I am praying for your family. Don’t get discouraged! It WILL get better, and it WILL get easier! Everyone will eventually settle into their spots–even precious Frank–and you’ll develop a new family rhythm. You’re an awesome mama and you’re doing a wonderful job. xoxoxo You are SO NOT ALONE! So many praying and being encouraged by your authenticity, your honesty. I was reduced to tears at the end. I remember reading your referral post, wondering if it was some sort of development delays you were referring to, then to read the quote. Wow. Girl, that is some kind of faith. I don’t know that I could have, and it makes me shudder to think of life without Abe. The difference, you knew, you could have said “no” and you didn’t. He was your son. As Abe is mine. I just didn’t know of the lack of head control part, but He did. So many ways that He didn’t allow that information to get to us- I see it now. I don’t blame anyone, the agency, the orphanage- it was just His plan. Love that He does ALL THINGS for OUR GOOD and HIS GLORY! Praising the Lord for Isaac T’s continued growth and development. What a testimony to His faithfulness. Dear Andrea, How do I begin? For such an outspoken person, who responds first to people who I feel needs any comfort or encouragement, I have no excuse for not reaching out to you. I have followed your journey to be Isaac Temesgen’s mommy from “day one”, along with Melanie. I found myself using excuses, trying times, etc. and somewhat giving into my grief and depression. This past year I lost my mother, my brother, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and more relatives of our in-laws and found myself, a proclaimed Christian, finding excuses not to pray, go to church, etc. My daughters continue to struggle with their own problems and I can’t fix them, only be there for them and offer advice and pray for them. Your blog has been my daily devotion and today, your words lifted me so very high. I feel God’s presence as I write this to you, holding back tears. Tomorrow is a new day for you and for me! You are an amazing child of God and I am thankful for you and your family and your new son. When you are struggling with the children, and I know it is so very hard, just know God is holding your hand as he holds the hands of all mothers and children when they need him. HE will give you the extra strength to get through this period of adjustment. You can do it!!! I will continue to follow your journey and pray more, and worship more, especially through your daily blog. Isaac Temesgen is more than adorable, as are your other three. I hear your struggles. You have gotten a lot of wonderful Godly advice from all your friends. But God keeps putting your struggles back on my heart again and again. I am just another sister in Christ and a grandmother. What I do hear is your unbelievable love and concern for all your children. God chose you and your husband to love and care for one orphan. He will also be there through joys and struggles. Whoever said it was going to be easy to be a mother anyway. Having one child is not easy. Just trust that God will not leave you alone, you are in this together. Beautiful. Thank you. I will link to this from my blog. this was post ministered to me so much….yesterday we finished our home study…wow. we really finished it! now we start the international paperwork. my heart is so full….so full. we know we are called to this…and we trust Jesus…but, there are times that i think “can we, Lord?”…. thank you for reminding me that the power is there….a reminder i needed today…. Dear Great God, Andrea know your loving arms wrapped tightly around her these hard early days, may she know your shelter under your wings, may she know the strength of your hands holding her. Give her your almighty strength again and again today for all that she needs to do and be for all her 4 precious ones, as well as for Rich. Give her your stilling peace that passes all understanding, while these waves of adjustment and sleeplessness and intense exhaustion wash over her and just seem to keep on coming. Daddy God, you have promisd to give Andrea all that she needs for every day- please give her restful sleep when she gets it, words full of graciousness and overflowing with love and patience, and the courage to keep on going, each step at a time, for your glory’s sake. In Jesus’ precious name, amen. Thank you. Your words were sweet to my soul today. God’s journey for us has been hard. He has been good. He has been faithful and we have seen His sovereignty and sufficiency for each day. Often times it is not in the way I imagined and I am learning much about my sin of self-sufficiency and trusting and clinging to Jesus is a precious lesson, worth every hard moment in this journey. In the midst of it all, our sweet children are learning and growing, too. Blessings to you this day! ***Turn music off up top before watching… I’m just saying…that can’t be good for your neck;). Sorry…after my day—I needed a little humor:-). We made it successfully (depending on how you define success) through my first day home with all 4 kiddos (4 kids 5 and under…with 2 babies who like to be held)! I […] YAY to success! The best part of your blog was reading how you chose to look at all the positives of your day. “Step by Step You’ll lead me…and I will follow You all of my days!” lyrics by Rich Mullins … keep the tunes rollin’ and Praising God. Well done, Andrea and kiddos!! Oh wow! That is incredible! Can’t wait to experience it for myself. ouch! my head hurts just from watching that video! :0) Thank you for your awesome blog. An adoption friend from atlanta sent me a link. We also adopted a little boy with the last name “temesgen” 2 years ago. He was 6 months old and that makes 4 kids now in our family. It IS crazy, but it’s so worth it….Now we live in Oakland, CA and people really think we’re nuts b/c no one has 4 kids out here. Wow! Those were some fantastic figure eights with the hair:) HUGS… Andrea, I am thinking of you during these transition days and praying for His strength to carry you! He goes before us and we can rest in that! So excited to see how precious little Isaac is adjusting and just look at how wonderful this is for your family!!! Truly a gift to each of your children. I have sincerely enjoyed reading your posts from Ethiopia…you are a very good writer and your passion and love for the Lord shine through!! I related with this post b/c our daughters are three months apart. We thought they would be more like a year apart, but our wait time for our daughter got longer and longer and their ages got closer and closer. That first year was hard, but what a HUGE blessing. They are the best of buddies now and I cannot imagine one without the other. The Lord brought our daughter home at the perfect time!! But there were, and still are, days that I have both on my lap or hip and just have to smile (or I would cry !!!) I look forward to following your adventure with your newest son. Please stop by our blog, minus1project.blogspot.com Be encouraged and know that you have been such a blessing to others in your obedience! When my first 4 were all under 5, I measured a successful day by this: they were fed, safe, and loved…………being clean was an added bonus, not me, them. My showers were infrequent! 🙂 Just enjoy the time, I promise I can hardly remember those days now. Now the big kids help so much with the little ones, it is easier! oh my goodness! that lady looks like her head should fly off with all that movement! 😀 and that’s so encouraging to hear how P and L are helping you :)) praying for you today as you go through your day with 4 kids 5 and under. I have so enjoyed reading your blog. We are in the adoption process as well. We will be going to Hannahs Hope hopefully next summer. Keep posting! You are a such a positive influence on everyone that knows you. Only you could do this. I can’t imagine how hard it is right now but you can find something good in everything and that is so beautiful. I have enjoyed reading your blog for the past couple of months! We have just applied to an agency to adopt from Ethiopia. I was glad to see someone else adopting who already has young kids too! We have 3 yr. old twins and a 12 month old. Blessings to your family! Oh I just want to go to the chiropractor after watching that video. Oww..Praying for you as you and your sweet little ones adjust.  Isaac Temesgen and I have just been home for a full 3 days—and tomorrow (Tuesday) is my FIRST day all on my own as a mommy of 4. Laney (4) and Parker (5) are doing AMAZING with all of the changes–they are so sweet, helpful, loving and even supportive. They love Isaac Temesgen to pieces—and […] praying that over those kids. soooo heart breaking. but He is the GOD of the impossible 🙂 oh yes. amen. amen. amen. I read your processing! It is a huge encouragement to me as I am praying to begin my adoption journey SOON. I love reading your blog, and I am praying for all of the children, but especially the two you mentioned. -Lauren! I read all of your processing and I am so thankful for God sending You to Me in whatever fashion it took. Grateful for your wisdom, Andrea. Your sharing of orphans, widows, adoption, family life, the gospel, laughter, photography, joy … is well received by me. Praying for you, our calling, our focus to be on Him. Good Night Blessings to you, Sweet Friend! Oh I read your processing for sure!!! Once again I have tears!! So glad you made it home and your adjusting the best you can! Hoping someone is helping you do laundry and meals! Keep writing!! Through your words God is speaking!!! love this post Andrea. so close to my own heart and what I’m feeling tonight too and thanks for showing/reminding me even more. i feel like there is so much I want to say right now yet have no words. thanks for this post though! Tears overflowing…I too, LONG to see more called and more children in a loving, forever home. I will continue to pray for your sleep, your perseverence, for Frank and Isaac’s adjusting…and that the more families that travel to Ethiopia to pick up their little sweeties, the more hearts are changed for the cause of the orphans and the widows. I love your heart and your passion for your ministry. I love how even in your pain, even in your processing…you just ooverflow with the love of God. I