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Rest for the Weary (a time for everything…including whoopie pies)

03.02.2011

As I’m working with an amazing team of adoption moms…WAY AHEAD of me–so full of experience and wisdom…on a VERY special pre-Summit event, I have been praying WHAT Lord do you have for these moms…WHAT do you want them to hear? I was praying today–and being ONE OF THOSE MOMS in the middle of it (and for me…we are in the midst of hard right now)–God spoke so loud to my heart. REST.

I’m not sure about you–but in the midst of chaos–rest is usually not what I do…YET–in our times of being weary–it is where He calls us. Now, I know you may be scanning through blogs and such…but slow down just to read this–because they are NOT my words, but HIS. Allow HIM to speak to your heart right where you are…I know I need this…and maybe this is for you too…

Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)

I’m sure Jesus had made his share of yokes in his days as a carpenter. A good carpenter knew to make the yoke for the oxen–to fit perfectly. And most yokes were made in pairs. A strong, wiser oxen is usually paired with a newer oxen–so one can follow while the other guides…going in the same direction…step-by-step. When we feel the WEIGHT of the load–one of two things is probably happening as the weaker ox…Christ being the Guide. We are either pulling away from the Guide in the yoke OR we are getting ahead of Him (or rather choosing to carry what is not ours to carry). All the while–He is asking you to REST.

Are you listening?

Rest in ME sweet child. Yes, I want you to come to me as a little child and TRUST in me…for I want to reveal myself to you. And I want you to REST while you are here…REST…seeing more of me. In your storm, you wonder if I’m sleeping…my disciples wondered the SAME thing in the storm. And I was resting. I was. It’s true. And I longed for them to come rest with me–even in the storm. I was waiting. I will calm your storm, but I need you to trust Me while you are in it. I didn’t promise this would this would be easy–but I do want to provide for you…and I want to make it easier than you are allowing your load be…I have made the yoke perfectly–so your load will be LIGHT and I can carry the rest. Oh my daughter…I have made this yoke JUST FOR YOU. Will you wear it? Will you let me guide you? Will you follow me…and trust me through the storm? I want you to see my faithfulness…and I want to carry the weight FOR YOU in the storm, in the sun, day in and day out…if you’ll let me.


I want you to learn from me…to trust me…to take time to sit in quiet and listen for me…in my time you I will turn you this way and that–and some times we will stop and rest or stay the steady course. Along the way, I want you to know me…to become wise in my way…and to pave the pathway for your children to follow. I am gentle…I humbly take my side of the yoke and ask you to COME…come to me…and I will give you rest.

Isn’t it sweet to listen…to trust and to REST in HIM…to know He speaks to your heart and encourages you right where you are???

And today–I needed THIS. These past few days have been really hard days. HARD days. Not ready to blog about them–but one day I will. Right now I’m learning through them and trying to rest in the yoke designed just for me. And to keep walking step-by-step with my Guide. I can’t tell you what a WORLD of difference it makes in my life to daily surrender to my Savior…to tell Him I need Him and to come to Him. I was smiling today thinking about yesterday’s post “learn to laugh in the hard times” and today–I did just that…

It was a LONG, hard day…and tonight we raced home from baseball practice for dinner–realizing momma really needs to make a trip to the grocery. Richard and I creatively came up with dinner out of the freezer and with a few left overs…and out of no where–I pulled out my ginormous electric mixer and told the children to get their aprons and stools…it was time to join momma making some whoopie pies. Richard looked across the kitchen at me like I may have lost it–mix and match dinner and momma is gonna whip up whoopie pies???

Yes! And it felt quite good I might add. I had given my hard stuff to the bearer of burdens…so it was time to make whoopie pies and end our hard day on a really fun, beautiful note. The kids were giddy with laughter–and I even let them lick the bowl. We got out the sprinkles and talked about fun ahead…Lent, Nana’s birthday, Saint Patrick’s day…and we got out the green sprinkles. Sure–the unexpected may come, but at the end of the day…there can be dessert and rest…and new found JOY. And JOY beginning to flow from your heart during the hard days…is a gift from God–and the sweetest dessert of all.

