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Insights from Dr.Purvis…

Are you considering adoption? Are you waiting for your sweetie to come home? Or are you newly home with your little one? Here are a few insights from Dr.Purvis that I thought were SO amazing to share! Soooo…from Dr.Purvis 7 insights for every adopting family…

1. EXPECTATIONS

What are your expectations?? I love that she says in this video to have NONE. My favorite quote in this one…“Jesus said take up your cross and follow me. I don’t find that Jesus ever called His disciples to a socially fashionable ministry. He called them to minister to the prostitute–to the taxcollector–to the people that were considered the outcast. Going into adoption–you have to understand this is not a socially fashionable ministry. This is a calling to lay down your life for the life of a child. Any other expection will bring disappointment…

Insight 1: Explore Your Expectations from Tapestry on Vimeo.

2. SIMPLIFY.

Love how Dr.Purvis shines wisdom on the cocooning concept…

Insight 2: Simplify Your Life from Tapestry on Vimeo.

3. FAMILIARITY

Insight 3: Provide Familiarity and Continuity from Tapestry on Vimeo.

4. BE FULLY PRESENT

Insight 4: Be Fully Present from Tapestry on Vimeo.

5. EXPECT LONG-TERM CHALLENGES

I think this is one of the areas many want to ignore–but I really believe it is SO important!!! We need to know what behaviors to look for and to know when our children need extra help. I’m around so many adopted children in our community–and there are so many times I’m talking with a child and I see behaviors that are crying out for help. We need to know what these behaviors are and to be sensitive and ready to help those we sought to bring home and help heal in the deepest and most difficult ways.

Insight 5: Expect Long-Term Challenges from Tapestry on Vimeo.

6. EMBRACE THE NEEDS OF YOUR CHILD

Insight 6: Embrace the Complex Needs of Your Child from Tapestry on Vimeo.

7. CREATE ENVIRONMENTS OF BALANCE

Insight 7: Create a Balance of Nurture & Structure from Tapestry on Vimeo.

NOW…you might NOT be an adopting family–and seeing some of these videos may overwhelm you a bit. BUT being on this side of adoption–let me tell you…it is not easy–but it WORTH IT. God always equips who He calls! And to have the calling to LOVE a child and to help them HEAL…oh–such a SWEET and holy calling!!! We are not called to rescue a child. We are called to LOVE…to love as HE loves. If you are a parent–then you know it’s not always easy to LOVE as God loves. And there is nothing that will transform your heart more than parenting—and even more transformation is loving a child who is hurting…who you have to drop everything for…who you watch tremble with fear–and to rock and whisper…and sing truth into their sweet little souls.

YES–He always, always, ALWAYS will equip who He calls. And remember–this equipping will NOT come all at once…but bit by bit as you seek Him and ask He that called you to equip you. The world will some times look at you like you are crazy. They will question if you are doing what is best for your “own” kids. But deep down, you know this child IS YOUR OWN TOO…and there is nothing in the world you wouldn’t do to help healing begin. The Bible says do not look to the left or the right–but keep your eyes set on the prize of Christ. Keep your eyes set on the calling He has given you. And if the world shakes it’s head at you–you just keep steadfast on your calling and be the hands and feet of Christ…let Him love your child through YOU…and let HIM fill YOU with His love as you follow Him and trust Him.

And if I can ever pray for you…offer support…or answer questions (or direct you to someone who can)…please feel free to contact me. We are in this together–and what an honor it is to walk this journey with so many others!

Love,

Andrea

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Christy - April 18, 2011 - 12:11 am

Thank you so much for this Andrea!! We’re plugging through, using lots of Dr. Purvis’ strategies. I’m exhausted but encouraged!! It’s hard but rewarding!! I love receiving His strength and grace for each day. It is an honor to parent our son (and all our other kiddos) and I am so glad you feel the same way.
My blog is private (I’m praying about making it public) but feel free to email me if you’d like an invite.
Blessings!!

