The Young Family Farm

Life in the Young home is keepin’ on keepin’ on, and no matter how upbeat I sound in my blog entries as of late—I have gotten a few emails from some of my close blog/adoption friends asking how I really feel right now. I don’t even know how to describe how I feel–and I’m doing my best to trust the Lord for the 24th. We got new information today, and all I can say is that his birth mom is sick and really needs our prayer for healing. Our God is able!

Right?! I mean, don’t I trust Him?

I’m learning it’s quite easy to trust when things are good–and it’s funny because health unknowns…my heart trusts Jesus so much in. It’s easy to trust the Lord to help me love a beautiful baby. But what about when it’s hard and doesn’t make sense? I’m an old school hymn girl at heart–and today I’ve been reading the lines over and over of Louisa’s Steed’s hymn ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. I keep reading, and my heart is trying to sing them.

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

My heart is trying to sing and trust. Yet at the same time my heart is also singing this…

Adoption is such a beautiful picture of how the Lord LONGED for us—never gave up on us and even fought for us dispite our sin and difficulty that had to be overcome to finally have us as sons and daughters. I am overwhelmed that the Lord longed for ME this much!

Needless to say, my heart and mind are very distracted–and no matter how much I rest…my mind often drifts back to our next court date, the health of Isaac’s birth mom and what is really happening all over the world. Dispite the heaviness of my heart—I continue to give these things over to the Lord and open my hands with readiness to do whatever He calls me to do. I was thankful for this weekend to be spent with family. Laney had her gymnastics keeping us on our toes—Parker his last baseball game…Frank–well, he was of course as always along for the ride.

My sister brought her girls out to support Parker…and I was so thankful to have time with them…because these girls always crack me up…

Their momma is my older sister by 14 months–and it was her genious behind everything crazy I did as a child…and of course her idea to have all the kids pose like P’s trophy…the girl isn’t right…

Love this face P’s cousin is making…I think she just might adore her older cousin—she looks so proud of him!

Then family left. And on came Monday. My heart is daily doing the countdown to Sunday–and as much as I know I need to rest…I am trying to keep my mind and hands busy. SOOOO…today we decided to retwine an antique chair that my mom handed down to us. It was given to her by her Aunt Lizzy when she was Frank’s size—and all of my children have sat in in…and it was time to redo the seat…

Frank, Laney and I did this job while P was at school. They had a blast cutting the old twine off. Laney wanted to see what it was like to sit in it with no seat…

She giggled and thought it was funny. AND THEN…Frank wanted a turn. I knew it wouldn’t have the same effect…and his sweet little 18 month old mind didn’t get that the chair would no longer work without the twine…and—well, it hurt his feelings…

I found new twine at ole faithful Hobby Lobbyand we did phase 1 wrapping it around…

Then phase 2, Parker got to help with! He wasn’t as impressed as Laney was with helping…but after a few tight wraps and pulls…WA-LA!

Laney tested out the chair first. And then for good measure…Parker sat on top of her…

We asked Frank to forgive us again for not insisting earlier that he REALLY SHOULDN’T sit in the seatless chair—and to please give it a try. He declined at first, but then he agreed. But his feelings were still hurt and he only did it because we ALL BEGGED…”Are ya happy mommy?”

Thankfully, a bit more cheering from us…and we were all forgiven!

Then finally tonight…we enjoyed a beautiful evening with dinner outside…

And although the memories we make each day are as sweet to my soul as any…with each memory–there is an empty seat I see and I long to have it filled.

There are no doubts sweet Isaac, how much you are loved. Your siblings pray for you every morning and night…at EVERY meal…and we just can’t wait to have you home with us. Each night a special mother at Hannah’s Hope rocks you and puts you to bed…and I just can’t wait to be the one doing that! So many are praying you home sweet boy. May the Lord’s hand rest upon you as we put our trust in Him.

Last Refrain
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

After a long day…God had a sweet night in store for me. I was sitting in my back yard with Frank—enjoying the quiet (that is until the neighbor’s dogs started growling at is…if you have a trick for how to stop that one…lemme know;)…and again was taken back by all the beautiful things that surround me dispite the background noise around me…

Like a flower garden that the Lord cares for and grows…Did I grow that? Absolutely not. I haven’t watered these…not done one thing! Yet…He is able. How He cares for these and creates them with splendor…yet how much MORE He cares for us!

Then later I was heading out the door to meet my Bible study girls for a long-planned GNO (girls night out). And I had to run back inside and grab my camera when I saw this beautiful image…Sitting pretty and mounted on my love’s truck…a bottle. I just love the life the Lord has blessed us with. And my mommy heart longs for more…yet my heart is at rest and at peace with where and how the Lord leads. OH…and not to mention—God’s beautiful creation in the back. The clouds! The sky! Again…the Lord blows me away.

As if that isn’t enough—I head to this completely Southern local restaurant…you know the type–Fried Pickles for appetizers and sweet peach tee…just locals working the joint. I’m sitting there with 9 of the girls that I have done life with for the past 2 years. Just happened to have our Bible study night…our last night meeting and our Girls Night…the night I would need most to be around the girls who we have walked through everything with. We’ve seen it all together. A husband fighting cancer. Pregnancies. Miscarriages. Births. Death. Job loss…job gains. You name it…we’ve been holding hands through it. There we all sat…and I didn’t have to say a word about how I was feeling–because they. all. knew. And there we sat…eating fried pickles and talking about our kids (and doing impersonations that make my side hurt!). Love those girls.

Then out of no where—my social worker…whom I have never seen in public—walks up. She just HAPPENED to be having dinner there…and just happened to have read my blog today…and it was such fun to introduce her to all my girls. (Love you Donna!). I love how the Lord surrounded me with the people who have been such a big part of our journey to Isaac tonight. PRECIOUS.

And as if it couldn’t get any better…

Later, one of the waitresses walks up says, “Excuse me…would you like some more tea?” in an ancient my heart some way without every being there knew…

and so I asked, “Ma’am, where are you from?”

And in the most beautiful accent and cocking her head she replied, “E-t-iopia.”

That’s. what. I. Thought.

Of course you are.

A waitress at this small country local joint…that serves fried pickles and whom I am a regular at…and I’ve never seen you before…but of course tonight—you are here…and there we sat…talking about Addis and Welayta…and the South region.

Of course.

Would you expect anything else from a God who is so big?

Thank you Lord for showing me that you are in this…over and over and over again. I loved that my Bible study girls were sitting there when Donna walked up. And even more when our Ethiopian server came to talk. I couldn’t say anything but, “This is just crazy! Crazy, I tell you. God is so in this…and I am just amazed.”

And then we left. They actually kindly told us they were closed. So for the next hour we stood in the parking lot and laughed until our sides hurt. Oh, the joys of friends who know you best—and who can make you laugh on days like today. Thank you Lord…for the flowers, the clouds, the reminder of our beautiful life with the bottle…our social worker walking by during our dinner, for the random Ethiopian waitress…and for the best of friends.

So thankful. How can I not praise my God?!

Praying for complete healing of Isaac’s mom. And of course 9 more days until our next court appointment. God is in this! Will you join me in praying for another miracle?!