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Georgia Smith - March 3, 2011 - 6:38 am

It is so funny that I got up at 4:30 this morning to get ready and decided I had a little time to get online. I open up your blog and see that verse and it sends chills down my spine. I got home from youth last night and was thinking as I was in the bed that we need to read the bible more at youth service, I do to. It’s been awhile since I read the bible. I get mine out just let it fall open and read the first verse I see, guess what it was? YEP, Matthew 11: 15-30. I think someone is trying to tell me something.

Christy - March 3, 2011 - 7:16 am

And no recipe? 🙂 I’ve gotta learn how to make these with my kiddos. Sounded like similiar kind of days yesterday, except we made chocolate banana pops to freeze since we had lots of bananas and some chocolate to use up! 🙂 Fun times. Praying for you as you juggle all that you will today, Andrea! Thanks for the reminder to rest.

Sarah - March 3, 2011 - 7:20 am

I needed this reminder in the craziest of ways. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you!

Lara - March 3, 2011 - 8:23 am

I need this today. I am feeling the weariness….

Kim - March 3, 2011 - 9:19 am

And example to follow. Celebrate and give thanks … even on the hard days.
Now … how does one whip up some whoopie pies?
Recipe deprived in Hong Kong,
Kim

Christina - March 3, 2011 - 10:11 am

I was just about to send you an email and nag you about that info packet and thougt I’d stop by your blog first. So glad I did–no need for me to add demands to your busy life!! Just get around to it when you are able (but don’t forget about me–I’m still interested and my Hus-B is on board!) Great post, Andrea–words from Jesus that every busy mom needs to read and take to heart. And please do share the whoopie pie recipe! They look so yummy! xoxo

ellen - March 3, 2011 - 10:34 am

Water to my soul.

Thank you, Andrea – you minister to so many of us. I will be praying for you.

Rachelle - March 3, 2011 - 1:20 pm

Wow Andrea lately what you are posting feels directed at me. I am trying to fight the good fight to often alone. Today I am trying to get through what feels like a test of my faith. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

Sincerely, Rachelle

Melissa Lazzara - March 3, 2011 - 3:47 pm

thanks for this today andrea! i need REST in the worst way. so much going on, sick kids, adoption that’s a hurry up, then wait… then more paperwork… then fingerprints again. so many things uncertain except for the love of my Savior. thanks for reminding me to rest in Him, because I’m a complete spaz without Him.

Dawn - March 3, 2011 - 9:02 pm

Praying for you Andrea……..God knows…
praying you are resting in HIM!

Live, Laugh, Love (Encouragement for the crazy mom)

03.01.2011

If you are reading this–you are probably one of those moms that peaks at my blog because in some form you identify with our craziness. It’s a good crazy, right? You probably don’t really have “time” to sit down and read–but rather need a quick fix of encouragement…not necessarily from the words I write but more so to be reminded that you aren’t alone–and technically, we’re really in this together.

I wanted to take a few minutes to share something with you all that DAILY reminds me of my purpose and how to keep the main thing–the main thing. Daily, things come our way that have the capacity to overwhelm and discourage us as moms–whether it be a complete diaper blow out in a crib after finally finding clean sheets to a traveling partner-in-crime that leaves you flying solo when you feel like you just need a break. I need ALL the reminders I can get in my life–and for me having little things around my home that remind me of my purpose can really often set me back on course and bring calm when I need it most. You have probably seen that phrase all over the place…”live, laugh, love”…you probably have it on something in your home–but I wanted to share with you what it reminds me to do and be as a mom in hopes that it may also bring some encouragement to you as well.