Leah - April 18, 2011 - 10:57 am

I just wanted to let you know that this weekend I received my beautiful adoption t-shirt. Good things come to those who wait! πŸ™‚ I had given up on receiving it, and never bothered to contact you because it was my own fault for having an outdated address on paypal, so I was SO pleasantly surprised when I got a package Saturday. I screamed with delight! I can’t wait to wear my new shirt! πŸ™‚

Christy - April 18, 2011 - 8:35 pm

whew – I just watched them all, and it was overwhelming but encouraging too! Good stuff, and such a blessing that there is so much out there to inform and help.

Tiffany - April 18, 2011 - 10:39 pm

Thanks for this post Andrea. Sometimes I feel like the voice of doom to those who are in the process of adopting. I certainly don’t want to scare anyone…I just want them to know and to be prepared. I see this stuff in so many kids, but with parents not even aware of the issues…I just wish everyone knew this information!

emily - April 18, 2011 - 10:42 pm

Great Stuff!! We just got home from Rwanda a couple weeks ago with our little boy!! He is a delight. Your retreat and so much of the Purvis stuff has been such great prep work! I linked this post on my site, she is so wise! thanks for your insights as well, I am soaking it all up!

Charity - April 20, 2011 - 2:48 pm

Really good information! Thank you for sharing Andrea!

Stephanie Goldsmith - April 27, 2011 - 11:35 pm

Hi Andrea! Emily’s blog linked your site and I subscribed right away! Thanks for your efforts in posting Dr. Purvis’ very helpful videos! Her books have given me so many more tools to work with! I am adopting a 6 and 8 year old on Friday from the foster care system and this was very helpful!

Our Cupcake Kids…

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 little fun from our day!

The Cupcake Kids…(can you tell who was too busy eating cupcakes instead of selling them in these pictures?!)

The FULL crew…(and OF COURSE Silas is being a HAM!)

I’m really uncertain how many cupcakes Frankie baby ate today…and we are so thankful for all of our sweet friends who came out to support the orphans and Uganda…(our cupcake kiddos with some of team Waggoner!)

Here is Frankie baby asking for ANOTHER cupcake! (Yes…he is carrying a pink purse. He cleaned out his piggy bank at home and got one of Laney’s doll’s diaper bags. He is carrying this EVERY where we go!!!! He even took it to the pizza place tonight. Only Frank in his tractor shirt and crazy self can get away with this…) Just ONE more cupcake momma–PEAS!? (He’s really diggin’ his Show Hope tee!)

We had BIG plans for lots of traffic because baseball game traffic would be coming through. HOWEVER…because of the rain/thunder storm last night–they were ALL cancelled! All of our cupcake buyers were FRIENDS who came all the way out to support 60Feet–which made it even SWEETER for us and we were all so thankful and touched to see our friends come out this morning/afternoon for cupcakes!

Was so thankful to get to see a friend I hadn’t seen in years–and oh MY…ITY’s belly really shows off in this picture doesn’t it;)!? Love EVERY inch of him!!!! (So good seeing you Melanie!!!)


(How cute is the shirt Candy Pearson made me?! Not sure if you can tell–but the little heart is stuffed and pokes out a bit over Ethiopia!)

What I love MOST about days like today are the conversations we have afterwards. The kids were asking about serving others and kids without. We had A LOT of cupcakes left over–and we decided to take them to the kiddos at Convoy of Hope in Roswell to bless little folks in our area who came out today for groceries and jumpies and free medical care. On the way home, Parker was amazed after seeing the kids our area who also need help and we had a sweet talk about how we can help others right here at home as well as around the world. 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 shaped through service makes those late night bake-a-thons worth it.

What IF we spent more time brainstorming with our children how we could serve our world–rather than be served…asking what could WE do for OTHERS rather than what do YOU WANT to do? It will not come naturally at first to us OR to them…but what a sweet habit to form–and to watch a heart of love, gratitude, service and mercy form in our sweet ones hearts as we invite them to come with us and even follow them in some of their own ideas to serve…

May you all have a BLESSED weekend! I’m so excited because I get to see my brother-in-law get baptized tomorrow!!! And thankful Richard’s sister is coming to babysit babies so we can actually sit in the service and celebrate this moment with him! Happy Sunday…the SWEETEST day of all! Rest in the Lord…and enjoy the moment!

XOXO!

