Tomorrow marks ONE WEEK legally and officially being Isaac’s mommy! Our agency won’t reopen though until Tuesday…so I’ll be hoping for my phone to ring in the days ahead with travel dates! I can’t WAIT to get my hands on my little man.
And I can’t WAIT to share pictures of what God has done…he is getting BIG! I’m gonna have 2 little chunky fellas running around here before I know it! Can’t post a full picture until we are home…but here is a little sneak peak to make your heart melt!
Sweet little fingers…
Sweet little toes…
May the Lord bless you Isaac where ever you go!
Can’t WAIT for travel dates…I think a Babies-R-Us run for new bottles, bottle liners for the airplane, and a few other things it doesn’t hurt to go ahead and buy may be in my weekend plans:).
YAY! The Wiphan team is safely in Zambia! WOOT! If you aren’t a part of an orphan and widow ministry…we’d love to have you be a part of ours! Check out what God is doing RIGHT NOW in Zambia as the team arrives…
(PLEASE TURN SOUND OFF ABOVE BEFORE WATCHING:)
Here they are arriving…ya think our ladies are just a little excited to see the crew? Now for those of you who have visited Africa before–you were probably just stared at by locals and adults. Many feel westerners/Americans just come to take pictures of them and even sell pictures for their own profit. Americans aren’t always a favorite…but this is SO NOT the case in Ndola, Zambia! They have seen us come and love, love and give more love. AND so…they love RIGHT back! And when they see a van of us coming…this, my friends, is the welcome you get…
And what could possibly be sweeter than getting a welcome from the kids and widows like that? WORSHIPPING WITH THEM of course!
Following the teams week ahead here: http://heartforwidowsandorphans.wordpress.com and be blessed by what God is doing in Zambia. I, do believe, Ethiopia could use one of these;). I’m just sayin…
Waiting…waiting…patiently waiting…and in the mean time—I’m nesting (literally…I’ve been caught 3x now scrubbing the walls for goodness sake!), twiddling my thumbs and making messes with my kids:). I think I’ve labeled my entire kitchen. I’m working on fun little cupcake cards tonight for our travel supporters and then I’m editing pictures from the past week of the kids just playing. Aside from pictures on my Canon 5D…I’m having a little waaaaaaaaaaaay too much fun with my iphone too. OK… I have to SHARE! If you have an iphone this is a MUST HAVE app! I love my Hipstamatic iphone App…(my friend Asher just let me in on this fun one a few days ago!) so fun when you don’t want to pull out your “real camera” and just snap some fun pics with your iphone:).
Here’s a few Hipstamatic pics taken with the iphone of what we are doing with our wait for travel dates…
It doesn’t hurt to WISH for a speedy travel date…
And we’re hoping for a crazy quick travel date…so fast we won’t have time to think to make welcome home airport signs for the kids to hold…
And then of course…we go warm up the playground…Frank is ready to get Isaac up to speed and caught up…He insists on practicing his chin-ups and wants to be ready to pump Isaac up once he gets home!…
Now…a weekend ahead with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on our “to do” list. Now, that IS something to be pumped up about! Our agency is closed for the LOOOOONG 3 day weekend…so we’ll have to wait a bit to hear any travel info…but this momma is hoping that she hears next week. Or else I’ll be posting Hystamatic pics of myself going cross-eyed and about to pop! Hope you all have a GREAT Memorial day weekend!
it makes me just want to giggle!! I’m so happy for you guys & wish I was close by so that I could welcome Isaac home. Pictures will have to do, I guess ;))
My prayer is for my kids to be arrows for Christ. To make a mark in history for the sake of the gospel. To live on the EGDE for Him. To join us in living a life of NO RETREATS, NO REGRETS AND NO RESERVES. Amen?!
Some may fear sending their children into the mission field. I. Do. Not. What I fear more is raising children who are only passionate about friends, sports, toys, school and ending up being a model of the “American Dream”. I want them to live radically for the gospel. I pray all of my children grow into their names…minus Parker which means “keeper of parks”. Ok…so with my first child–I was going with what sounded good…and I have to say…the boy loves camping;). But Isaac’s first and middle name means “God smiles” and “Thank God”. Laney means in Greek means “torch” or “bright light”. Frank means “arrow”. And I pray they grow into their names shining God’s love and being an arrow for the gospel…piercing lives and hearts to be changed for Him…
I’m participating in a book blog tour, and I’m excited to share this good read with you! The title of the book comes from Psalm 127: “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” This book is a challenging read for parents as Julie shares ways for parents to shape their children to be arrows for the gospel. The challenge is this…
“Will the world change our children…or will our children change the world? Time is short and lives are at stake. Right now, God is inviting our families to become part of a bigger story—a vision that will engage hearts to make a radical difference. One Million Arrows is an inspirational call to raise our kids to impact their culture, community, and world for Christ. If we want our kids to discover their purpose, if we want them to live with passion for the Kingdom, if we want our family to go down in His-Story, accept the mission…and leave a mark for eternity.”