Every day, I see those words in the yard RIGHT in front of my mini-van before we step out into the world, and I also see it when I pull back in before we enter our home. I snagged a similar picture of etsy (this seller is selling some she makes herself here…you might want the same reminder after reading this too). So…every day when I get ready to leave and when I come back I see this…

Live

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

As I mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister…I want to LIVE. It is SO easy in our culture to be ruled by RECTANGLES. I heard my friend Amy Monroe speak on this at the Created for Care Retreat–and it’s SO true. If you think about it RECTANGLES can swallow up our time and value of LIFE with our family and children. Think about it…tv, iphones, computers…even books. It’s easy to let our kids watch tv while we check email (Did you know the average American child watches 2-3 hours of tv per day? And 45% of them say their parents leave the tv on for them for most of the time they are home). It’s easy to spend our hours on the internet…instead of catching up on much needed laundry (I mean seriously–if given the choice? And did you know the average American spends at least 2 hours a day on the internet?) It’s easy to talk to a friend on the phone…and then this friend and that one. RECTANGLES, RECTANGLES, RECTANGLES. I want to choose to LIVE over spending too much time on RECTANGLES. As lent is quickly approaching (begins Ash Wednesday on March 9th)–I want to challenge you to pray about how you can decrease the time spent on RECTANGLES in your life and LIVE more fruitfully with your family (Just so you know–I’m preaching to the choir here…I want to LIVE more!!!). I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to hear what you are choosing to do–so please share so maybe some of us moms can take on this challenge together! Soooo…every day when I see the sign LIVE–it reminds me to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT WHEN I’M 80 I’LL LOOK BACK AND SAY, “I HAVE NO REGRETS!” (Seriously doubt we’ll regret spending more time with our children, more time outside, more time away from rectangles…)

LAUGH

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Choose to laugh. As you choose to LIVE more–things will be harder…at first. BUT there are more rewards as we spend our time investing in those we love. Choose to LAUGH when things don’t go your way–and look for things to LAUGH about. Just yesterday I was taking a friend’s son home that lives around the corner from me and I passed a group of turkeys. Now, we could have passed them quickly and not looked back because–after all, it was lunch time, the babies needed to get down for naps and it had already been a crazy morning…Isaac was crying, Frank was whining for his binky and the older ones were pushing in the backseat and tattle-telling. I could have kept driving past those turkeys with my stomach in knots because of our chaos–OR I could take advantage of this rare opportunity and turn it into a time of laughter. I pulled over very carefully, decided to get out of the car and take pictures of them with my iPhone and when I got close enough–the larger turkey started to chase me. I ran back to the car and instead of leaving like a normal human being—instead, I unrolled the windows so the kids could all stick their heads out and get a close eye view and told the kids to help me scare the turkeys back into the woods with their gobbles. SO…we gobbled. And we LAUGHED. He didn’t move much–so I told the kids if you walk like a turkey and move your head back and forth toward him he’ll stop chasing you. I’m not sure if they ran back into the woods because of our gobbles or because of our LAUGHTER! Okay…if you aren’t my friend already on Facebook then you haven’t seen the picture yet–you have to see how BIG this thing was…

Choose to laugh, look for reasons to laugh or create reasons to laugh…EVEN if it means randomly drawing a mustache on your face and putting in pigtails. Looking for laughter and choosing to laugh really does change the environment not only for you BUT also for your kids!

LOVE

1 Corinthians…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails

In marriage, parenting and friendship–love is always a choice. There will be days when loving your spouse is easier than others…when loving one child is easy but for another is a bit harder…and when our own feelings have to be put aside to truly love a friend. There are days when I whisper a simple prayer about one of these in my life because love is a choice–“Lord, help me love ____. Help me see ____ as you see him.” Simple as that. And that prayer seems to soften my heart in its craziness and begin to really see. There are times when my children don’t WANT to be loved–but I know deep down they really NEED to be loved…and loving a child going through this can be really hard…and even hurtful at times. BUT 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO LOVE THROUGH US BECAUSE HE IS LOVE. It’s okay to also be honest with Him and tell Him, “Lord, I just can’t do it today–I need YOU to love through ME…I have no strength–so will YOU be my strength today to supernaturally LOVE.”