Andrea

P.S. I just know you’d like to see our cupcake contributions wouldn’t you;) Well…we made OWLS…

AND in honor Psalm 84…a reminder that God takes care of even the birds and He will also take care of orphans–we made little bird nest cupcakes…just a few;)

(These would be WAY cute for upcoming Easter fun wouldn’t they?! Toasted coconut makes it look more nesty and then jellybeans for the eggs! Someone said they saw someone also add licorice sticks as a basket handle which would be another fun thing for you to add!)

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Briana - April 16, 2011 - 11:35 pm

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. πŸ™‚ And my son has the same Show Hope shirt!

Christy - April 17, 2011 - 6:53 am

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! πŸ™‚

My heart kid | Fitnesscoach36 - July 18, 2011 - 3:43 am

[…] 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 … […]

(Post 4) – One of the Best Years of My Life – Part IV

Two of these “Best Years” series posts in a row? Well, I couldn’t help myself as I laughed at Frankie baby this morning. My cup runneth over. THIS baby’s birth…changed me as a mom…as a person…and I had no idea what I was missing…

The days were long and the years seemed to fly by…and I was convinced it would have been easier to have twins who were on the same schedule rather than two babies a year apart…we LIVED at home to accommodate everyone’s schedule–and if it weren’t for these pictures–I wouldn’t remember much.

Parker and daddy’s favorite past-time…

And before you know it–I had officially survived the first year…

It was at this point that Richard began reminding me that we wanted more children–and if we tried for #3 now–then our 3rd would be just 2 years younger than Laney. For months I called him CRAZY. I thought he had lost his mind. But the more he talked–and shared his heart–the more I was convinced it would be a great thing to have the children close together so they could grow together and do life together. It took me awhile to get there–but I got there. And this was a new perspective for me–because we’d had two surprises and I thought this was fun to finally “plan” when we’d have a child…(as IF you really have any control–hadn’t I learned that by now?!)

So we started trying for #3–and I started playing lullabies and dreaming. Fall passed us by…and then came Christmas…

I stocked up on ovulation tests.

I checked my temperature daily.

I made a poster board charting my temperatures and when the best times would be to get pregnant.

While the first few months of taking tests to see if just MAYBE we were expecting seemed fun…like the anticipation of Christmas morning and waiting to see the gift you’ve dreamed of…at first it seemed exciting. But after Fall and Winter passed…it was no longer fun any more. It was stressful…and my heart longed.

And every month–when I got a negative test…I sat on the bed–and cried.

I. Had. No. Idea.

One of my bestfriends had her baby…I forced myself to go to the hospital…I was so happy to get to hold her sweetie–but I didn’t expect to feel the way I felt when I did. I couldn’t get out of the hospital fast enough. I ran to my car and cried all the way home. I ran up the stairs to Laney’s room–and I picked her while she was still sleeping…and I watched her sleep. I went to Parker’s room and combed my fingers through his hair. He was so perfect. And so was she. And I. Had. NO. Idea. WHAT MIRACLES THEY WERE.

I realized then and there–how much I had taken some of my mommyhood for granted. It came to me before I wished for it or LONGED for it. The diapers I dreaded. The nursing…a chore. So many things…were just something I had to do rather than GIFTS…MIRACLES…TRUE JOYS. I had no idea!

From that day forward–I was changed. And this is where ONE of the BEST years of my life REALLY begins…in the REAL LIVING…

I STILL LONGED for another baby. But I threw the ovulations tests away–as they were making conceiving a baby a task. I threw the chart away. I tossed the calendar in the trash. And I called an adoption agency–and asked for a packet. My heart knew it was longing for a baby…but maybe my baby was coming in a different way this time. We always said we’d adopt first–but God had different plans for us…and I now realized how PERFECT HIS PLANS WERE. I now watched them sleep at night with a worshipful heart to my Savior for blessing me with these precious gifts. Being a mom was now a TRUE MIRACLE.

Rich and I just decided to ENJOY our two little ones…our lives…and we even set the adoption papers aside. Our hearts needed to stop trying so hard to make all “OUR PLANS” come true…and just rest in the waiting for HIS PLANS–we needed to just BE for awhile. Every time a baby was born or a friend called me with pregnancy news–my heart sank for a moment…but then I looked in my back yard at my two precious miracles and thanked God for giving them to me. I realized how MUCH I NEEDED this season.

