…not sure if FRANK loves Fall though;). Seriously–this is JUST Frank’s constant expression. BUT FRANK…we LOVE this about you!!! And can ya TELL our Loo loves being the princess at our house?! Here are some pictures from our Sunday afternoon enjoying FALL!
Happy Fall Y’all!!! There is nothing quite like it!!! My FAVORITE season!
FIRST…I want to say THANK YOU to the new family sponsors of some of the Wiphan kids!!! I have gotten a couple of emails that either someone has ALREADY signed up to sponsor a child I posted OR they are going to soon!!! THANK YOU for making a difference in these childrens lives!!!
NOW…to catch ya up on the Young fun:). We LOOOVE some family pizza night! And if you have a Trader Joes near by—we love their home-made dough (already in a bag ready for you to roll out), their sauce, pepperoni and cheese. (AND did you know Trader Joes also has an extensive gluten free product list!!! ITY will LOOOVE knowing that now that we know he needs to be gluten free…and soy free AND dairy free!) SO we had family pizza night…while ITY watched and curled up his sweet little nose(OH MY…seriously–is he NOT the cutest little thing you have EVER seen?!)
Frank is now old enough to participate in the pizza making fun…be AFRAID people if we invite you over for dinner to eat at our house on pizza night…be very, very afraid;)
Parker and Laney are so sweet to let him go first—and they are quick to always join in after he has had his turn…
Notice how Frankie baby keeps snacks close by while he cooks;)
Did you notice Loo’s Halloween bow??? It is a cork screw bow that I made–you simply wrap skinny ribbons around wooden dowels—clip the ends with clothes pins and bake them for about 30 minutes. THEN…they are permenantly coiled! Wire them together in the center and then hotglue them a clip–and you get this…
THEN…last night–the movie Frankie-baby appears in CAME out!!! Well, you’d THINK we’d be at the box office buying tickets to be in line to see it! BUUUUUT…there were MORE important things for US to do!!! LIKE…our Friday night football tailgating for our Christian school’s football game!!! It is a TRADITION that we ALL tailgate on the home games–and every grade has a tent. Here is the movie star enjoying a hotdog with friends–NO other place we’d RATHER be!!!
ITY is started to TRUST OTHERS which is HUGE thing!!! He still won’t willingly go to JUST ANYONE–but he’ll go to Mrs.Christy because he sees her ALMOST EVERY DAY! Ya think he likes her just a little bit?!It is nice to have him finally start to trust others so momma can eat a hamburger and hang with some of ITY’s siblings for a bit!!!
THEN…we got EARLY this morning to walk in our little town’s Youth Day parade! Christy and Rico Suave didn’t plan to be twins—but they WERE! SO…we had a little Wiphan representation going on!
Our family rode the truck pulling the hayride in the parade…well, the babies were off and on–but here is the fam together before it began…
And LOO was SO excited to see one of our sweet, sweet babysitters Ali at the parade!!! She parked it in Miss Ali’s lap and they threw candy together…
Off to a soccer game, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch with some family friends!!! TOMORROW we rise-and-shine early for a foster care meeting (our pastor is joining in supporting us…we are SO pumped!) and then we are sharing Wiphan Care with our big Sunday school group!!! WHAT a FUN and PRODUCTIVE weekend!!! ALSO…stay tuned all you adoptive mommies…a Winter Women’s retreat is in the works!!! We decided that Winter is the slowest time for our mommy craziness…so think February fun…coziness curled up in lodges…cake–decaf…and fellowship with others just like you…who have prayed for you and want to pray for you as you follow God in the adoption journey!!! Doesn’t that sound FABULOUS!? AND…best of all AFFORDABLE!!! (AND…if you need it–a provided easy fundraiser…so you have the option of making it FREE!) SO…we should have all the details worked out and in place by November—so hang tight and get ready to pack your bags for a much needed weekend of restoration, relaxation…and FUN!
AND I ALMOST forgot!!!! MUCH SEE Gotcha day videos!!! BOTH of these families are with our agency!!! (Turn off the music on the top of this website before watching!!!)
This is my friend Marcy’s family!!! She traveled WITH US! We loooove this family and it was a HONOR to experience this with them!!!
Blessings of a Burdened Heart from smith on Vimeo.
