The Young Family Farm

There is one thing I will NEVER, EVER get tired of watching…the moment a little one is united with their family for the FIRST time! A sweet blog friend of mine welcomed home her precious baby boy this summer too! They have been pretty close right alongside us timing wise–and it’s a joy to celebrate with them. Sit back, grab some tissues…and enjoy yet another baby coming home! (turn the music off up top to view!)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

On a prayer note…I have a friend who has been waiting a very, very long time to bring her baby home from India. Will you please say a prayer today, tonight…whenever you read this…that the Needham family receives their daughter’s passport THIS week? They are SO close to bringing their precious daughter home, and we need prayers from all over to pray this girl FINALLY home!!! Join with me praying that her passport comes in and this sweet girl comes home VERY soon! I’ve been praying since January that she will be home by August. Please pray that this happens!!! And booking tickets for July would be even BETTER!

Finally…I have to say THANK YOU to those of you praying for our transition. We have FELT your prayers. Each day, Isaac Temesgen becomes more and more comfortable that THIS is home. Right now, he is upstairs snoozing away. He sleeps beside me with one arm around my neck most nights…I get little sleep as I never can sleep that great with a baby beside me—but he sleeps so much better close by. We have another doctor appointment tomorrow to go over last week’s tests results so we can make a nutrition plan. Thank you for your constant prayers. We have felt them. Here is our sweet one playing his new favorite game…”peek-a-boo”. How cute is this…(you have to excuse my squeaky mommy voice!)

I just ran across this article from CNN on one of my favorite chefs. A couple of things that makes my heart smile about Chef Marcus Samuelsson…

1. He was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

2. His mother died of tuberculosis and a nurse took he and his sister under her wing–and took them to an orphanage to be registered. He and his sister were both adopted by a family in Sweden where he learned his love for cooking from his grandmother.

3. He didn’t realize until he was a teenager that maybe it wasn’t normal to have 2 white parents.

4. He considers one of his biggest gifts in life getting to meet his birth father and his half siblings.

5. He told CNN: “I always feel like the biggest luxury I have is that I am connected to poverty. I come from a clay house in the country in Addis. No water, no electricity, no nothing … I think it is my responsibility to represent poverty. Talk about it and also show there’s lots of happy togetherness, family and love.”

And then on a personal note…

I added a few extra statistics to our slideshow. And one little note at the end:). Just a reminder that following God’s plan isn’t always easy–but…IT’S WORTH IT. OK…so you’ve probably already watched this once, but aren’t Gotcha Day/Family Day slideshows the most fun to watch over and over again;)?! Ok..so if you are a numbers person–you might like the added touches to this one:) Can you tell I’m cocooning and not getting out much;). I’m busy trust me…but my blog is my outlet these days;)

And a statistic I didn’t add—but found overwhelming. Did you know???that if you took every orphan in the world and got them to hold hands you could go around the entire world THREE TIMES on the equator? Ok…so that may be hard to imagine—so let me break it down. If you had these orphans hold hands in a line, you would see over 1,700 orphans per mile. If you were to follow that line of orphans holding hands, driving 60 mph, you could drive 24 hours a day seeing 1,700 orphans every mile, hour after hour, day after day without stopping for over two months, and you would still see orphans holding hands. (taken from Orphan’s Hope)

Can you imagine–driving and driving and driving and driving…nonstop driving…and STILL seeing orphans…face after face after face…heart after heart after heart—and this is the reality of how many there really are. They are here in the U.S.–they are in the Foster Care–they are in institutions and camps–they are across the ocean severely malnourished. And to think—WE can stop driving…stop our busy lives…stop our spending and change OUR LIVES for just one. Yes, I said–change OUR lives. I’m learning more and more…I’m the one being changed most here at our house. I am the one being blessed. I am the “lucky” one.

I once heard an adoptive mom say, “I feel sad for families who don’t get to experience this.” It’s hard. It’s trying. But, it’s the gospel. It’s what we were made for. I wasn’t made for manicures, vacations or even the luxury of a good night’s sleep. I was made to store my treasures in heaven and to shine Jesus out of my heart. After just 2 weeks of the hard stuff, I can totally see why people keep growing their families through adoption, why foster care families continue to love by giving their hearts away and why orphan care ministry staff work for little to nothing. Loving with His love and living through His power is addictive…it’s powerful. And there’s no other way I would want to live.

“Okay—so of course I’m not talking yet…but lemme tell ya…my momma–she can totally read my mind…so check this out…THIS–is my new crew…”

“Oh yeah–we get totally O.O.C here. That’s Out. Of. Control. people. And I love it…I thought Hannah’s Hope was crazy–but they don’t have anything on this joint…”

“For REAL—these people love to make me smile…they are always crackin’ me up…”

“And AS IF my momma doesn’t give me enough kisses…I got this new sister who smothers me to. The ladies LOVE me here…”

“Then I get big squeezes all day long…”

“I got a break this weekend…just me and mommy and daddy-e-o this weekend while the older 3 went to Nana and Papa’s. And…what do I think about all this attention??? I’m cool with it;).”

“Cept…my momma keeps putting these crazy outfits on me every day that are SO not my style…but I’ll roll with it…”

“Oh no…did momma hear me say that?”

“Oh MAN! She did. Ok…she’s laughing at me…so—NO SWEATIN’ IT! Whew…close call…”

“Oh momma—for real. I’m okay with these outfits. But the hair butter you keep putting in my hair? Is that necessary?”

“Oh no…she really likes putting in the hair butter…just TEASIN’ momma! I love when you style my hair. I was so kidding!”

“For real mom! Love the outfits. Love the hair butter. Seriously. Raising my right hand–I, Isaac Temesgen, dig all the crazy stuff you do…”

“Now…stop all this craziness and give me some oatmeal!”

“Oh yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!”

“Have a great weekend…one thing is for sure. As a Young…I’m bound to!”

“Much love…from the crew and me!”