I came alive with my littles more than I ever had…and life was good.

Another season passed and Richard was heading over to Africa to make another trip to Wiphan Zambia. When he planned the trip in the Fall I had decided not to go with because I thought we’d be pregnant. Now, he left–and I was home with my two little ones with the reminder of why I didn’t go. I packed our bags and I headed to the beach to crash my sister’s beach vacation. Isn’t that what every good sister does in times like these;). Just kidding–it was just my mom and sister and my nieces at the beach–so we took off to join them. Only–we didn’t quite make it on our first attempt. Laney started throwing up in the van when we got stuck in Atlanta traffic–so we turned around and headed home.

It turned out she was only carsick. I got the car cleaned up. Babies to sleep. And I had the sweetest PEACE come over me. Nothing was quite like I would have planned–but there was PEACE…and I longed for my sweet husband who was half way around the world.

And just for kicks…because I was bored and couldn’t sleep at 1am–I took one of the 100 pregnancy tests under my bathroom cabinet. And I sat on my bathroom floor and cried. By myself. I was going to be a mommy again!

Looking back now–I am in awe how God planned this. How HE was the only one I could celebrate with in the moment…and WORSHIP. I laughed sitting there thinking how if Laney hadn’t gotten sick on the way to the beach–I wouldn’t even know. I was in tears driving BACK home with the car all packed up…with puke every where…knowing the clean up was NOT going to be pretty and how if she hadn’t gotten sick we’d be at the beach with family and DISTRACTIONS by now. But God said, “NO.” He said, “You can’t see what I’m up to…” He wanted me to have this SWEET knowledge of the gift ALREADY given to me to enjoy all week while Richard was gone…and He had perfectly written this story.

It took me 2 days to get in touch with Richard in Zambia. That may have been the longest two days of my life! My heart couldn’t believe it…and I made him swear we wouldn’t tell anyone until we were 10 weeks along to make sure it was safe and the baby was okay. He didn’t hear me I guess–because I heard him shout to 400 children and widows, “I’m gonna be a daddy again!!!”

How can you be mad at that;)?!

He promised the orphans and widows in Zambia wouldn’t tell anyone we knew;)–and they all rejoiced when he told them. We had stepped out in faith a year earlier to join 4 other couples in heading up Wiphan–and God’s plans were perfect. These people across the world were now family to us…and dear to our hearts…and although normally I would have wanted to share this moment with Richard–it was perfect to share it across the world…and with part of our heartbeat of in these people we had fallen in love with.

By the time I went to my first appointment–to my surprise I learned that when Richard shared our news in Zambia WE WERE actually 10 weeks pregnant!! SO…he had even told others in the time we wanted to. BUT we still hadn’t told anyone–and at our first appointment we not only learned I was 15 weeks pregnant (crazy how all the previous tests were negative each month because I’m convinced the Lord wanted us to find out in this way instead)…but we ALSO found out at our very first appointment we’d have a SON!

I cried…and I was overjoyed. A MIRACLE!!! And I proceded to cry through EVERY. SINGLE. APPOINTMENT. When there were new doctors, they would assume he was my first–and when I would tell them he was my 3rd they would ask if everything was okay at home…seriously–all a nurse or doctor would have to say is “he’s measureing perfectly” and I’d burst into tears! And hearing the heartbeat–I’d lose it EVERY time. I’d look at them and tell them it was more than okay…and I was having a baby!

I thought of all my friends who had tried for much longer than this to have their little ones…and I now rejoiced with them in a new way with their news. I knew I would NEVER, EVER in a million years understand the grief and heartache some of my dear family and friends have gone through not ever carrying a little one…and I began to see my days and the miracles God had given me in a whole new light…and I really, really, REALLY began to hold my children differently…sing to them more passionately…and from that day forward–I would (and still do) cry almost every night when I read them sweet stories at bed time.

I called a dear friend (Tammy Dugger) to capture my big belly just a few weeks before delivering my sweet Frank…

We decided to name our sweet boy after my grandfather who shared the gospel with me when I needed it most. His name–Frank–means “spear/arrow” and we pray the verse over his life that he will be an arrow for the gospel…that when we send him out God would use his life to pierce the hearts of man to be transformed for His sake…

Psalm 127:3-5…Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them
.

