The Young Family Farm »

Soooo…I just realized I didn’t take ONE picture–NOT ONE–of the kids in their Easter outfits TODAY! Terrible right? Well…lemme tell you why! We got home today and Frank and Isaac got into chocolate…and chocolate got all over their clothes! SOOO…I am totally going to re-inact their first Easter in a few days and take pictures of them in their outfits! I did HOWEVER get pictures on Saturday with the cousins (my sister April’s kiddos) when they came over!

Isaac was NOT interested in hunting for eggs. He picked up one and looked at the other kids like they were crazy (which…he has a GREAT point…)

I asked Frankie baby to give Isaac a hug…poor Isaac…

The cousins (minus Anna Kate hiding behind everyone)…

SO proud of himself…and such a happy boy…

And these two–they are just a few months apart…best buds and they just love one another so much!

They remind me so much of their mommas when they were their age…

We were all outside just catching up and enjoying one another’s company when time passed and I asked the question WE ALWAYS ASK…”Where’s Frank?”

I mean, you just NEVER know.

I had a FEELING what he was up to…

He is ADDICTED to sugar. Bless his heart…he gets it honest from his momma.

And we totally stole our friend’s Jimmy and Tammy Dugger’s tradition of the kids getting things they actually need for Easter for the season ahead. Everyone got swimsuits, a beach towel and sand toys! And of course shades…which I have got to get some pictures of ITY in his…he walks around in them but turns his head to the ceiling when he walks with them on…so funny!

After nap time today we just played around the house and cleaned up from our fun weekend. Frankie baby took cleaning up to a new level and hid under the kitchen table eating as many pieces of chocolate as possible before getting caught. He was NOT happy once found out…

Oh my goodness. Can I just get on your nerves and say, “Is he not the cutest little thing EVEN he’s upset with you?!” Well, let me tell you a trick. All you have to do is offer him some milk and he’s a happy camper all over again! I knew you wouldn’t want to end on Frank pouting:)

Today was an AMAZING day…but a hard one too. One of our little ones has been in and out of not feeling well–and we are just praying God’s protection over our sweet one and our family. We made it to service this morning and it was precious to see little Isaac clapping his hands in worship ON HIS FIRST EASTER SUNDAY! The Lord has done great things…and his health is strong and well and we are so thankful to the Lord for all He has done!!! Will you please pray for God’s soverign plan over our family and protection over everyone’s health? Thank you!

Also–please pray for my friend Amy Levy’s little girl Sarah who is struggling with an infection right now in her ear. This is not just any infection but a life threatening one because of the type it is and it’s proximity to the brain. Please pray for her COMPLETE HEALING!!! Sarah came home with AIDS but after medication it changed to HIV+ and now her counts are at ZERO!!!!! The Lord is indeed healing this little girl–but we really need the prayers of many right now for COMPLETE HEALING! Please pray that this infection will COMPLETELY GO AWAY and surgery will not be required…and of course that the doctors would be blown away and see God’s healing power!!!

As I was rocking my 4th child tonight…my sweet boy who came to a gift to us through adoption–I was looking in his eyes…and he was looking in mine. I was singing–and in the midst of my singing, I brought my nose close to his and he began to giggle. Holding his bottle between his lips–laughter muffled out…and in between one of his giggles, he said, “Mama.”

When he says this–my heart melts…as any moms heart does. But something else happens to us adoption moms when this happens…something much deeper…

I thought, “Oh beautiful baby boy…every child needs a momma. You have me…and I have you. HOW I WISH EVERY CHILD COULD HAVE THIS!“

I thought about the 147,000,000 orphans throughout the world–that will NEVER know a momma’s song…a momma’s kiss. Little ones who will never know what it feels like to be tucked in at night…to be fed full bottles…and to have the gift of giggling in a momma’s arms.

I thought about the little ones with sore backs and flat heads because for hours on end they lay in cribs with no one to play with them…no one to rock them…no one to simply love them.

And then as I rocked I thought about the cross.

ISN’T THIS WHY HE CAME???

ISN’T THIS WHY WE ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR???