have loved reading your posts about your trip. We returned just over a week ago from Ethiopia with our 2 1/2 year old son. We used Children’s Hope International and our son came from Bethzatha too. What an amazing orphanage that we also had the privilege to visit! Congrats on your new son! Beautiful words! My heart is breaking for these precious children…oh, the wait is so hard, but it will all be worth it! We just can’t wait to bring our Caroline Faith home! So thankful that God called us to her! Praying you get lots of sleep tonight!! Thank you for this. I wish every believer could read this. If its any consolation…we sent in our application to start our adoption on June 29th…so our waiting has just begun. We are leaving in the morning for GA. I’ll be thinking of you guys and praying for you as we are so close in proximity. PS- what I meant by any consolation was, soon there will be one or two less orphans. I love that you share your processing…I am challenged and inspired by your words! Praying for the adjustment-it will be no time before those two are the best of friends! oh, another beautiful post that speaks right to my heart…I had to link to it…it’s just too good!! we won’t forget what we saw…I pray every night that God will always remind me…I pray he’ll continue to break my heart..and sister, my heart breaks over the waiting children that you saw, kj I’m praying with you . . . praying for those little ones in Ethiopia you visited . . . for those orphans I was privileged to serve in China this past April, many of whom are over the age of 14 and are no longer “adoptable” by China’s standards. This was an amazing post. I would like to link it to my blog if that’s ok. My baby isn’t even close to being home yet, and I am up in the middle of the night thinking about her and praying for her. So, you are not alone. I am praying for you and Isaac tonight. I pray the Lord gives you all the strength you need to care for your 4 precious children. Love reading your processing. Love seeing your gorgeous photos. Still praying for your transition. When you were describing this to me the other night, I had a visual in my head. I have continued to think of that since talking to you. It truly breaks my heart. I pray that God continues to use each of us to bring these precious children home. They are so precious to him…each and every one. So happy that your boys are making progress. They will be best buds before you know it. Oh Andrea..thank you for sharing and of course we can read your processing. The “so many toddlers” set my tears rolling this morning as we wait for our little “Hope”. And..Yay for little Frank as he opens part of his heart to his baby brother. Thank you for sharing this, Andrea. I’m definitely going to link to it. Thanks especially for providing the verses to pray over the children. I will certainly join you in praying for them. Reading your processing with joy, anticipation, and grief as we “hurry up to wait” for our ET daughter. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. As a mama to one of those kiddos that most likely would have simply been left in a crib, my heart breaks. For them, for the families that are missing out on one of His greatest blessings, having a special kiddo in the family! Just breaks. Thanks for advocating and processing. I’m still having a hard time processing my trip and I have been home a few weeks already. Takes time………. Andrea – I feel SO much of what you write…yet you always put it more beautifully than I ever could. I was exhausted upon returning home…trying to love everyone well while tending to the “extra” needs of a new baby who had already been through so much pain and loss. Caleb was the same way…not sleeping much…just checking to see that we were there…very easily startled and very fearful. Hang in there. You are a wonderful mommy and God will sustain you as the exhaustion grows. I’m praying for all of you…that God will meet you with the strength you need in this time of adjustment. We have been so tired lately – feeling spent and not able to keep up – but your post already has me considering our next adoption. Crazy how God works. Thanks so much for processing! I’m a friend of Sonya Todds and have been following your blog the last couple months. We are WAITING on our baby girl from Ethiopia. Your posts have been such an encouragement and, many times, convicting to my husband and I. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your family with us! I am so happy to see Isaac home with you. Thank you for your posts – they are encouraging. I love today’s post – so powerful and well written. My heart breaks for the orphan and how people come up with excuses to do nothing. You did a great job discussing the need… I am going to post a link to your post on my blog. I hope that is okay. Our little Zoe Mahlet was at Bethzatha, too-although we didn’t get to go there. But I know your feelings, I felt them, too. I would go around to all the babies at HH and pray over them and whisper, literally, in the ears of those I knew who were referred that their mommies and daddies were coming. And I cried, the whole time I did it, both of sadness for the world’s brokenness and for joy that these lucky ones had parents coming who could barely stand the wait. But for those without that, my heart hurts. I leave in a week for 10 days in Ethiopia, with “the least of these”–I’m BEYOND thrilled to be spending time at 2 HIV pos orphanages, but I know it will be heartbreaking. Can the 2 at Bethzatha you mentioned be adopted? Did you ask about that? b/c if so, I want to make it happen-somehow, someway whether us or someone else. Can we do that?? I understand how you feel. I work in a group home were many unadoptable children with broken families are and that alone griefs me. Can’t imagine what it will be like in Ethiopia. I am earnestly praying that God’s people will rise to the opportuity to truly live the Gospel out. Thank you sooo much for the window into the world of adoption. I am just starting out in the journey, we have 4 kiddos our littlest is 1 years old and I had to beg my husband who is an only child for each one – he has come so far! Now I’m praying and fasting and asking the Lord to open the door (really to soften my husbands heart for orphans) and show us the way… is it fostercare, or adoption? I don’t know but your posts are encouraging and thought provoking! Thank you for being willing to share! What a heartfelt and beautiful post. Thank you for sharing! I followed a link from Heather’s (and baby makes three) blog. Sending up a prayer. Just came across your blog the other day – what a beautiful time to read about God bringing your family together! We are just sending in our contract with AGCI today and can’t wait to bring our baby boy home. Thank you for sharing your experience and your heart. Your post about meeting Isaac’s birth mother is truly amazing Yes, the wait is a killer. I love the pic of the toddler room. Yet I will wait.. maybe a year for two older children… amazing…………. A lot can happen in a year with international adoption, so who knows if it will even happen. My heart aches, too. We are waiting for our court date right now. Aching for my baby girl and for the others who need a family. Praise God for this post. He is going to use it to draw others to Himself. Andrea, love this post and your little Isaac is ADORABLE! Cried over those same two babies when there in January…thank you for bringing them back into my mind and my prayers. How you find time to write such a beautiful post, I don’t know…but thankful. Your son is precious. I just wanted to let you know you along with many others here in adoption blog world are very inspiring and have been so helpful to many of us out here in the adoption process. My husband (who is adopted and has other adopted siblings)and I are adopting from Ethiopia and are in the beginning stages but my heart aches so much for all of these children and it is now our mission in life to do everything in our power to spread the word on the need to save these innocent children and adopt! I just wanted to let you know I feel and understand everything you said and want to save Ethiopia too but you are inspiring and you have not only saved your child but are helping myself and other families do the same. You are a beautiful writer. thanks for glorifying God through your words. My heart echos this post. Praying for those kids and for more to stand up and say “yes” to adoption! Praise the Lord you are home safely! I have LOVED following your journey! We just adopted from China in Jan. (#5) The wait for a healthy child in China is over 4 years right now. At one point it was believed that there were close to 30,000 dossiers there just waiting!! So let’s pray that these programs will speed up and get these children home with their families and that NOTHING will stop that from happening!! Will keep you and the orphans in our prayers!!! |
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by admin
Love this post!! So well said! Soooo thankful that God has called us on this journey! Just posted Isaac Temesgen’s video on my blog! I LOVE it!! What a precious baby and precious story!
You made me cry all over again watching your video!! But I will do it again, and again. =) No words to match what you said regarding the stats. Here’s another statement that hit me today from a woman named Amy commenting on Sixtyfeet.org
… God is watching His precious ones all.the.time. Can you imagine His heart breaking? He must ache knowing that we live in such filthy excess and watch and do nothing. Please do something. Everyone can do something.
Hi late night friend! I realized you and I both seem to do most of our blog/online stuff at night…i’m guessing for the same reasons too…our Isaac’s! :0) LOVE the quote you mentioned at the end! I will check out your video! I am doing our gotcha video right now and hoping to be done with it in a day or two! :0) Already tonight my husband and I were watching what I had done and he was even crying! :0)
Thank you. Really, thank you. We’re just on the brink of praying about adoption wondering where, when and how. We’re more than challenged by your precious story and just this morning I was convicted by your words. I even posted about it.
So just to let you know your words are appreciated. Keep writing!
