The Young Family Farm »

BUDS…

Last week we had a fun little playdate with some of our buds. We had a little picnic with the Owens Family and I just love how our kids all have little friends when we hang with their family…

Here is everyone minus one of the Owens crew…

Shelly and I were chatting and we looked on the back porch to see that her littlest one had climbed in a chair to be closer to her sidekick. They were out there just chatting (babytalking!) away and of course I had to grab a picture of the sweetness!

SERIOUSLY…are they NOT the cutest things?!

BIKES…

Today marked our annual bike race!!! Every year, the kiddos enter in our quaint little town’s bike race. And folks–they take this pretty seriously. P-man was full speed ahead!

Not sure what happened to Loo-bear…but she is NOT a fan of the spotlight or crowds–so she all of the sudden forgot how to ride her bike. BUT no fear–because Daddy-O was near! And Frankie baby opted for a much easier mode of transportation…

And what was ITY doing you ask? Well–he was entertaining the crowd like this momma has NEVER seen!!! This boy is usually shy and timid in crowds!!! We went to the finish line complete with stages, LOUD DJ announcers and music, radio stations blaring songs, and people EVERY WHERE. I thought for sure he’d want me to hold him close like most crowded, new situations. BUT NOPE. He would walk in front of the crowd and then start shaking his little bottom to the music, waving to people and batting those big eye lashes. I was literally stopped over and over with folks commenting on his little personality. SUCH A MESS!

When he would see a new person walking his way…he would do THIS…

AND then he’d strut his stuff!

SO…either the boy is over his crowd-phobia or he just digs DJs and bike races. You guys would have CRACKED up! When the music would play, he’d boogie and throw his hands on the sidewalk with his bottom in the air. NOT sure who showed him that move–but it was pretty funny stuff!!!

And finally BFs…

I met my bestfriend when I was in the 7th grade and tonight us girlies got together to celebrate her 3rd baby which is due mid-June…and I’m SOOOOO excited to have another girl in our lives!!! So many of us go way back–and I’m so thankful for all of the memories we share together! There’s just something about dear girlfriends that stick with you through the ups and downs of life…that celebrate moments with you…and are there for you no matter what…

And last but not least—I was out in our flower garden with Loo-bear creating a bouque for her room–and I couldn’t help but smile remembering that I planted this flower bed to calm my nerves while we waited for a referral of our son. What a beautiful reminder of God’s hand on our lives…

As we picked the flowers–Loo-bear was so distracted by the thorns. Have you ever wondered why roses have thorns? Why something so beautiful often begins with hurt? The scientific answer is that God gave roses the most stong scent of most any plant or flower. They were created with a scent to attract insects, but they also attract herbivores. The thorns actually PROTECT the flower from herbivores so they can thrive and stay out of harms way.

Consider the roses in your life—the things that ended up TRULY making your life what it is…you know–the things in your life that make you hold your breath with thanksgiving. Many times…these things started with thorns. There was hurt. It didn’t make sense. But without those things–the flower may have never bloomed…or fully bloomed into what God intended it to be. I think it’s pretty cool that God led me to plant a rose garden of all things while I waited not so patiently for my son. There were many tears…and even some times doubt if this was really God’s plan for our life.

But–OH how every thorn was worth it.

Smelling the fragrance of roses will now remind me of God’s perfect will. And they also remind me that if we stay close to Christ and His calling on our lives–then our lives will be the aroma of Christ to the world. And to God. I love this verse in 2 Corinthians 2:15 “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.” While we live in fallen, dark world–He is the light of the world–and as we cling to Him our lives will be a breath of fresh air to those who are sisters and brothers in Christ…and who He is calling to Himself through the Holy Spirit.

May you each have a blessed week. Finally…it’s time for Post 5!!! It’s coming tomorrow:)

We had a crazy fun weekend…full of so much action that nothing was caught on camera…EXCEPT some very important things that just had to be snapped in some fashion on my iPhone.

Isaac insisted on going over to Mrs.Kimberly’s house to the Chalk family adoption yard sale…he said he needed to do anything and everything to bring his little buddy/buddies home from Ethiopia (they are on both the boy and sibling list)

Here’s ITY with Mrs.Kimberly…they have been waiting officially on the list since January–but Isaac here…he’s known about their adoption for some time and he has been waiting awhile. I can’t WAIT for their airport homecoming…move out of the way folks–cause Isaac is going to knock some folk over to give his boy/s a high five!