I pray for the day when each of my children will approach me and ask for our blessing to GO. But before they can be sent out–they have to be prepared. This book is a great challenge and encourage to spend my time parenting with that vision on the forefront of my mind. If I believe God is real–if I believe heaven is real…and if I believe this life is to be spent for the gospel…then I want to raise children that join us in this life living for the gospel alone. And I completely dig how Julie answered this question in an interview about her book about a very simple way (one of MANY!) to involve your family in being an arrow for change…
You have an emphasis in OMA for families to invest in taking care of international orphaned and abandoned children through established organizations. Why is that?
Investing in other children is one of the best ways to get your kids hearts interested and engaged in serving and helping others. Also, there are so many children worldwide who are the truest victims and have no means to get out of the gutters of life without help. As mentioned, these kids are currently being rescued and shaped to become spiritual leaders and contributing citizens of their own countries. Our family can make a true difference in the world by impacting lives of these children, which will in turn impact whole villages and cities as they grow up. What a great investment of our time, talents, and money! Many organizations will even allow you to visit the orphanages and ministries you help support.
We love to make it known that all proceeds of OMA go to international orphan ministries.
So…by buying this book and reading it–you will not only be challenged and encouraged…BUT you will also be investing in international orphan ministries! And if you need one to get connected to right now–check out our ministry in Zambia…God is doing some WOW things at Wiphan and we would LOVE for you to join us. If you hang around long enough you just might be helping pilot a NEW branch in another country…and I’m totally hoping and praying that things fall into place for our next one to be in Ethiopia;). And we’ll not only need adult arrows…but CHILDREN who can one day run it and be change when we are long gone!
You can buy the book here:
P.S. STILL waiting on travel dates! AND…I have been SLEEPING finally! I had not been able to sleep well since getting Isaac’s referral! The Lord just had be up praying…and finally–once he legally became OURS…my heart rests. I’ll share travel dates AS SOON as we get them!!!
I just ordered the book this week! cannot wait to start reading it, and crazy love too! Praying for quick travel dates for you – I cannot wait to see him in your arms!!
Have a great weekend!
The trip that I was supposed to be on to Wiphan Zambia takes off tomorrow. SO bummed to not be on that plane, but for a very good reason…he is 9 months and ADORABLE:). We thought for sure it’d be late summer when we got our referral so I felt safe to plan to go to Zambia in June. So excited that instead I’m waiting for travel dates for Ethiopia to bring home Isaac:). So excited!
I am still SUPER excited for this amazing trip–and the next best thing to actually being on the trip will be hearing how the Lord worked through the team on it! Curious about what is going on at Wiphan or what a future trip might look like? Contemplating joining an orphan and widow ministry…just want to see and hear more? Follow the Wiphan Zambia trip this week by signing up for emails this week at this blog address: http://heartforwidowsandorphans.wordpress.com/
Someone on the team will be updating the blog regularly so you can see day-to-day what is going on…and just maybe this time next year, you might be boarding a plane to head over yourself;). I’ll be at the airport tomorrow at 4pm dropping off my good friend Asher and waving good bye to my girl Addie and sister-in-law Ann Reid too. Can’t WAIT to hear all about their trip, and can’t wait to follow their journey on the travel blog!
andrea – can’t wait to go on a wiphan trip!!! I will be praying for safety on the trip and God’s hand to be evident in their lives and work this week. How exciting!
by admin
Heart is sinking in love as I look at your baby boy. Precious. I can’t wait to “meet him” and hear your continued story. Hugs.
FULL of YUMMINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to see you holding HIM FOREVER!!!! Oh what a day to celebrate 🙂
Aww, precious pictures, Andrea! Can’t wait until I see one of him in your arms– SOON!
oh my goodness!! sweet sweet sweet!! loveloveLOVE it! I’m sure Isaac is a cutie pie 😀
Oh my goodness, look at those precious fingers and toes!! Adorable!! Can’t wait to see his sweet face! So happy for ya’ll!!
Yummy is right!!! Love those chubby fingers and those feet are SO TINY!!! Speaking from a mama who’s boy has MONSTER hands and feet, lol!
I love it! Every inch of him is precious!!!!
What a little,precious pumpkin !
Ooohh..I want to play “this little piggie” with those sweet little toes. He’s absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to see the coming home pictures!
Only God could make something so beautiful!!!! Excited to see the ‘big picture’! 😉