And then…he made his appearance…

For this delivery…the room was full. For the others–it had just been Rich and I…and the doctors and nurses of course. But for this sweet miracle–the room was lined with my very bestfriends…my sisters and my mom. Many tears were shed at his first cry…and I couldn’t believe I was a mommy again. My heart was more than full.

Parker – Age 4

Laney – age 3

The nurse came in and asked that night if she could take Frankie baby to the nursery so I could get some rest. I had followed advice of others and done this with my first two. I looked at her and held back tears at the thought of her taking him from me for a moment–and shook my head no. And I pulled him closer.

Richard turned out the light–and all was quiet.

Tears rolled down my cheek, and I softly asked, “Rich?”

“Yes my love?”

“Can you imagine not doing this again?”

“No.”

“Me either.”

And we went to sleep…with our miracle sweetly sleeping beside me.

The days were suddenly not so slow–and it seemed I had to do everything to slow them down…and my new heart desire was to ENJOY THE MOMENT and the sweet miracles our lives had been blessed with. I think I have a picture of our Frankie baby almost every day of his sweet life thus far…

Frank – Day 4

And little did we know that just 6 months later…

…that we’d feel the longing so strongly again. Only this time…we’d travel the world over to bring him home…(Post 5 is around the corner:)

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Lauren - April 15, 2011 - 1:40 am

Hi Andrea! My name is Lauren and I met you a LONG time ago, back in 2001 after your year in East Asia, as I was considering going. I remember you told me, “You WILL meet your husband there”! And I did! And you know him! His name is Brett Dooley. We have just returned to East Asia and I have been turned onto your blog by some adopting moms here. I had to comment on this post, because we also had a very long road in conceiving our second child (whom I am expecting this July), and your post definitely captures the new gratitude I have as a mom while longing for a baby, and the joy that comes in expecting that long-awaited miracle. I had no idea what a miracle our first son was until it took us 1.5ish years and a miscarriage to get pregnant again. Thanks for sharing this as a best year, it’s a great perspective to have as heart-wrenching as I know it was. Your family is so precious!

Christy - April 15, 2011 - 7:15 am

Oh, I can’t read enough from you – I think you should write a book! πŸ™‚ Thanks for reminding me to enjoy my kiddos in the here and now, in every moment, not just looking to what’s ahead!

Kandra - April 15, 2011 - 8:08 am

LOVE you! Enough said. Your real and authentic and that is why I know God has called you to such a divine purpose…you reach women at a level that I don’t know if YOU even know yet, my sister.

Thanks for always been honest…it is beautiful.

Joy Kinard - April 15, 2011 - 9:05 am

I love this sweet story of your life!

Sara - April 15, 2011 - 9:23 am

Love the story. I also love the picture of Frank with Richard in the background. It looks just like the big boy Frank we now know!

Kim - April 15, 2011 - 9:58 am

Every chapter just keeps getting better!

Audrey - April 15, 2011 - 3:53 pm

That was so beautiful and my story is so similar with our first two being wonderful surprises and then trying two years for our third son, and here we are on our own journey to Ethiopia for our daughter. Your story is beautiful and I look forward to the next chapter; you’re an excellent writer and your words gush the glory of God all over the page. Bless you.

abby - April 15, 2011 - 4:00 pm

just beautiful. and now I don’t feel so silly for taking pictures of my girls almost every day. they are the most precious gifts.

Dawn - April 15, 2011 - 6:54 pm

Love hearing God’s story of your family πŸ™‚

missy - April 16, 2011 - 9:54 pm

i am AMAZED at how frank has looked just the same from the very first minute he was born!!! that expression on his face is just so FRANK. i love it!

[…] (Post 4) – One of the Best Years of My Life – Part IV […]

(Post 3) One of the best years of my life – Part III

Exactly 14 months and 2 days from our 1st wedding anniversary, we welcomed our first child into the world.