Here the kids are making their final purchases…

Isaac got a car. Laney got a doll that floats in the tub…and momma got something for the doll house. I’ve almost done with what I started…just a few finishing touches and then I’ll share. Let’s just say that this doll bed for 25 cents was transformed into a doll bed fit for a princess. Here is a “before” picture…the “after” to come tomorrow when I have recovered from my spray paint high;).

I’ll end saying this. Kids are so easy to please! At least mine are. I mean–I have decided we need to be yard sale people. Take your kids to Target and they leave whining because momma wouldn’t buy them some new fancy toy. BUT take ’em to a yard sale–and they get to take their money and buy just about anything out there. Okay, not sure that is really teaching them anything–but it sure is nice to leave with happy kids:).

And speaking of simplicity–they play in tents in the backyard for HOURS. I realized I was missing some screens. I asked P-man about this, and he informed me, “MOM, EVERY teepee needs a screen.” SO, in case you didn’t know…this is the NEW thing in teepees;)

Last but not least–from the mouths of babes…

We pulled up to P-mans baseball game on Saturday–and it was just me, Loo-bear and ITY as P-man and Frankie baby had ridden with Rich. We parked and I just had a moment sitting there for a second (you know…before stepping out into ball field craziness and chasing baby fun). I heard her sweet little voice in the back of the van…

Mama, you know we are just like caterpillars don’t you?

We are mama. Us. People. God made caterpillars and people alike.

(Oh bless her heart–I thought.) You think so? How in the world do you think we are like caterpillars?

Just like the caterpillar Mama, we also become a new creation. You know–with God. We are changed like caterpillars–a new creation.

Yes, sweet baby girl. You are right. Thank you for reminding me. We, indeed, are just like caterpillars. When we ask Christ to be the Lord of our life–the old is put away and we are bran new. To fly–and be the beautiful creatures He made us to be.

Galations 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

2 Corinthians 5:15-17 “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

What is a girl to do when it’s camouflage day…and they say “no pink camo”…green only. I mean…some times a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! SOOO…Loo-bear and I got out the sewing machine and whipped out a little ditty…

How fun is that? And I wish I could take the design credit–but momma got THIS book for Christmas from Nana and me likey the EASY patterns and absolutely fun designs…You can buy one HERE on Amazon.

They sang “I’m in the Lord’s army” among other songs in the school musical, and I’ll have to share some of that action when I download the video. LOVE having these two just 14 months apart!

SOOOO…that was Tuesday night! (Oh by the way–if you buy the book we did add the additional sash to the skirt just for a little added somethin’:). So easy to make…and ALL the kids helped–even Frankie baby.

THEN last night—tornados came through the South–quite close to us but with most of the devestation taking place in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Being from Alabama and having so many friends and family in the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham area–I’ve seen pictures ALL day of the devestation of so many. I have heard heartbreaking stories of loss…of not only homes but also loved ones. PLEASE keep these families in your prayers as they put their lives back together.

David Platt’s church in Birmingham is busy organizing a relief effort. You can join the efforts of Church of Brook Hills by going to learn more how to give or go. We have DEAR friends on staff with Navigators in Tuscaloosa. They were out of town, and they are safe–and I know in the weeks ahead they will be sharing with us opportunities to help those around them.

One thing times like these remind me of is that NEEDS ARE EVERYWHERE. And I love what Bob Goff says in one of his recent posts on getting engaged. “One of the ways that I make things matter to me is to move from merely learning about something to finding a way to engage it on my own terms. For example, if someone asks what I think about capital punishment, instead of reciting the party line and parroting someone else’s thoughts, I think of a teenager named Kevin in a prison accused of a capital crime. If the topic is same sex attraction, I think of a dear friend who is gay. Now, instead of talking about an issue, I’m talking about a person; someone who matters to me. I think that Jesus wired us that way so that we’d remember. And it’s not about just being politically correct, it’s about being just plain correct. We need to make our faith; our love story; our very own.”

In order to get ENGAGED not only in conversation…but ENGAGED in serving–we must make it our own and bring it home in our hearts. I think about the tornado in Alabama where so many friends and family live. My city–for some reason–was not touched by the tornado. Now, I can move on my merry way–OR I can ENGAGE by bringing it home. By thinking of dear friends and family and reaching out to anyone I know who knows specific areas of need…and ENGAGE because now it’s personal. AND…I must say for the record–it’s NOT ABOUT MAKING IT ABOUT US–BUT ABOUT GOING THERE WITH OTHERS AND DOING LIFE TOGETHER.