This is Katie and Brad’s family–the Dunlaps! I went to high school with BOTH Katie and Brad…so it was SO fun to be a part of their journey also with our agency…
CONGRATULATIONS to these precious families…and WELCOME HOME!
awesome gotcha day videos! thanks for posting them! My Isaac has a little camo outfit like your frank in the pictures…well similar…i just posted pics on facebook of him in it.
So cute!! I wish we had been able to go to the parade. Will you email me that pic of Erica and Laney? XOXO
CAN NOT WAIT to hear about the retreat. I am already praying I can go!!!!
I cannot wait til February! And great news, we are starting our adoption savings acct this week and sending off our formal app very soon!!!!! I am very excited and a bit scared all in one! But knowing that I have so much support is going to make this journey all the better! I will definetely need a weekend getaway with a bunch of adoptive mommies come February! I can’t think of anything more exciting!! (:
Love the pics and the updates. Can’t wait to hear more about the retreat. We miss you guys too. Let us know the next time you are headed this way so that we can mark our calendar.
Hugs,
Amy
CAN’T WAIT for a retreat…and the only problem I saw…it MUST be fully loaded coffee…no decaf allowed 🙂 lol so fun, kj
Awww. Frankie Baby is gonna be a chef! 😉 Hey, I agree that cooking makes one hungry, so he is one smart boy to keep the snacks handy. The pic of ITY rolling up his nose is indeed too cute.
we just got a trader joe’s an hour away…can’t wait to get in on that action. love hearing about all your activities and seeing the pix of your precious fam.
I hold on to this command. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1. I know I am His–so He is the strength that works through me. I know my children are His–and I will treat them with tenderness because they are His. Last night–my sweet one was up from 11pm to 3am…kicking and screaming. His strength and power in the night’s amaze me. As I hum Amazing Grace softly with joy and peace I feel His healing and presence in my own heart…and for moments the crying stops and I know He is the one calming and then when it picks up again I know this isn’t forever. He is the Great Physician of us all–and He will not leave us or just let us be.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
There is nothing sweeter or dearer to my heart than having the eternal privilege of speaking truth into my children. You are loved by God. Mommy is here. Mommy loves you. There is no reason to be afraid… What a calling. What a command! What a PRIVILEGE!
I love this excert from the book Counsel from the Cross about the verse that procedes the verse above. It is Ephesians 4:32 “God in Christ has forgiven us“:
When Paul commands Christians to imitate God, he does so in light of a very specific divine action: “God in Christ forgave you.” What he is saying is this: because you have already been forgiven, you can and should imitate God. Because God has already declared that he will not hold your sins against you, you can adopt this attitude of grace with others…the therefore [in the first verse “Therefore, be imitators of God…”] is a gospel declaration, meant to comfort, encourage, and inform you before you get to teh gospel obligation, “be imitators of God.”
WE NEED TO HEAR THIS. We need to hear this and be reminded AGAIN what He did for us–or else our view of ourselves, others and the world will be off. He has forgiven me!!! He has given me new life!!! My heart is new! I want to live for His sake. While some who have yet to meet Him might say I’m crazy or maybe even brain-washed (just sayin’ I’m sure some might say it)–I have met the Redeemer…through the power of the Holy Spirit…and I now want to be an imitator of my Father in heaven.
Are you with me?
I want to share some children with you today that He deeply, deeply loves. I read their short little stories–and my heart breaks. Some are double orphans (having lost both parents). Some are single orphans (having lost one parent–but because one is gone all day with trying to find work…they make it to Wiphan’s school). Some have parents but are vulnerable children–very poor and living in the compound and unable to afford food or education. ALL of them are dearly loved by God. ALL of them deserve to have a meal a day. An education. To hear the gospel. To be loved…to be kept in a safety and off the streets. Now that I have a SON that looks so different than me on the “outside”–I see these faces very differently. I wish they all had someone to rock them and hum Amazing Grace to them…I wish they all had someone to speak truth to them.
These children need monthly sponsors. They need families here to write them letters to speak truth to their heart. And maybe one day their sponsors could actually go over on a trip to meet them…to hug them…to let them know how DEARLY they are loved by their Father in heaven. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Meet Rhodah…Rhoda is an 8 year old little princess (I threw in the princess part;). But ISN’T she?! She is a shy little girl. Though she’s not sure what she wants to become when she grows up, she has an eager spirit. She enjoys the same things all little girls do, especially playing with dolls. She is the youngest of five children. She is in need of a monthly sponsor who will pray for her, help her continue in school, write her letters and love her from afar.