While I was certain we’d spend our first years just me and my beau–and who knows maybe I’d convince Rich to take a trip across the world with me to visit China while I still had friends living there–how I longed for him to experience this part of my heart with me…instead–I fill out a letter that I wouldn’t be returning as a teacher the following year, we moved into our first home and I started my new career as a stay-at-home mom. I was also certain we’d adopt first–but I’m quickly learning to be less certain about my heart’s plans and instead to take one day at a time.

My induction in mommyhood was a dream come true–but not an easy one. My little man didn’t come home with us from the hospital and stayed a bit in the NICU as he had a problem with breathing. Going to bed at night without my baby next to me knowing he was across town–it was the first experience I had with TRUE LONGING…but one that would prepare me later for our 4th child being across the WORLD when I also longed to have him in my arms.

Thankfully–Parker’s separation from me was short-lived and he was home just in time for his colic to be in full force. Honestly, I didn’t know any different–and I had heard other moms talk about fussy afternoon babies so I thought his 4-5 hour crying from 3pm-8pm was normal. He wouldn’t stop no matter what you did during that time…feeding, rocking, bouncing, riding in the car, sitting his carseat on the dryer, turning on the hair-dryer or vacuum. Nothing helped. We tried reflux meds. We met with nutritionists. I breastfed then tried formula…and because he seemed to hate both–I stuck with breastfeeding.

“Soooo..THIS…this of all things makes your best years of my life posts???”

I think I’m on to something, aren’t I? Seems the most trying, hard moments lead to the best things.

Our pediatrician always says that Richard and I are the most patient, laid back parents he knows. My other doctor always asks me if I’m breathing when he checks my blood pressure. I have to thank Parker-man for building character into us during those 6 long months of colic. YES…SIX long months of unending tears. Bless him. Bless us. Bless all of the family and friends who’d stop by to take turns holding him so we could do things like just sit on the porch and take a few deep breaths and have a few moments of calm. And in the midst of this…when he was about 5 months old…in the mist of colic, in the midst of breastfeeding, in the midst of figuring parenting out…we discovered Parker would be a big brother!

I can remember the weight of “how can I do this…can I love another baby…will he always have colic…TWO babies in 14 months on different schedules???” Don’t get me wrong–I was SO THANKFUL to be able to get pregnant–but I was one tired mom and wasn’t sure I had the energy to add more craziness to our plate. I was worried how another child would effect Parker…and I was really, really, really, REALLY…sick.

One month later, Parker’s colic went away–just as he hit 6 months. I had 8 more months to follow of sickness…which NEVER went away. I ended up in the hospital a number of times and had to stay on medicine to keep me from hugging the toilet…which led to dehydration and back in the hospital with contractions. I remember the routine of taking Parker to playdates and grabbing barf bags to use on the way. He’d copy me making barf sounds from his infant carrier in the back seat. Nice, huh?

And THEN…all my worries were over when she got here. I was no longer sick. Parker was sleeping through the night. And not only did I see that he wasn’t left out or sad–his heart was more full…as we all of hearts for a princess to love…

As I was reflecting on which years I’d mark as the most AMAZING so far…this year + a few months of our family welcoming our first child and discovering another sweet one was on the way…and then her coming (okay so maybe that is really 2 years…but they totally blur together with how quickly things happened!) I realize I don’t have any big WOWs or lessons for what I really learned…

I was at home…changing diapers…pregnancy sickness every day for 9 months…and we really just stayed at home–doing the day-in-day-out mundane. But there was so much beauty in it. And being the one to be there to change every diaper…wipe away ever tear and to grow in my walk with the Lord as I asked him daily to give me wisdom in how to calm my sweet boy and show me how to love him…these are moments that CHANGED me forever. Times were tighter on a single salary–but I live with no regrets how, and I learned to love with my whole heart all over again…

My heart had ached to return to the mission field…but very quickly I saw the Lord was providing me a new, sweet, holy ministry…to my children. And I knew, this was what I was made for.

Moments to remember…

Parker meeting Laney…

Parker shows off his moves…

This one always makes me laugh…

Makes me realize how LITTLE Parker was when Laney was born…and NO he was NOT in this big boy bed yet–we had TWO cribs just like we do now:)

So…there ya have it…videos of what life was like for us 5 years ago. Man–how it flies by!!! How how thankful I am for the journey…hang in there–post 5 is really around the corner…and it’s so worth the wait!