It’s also SO important the more kids and activities you have–to make time for your FIRST and SECOND loves. Time with the Father–by having a regular daily quiet time. And time connecting with your spouse. It’s funny how this can some times take us back to the RECTANGLES that swallow up our time…and I’m convinced if we have a set amount of time that we allow ourselves to spend on rectangles–we have more time for living, laughing (even if it’s through laundry) and time to really love one another. I’m a quality time person–so this is important for me to have time to just TALK to Richard about my day and to unwind with him about the things on my heart. When I start to feel “he doesn’t understand”…”he doesn’t get me”…”I wish we were on the same page with this or that”–99% of the time it really isn’t that we have different things on our hearts–but rather we aren’t having regular, consistent time to SHARE our hearts. This is also true for my relationship with my first love–the Lord. It can be really hard for this mom to find quiet time in her day–but I NEED IT…and I need time to rest in His love and in His strength for what is ahead for my day.

Okay, so the beginning of Lent is JUST around the corner. Let’s start praying about what we can weed out in order to better Live, Laugh and Love in our daily life. And how can we take our family on this journey with us. I have one fun suggestion for how to walk through Lent together as a family and learn scripture during that time. As some of you know last year we made a Lent tree with ornaments for each day. Check out this link on how you can involve your entire family in daily devotionals during this sweet time of Lent just around the corner. I can’t WAIT to start this again this year…my kids LOVE it–and it’s a good way to spend our time growing together.

XOXO!

Andrea

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Christy - March 1, 2011 - 7:47 pm

What a great post – and you are right about knowing I can come here and am not alone in my crazy days! 🙂 I know I’ve mentioned this book before, but it’s all about really living and being thankful through everything, and this week Angie Smith did this blog post on writing down things that could be stressful moments, and choosing ahead of time what your reaction will be, complete with Bible verses. SO cool! You can check it out here – http://www.incourage.me/2011/02/chapter-7-of-one-thousand-gifts.html And I so get the hubby thing too with those thoughts. If only we could make our husband share every time we want to share – it would be so much easier to connect too! ha! 🙂

Christy - March 1, 2011 - 7:50 pm

oh, and I’m SO going to get these ornaments ready for next year. I haven’t been able to find very many and have not had a chance to make them on my own – but it’s my project for this year so it’s ready for next year! 🙂

Lara - March 2, 2011 - 9:05 am

The “rectangles” Amy spoke of really impacted me as well. I like how you pointed out that the rectangles take us away from real living. It’s so true.

I started praying about how God wants me to reposition my compass to focus on Him this lent.

Kim - March 2, 2011 - 9:27 am

Love the “rectangles” analogy. We are good about limiting TV … but I blogging and books are a major distraction for me.
Thanks for these reminders!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Empowered to Connect Conference (March 1st…last day to get 1/2 off!)

02.28.2011

I’m passionate about a handful of things…and I’m SO excited about this upcoming conference in Colorodo as it includes two of “my things” together! Parenting AND adoption. While our Created for Care Retreats are designed to REST, RESTORE, RETREAT and EQUIP–the Empowered to Connect conference is designed for BOTH men, women, counselors, professionals and church leaders to equip families who foster and adopt to bring hope and healing to these children. While rest and retreating is SO important—educating ourselves HOW to parent these special kiddos is so important too! SO…I’m packin’ my bags and flying to Denver!