Meet Lameck…Lameck is a 10 year old little guy. Lameck is a bright and happy young boy who lives within Sinia compound. He has lost both his mom and his dad in his short little life. He is cared for by his aunt along with four of his siblings. When he grows up he wants to become a teacher. He wishes to nurture a love for learning in others. (Can I just say I love that he already wants to POUR into others?! Will you prayerfully consider pouring into this young man?)
Meet Kanyembo…Kanyembo is an outgoing girl, who loves to learn English and also likes the color green and playing netball. When she grows up she wants to become a teacher. She lost both of her parents when she was very little and has since lived with her grandmother. (Maybe Kanyembo will one day be one of Wiphan’s school teachers and pour back into the orphans at Wiphan!!!)
Meet Felix…Felix is an extraordinary 14 year old boy. He aspires to become a Pastor. He loves school and hopes it will enable him to take very good care of his grandmother one day. (Seriously…a pastor?! Oh what a JOY and privilege would it be to pour into this young man!!!)
Meet Elisha…Elisha is a 10 year old little guy in grade one…one of Wiphan’s new students. He is a very bright and helpful boy. Both of his parents died when he was little, leaving his two sisters Mozi and Miria, as well as himself in the care of his aunt who works as a maid. He simply loves to learn and enjoys playing football like most boys and aspires to become a teacher one day.
Meet David…David is a 10 year old little guy who lost both of his parents at a young age. David is a bright and happy young boy who lives within Sinia compound. He is a double orphan who lives with his aunt and two of his siblings. David loves the color red and dreams of becoming a trucker one day. He loves to come to school everyday as he loves to learn and see all the friends he makes at school. His favorite subjects are math, Bemba and sports.
Meet Alex…Alex is an 8 year old little guy who lost his father at a young age. Alex is a shy little boy. He now lives with three of his siblings; Joe, Tuti and Elen, under the care of their mother, Lizzie, who works as a stone crusher. His favorite subject is mathematics and he loves school because he loves to learn. When he grows up he wants to be a Taxi driver. (I can’t imagine the difficulty Alex’s mom has in working all day and caring for these 4 children as a stone crusher. What a privilege it would be to serve BOTH the widow and the orphan in sponsoring Alex!)
There are more…but I’ll stop there. What do you see when you look at these children? I see little ones that GOD LOVES!!! Therefore be imitators of God… Will you prayerfully consider sponsoring one of them? Will you consider writing to them and loving them? Will you even consider one day going to visit them? For just $39 a month–you can make a lastly impact into their lives. To find one of these children and sponsor them please visit: Wiphan Child Sponsorship by clicking here.
Let us not give up caring for His dearly beloved children. We are His. They are His. YET–He will use us to change their lives as we give and love them…and He will use them to even change us!!! AND SPEAKING of change–check out what my tired eyed self is wearing TODAY (I know you really care what I’m wearing, right?!)…You know you need one (the t-shirt I mean;). I *heart* the back…I met the Portilla family at T4A conference and you can buy their t-shirt and learn more about their ministry here: http://www.intothestreetsofethiopia.com
oh, i want that shirt..love it, kj
Yes girl…thanks for that post about being imitators of God! btw, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the shirt you posted about. I am definitely telling my hubby I want this soon! :0)
love that shirt! did you get the slim fit one? or the other? it’s so hard to know what size to get of all the great adoption shirts out there!
Courtney—I got a medium in the slim fit. I couldn’t have done small…medium is pushing it:)
Love the new shirt! And love “Into the Streets”! We bought our Dad’s Father’s Day cards with a donation to that ministry! Love it! 🙂
Very sweet children. Their eyes are just captivating. Thank you for the reminder of being imitators of God. It’s easy to walk through our daily lives and live for ourselves.
We already sponsor one Wiphan child, but OH how I wish I could sponsor them all! What a wonderful organization! I just wanted to say thank you for giving people an opportunity to really touch the lives of orphans. We wrote our child a letter, and the one that I recieved back from her is still on our refridgerator. I cry just thinking about how sweet that little letter is and how much it means to me. It’s amazing that I have a little penpal over in Zambia. Thanks again for the opportunity 🙂
Just ordered the VERY cool shirt!
praying for these sweet kids.
and p.s. love the shirt!
I want to be an imitator!!!!!
