The Young Family Farm

Well…this has been one PERFECT weekend I must say! AND…it has ALSO been yours truly’s birthday weekend!!! Yep! This momma turned 34 years old today (by the way–doesn’t Facebook make you feel SO LOVED on your birthday…when all 1500 of your VBFF send you birthday wishes!!! SO fun:) I just love that my birthday fell on a Sunday this year…as many of you who know me–Sunday is one of my favorite days!!! I force myself to REST (much needed always!) and there is nothing more refreshing to meet with a big group of believers and worship together. I was just singing in church this morning thinking what a sweet birthday gift it was to get to start my day with worship!!! ITY and Frankie baby stayed at home with daddy (didn’t want to share their runny noses) while Parker, Laney and I scooted off to church. Truly, I was overwhelmed this morning…just thinking HOW GOOD the Lord has been to me! Then I sat there thinking…there are so many who do not believe…who do not know Jesus this Christmas…who may look at my other brothers and sisters in Christ…and me and think…half of the time they just talk mumbo jumbo–they just doesn’t live in reality…I mean…can you REALLY KNOW Jesus? I mean…really?

Well, I’ve been there…and I completely understand what some of you MIGHT be thinking…

I know it seems crazy…to think this baby born in manger was Jesus, God’s son. To think this baby was actually part of the Trinity…God made fles!?!? That this boy, once a teen…a tween even…then a man…was sinless. Yet–to cover our sins there needed to be a perfect sacrifice…one without sin. So, God sent His son–to be that sacrifice for us. What kind of God would send His son to be sacrificed anyway? A God that loved you…one that would risk everything in order to have a relationship with you…a REAL relationship that can only be understood when you take the chance of seeking Him out to discover if truly this baby was God made flesh…so you might know Him and follow Him as Your ultimate Father. Yes, a crazy story…but my friends–when you know Him…you KNOW Him–and truly it is a miracle. This baby in a manger came so we might have a relationship with God. He loved us that much. And, indeed, the story is wild…but would you expect anything else out of a miraculous God? Oh to know the story! To BELIEVE the story!!! And to be the one telling my children of this baby…this miracle. There is no greater story you can tell your children this Christmas…so don’t let this week slip by without sitting down as a family to retell the most beautiful story of all. Don’t let just teachers, friends, books, grandparents, tv or anyone else be the one to pour the most beautiful story of Christmas into your children this week. No matter their ages…this story is the story that changes hearts and lives…through the birth of a Savior who came so we might know Him.

I sat there during worship this morning thinking of the Savior born as a babe in the manger as the congregation sang “O Holy Night”. It’s the first song on my playlist today. Go ahead…start it over…turn it up…close your eyes–and take it in. The words…so powerful and true.

As I sang “fall on your knees”…it was if my knees could buckle at any moment…and truly my heart wanted to fall to my knees. O night, devine!!! I thought of my little babes back home…how GOOD the Lord has been to me. My sweet ones who would soon run out of their Sunday school rooms with candy canes and their hand-made ornaments that I would safely tuck away and forever treasure. The hymn continued…In Him all oppression will cease…I thought of the children THROUGHOUT the world…whose lives are SO FAR DIFFERENT from my children…His precious ones being trafficked into sex slavery…orphans doubling up in cribs in orphanages with not a gift to their name this Christmas…orphans who don’t even know a BIRTH DATE like I know mine today…with no idea the day they were born as there has been no one to tell them or remind them…just left–abandoned and hoping for love…YET…IN HIM ALL OPPRESION WILL CEASE…THIS is why Jesus came! This is what the night devine…O Holy Night WAS ALL ABOUT. His calling on my life is just beginning…how thankful I am to know Him and that I get to live for Him…

I was overwhelmed thinking more on His goodness dispite the things that overwhelm us when we pray “break our hearts for what breaks Yours”…although the sin of the world and hard things you see can make your heart weary…truly in Him the weary heart rejoices for He came for a purpose. In Him hope is present!! And I love how this song proclaims that!!!

