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February 5, 2010

Today’s Scripture Reading – Exodus 13, 14, 15

For those of you following along in the One Year Bible read through—I’m so sorry to post today’s reading late. It was one crazy day. USCIS fingerprinting this morning, prayer time with my friend Addie for our baby, pick up older 2 from preschool, lunch with Parker’s preK teacher to celebrate her birthday…naps…yes, we ALL took naps together today…raining outside, snoozing together…bliss:). New numbers received on the waitlist. Big day. Daddy finally came home after days of being out of town (he travels a LOT during the week)…now finally—I sit. And open God’s word. AHHH…super bliss.

A few gems from todays scripture reading to my heart…

Chapter 13…

Verse 18 “…so God led them in a round about way through the wilderness to the Red Sea…”

The Lord was delivering them. But not in the fastest or easiest way. When the Lord delivers, it may not always look like WE want it to look. It may be a very difficult, long road. But the Lord is ALWAYS faithful. And good.

For me…the Lord has been delivering me from the living in the world. I think part of my flesh at some point wanted it. And by His good grace–He brought Africa into my life through Wiphan (www.wiphan.org). I could no longer live with an agenda to get the “next thing”, go on the “next vacation”…everything changed. As a mom, I looked into the eyes of children in Zambia–and thought, “You were some body’s baby. But they are gone. It could have just as easily been MY child who was orphaned.” And then the Lord laid on my heart…”if you are mine–then, so are they”. More change. I came home and looked around my house. And there was room. I wasn’t called to adopt any more than I’m called to go to Target. When I have a need to fill my frig–I go. And because we have room in our home and hearts…we made a call that is changing our hearts and lives even more. Now to Exodus 13:18. Lately, I have become impatient. I have prayed for and dreamed of our child. And lately, I have asked the Lord, “Why not the foster system? Why not something faster? Why Ethiopia and why with an agency that maintains birth order so I’m standing in a long 0-12 month line?” Then…I remember Job. (Ahhhh…the reading of God’s word is SOOO good isn’t it?!). I think of Job and his why’s—and I remember…because He is I AM. I think of Moses and how God didn’t take them on the fastest route, but the route best for them. A route that HE would be MOST glorified on through them. (On a side note, I’m praying we get to adopt through the foster system for baby #5…but that isn’t my choice is it?! And on a super side note—I know adoption is NEVER easy–and the grass is ALWAYS greener—so please hear that I’m not saying adoption from the foster system is easier…because it’s NOT…there is nothing easy about adoption or any “pregnancy” for that matter) The paths the Lord leads us on–may be harder, may be longer, and may be more of a roller coaster…but the path the Lord leads us on will also bring HIM THE MOST GLORY! And that is the path I wanna be on!

Chapter 14…
GOD hardens Pharoah’s heart (again!) and Pharoah has a wake up call…and comes after the Israelites. When the Israelites see Pharoah’s army charging after them they doubt Moses and cry out with wonder why Moses brought them out into the wilderness to die.

I love verse 13…Don’t be afraid…just stand STILL and WATCH the Lord rescue you. The Lord will fight for you…just stay calm.

A beautiful story of deliverance today. A local adoption family is in Uganda RIGHT NOW trying to adopt their baby girl who has HIV. As most of you know Ugandan adoptions are all on hold—so they were told they could not be issued visas and they would have to go home WITHOUT their sick daughter…who without treatment…would be fatal. “DON’T BE ARAID…JUST STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD RESCUE YOU. THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU…JUST STAY CALM.” Go to http://www.james127family.blogspot.com/ to see how the Lord delivers today!!! Being faithful to their child in Uganda has not been the easiest, but the Lord is being glorified! Many of you are called to adopt from Uganda, Haiti…even countries that are currently closed. It is a longer, more uncertain route. It is your Red Sea experience. But take heart. The same Lord who parted the Red Sea is the same God you and I serve today! He is able! He can make a way where there seems to be no way!!! Do not give up or lose heart!!! The Lord wants you to NOT BE AFRAID, JUST STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD RESCUE! THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. JUST STAY CALM! Praise Him, Praise Him that He fights our battles for us!

Verse 17…the Lord hardened Pharoah’s heart again—they will almost attack them…WHY? WHY? WHY? they asked! But what does the REST of verse 17 say??? MY GREAT GLORY WILL BE DISPLAYED Do you want the route and way that displays His great glory??? Then trust Him!!! And go look at verse 31!