& I love that shirt 🙂
andrea – thanks for letting me know about the size on the shirt! i really appreciate it! 🙂
I just started reading a book by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson called Counsel from the Cross. It’s a book that is rich in Biblical truth–so you have to read and then soak it in. And then read some more. If you lived by me, I might have to convince you to read this with me and discuss…completely my kind of book…I am a mom that NEEDS the gospel and daily transforming. I need to view life after being transformed daily–and to not interpret things the way I want to–but to come to the cross with all my stuff, see my daily sin for what it is, be changed and cling to Him…so that I may live through His strength and in His will. We serve a forgiving God–and we mustn’t get chained down forgetting we are already forgiven. Because WHEN we remember the power of the cross and the grace that happened there for our sake, we will no longer be robbed of living “those Christlike qualities of kindness, generousity, gentleness, and longsuffering. It will also rob us of the only acceptable motives for obedience: love” (page 28).
I want to thank YOU…those of you who are out there and for whatever reason…have read my blog and prayed about being used by God. YOU have been a beautiful picture to me of what it means to live like Christ and even serve those you do not know…simply because you are filled with His love…
…over a month ago, we shared the need for mosquito nets for the kids going to school at Korah. In 24 hours, many of YOU reading now were led to my blog that day–and you gave! In 24 hours, God used YOU to supply those kids with protection from malaria. Your heart was broken to think of your own child going to a malaria zone without protection…you identified with the need…you gave…YOU are literally being used to change lives!
…about a month ago, we shared the need for panties and pads for these girls and for the women at Wiphan…they continue to get infections and not attend school because they didn’t have sanitary things to help during their menstral cycles. HUNDREDS of you were led some how to read about the need that day…and HUNDREDS of you made the commitment to DO SOMETHING. You loved these girls and ladies from afar…you gave…and through you–there will be change.
…a few weeks ago I shared about a family who are missionaries and adopting (you remember…the incredible “Yellow, Red, Black and White” shirts.) You all took the challenge to share their need and joined us in not only buying their shirts but sharing their need with others…THEN just two days ago–I shared another sweet adoptive family’s shirts…and ONCE AGAIN…YOU (whoever you are out there I don’t know…but I do know that God leads the sweetest, most giving group of people to my blog during the most perfect times!)…YOU went over and bought lots of shirts…making my sweet friend one busy lady for 24 hours (they sold almost 50 shirts in just ONE day!). Many of you are adopting YOURSELVES…yet you continue to LOVE, GIVE and CHANGE lives. WOW.
I have to tell YOU this. God is using you to minister to me…to not give up loving, giving and changing. THANK YOU.
Lately, I have gotten really tired with the unknowns of our doctor visits. One doctor says he has parasites…another says his stool samples showed they were negative. One doctor says he has asthma and gives us a round the clock regime to follow…while another says he just has a virus. One doctor says his belly is big from giarida…another says it’s from malnourishment…and the GI specialist whom we waited an entire month to see told me after once glance and not doing ANY test, “His belly is big because he is obese, you feed him too much and I’m referring you to my nutritionist to put him on a diet.” (Don’t worry, I’m not taking that last specialists advice–and when I asked him how many post-malnourished babies with distended babies he had seen, he said none.) He also wrote me a prescription for reflux when I told him about night sweats and night terrors…it only happens 1-2 times a week…but he said it was probably just reflux. (Not sure we’re filling that prescription either). Some times I wonder if NOTHING is the wrong…just a simple case of hypotonia and all these doctors referring us in circles will give us any answers. I’m wondering if the pain he is in has nothing to do with the physical…and it really is only the Great Physician who can heal the pain, the delays and the hurdles.
AND just when I want to toss it all out to the birds…YOU remind me to not give up loving, giving and helping change happen.
I was driving home tonight from meeting with a friend, and I was thinking about how incredible it is that I could sit in my living room and share these CRAZY nneds across the world and across the country. I smiled thinking how our husbands probably all make fun of us for blog reading. BUT then…YOU guys use it to learn of need—LOVE…then you are led to GIVE…and lives are actually being CHANGED. Without blogs, the internet and technology–you all would not know these needs and neither would I. Yet YOU are using them to be used and YOU continue to step up to the plate and serve. THANK YOU. I am so encouraged.