ISN’T THIS WHY WE SAY YES—FOR YOUR SAKE—WE WILL NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD! WE WILL NOT LIVE FOR OUR OWN WILL BUT FOR YOUR WILL???

Jesus came for our sake–to CHANGE us…

Jesus came for their sake–to MINISTER to them THROUGH us…

Are we listening?

Are we following?

Are we radically clinging to the gospel and living for Him rather than ourselves?

I rocked my sweet boy and my heart was melting. Ten months ago, I was rocking a boy full of fear. He didn’t understand or even know how to be loved. He would scream at night when he could not feel my hand touching him…many nights we slept cheek to cheek. Week by week trust was built. And slowly but ever so powerfully, love is healing.

The cross…it was really about HEALING. To the world it looked just to be full of pain. BUT by his stripes–we are healed.

LOVE came down in the form of Jesus…for our sake and theirs.

He came to HEAL.

And when we are adopted as sons and daughters…and become sons and daughters of the Almighty God through Jesus–we are able to be healed…and then help others heal.

ONCE BELIEVERS—WE ARE CALLED TO HELP OTHERS HEAL.

This Easter…I ask you to pray with me–ask the Lord to lead you in His way to be a vessel for His power to be worked through. Whether it’s through adoption, foster care, orphan care, serving a neighbor, helping a single-mom, opening your home to someone who can’t afford one…whatever it is…to NOT make whatever you do a one time service project…to NOT make something a part of your to-do-list like it but A WAY OF LIFE through SACRIFICIAL LOVE. THIS is where change happens…when it becomes a part of your day to day life…isn’t that what living for Him, through Him and in Him means???

It will not be easy–but it will tranform your heart…and your life. And I promise you will experience blessing through it.

I thought tonight about so many orphan care ministries–and how they began and/or run by adoption families. I have a feeling they were changed to…MORE through the HEALING and being a part of the process rather than the trip to visit their child’s country to bring them home. There is power in being a part of the healing…and as you watch healing take place through sacrificial love–you can’t help but think of the rest of the world who is hurting…and how much the Lord might be able to do through a few people willing to take a step of faith.

Tonight I walked out of the nursery…no tears were shed like months before. There was no having to run back and calm him down and remind him I am his momma and it’s going to be okay. Instead–there was peace. I could hear my sweet boy jabbering to himself quietly as I walked away. Such comfort. Such joy. I smiled walking away…thinking of how far he has come…and how he is finally home in his heart, too. I shudder to think if we had settled with being comfortable or to be satisfied with “the American Dream”. God’s dream for our life and for the lives of others He leads us to is SO much greater!

May you hear from Him as you seek His will–and may you be blessed as you step out in faith and follow!

While He died on the cross–His followers mourned…they had no idea the hope that was to come. I see so much hurting in the world–yet there is SO MUCH HOPE too!!! We can be used as His hands and feet…and we can be a part of many beautiful resurrections and miracles as we follow!

Celebrating His goodness, hope and power,

Andrea

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 listen–or just shut Him out in fear of what might have to change…what if their husbands don’t hear it too…what if my life has to change…

But–oh…to LISTEN…and FOLLOW…there is nothing sweeter.

What if I lived life hearing but not listening?

What if I stopped listening–and my life got too busy and loud to even hear?

Then–I would be missing THIS.

I would be missing His BEST for my life.

It’s not about what you might have to change…but about knowing and experiencing His perfect love…and loving others through Him…not in YOUR strength…but in HIS.

What if I thought this world was about ME? What if I planned my days around WHAT I WANTED? What if I scheduled my children’s lives and schedules around what was most convenient for ME? Because…it’s just not about ME…there is SO MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN…me. YET–God looked down and saw ME. And said it was really about HIM–but He loved me enough to come down and die for me. And for you. So it could be about Him.