There is ALSO a conference later this year in Nashville, but because there is an incredible conference for parents here in Atlanta the same weekend of the one in Nashville–I’m flying to the Empowered to Connect Conference in Denver and spreading it out! (Can’t WAIT to tell you guys about what is in Atlanta on Sept. 23-24th for adopting parents!!!) I would LOVE to encourage you all to join us at the Empowered to Connect Conference in Denver on April 8th and 9th if you can! I saw that Denver is listed on the Delta deals right now…but we used our SkyMiles and got a decent deal. Christy found us a cheap car rental for just $60 for the entire weekend and I’m super excited to see some of the adoption moms who were at the retreat in February there too! PLEASE let me know if you decide to come!!!

Okey dokey–so HERE’S the dealio! If you register by March 1st—you get 1/2 off!!! Thanks to Focus on the Family for the 2nd half! YOU CAN REGISTER HERE. To get your 1/2 off type in the discount code FOCUS at checkout!

Here’s a little diddy about the conference if my words aren’t enough! I’m so exciting…excusing this for another GIRLS/MOMMA weekend–but learning how to better parent my sweetie in the process…really how to better parent all my sweeties because parenting one that is having a harder time WELL will help me parent ALL my sweeties well! SO EXCITED!

Empowered To Connect, together with Show Hope, will host the next Empowered To Connect Conference in the Denver, Colorado area (at Mission Hills Church in Littleton) on April 8-9, 2011. Early Bird registration for the Denver conference ends on Tuesday, March 1. In fact, for a limited time you can register for half price, thanks to a generous grant from Focus on the Family!

The Empowered To Connect Conference is a two-day conference for adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals designed to help them better understand how to connect with children from hard places in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be. Led by Dr. Karyn Purvis (Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development ), together with Michael & Amy Monroe (Leaders of Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Ministry), this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists and others involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services.

Visit www.etcconference.org for more details and to register online. You can also view the detailed conference schedule here.

Be sure to register by Tuesday, March 1, to receive the best pricing available for the Denver conference. To receive the 1/2 off Early Bird discount simply use the discount code FOCUS when you check-out from the online registration.

We look forward to seeing you at Mission Hills Church in Littleton, Colorado on April 8-9 for the next Empowered To Connect Conference!

Again–let Christy and I know if you are planning to go! If you are starting an adoption or foster care ministry in your church–I can’t stress HOW BIG this would be for the people involved! SO…please let them know about this!!! If you know counselors that minister in your church or community–this is ALSO designed for them and there is a special time for professionals at this conference too! SO…spread the word–and join us there!

A FUN GIVE AWAY TO BRIGHTEN YOUR CLOUDY DAY!

Now…for a FUN give away–because give-aways are just fun…and it’s cloudy and cool outside! Share this information with someone in email that you think this would benefit and you get 1 entry into the give away! Share this on your blog or facebook (or BOTH) and get entered 2 times! Let me know in the comments how you shared this information with others–and Frankie baby will draw a name on Wednesday…just before he hits the running track practicing for the BIG WIPHAN WADDLE on Thursday! What’s in the give away??

A little care package for an adopting family which includes…

Two hard copy study guides that goes along with the book…one for each parent or you can share with a friend…

AND

This incredible book on how to create a Lifebook for your foster or adopted child…

We are ALL about supporting and equipping families…and EVEN if you aren’t an adoptive family–you CAN help encourage adoptive families and professionals that serve them by sharing information on this retreat! And wouldn’t it be fun to win this little care package and bless an adoptive family with these resources too?! Thanks in advance for anyone who shares this conference with others…and hope to see some of you in Denver in April!

And just in CASE you missed my last post about Frankie-baby craziness…here’s a picture to make you smile:)

DON’T FORGET…the Wiphan Waddle is THIS weekend! Can’t come??? It’s not TOO LATE to get Frankie baby to run FOR YOU! If you missed this a few weeks ago…check it out and join us in making a difference in Zambia/Africa! (For the FULL Chariots of Fire effect…please turn off worship music up top before hitting play:)

Posted in Adoption Preparation
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Nikki - February 28, 2011 - 5:24 pm

Hey Andrea: I’ll be at the conference! (I live about 10 minutes from the church!) I’d love to meet you there…

Also, I’m sharing on FB… I have those books on my Amazon wishlist! 🙂

-Nikki

Debb - February 28, 2011 - 5:44 pm

Wow! Stoked to see that you are going to this! SO AM I! Jeff will be out of town for work, but my mother-in-law is joining me! Possibly my friend who also joined me for Created for Care Retreat too! SOOOO looking forward to it! Hope we can meet up there at some point! 🙂

Beth O. - February 28, 2011 - 8:58 pm

My husband and I will be there too! You did get a good deal on your car rental. Hope we can meet you there sometime!