While I feel like I can be judgemental of the culture, the church, believers…whatever NOT loving, giving, changing…really–my being judgemental IS sin and it is not trusting and it is NOT from the cross of Christ. When we carry grudges, hurt feelings, judgement that others aren’t helping the problems of the world…or even little ole us in our need…IT IS SIN. BUT…there is HOPE. We can confess that—and stop TRYING so hard…we can stop trying to do so much and wondering why the church and believers aren’t joining us…we can stop working so hard to improve ourselves…AND we can even stop asking what would Jesus do…and then becoming so consumed and overwhelmed because it is TOO MUCH FOR US. It can NOT be us working. We can NOT do it. It must be Him. When we begin to really think about what has ALREADY BEEN DONE through the cross…when we REALLY focus on that and see us and see others how He sees us and how He sees others…then the heaviness fades away and He can be the one doing the work through us and being glorified. When I begin to really understand the grace HE has given ME…it becomes so easy to extend that same grace to others. All of the sudden I am trusting Him in new ways to provide and be glorified through my life.
AND THEN…I SEE YOU! You, who are ALREADY there—and even in the midst of financial strain or raising money for your own adoptions…you continue to LOVE, GIVE and CHANGE.
I just wanted to encourage YOU. I know I said the other day…this blog world can so often feel one-sided. BUT I love to watch how YOU make it something different…how YOU hear a need and you don’t think twice. And I am just so honored to get to do this life with so many of YOU. YOU continue to pour out your love and resources for change–and I am so encouraged every time I say a need or prayer request. When personally, I am tired–and have shared our journey and prayer requests and like I’m even too tired to pray…I know YOU my sisters and brothers in Christ are there. And so many others you lift up and care for. Thank you for loving, giving and changing. Thank you for shining Jesus and being used in the lives of so many He dearly loves. And thank you for encouraging me through your faith and good deeds to keep on keeping on. Goodness, I feel like ending like Paul so often ended his letters…
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:24)
The book sounds wonderful and encouraging!
Amen!! You continue to encourage my heart time and time again!! You are a sweet blessing my friend!! 🙂
… and for me … I would not be the same person I am today had God not directed my hand to click on your link via Cris’. Seriously, I have learned so much through this circle of blogs and have grown so much this year. Thank YOU for being YOU and for sharing as openly and authentically as you do. LOVE!!
You continue to inspire me Andrea! You have a heart of gold. If I was in your shoes I would probably be so overwhelmed with life. And I know you ARE but you keep giving and sharing and I know that with every post God is using your words to reach hearts. I know they continue to touch mine. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and allowing God to use you in such incredible ways!~
Beautiful post!! I just want to encourage you regarding ITY. My middle son was born with a birth defect and for 3 years we were given the run around and I became very discouraged with the medical world. I do not have a medical degree, but I am a mom and the whole time I went with my mommy instinct. In the end it paid off. He found out what was wrong and we have been treating him ever since. You are Isaac’s mom and honestly you know what is best for him. I will be praying for you for clear guidance, because I know how frustrating it can be!
Simply Beautiful. You are such a gift to ME! Wish I were next door to hug your neck, hold your baby, and digest what sounds like an amazing book together!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
Whenever I read your words, I find myself so often saying, “I needed to hear this today!” – And today is no exception! I am so glad that I started reading all these blogs about people who truly have broken hearts for the world. And yes, my husband makes fun of my “blog world” too 🙂 Praying for Isaacs health- God knows exactly what he needs!
i am sorry that there is so much confusion related to ity. could i please have that last doctor’s number so i could call him and say “you are a big, dumb poophead!”? amen to our need for the gospel for daily transformation! amen to bloggy friends who keep us connected and remind us of what is important!
Just wanted to add my 2 cents about the doctors…just continue to pray about it and trust your gut instinct. Before N became ill, I trusted doctors wholeheartedly, but once a true medical issue crops up, you realize that lots of doctors will have different opinions and different treatment plans (we were given everything from a strict diet to a month of antibiotics to anti-depressants). It’s a learning process where you have to lean on God more than the doctors – which can be surprisingly difficult in a society that puts a lot of stock in modern medicine. It sounds like you are approaching everything with discernment, but I just wanted to say I know how frustrating it can be, and GRRRRR! :o) Also, I can’t believe the obese comment!!!
Amen sister! LOVE your heart and LOVE you!
I have this book on my shelf, but haven’t started reading it yet… just bumped up on my list! 🙂
A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon your blog when I really needed some guidence in my walk with Christ. I am nearly brought to tears with every post because of you passion for our Father, your family and your friends. You inspire…Thank you!