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Kim - April 14, 2011 - 1:09 am

Lovin this look back series. God continues to reveal our common connections! Six months of colic with our 1st born. And I have relatives to confirm it was not the witching hour fussiness at the end of the day so many Mom’s complain about. OOOHHH! I say all the time, he got all that fussiness out in the 1st six months … cause he has been a DREAM toddler, big boy, tween, and teen. Cannot wait for post five!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Kim - April 14, 2011 - 1:10 am

“Learning to be less concerned about my heart plans” … that is the nugget of truth I needed today! Thank you for this reminder! Love & Blessings from Hong Kong, Kim

Chrystal - April 14, 2011 - 10:10 am

so-so precious! πŸ™‚ Makes you realize just how fast they grow up. I had 3 kiddos really close in age, too.. 11 months a part, so I TOTALLY get this time of your life. πŸ™‚ A lot of that time for me was a blur.. total mommy-mode 24/7.. feedings, diapers, playing, baths, no sleep…. but ah, I would never for a second trade it for anything in the world. We never left our house, either…. and going to the dr. office was a HOOT! It would be baby Addi strapped to my chest in a sling, and me pushing a 1 & 2yr. old in a double stroller… oh, the looks I would get. It doesn’t help that I’m only 4’11.. people stared at me like I was some teenager out of control (hahaha). πŸ™‚ Love reading this series of posts from you… πŸ™‚ makes me smile!

Kelly - April 14, 2011 - 2:28 pm

These rememering posts are great! I SO get you with the two very close apart and reading your experience, I felt like I was re-living my first mommy days… we had a lot of the same experiences! πŸ˜‰ The time does really blur together, I still can’t believe my “baby” just turned two and her big brother will be three very soon.

Alison - April 14, 2011 - 4:08 pm

Love these posts! And I can totally relate to those early Mommyhood days! We had our 3 kids in less than 3 1/2 years and I was sick with all 3 pregnancies! Sometimes I was just in “survival mode”, but those years were so precious! So thankful for them!! Can’t wait to read post #5!!! πŸ™‚

[…] (Post 3) One of the best years of my life – Part III […]

Pictures that take you back…

The hubby and I have been sitting behind the computer today reminiscing…reminding ourselves to ENJOY THE MOMENTS. Sooo…for those of you who adore Frankie baby as much as we do…you just HAVE to see what our Parker looked like when he was Frankie baby’s age…

Parker: Age 2

Oh my Parker-man still melts my heart! When he was Frank’s age–he took “brown doggie” every where (yes–as you can tell by his stuffed animals names we get real creative over here with names don’t we;). This picture was his sweet little soul trying to be brave and attempt the day at preschool without brown doggie. I think he ended up going in his bag for most of the year…and brown doggie has now parked it in a chair in Parker’s room where he doesn’t move. HOWEVER…he still sleeps with “white blanket”…and I love that he still holds on to a few things from his toddler hood that keep him always my baby.

BY THE WAY…I sing him a good night song EVERY night. They all have their own good-night songs. I sang it for the first time the first night we brought him home from the hospital…(I recently discovered I have the lyrics mixed up as it’s an old Bonnie Owens song…and I never heard her version so my tune is completely lullabish and not twang…but the words–bring a lump in my throat EVERY time I sing it to him)…

Two eyes that shine so bright
Two lips that kiss good night
Two arms that hug so tight
That little boy of mine

You’ll never know how much
Your coming to us has meant
Because I love you so
You’re something heaven has sent

You mean the world to me
You climb upon my knee
To me you’ll always be
That little boy of mine

…and I will probably sing it to him when I hug him off to college one day. BUT for now…I’m basking in the moments and enjoying my sweet 6 year old…and keeping him little as long as I can!

Enjoy EVERY moment…it’ll pass by in a blink.

XOXO,

Andrea

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Kim - April 13, 2011 - 12:57 am

My girls have their own songs that I made up when they were born, too! Wow.. I didn’t realize anyone else did that, lol! It wasn’t even planned.. just happened :O)

Dawn - April 13, 2011 - 8:00 pm

Awwww…..I sing to my kiddos too. Made mine up πŸ™‚ They love it and if I forget- they remind me.