The Young Family Farm

How I love that I was reflecting on Psalm 46 as my day began. And a sweet day it was. I wish I could write about all of it’s sweetness–but some times it’s so sweet I have to keep it all to myself:). I even lit an appropriately sweet candle from a sweet blog reader and friend (thank you Cayte!). I lit it thinking of there soon to be trip to HONG KONG to bring home their little girl. If you have a minute–peep over to her blog and congratulate them on travel dates and keep them in your prayers as they leave to bring her home next week!

And check out the sweetness beyond the candle:)[Hmmm…how to change the focus and create an image with some things in focus and some things out? I set my camera on 2.8 aperature and put the focus point on Isaac. Simple as that. And the same thing with the cupcake up top–lower aperatures like 2.8 create more of that background blur known as bokeh in your pictures. You’ll just need to adjust the shutter speed to make sure all is metered–and if there isn’t enough natural light you can use a flash OR up your ISO in the camera settings. Just a little photography 101 for ya;)]

And if you LOOK really close you’ll see how much he likes Goldfish, Cheerios and Cheezits…which are a nightmare in that hair—the little stinker!

We have a precious friend visiting–and it’s been so much fun to retell our stories of how each of our children came to be…and it’s been just as precious to share my little ones. Reminds me how dear they are!!!

So…for the next couple of weeks–I’m going to be showing off the South…and of course letting Frankie-baby show off all the things he thinks are most important in life…like bubbles and Thomas. And super cool if bubbles and Thomas are combined…

THAT IS…when it actually works together!

Oh sweet FRANK!

And speaking of little guys…we are so thankful for the families who have inquired about the precious 3 year old we have been advocating for. I am hopeful that one of the families who has inquired IS his family:). More to come–just keep God’s purpose and plan in your prayers–and I hope to be able to share he has a family soon:). All this talk of little ones is giving this mom baby fever! OH when OH when does it ever stop?! Someone please tells me it goes away at some point?! Right??? I have been thinking a lot about this little man–about his big, sad eyes–and it made me think of this quote which I have this week on my dishwasher to remind me of the children who are waiting RIGHT NOW…many with no one standing in line for them in foster care, special needs circumstances and about to age out of the system…REALLY–this thought should NOT discourage us or make us sad–but get us EXCITED that we can be used to LOVE and SERVE…

There IS a reason Jesus said when we serve those who need us we are really serving HIM. It changes not only our response–the joy and readiness in it–but it also motivates our TRUST…that HE will provide as well as receive the glory as we follow and trust where He leads us!

SOOO…what to do with what can I do right now–because I feel like I want to do something…but I’m not feeling particularly called to do this or that RIGHT now…or in a postion to. There is SO much we can do RIGHT where we are. Currently, we are not serving the foster care or in the middle of bringing a new one home–BUT we do know several who are in the midst of these right here in our area and at our church. Wouldn’t it be AMAZING if every family had a support system of FIVE families to rotate meals, errands, carpool for older children and respite when the moms and dads need a date or just a break. FIVE families who they love and feel comfortable trusting their kids to. FIVE families who can take turns just coming over and stepping in here and there…JUST for the FIRST THREE months of their new transition?! This would enable the mom and dad to focus on connecting with their new one too! I’m telling you–I’ve brought home 3 from the hospital and just 1 from overseas–and it’s a whole new ball game…even a simple trip to the grocery and trying to put a 1 year old in a carseat who has never ridden in a car much less a carseat can be a daunting task! Wouldn’t it be so fun for some of us to help form these groups for a family–just to find 4 other families to join us and love on one family in their time of transition!!! SOOO…while we aren’t all called to adopt, go overseas, foster, etc–I think we can all do some pretty cool things to be a part helping today’s orphan crisis–that exists even in our own cities! (Just my practical idea for ‘what can I do right now’). Would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this too!!!!

LAST but not least…you have to see what my mornings are like! SOOO…every morning I look like THIS running out the door and all over town…a baby on EACH hip! They STILL BOTH want me to hold them…and oh my–it was easier 6 months ago–but they are both getting so big and HEAVY! Just me and my babies…

AND YES–that IS my 2 year old with his binky!!! I used to be an old fuddie duddie and demanded that my baby #1 keep his binkie “in his crib only” and we were rid of it by 2…and I think I thought those were accomplishments…HA! (Totally not kidding–it was a “rule” and I guess it worked then…but Frank is a different bird!) My mommy priorities have definitely changed—and I’m so much more chill…Rico Suave and our friends say we take chill to a whole new level so I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not BUT Frankie baby can drag that binkie and blankie around with him while momma runs errands a bit longer…oh how I love these babies!Yep–momma is sporting her self-made bangs she created a few days ago!

GUESS what tomorrow is???!!! HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

XOXO!