LOVE Elyse! I got to hear her speak last November. I’m reading “Comforts from the Cross” Another one of hers… its excellent if you haven’t already read it! 🙂
oh dear friend – really needed to hear this today. I have been fighting a physical battle here (pretty sure Satan is not happy about the life-changing stuff that has been happening in our house:), and I have been feeling oh so discouraged. And yet again you remind me to look to Him – needed that reminder today!! So, even with the UTI, cold, pink eye, kidney stone, herniated disk, poison ivy that I have – I am choosing to praise Him!!! Thanks for the needed kick in the bum:)
Don’t know you but am also a Christ follower. Very inspiring life you are living for Him and His glory. Have you thought about gluten intolerance? My best friend’s 2nd born went through 2-3 years of no one believing her mom instinct that something was actually wrong with her baby until one pediatrician suggested gluten. Presto chango, new baby. Praise God and pass the rice flour. (Of course today on Stuff Christians Like, Mr. Acuff discusses the person who wants to fix your prayer requests. Totally not trying to be that person but why reinvent the wheel?)
Oh goodness… I can’t even imagine the frustration of the doc visits and the circles they have you running. We are constantly praying for Isaac and I’m kinda with you in the belief that he is healing from past malnourishment and muscle weakness but he is doing SOOO well and has come SO far. It’s so hard when docs just quickly dismiss you.
Thank you again for giving our shirts a shout out! We love you! I’m SOO excited to get a chance to go visit all of these blogs of the women who bought our shirts:)
I’m not a doctor- but I play one at halloween. (not really). Here’s the scoop that 8 mo has taught me on the belly situation.
Parasites are not always noticable in the stool samples. Giardia is especially difficult for a few reasons. (i won’t go into them). So if the parasites or eggs were spotted in one sample then they are there. Even if, without treatment, they aren’t spotted on the next sample. Another thing to consider- is to treat imperically for .. campo… something or other. It is quite common and it is a bowel infection caused by kids having poo on their hands and then in their mouth. It creates a call from your states CDC but it is quite common and answering… “he’s had since I met him in Ethiopia” is generally enough for them to realize he didn’t get it from a public source.
The belly size. It gets huge for a number of reasons. First- he has no muscle tone. Not just skeletal muscle that we see when we are inshape but the muscles that keep his organs in place. Plus his organs now have to FIT into place. THAT TAKES TIME. Second- They feed him extra calories in ET to get the numbers on the scale to go up. Often this is with sugary milk. Regardless of how they get the weight up- his body isn’t ready/able to absorb it- because it is geared toward retaining fluid/calories rather than using it because it is stuck in ‘survival’ mode. Add in the parasites and belly infections and it simply takes longer than we expect.
Teg had HORRIBLE night sweats. I never said much about it to the doc = I just assumed it was normal. The DAY- VERY SAME DAY – he started being treated for campo… (bowel infection) the sweating stopped. WHOA! I had never thought about that.
He also had gas that would literally- I mean literally- clear out the house. (I thought my nephew was bad). People visiting in the middle of winter would go outside for fresh air as it was so prolific and pungent. That went away within 48 hours of treatment. (just what you wanted to read about… sorry)
Our ped- said that it could take a year for T’s stomach to not be so.. ‘out there’. After 8 mo- it is ‘pretty normal’ most of the time now– but any swimming activity where he swallows air and water in mass amounts and it’s right back out there looking painful as ever! But keep in mind T is older than your little one. So I have no idea if it might take more or less time, for proper belly distribution (hee). I posted some before and after photo’s on my blog back in my August update if you want to see a bit of difference. It’s better now. I don’t know if I can add a link in this but I’ll try.
http://wanderingoutside.blogspot.com/2010/08/last-time-i-wrote-and-update-to-you-all.html
My little buccaneer said it was high time to pick a winner!
And since momma can’t tell her little mate no to just ONE pick…we went for THREE this time! Doesn’t that make you happy when we do that? It makes him happy!
BECAUSE…guess what this rockin’ t-shirt goes toward??? ANOTHER little one finding their FOREVER FAMILY!!! And does that make US happy?!