I got a comment on my blog earlier today regarding my earlier Zambia post. It came from a writer in California who does not KNOW me–who is not really engaged in my life. And by incredible technology commenters IP addresses are embedded in every comment you make on a blog–I can see he has only visited my blog ONCE–yet he felt compelled to make a pretty hurtful comment about our work in Zambia. A good friend, reminded me not to throw my pearls to the pigs–and this was MUCH needed Biblical advice to hear. We must stay our course to what we know in our hearts the Lord has called us to and not let others tear us down or discourage us while we follow Him.

BUT…for this instance, I dig what Bob Goff wrote in his post “How to Pick a Fight” post. (An incredible post about fighting for what God calls you to fight for–no matter what.) Now, I’m not going to pick a fight–because if YOU are a REGULAR reader and/or friend–you know that’s not me. BUT…I WILL stand up for orphans and widows–and no matter where they are…they are God’s children…and they DESERVE TO BE FOUGHT FOR!!!

I couldn’t say it better myself, so I’ll let Goff say it for me…”It’s easier to pick an opinion than it is to pick a fight. It’s also easier to pick an organization or a jersey and identify with that fight than it is to actually pick your own; commit to it; call it out and take a swing. Picking a fight isn’t neat either. It’s messy. It’s time consuming. It’s painful. It’s costly. Stated differently, it’s what many of us should be all about as followers of Jesus.”

The comment left said that I post what I post for my own sake. To bring glory to me–and that I make him sick that I go to Africa when there are thousands of kids here who need help.

YES–there are thousands of children here who also need help–and I am, ever so thankful for my precious friends who just picked up and moved to inner city Atlanta to not only SERVE but to also LIVE. Families like the Stanley family who we have the joy of doing life locally with who serve with Vision Atlanta. Or families in our fellowship group that have just picked up their families to move downtown themselves. I’m thankful to be a part of a church wtih a pastor allowing us to start a foster care ministry and challenge others to serve with us…the two years we have spent trying to start a foster care ministry in our local church. We each have different callings–and we must follow where the Lord leads us! This is NOT about us–and to tell you the truth…it’s not really about them either…but about HIM and bringing glory to Him by following HIM where ever He leads our family in ministry–whether it’s around the corner or around the world (and if it WERE about me–I can promise I wouldn’t go around the world to do ministry and leave my children to do it…but *I* don’t get to choose where *I* am called…and I’m so thankful it is NOT about me.)

For us–the Lord has led us to Zambia to serve. I write about it on my blog–not to receive the glory…because honestly I don’t do much these days other than chase my 4 babies and it’s TIME for me to return to where I believe the Lord called us to serve 4 years ago. I write about it–because this IS my life–and its personal–and through my writing many of my precious friends have learned about Wiphan and it’s become personal to them too. (It’s also my blog–so I guess if it’s about my life–I can write about my life…and I apologize to readers like “JOHN” who disapprove of where, how and who we serve…but really–it’s not ME he should be upset with–but I guess God…since it was His calling on our lives…we just go follow.) And just as children down town deserve to be loved and fought for–children in EVERY country deserve to be loved and fought for. AND this is one fight I will always pick.

Why did we adopt from Ethiopia? Because our son was there–God knew it…and He put Ethiopia on our hearts. Why do we serve in Zambia? Because there are 450 children there–that God loves and He knew our friends and family had gifts that He gave us to be used their for HIS glory. I truly believe the Lord has given each of us different gifts and different desires to be used for HIS glory–and those gifts and desires that align with His Word are part of the story He wrote just for us to live out.

Foster care or adoption. Domestic or international. Opening your home to the homeless or 10 little giggling girls that need to be loved on. Whatever He calls us to–we must follow with gusto and let the Lord be our strength. We should encourage other believers in our different callings–and be very careful not to be unkind to the calling GOD HAS GIVEN them. (When hurtful things are said–we can be pretty sure it’s not from a brother or sister in Christ–and once again see the reality how we do live in a hurting world.) We should expect hardship–and hurtful things to be said as we follow. I guess I’m just fortunate to not have hard things said so often–which tells me I probably need to listen a bit more and maybe more radically follow. That also being said, I just want to thank those of you who have been on this journey of life with us–and always leave words of kindness and encouragement. I welcome the other comments too…but just don’t be alarmed if I fight for things back that I feel are worth fighting for;).

Hope ya’ll have a great night…I’m down for the count in more ways than one tonight;)

Andrea