Andrea

Well, it’s here. February 15th. Some of you may remember WHY this day is such a big deal to me. I woke up this morning and said to Richard, “It’s February 15th! You know what today is!” Like all good husbands he smiled and…waited hoping I’d finish the sentence for him–and of course I did! “Today is THE day Isaac got to Hannah’s Hope from Bethzatha orphanage last year!!!” It’s the day we have his very first picture…it’s the day God spoke to my heart last year reminding me to rest in His great plan!

When we got our son’s referral–we were given about 4 photos…the one below being the VERY first one we opened. They progressively got better with time and health–but this is the very first picture we have of our little guy at 7 months. Oh sweet Isaac…my heart MELTED when I saw this first picture of you–and I knew…YOU WERE MY SON! I didn’t have to see more progress…I didn’t have to see another picture…you were mine–and you were perfect. I had to celebrate God’s goodness over our son and in our life by taking a picture of his sweetness TODAY and pairing it with the picture that was taken ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!

“The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23

If you get a stack of referral pictures–you can find out exactly what DATE they were taken on by opening them in a photo editing software and then going to file info…so while I have very little to hold on to of the first months–I do know that this first picture was taken on February 15, 2010 after lunch time here in Georgia (yep–I even know the TIME!) and I know I was sitting in a chapel at that HOUR praying for my sweet son!!! I actually wrote about that amazing weekend with the Lord reminding me of His plan without knowing what was happening and it’s on my blog this same time last year. Crazy, huh? That’s why I love journaling/blogging…I can go back and see crazy details like that. Amazing how God works!

I knew this sweet boy was our son–and while we only were at #16 on the waitlist when we got the call–I’d wait a thousand years to be at the right place at the right time to get to be his mommy all over again. Some times I want to PINCH myself how blessed I feel! Today we went to the park after our rockin’ physical therapy session…a lady stopped me as I was swinging Isaac and Frank was sliding to tell me how beautiful she thought Isaac was. The appropriate, polite response I know is “thank you” but EVERY. SINGLE. TIME…instead I am overcome and I put one hand over my heart and one hand out like “stop right now” and I say, “OH. MY. GOODNESS. IS HE NOT the CUTEST THING you have EVER seen in your entire life?! I mean–SERIOUSLY—LOOK AT HIM! I’m sorry–but I can’t help it…seriously–I’m with you sister. I know I’m his mom–but oh. my. goodness. He’s just gobble me up cute…” Okay…so I know that may be a little too much–but to just say “thank you” oh my…he is just scrumptious! THEN Frank runs over–and he introduces himself, “Me–Frank.” Seriously–could THEY be any cuter? Okay–apologies if you are rolling your eyes at me…but we mommas just can’t HELP IT some times!!!

Okay…another sweet picture celebrating today!

Melt my heart the way my kids look at each other…

I wish EVERY little one could experience this sweet love and know the JOY and SECURITY and LOVE of family!!! And that ultimately–through family know God as Father and experience Life abundantly. I’m so, so thankful for how God has opened our eyes and not allowed us to get caught up in the American dream or tennis or Botox (sorry…had to throw that in because the lady in front of me at the grocery store just had that done and that doesn’t even look natural or normal people. Just saying…even if you THINK you have wrinkles and some one cares and that stuff would make you think you’d look better–JUST SAY NO.) Seriously–this living makes this life just a slice of heaven on Earth!!!

XOXO!

Andrea

P.S. How COOL is this…another adoption mom with our agency JUST returned home from Ethiopia. She told me she visited Bethzatha orphanage the orphanage my son was at 1 year ago today and 1 year ago today made it to Hannah’s Hope. WELL…she sent me an email TODAY (of all days!) saying that she went by Bethzatha and went in the director’s office to find THIS on the side table…Crazy for this calendar to end up back at the orphanage…and crazy for someone to send me this picture TODAY!!! Love how things work…sweet reminders of His sovereignty!

P.S.S. We are still looking for a family for a 3 year old little guy in Uganda. He is precious–and I can’t share his name online BUT he does share the name with one of my sweet ones and he actually resembles him too. We’ll just call him little “F” for now:). He is a DOLL and we are hopeful to help him find his family soon! Please email me if you know a family that is open to bringing home a 3 year old and has a completed home study!

Valentine’s day makes me think of the FIRST day I met my 4th child!!! Why you ask?? WELL…he was wearing THIS on June 27, 2010 when I held him for the FIRST time! Made me smile seeing that bib on him in June!

SO thankful for our littles. I thought about that picture and then at dinner time tonight–I just had to take a quick snap shot of Isaac folding his sweet little hands during our dinner prayer…7 months after that picture up there was taken–he is now snuggling to mommy (that took 6 months), he gives me kisses (love!), he holds Frank’s hand in the car (another picture you have to see), and he watches us and loves to do what we do…love his sweet little praying hands…

Ahhh…melt my heart!