Farrah - February 28, 2011 - 9:36 pm

I would love to know about the one in Georgia… Who is the sponsor and is it already available to register.

Paula Sewell - March 1, 2011 - 10:44 am

All of these are on our list to purchase. They would fill my ‘waiting time’. I shared by email, facebook and our blog! Thanks-Paula

Kristin - March 1, 2011 - 1:03 pm

Hi-I read your blog daily way up here in PA! Love it! We’re about 4 weeks from bringing home our 8 month old baby boy from Ethiopia. Right now he’s in the hospital with pneumonia and measles. Praying that he gets better so we can bring him home. I would love to win the giveaway! I emailed the link and posted on facebook for 2 entries. I have a private blog for just me to journal life…so that would be pointless! We’re doing a Karin Purvis study in our orphan care ministry at church…it’s fantastic! God Bless you.

Kristen - March 1, 2011 - 2:44 pm

I have sent this to various people through email! Your blog is so inspirational and challenging. Thanks for serving the Lord as you do!!

lindsey - March 1, 2011 - 7:31 pm

i live very close to the church and will be there. we chould make lunch or dinner plans for one of the days

Wiphan Waddle (Part 2) {fun videos…so turn the music off up top!} » Babe of my Heart - March 6, 2011 - 11:33 pm

[…] last fun drawing before calling it quits for the night! Last week I shared about the Empowered to Connect Conference here on my blog and anyone who shared about this AMAZING conference got entered to win an amazing adoption care […]

Frankie-baby love…

02.28.2011

So…we have nothing to worry about our house–because we officially have 24-7 security going on…I mean–he is intimidating…RIGHT???

My kids play dress up 24/7–and today was policeman day for Frank…

I’m not sure why the Lightning McQueen rainboots or pj bottoms go with this outfit…but just roll with it.

THEN…I got a really fun little happy in the mail this week. It was from a blog-reader friend in Texas. She was about to throw out a ginormous jersey–but she couldn’t bring herself to do it because she knew someone in Georgia about 3 feet tall might like it. If you’ve read my blog–then you know Frankie-baby has a jersey obsession. I thought SURELY he wouldn’t like one that swallowed him whole…RIGHT?! So I pulled this out of the package and put it on him…


We laughed…and then I thought, “Whew! He doesn’t like it! That would have been bad!”

Laney tried to help him fix it because he was tripping all over it…

And then–it was time to leave for a dinner. SO…I tried to take it off. And what happened next? TEARS. “No mama! Frank big soccer team! No mama!” SO…now…not only does Frank insist on things like jerseys EVERY. WHERE. WE. GO. BUT now…look at his newest obsession…and we have to tuck it in so he doesn’t trip!

YA GOTTA LOVE FRANKIE-BABY! This kid just makes you smile!

On a more serious note…my Loo took my breath away as we were heading out the door…and I was captivated by her…I just HAD to snag a few pictures…she melts this momma’s heart too!

Melts my heart!

Last but not least…a precious kindred spirit–while she might be 10 years younger…she keeps me young at heart and we both love so many of the same people and things…the Lord, Anne of Green Gables, Redeeming Love, dessert for breakfast, hot tea and coffee…all very important things in life!