WHAT a way to start your birthday and end your weekend!!! Thank you God for this most precious, perfect gift!!! (Truthfully…my day started long before church…with my 3 nieces calling me at 8am to sing Happy Birthday to me! So sweet:) And to be reminded during worship of our purpose in this world…all the ways He has cared for and blessed us…and our continued purpose!!!

Instead of celebrating with cake, candles and ice cream…I just wanted to take a minute to really celebrate with His goodness in my life!!!

SO thankful for my kids being raised in environments that surround them with Jesus’s love…

Thankful that as we prayed about God putting other families like ours in our lives…to raise our kids together and do ministry together…and life together…that He didn’t just bring one–or two (although we would have SO THANKFUL for that!!!) Instead He brought LOTS!!! And thankful that we spent our weekend celebrating Christmas TOGETHER!!!! Some of the sweet families who meet monthly in our home…

Some of the Levy crew…

EVERYONE loves CLIFFY!

We’re rejoicing because the cool Teabos moved to town last month!!

And of course Angie…who helped us get the group started…

One of ITY’s sidekicks with his momma Tiffiny

More of ITY’s sidekicks…

SOOOO many reasons to celebrate!!! So thankful for these families and how God is using them to make change all over the world through His sweet children.

AND there is something else I am VERYYYY thankful for today!!! We are EXPECTING A BABY!!!!! (okay, okay…I, personally am not expecting a baby!!!) BUT…my bestfriend Kelly IS!!! SO…I FEEL LIKE I am!!! Kelly has been my friend since the 7th grade and this is the year that we’ve actually lived with our hubbies longer than been roomies ourselves!!! We were roomates ALL THROUGH collage at Auburn and THEN 4 years after college!!! SO…we might as well be twins…sisters…or something like that and her children are like mine and vice versa…SOOOO we are expecting;). You will hear A LOT about doctor visits from me because I’M SO EXCITED!!! (Sorry if I threw some of you off there for a second!) Congratulations Kelly and Shawn!!! This will be #3 for Kelly! And I’m so excited!!! We have raised our babies together…and I’m so excited to welcome another sweet one into this world! Here is a picture some of you might remember from last summer of our babies together!

WHEW!!! What a POST! Off to enjoy my babies after nap time!!! Hope you all had a GREAT weekend!!! DON’T FORGET to enter the t-shirt give-away!!! We’ve already sold 50 t-shirts but we need to sell 200 more!!! SO…see this post and comment on how many times I should enter you…there just MIGHT a few surprises in store for the winner!!!

Did I grab your attention with that title? I thought I might. Okay, you usually get funny Frank stories, crafts, Isaac updates and our daily craziness–but today I was reminded of something…and then refreshed with something else–so I just had to share.

No matter how old you are, every now and again you find yourself reminded that people are people…girls are girls…and truly it’s impossible to love others and put others first completely without the power of the Holy Spirit. And while the Holy Spirit is always stronger–some times we just don’t listen…as it can be easier and faster to just listen to the flesh. Some times I get a bit lost in my mommy/home world–changing diapers, wiping noses, singing songs, carpooling to preschool…and of course (you know me) scurrying through aisle with crazy kids at Hobby Lobby (you all know that’s my second home). In between those moments, I have the privilege and joy of interacting with some of the dearest mommies and friends who the Lord has amazingly brought into my life to encourage, love and do life with. While it’d be safe to stay in my own world, I also love meeting new friends and some times the Lord seems to drop down a gem…a kindred spirit that you feel you’ve known forever and He seems to always provide these at perfect seasons…doesn’t He?!

I’m going to be vulnerable for a moment because I think there are probably other moms out there that feel the same way I do at times–so I want to encourage you with the same encouragement I have received today. I know no other way to say it except to just be vulnerable and say it. A few years ago, I found myself all of the sudden because of my oldest ones ages mingling with a group of moms here and there…and at first it seemed we had everything in common. They were believers…our parenting seemed similar…and when we did run into them–our kids played sweetly together. Something strange though seemed to happen in my heart every time I was around them–I always left feeling bad…or even what I might say sad. Honestly, I just didn’t feel like I “fit”. And really–I didn’t. Ever feel that way?