Andrea– When I first told a good friend of mind about our Markos, the first thing she said was, “Do you know about Marcus Saumuellson? I love him!” I immediately looked him up and discovered the things you wrote. So cool. Thanks for sharing!
Andrea, we have walked this journey together through each other blogs and to finally have our boys home is such a blessing. Your words have comforted me along the way! Thank you! I love all your videos! they brought tears to my eyes! As I still have family in Woodstock I hope some day our paths will cross! Praying for you and the transition home! Check out our video if you haven’t seen it yet on our blog .. feel to post if you want .. take care and thanks again for your words .. they always melt my heart!
Wow. Remind myself frequently that sleep is overrated anyway!! The visual of driving and driving is too much to comprehend……..
Beautiful, beautiful. Wiping away tears as I am typing. Words do it no justice.
Cried through the whole slide show. Isaac is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! What a treasure he will be to your family!
I love your video. Thank you for sharing. I am going to link it to my blog.
He is so adorable Andrea… loved seeing his journey. AMAZING that he gained 10 lbs that fast. Wow!
I thought I’d introduce myself. I follow your blog and haven’t posted much. Your blogs are very encouraging. I appreciate your transparency. You are stepping on some toes with this post and I love it! Keep speaking the truth sister. Love the video and you have a beautiful family…you are right it is a perfect picture of the gospel!
Blown away by your comment of driving and continuing to see orphan after orphan, my heart aches for them. Your gotcha video makes my longing desire to hold our new little girl even stronger. I especially broke down when I saw you holding him up to the computer and showing him to his the rest of the family. I know that not only is the adopted child being blessed by this but it makes the other children realize a whole new definition of family. I say that having a sister who my parent’s adopted. As a teenager I knew I would some day do the same. Praying for your dear family and for many more families to be made complete!
Love the video Andrea! Thanks for sharing with us. I have been praying for you and Isaac and that each day the routine gets easier and more sleep comes–although I know you’d trade sleep for precious time with any of your kiddos. You’re right. It’s always worth it!!
I never tire of watching Isaac’s “Gotcha Day” video. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy, busy day to create and share it with us. It’s amazing to watch him grow in the love that surrounds him. I wish so very much that I was younger and healthier, because I would certainly do my best to decrease the number of orphans. Praying for all the widows and orphans every day. Hugs,
WOW! I really needed this today, Andrea! Have been feeling a bit discouraged as we begin this embark towards adoption, but you have confirmed for me that we are doing the right thing! God continues to use you to bless me! Love you!!! ps. sent your gotcha day out last night to my mom and a few friends, mom said I had her crying! Such a beautiful video and a beautiful baby boy!!! (:
LOVE IT!!! Just posted about you on my blog today! 🙂 So glad your blog is keeping updated…I look forward to reading your posts! Praying in Abby’s passport this week!!
Blessings,
Jenny
Wow, that was a wonderful… thank you so much for sharing your journey with us!
That was a good cry for me! 🙂 You did a great job with the video. I am so excited for your family on this great adventure God has for you.
It has been an absolute joy to be a part of this journey with you via the blog world. I have learned so much from you Andrea and am so thankful for you and your family and for sharing in all that God lays on your heart. This video was just precious and perfect and just made my heart sing!
…I wasn’t made for manicures, vacations or even the luxury of a good night’s sleep. I was made to store my treasures in heaven and to shine Jesus out of my heart. Yes, yes, yes!!!
I just found your blog through others and I will continue to follow it. I just watched your video and I have tears coming down my face! We adopted our son from Vietnam last May, but we considered Ethiopia. We still look to adoption #2 and the possibilities. We would love to adopt from VN again, but we aren’t sure. I still feel a pull to Africa. I have read a few blogs tonight and you are rekindling that fire in me again. I will be saying some prayers. Your family is beautiful!!
I’ve been following your blog for about a month now…I found it through Kristi’s blog. The Gotcha video is incredible and I just wanted to let you know that people’s lives are already being touched through it! We have been a waiting family 18 months now and hope to be bringing our baby boy home from Ethiopia within the next 7-10 months. It’s been such a long wait and videos, like yours, help with the wait! What a blessing little Isaac is! Your family is beautiful! God Bless You!