How thankful I am for the way the Lord provides…this momma just needed some time with one of her younger friends these past two weeks to be reminded of many of the things she does love outside of just diapers (wait…did I just say I love diapers?!) We all need that some times…friends who challenge you to talk about the things YOU love…things that make you YOU…before diapers…before this and that…before life got too busy to know or remember. (Please tell me that you haven’t forgotten!)

SOOO…if you have forgotten which flavor of hot tea is your favorite…or if you are too busy changing diapers or doing laundry to even know–then this week’s challenge is to start there. Pick you up a box of flavored hot tea…sit back and enjoy a cup…one cup a night…with your side-kick hubby or friend–and you have to let me know which is your favorite! (Some times it the little things like this that bring rest to our worn out always running around selves!) Anything with wild berry + 2 teaspoons of sugar…is my favorite. YUM! And I’ll say having quiet time with hot tea…DELIGHTFUL…even better!

Hope you all have a great week! XOXO!

Andrea

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Elle J - February 28, 2011 - 1:25 am

Your daughter is beautiful!!! and Frank makes me smile. =) We are tea drinkers here too, so I relate to your comment about cup o tea and quiet time with your fav buddy. My hubby likes green tea plain, and I like Chamomile with sugar. =)

Kim - February 28, 2011 - 9:47 am

Love that Frank. And when did Laney start looking so big? OH MY … she is gorgeous (just like her Momma)!
Guess who I met Sunday in Hong Kong? Caytie from Walking It Out. I am hoping to meet Miss Sadie on Thursday! How exciting is that?
Thank you for “introducing” sending her my way.
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Katie - February 28, 2011 - 10:12 am

1.) Frank is hilarious and adorable! 2.) Lanie is STUNNING. What a beautiful little girl! (I definitely think you need another girl around the house, by the way!) 3.) I love a good cup of hot tea. My favorite is Tazo Earl Gray with honey (http://www.starbucksstore.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=271927). So good!

Theresa - February 28, 2011 - 1:11 pm

What beautiful photos! Love them all.

Alison - February 28, 2011 - 2:37 pm

Precious, precious pictures!! Frank cracks me up, and Laney is just beautiful!! And my favorite is Earl Gray k-cups in the Keuring in the morning! So easy and so yummy! And I add a packet of Truvia! Oh, and I am an Anne of Green Gables lover too!!! In fact, Jody knows that my dream vacation is to one day go to Prince Edward Island! 🙂

Welcoming another one home… (The Kirk family!)

02.26.2011

I have had a bit of a crazy two weeks…in a good, crazy way–and lot of processing on this end. While adoption does have hard sides–it also has redeeming, miraculous and beautiful sides too. God works wonders many, many times in both birth moms lives as well as families He calls to be the second family for these little ones. I am so thankful to be a mommy who He called to grow our family in this way. Almost every week we get to see sweet reunions made through videos like this one…but I just HAD to share this one as they are with our agency…they had a ginormous family ALREADY but still room for another…and they are just PRECIOUS. Join me in rejoicing with the Kirk family as they have finally welcomed their little one home!

SOMETHING got me about this video…how LOVED this new baby already is…and to see the JOY on these children’s faces as they welcome their brother home! MELTS ME! If you have a minute scoot over to their blog and welcome them home! REJOICING with this family…and encouraging those of you waiting or beginning the adoption process that all of the waiting and hoop jumping and longing is WORTH THE WAIT!

Posted in Adoption Preparation
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Kristy - February 26, 2011 - 11:07 pm

Andrea thanks so much for posting this! Just what I needed right now…i cried through the whole video! Your right! The waiting is SO hard and sometimes I’m not sure I can do it anymore but these videos prove its worth it all!! :)Kristy Kay

joy - February 27, 2011 - 9:18 am

oh my – i NEVER get tired of happy parties like this one! and it never fails – i cry tears of joy every time!!!

Sandi - February 28, 2011 - 2:51 pm

Nothing fills up a worn out momma’s soul quite so much as a good ole Gotcha Day Video! I sincerely needed this today.