I was dying eggs with the children today…and I was thinking about how they are changed as they sit still…

By the way–to make you smile…Frank is our “official egg cooler”…he blows on them to cool them off before we dye them…(and yes–we experimented with a brown egg–which doesn’t dye well so don’t try that at home)…

The children wanted to dip these eggs in the dye and see IMMEDIATE change. But…they had to sit…they had to wait…they had to be still…

And then…much more was able to be added to them…so much more…and how much brighter–how much more vibrant…spilling over with joy each and every one…

Lately, the Lord is really teaching me to not live by looking to the right or the left–looking to see how others are living but to LOOK TO HIM and follow. And it can be awfully hard to follow when I don’t know what He wants me to do. Mother Teresa said, “In the silence of the heart God speaks and this is the time that He will speak to you.” I need to slow down more often…I want to be still in His presense…I want my heart to be transformed to REST in His will for my life.

Richard and I often make decisions that makes others look at us like we are crazy or say things to us that would be hurtful–BUT because God is the one who led us…we can smile with joy and confidence that we are choosing to live by His guidance rather than what the world holds in high esteem…

We said goodbye to the country club membership and we’re convinced golf courses in heaven are sweeter…and my husband can still take the boys out to public places that offer the same sweet father/son bonding. For us–that just made sense. We said yes to adoption–although the American dream says 3 kids is pushing it because how will you send them all to the college of their choice…and we thought 4 sounded sweet because God said He would provide and promises in His Word to meet all our needs. We rested when people told us it would be hard for us to have a black son and for him to have white parents…because we think having a family to love you is best of all–and following the Lord is even better. Nothing we have changed in our lives has been a SACRIFICE at all…but a complete transforming us from the inside out–freeing us to love others and rest more…and truthfully enjoy life as I’m convinced it was created to be lived. For His glory–for His sake…and not for ME.

All the things we have said good-bye too…is change in the bucket–traded in for so much we do not even deserve. And to think…had I never listened…we might have missed all this. Sitting here tonight I have to actually THINK of what we might be doing if we weren’t following Him on whatever He calls us to. The countryclub I chuckle at…I can’t believe it was ever a question for us. HEAR THIS–I am NOT saying you can’t be a part of a countryclub!!! Ministry happens there too folks! BUT that is just not where He was calling us!!! I chuckle because at one point 5 years ago it was actually a struggle to what to do…but I’m so thankful we listened as it freed us up to do things in Africa which eventually led us to grow our FAMILY!!! We are forever changed by saying yes and being obedient in the little tiny things that we thought we needed to follow Him on!

Some times following is hard. Some times it is a complete leap of faith. And it ALWAYS involves listening.

Lots of listening.

In the quiet.

And learning to listen when it’s loud too.

When is the last time you just sat and listened?

That you spilled your heart to your Creator…and then you just sat–and listened?

At first you may hear nothing…like the egg that goes into the dye and comes right out to say, “Nope…nothing yet”…but as you sit and soak and wait…bit by bit…your heart will be transformed as you wait on Him. And your day will and eventually your LIFE will reap the beauty of listening to the One who created your life to be lived for His glory…more beautiful than you could ever plan it yourself.

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 up to…

I’ll admit–I was a little worried about that thing he was doing with his hands–but Isaac wasn’t creeped out by it at all! He just stood there and looked at him! And then he walked over to me and put this on (it was circus day at the kids school)…

One thing I have friends some times say to me is, “You feed your children so healthy.” Well, I try–but don’t we all?! These next few pictures are to make you feel better about what your children ate for dinner tonight;)

my biggest weakness in life…

my favorite part of any meal-time is seeing these sweet hands folded together…this boy MELTS me!

Now I reallllllllly wish I’d had my camera for THIS moment. After almost 10 months of physical therapy, Isaac got released LAST WEEK and while we have spent EVERY WEDNESDAY at therapy since July–he is now walking and mobile enough to no longer need therapy!!!!! We thought we’d be doing this for YEARS…but God knew different and while we were sad to say our goodbyes–we REJOICED in a HUGE milestone in our sweet one’s life last week!

Diving in for one last hug!

THEN yesterday–we got to wish our dear friends from Uganda HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Richard won’t allow me to post a picture of what the older ones did to Frank this weekend. They played dress-up with him and he came running in the living with with Laney’s dance attire on–complete with tights and tap shoes. It really is hilarious…but I have to leave you with the mental image only;). Hope you all are having a great week! Off to have a bowl of cereal before clocking out for the night!

XOXO,

Andrea