SOOOO…the winners are…
and
Marcy Moser
NOW…if you didn’t win–no worries!!! The t-shirts are JUST $15 and you can make Jenny smile and actually clear out of stock by going to her blog and buying one for yourself!!! I heard it through the grapevine (aka Facebook) that she has gotten lots of orders today from people she doesn’t even know–and you know how DEAR that is to see complete strangers support you!!! So head on over and bless this family for just $15 and get a really cool t-shirt in return!!!
And seriously…is he NOT the cutest pirate you have EVER seen?!
Last but not least–I am LOVING the ages of the babies!! I think we need a Frank update. Frankie-baby is SO much fun right now…I’m set for a girls night out this weekend to catch a glimpse of him in that movie. Okay…so it’s at the VERY end–but it’s a GREAT excuse to go out with my girls!
Hope you all have a great week…for all of you who have emailed me to let me know you are totally in for an adoption mommy get-away retreat…I’m totally workin’ on it;). More news to follow in a week or two:) You know it would be SOOO much fun!
P.S. On a serious mommy note…please continue to keep our ITY in your prayers. We are still plugging away trying to figure out how to help his heart, mind and body heal. Our nights have gone back to being really unpredictable–with a good night being waking mid-night and calming down once he is in our bed–to a bad night with unconsolable tears. He is a happy camper by most days–but his cries at night on his bad nights seem to be miserably painful. We go to the pediatric GI doctor tomorrow (I’m sure this will be fun;). My mommy of 3 biological children experience would say the cries are pain cries–but I know they could also be his heart and mind…and that breaks my heart but I am thankful he is home and we are helping him heal in more ways than one. Please pray for wisdom for us–but most of all for the Holy Spirit to come down and heal his mind, his heart and his body. I couldn’t thank you all enough for your prayers—it really means so much to me. I love that the Lord sets the orphan in families–and it makes me so sad to know there are so many in the world with the same aches and pains but no relief, no mommy to calm them, no one to speak truth over them, no one to take them to doctors, no one to pour love into their hearts. This really IS what life is all about…it often can mean lack of sleep and being desperate for God to come through daily…but it is truly a transforming honor and privilege.
I keep seeing commercials for the movie and I think we’re gonna see it this weekend. I’ll keep my eyes open for Frank!
WOW! I never win anything! So fun! Thanks for doing this Andrea!
Now do I keep the shirt for myself or get one for my husband? 🙂
That is the cutest pirate I have ever seen! Praying for him!
praying for you today, for wisdom for the doc, for healing for ITY, and for sleep for you all!
ohh poor isaac…so thankful God gave him parents like you to help him heal and grow up healthy and get through this! LOVE the pirate pics…way too cute!
Praying for your precious pirate!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
One verse that I have claimed for my son (2.5 yrs home 4 mo. from ET) as he is fearful and grieving is Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but you have received a spirit of sonship.” Praying for healing whether the root is emotional or physical for your sweet son.
I absolutely love the pirate pictures. I think if you look cute up in the dictionary you should see those pictures. He is precious!!!!!
You know I will totally be praying for ITY and all of the amazing Young family!!!!! I love you all and so does the Great Physician.
Sleep is the hardest. Nightime is when it all hits and they feel so alone and vulnerable. It is also THE ONLY TIME that my guy shows pain. physical pain. Praying.
I forgot to mention… is he growing? Quick growth and the growth pains are AGONY! I have to put my guy to bed on ibupro or tylenol many nights in the week after growing 5 inches in 7 months.
Will pray for divine wisdom for you and the doctors and for supernatural healing!
Jenny
Yes, he is the cutest pirate. I am so glad Frankie baby got to go to Austin! He rocks. 🙂 Ohhh and some cockroaches can fly too.. jez saying…..
These are too cute! Thanks for sharing.
OH how I am lamenting fall!
Love & Blessings from Hot & Humid Hong Kong!
Kim
i love fall to andrea, it’s my favorite season! Love your pics!
Too cute!! And where did you get Laney’s boots? My Callie Grace would love those!! 🙂
I’m impressed that you are happily loving fall. In spite of the fall wreath on the door, cider in the fridge, and a trip to the pumpkin patch, I still can’t get over the temp in the uppers 80s. Geez… I hope the real fall gets here and stays here very soon! In the meantime, Happy Fall Y’all! 🙂
Cute pics! Ella Beth has some boots that she is dying to wear. Laney looks super cute in hers. 🙂
Awesome photos! I too love fall. I am finding it is one of my favorite seasons.
BEAUTIFUL pictures!! I LOVE these! 🙂