BUT I need to rewind to make you all LAUGH about “a day in the life” with ME. Oh my. Seriously–some times I have people say…like today in the Publix parking lot, “I don’t know how you do it.” WELL…lemme make you laugh–it’s not pretty. And there are PLENTY of mommas who have much more than this chick does on her plate. (Let me also add that it helps when you resort to paying someone to come do your laundry weekly. YES–this mom knows where she needs help. I don’t need a housekeeper…it never is clean so I don’t really need it to be clean for a few hours. I don’t need take-out…Rico Suave and I love to cook. SO we looked at what we don’t like–and it’s laundry…so there ya go–I don’t do laundry! SO…I am NOT superwoman by any means…I mean, I don’t do laundry for one!) I also have a good time making due with what I’ve got. FOR EXAMPLE…(funny, funny story ahead…can’t you tell:)

This morning after seeing Parker and Laney off to carpool with Daddy (yep–there ya go…something ELSE I don’t do! Daddy takes the older kids to school EVERY day!), I had my cup of coffee and got the babies up. Not good when I walked in nursery #1. Seriously needed a gas mask. Oh my. SO…I start looking for diapers. No diapers. Oh no!!! Walk in nursery #2–thank goodness–no gas mask needed. Take babies downstairs–search every diaper bag in the house for diapers. SO HAPPY I FOUND TWO!!!! Now, I can go run errands, go to the grocery, and get diapers before needing to be at 11am Valentine’s party at kid’s school. Change first baby. All is good…UNTIL first baby has a blow out in clean diaper before I can even change baby #2. Sooooo…I change baby #1 AGAIN and decide to use 2nd diaper on him since he is the youngest and I THINK I can convince baby #2 since he just turned two not to wet his pants until I can buy diapers.

SO…since baby #2 loves Thomas the Train…I run upstairs and get these to pump him up and get him excited and our game today will be “Do not tee-tee on Thomas”…

Can you imagine me trying to tell a newly 2 year old who doesn’t talk he’s going to wear Thomas today and whatever he does–not to get Thomas wet?! (Okay…if your kid was potty trained at 14 months I don’t want you to comment because you make this story less funny;). BUT FOR REAL—my 2 year old who has never gone potty will need to learn how not to at least until I can get to store.

SO…I get to store FINALLY…I sang quietly the whole time “Don’t tee-tee on Thomas…no, no–you don’t wanna–no, no…don’t tee-tee on Thomas” (it had a cool tune and EVERYTHING)–and then at the check out FINALLY…and then…NO WALLET. Oh my. Back in van–jet set home…get wallet…back to store. Get groceries. Get stopped in parking lot–someone asking about adoption…make the most of every opportunity–stick my head in the van in between conversation to sing the song again…realize we are late for Valentine party…jet set to school–forget Frank the Tank is just wearing Thomas. Get to party…get all the Valentine’s goodies…get stopped in hall to talk about Frank’s Wiphan Warthog Waddle video–the boy is a hit where ever you go!!! Get everyone in the car. WE MADE IT. And all the way home…

AND I even looked in the back to make sure Thomas wasn’t wet one time at a redlight–and saw THIS. MELT. MY. HEART. SWEET!

I turned around on the way home and asked him if Thomas was wet and he said, “No wet Thomas.” And then we walked in the house—and big boy made his first trip to the potty!!! So proud of him–and our craziness made me realize that just maybe he is ready to potty train!!!

SOOOO…then after lunch–babies went down for naps but as soon as they woke up it was WHOPPIE PIE time!!! (Thank you Mama Judy for the Whoppie Pie tray and mix!)

We made heart shaped Whoppie Pies for dessert tonight…

And the KIDS put everything together…

The reason I am okay with making really big messes and not doing it myself??? This face and the JOY in it says the mess is worth it!

And of course the afterwards part they love too!

Daddy got home JUST IN TIME too!

Making the filling gave us just enough time to let these cool down…

AND THEN…filling time! YUM!

SO. SO. GOOD! And then…my sweet hubby pulled a surprise out that he had brought us…CUPCAKES! SOOO…lots of sweetness at our house tonight! Oh…to be a kid at the Young house…or an adult for that matter too! And we have room for more too:). Sooo…we make due some times around here with no diapers…I survive by not doing laundry and making things like Whoppie Pies instead…and I truly feel like we live each day to it’s fullest!!! AND I also don’t answer my phone hardly ever…which may be very annoying to my friends–but thankfully my dearest girlfriends get me, understand my crazy and love me anyway!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s!!!!!!!

Last but NOT least. I am advocating for a 3 year old little boy in Uganda. If you know a family who is paper ready for a little boy who needs a loving family–please contact me through my contact page. We are praying we find a family for him this week!!!