I thought maybe I was hormonal at first. I mean, I was pregnant half the time OR nursing OR maybe I was just insecure because I’m sure I can be that too as we all can in some area of our lives. I kept it to myself at first writing it off as hormones, but then just started voicing my heart to my hubby to have another to bounce my heart’s feelings off of. If you know me–I’m anything BUT “girly”. I mean—I love ballets and such…not that kind of girly because I’m definitely that…but girly as in “you are my BEST friend” girly or “do you want to be in our club” girly. I love all of the friends the Lord has brought my way–no matter if for a life time or a season. I am also a pretty vulnerable person (if you can’t tell!) so I share my heart often openly with dear friends and there was no exception to this new fun group of moms. I couldn’t put my finger on it–but something was off…and while I have lots of different groups of friends, I always felt something different or interesting or odd or even lonely inside me when I was around this group. As time past and I opened up more, things would even be said to just remind me that I wasn’t in the “club”. Some of you just might know a group like this OR maybe you feel on the outside when around a certain group OR maybe you are on the inside and don’t even know it. My mind really red-flagged one day when one of the moms asked me how I got to be friends with someone in the group, and finished the conversation reminding me of how special their group was. Was it the mob? Was there something I didn’t know? Really…it was just a clique or as Wikipedia would say: an exclusive group of people that share the same interests…and regardless if you have the same interests—um…I don’t think just just anyone is invited.

People will always be tempted to find their identity in other things than the Lord…like their social lives, their friendships, their clubs or cliques, their stuff…even believers who are trying to trust God to be enough for them…

As believers it will be confusing and especially hard when other sisters and brothers in Christ seem to make you feel this way…you know–when you leave feeling worse and can’t put your finger on it…when you’ve been around gossip or cattiness or feel like you need to keep up but just can’t…

While you will want to run from crowds like these–and even not like them (I remember a pastor once saying “We are called to love everyone but we don’t have to like everyone”…I always want to embrace that one–but that isn’t scripture I’m afraid. Running isn’t what we are called to do as believers (although that is my first choice and something that I instintively and must confess some times do…as in the moment I want to say like Jenny in Forest Gump, “Dear God, make me a bird…so I can fly far…far, far away from here…” BUT that only works for awhile…

YES we are called to encourage one another…to edify one another…to build one another up…to love one another…

BUT when that doesn’t happen…do you avoid? Do you continue to love no matter what? You’ll have these experiences in your kids schools, even at church…and even in your own family. This Christmas will be FILLED with joy, laughter, fun, singing, anticipation…but there also be moments where things are hard for you. Maybe someone in your family doesn’t understand you…or says hurtful things. Maybe a friend doesn’t include you in something…or you pass a mom at the store that seems to be kind but every so cleverly says something that feels more like a poke or cut and leaves you standing there scratching your head wondering what that was supposed to mean…or maybe it’s something so small that is said but something about it–because it happens so often makes you feel lonely or like you just don’t fit. Instead of going cross-eyed (please don’t let anyone see that one)…turn to wisdom when your flesh wants to run…and let your heart be filled…let these penetrate your heart and remind you of how to RESPOND…And if you aren’t sure if maybe you could unknowingly be on the other end–reflect on who is regularly in your home…at your parties…in your outreach groups…how welcoming you are of others coming into your “group” if you have one…do you regularly see new faces coming in and staying around…do you have to get clearance from the others in your group before including others randomly…or at least feel like you need to run it by others…or if you actually have a “name” for your group…

Read these verses of wisdom and truth and let these penetrate your heart as well…and remember above all else to love others…life is just too short and too sweet not to.

Remember that HE is enough. He calls us to love no matter what. And while it may be wise to guard your heart and your family and not join the exclusive groups…never give up being kind and loving them…

Much love to you ALL…and I have a really fun announcement to make…a last minute Christmas happy that you need to know about:)

XOXO!

Andrea