The Lord was glorified! They couldn’t believe it! They saw God’s mighty power and put their trust in Him! Praise Him for the longer route! Praise Him when it doesn’t make sense! If you are in His Word, clinging to Him, staying on His path…then rest assured even when it doesn’t make sense it’s only for Him to receive the glory in the end!!! AMEN! And finally…you, too, will sing your song as Moses does in Chapter 15!

Chapter 15…a beautiful song of deliverence. What is your song? How has the Lord delivered you? How have you seen His faithfulness???

Here is mine…

From the day of my birth you protected me.
You touched others hearts to pray for and encourage me.
As a child, I knew you were there—you spoke to me even from the beginning.
Your faithfulness is too much to count, Your mercy overwhelming.

All my fears have been washed away.
When we had nothing, you provided.
You gave me joy and laughter and covered my eyes to my own need.
Your love was forever calling me…I always knew you were there.

Years of rebellion as a youth–yet you protected me.
Loss of friends and then a grandfather, in these you showed me yourself.
A grandfather (Frank) who never stopped praying, and it would be at his funeral
That I felt Your Holy Spirit flood in.

You changed my mourning to dancing.
You gave me a new life.
I feared I would never marry or have children because my heart wanted these so.
My house is full of laughter, pitter patters and romantic love.

And now I persue a child–as you persued me.
You never gave up on me…although the road was long.
You fought for me–and called me Your Own.
Forever I am Yours and You are mine.

My Deliverer.
My God.
I trust in You.
Forever.Anticipating…sweetly…calmly…waiting on Him…for baby #4. Trusting in His ways!

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Kim - February 6, 2010 - 2:35 am

Another beautiful post with powerful scripture and breathtaking photos!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

april - February 6, 2010 - 9:28 am

Your song of deliverance is just wonderful, beautiful! THank you from the bottom of my heart for what you wrote to all of us adopting from Uganda…i really needed that this morning. Thank you!

Megan - February 6, 2010 - 1:58 pm

Never apologize about not posting! You are a busy mama, and that comes first before blogging! But I do thank you for posting, because your insight and your perspective on this reading really touched me! You are an amazing woman of God and I am enjoying getting to know you through your blog SO MUCH!

February 5, 2010

Our February Numbers:)

Yay! We have our new numbers! And congrats to Amy S for guessing them right! What a fun little game some of my blog readers just had;)! (Shannon and Caitlin…you two were crackin’ me up!) OK…here are our NEW numbers…

For girl we are number… girlnumber

For boy we are number… dugger#19 OK…so start counting the Duggars and you have our boy number…it’s number…

FINALLY…we are in the teens baby! Another step closer! We got our USCIS fingerprints completed today too…so now we just wait on that final piece and keep tip-toeing to number 1! Thank you friends for celebrating every step of our journey with us!

And for those of you reading through the Bible with me…I’ll be posting that later tonight. It’s been one of those days! But I’m itching to get in the word as soon as the babies are all down later tonight!!! XOXO!

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Marci - February 5, 2010 - 10:01 pm

Hooray ! Getting closer…my bible study women prayed for you on Monday and again an email reminder to lift your adoption in prayer,,,Prayer changes things. Yeaaah !

Leigh - February 6, 2010 - 9:49 am

YAY! Referrals are moving right a long!!! You are getting closer!!!

Charisa - February 6, 2010 - 12:33 pm

yea!

February 5, 2010

I’m SERIOUS this time…NEW NUMBERS!

Ok…you know us adoption folks are always on a roller coaster ride and some days you just don’t know if we’re high or low…or just plain crazy. Ok, so today’s let’s pick crazy;). Got my new numbers. And if you are on the AGCI listserv you are NOT allowed to play (if you are family or a VBFF…you aren’t allowed to play either;). I will say that our new numbers aren’t what we thought they were…but that’s ok…but I’ll give no hints…they may be lower or higher than what we thought. OK—drum rolllllllll please…

Our new girl number is how old I was in THIS picture…

And our new boy number is how old I was in THIS picture…(don’t let the fact I was at Chuck-E-Cheese fool ya;)

OK…no AGCI list serv people can play;). The first person who gets BOTH numbers right…gets one of these…But NOOOOO cheatin! Take a guess…and smile if you win while you wear your t as this one helped send a mission trip over to love on some babies in Africa.

XOXO!

Andrea:)

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Amy - February 5, 2010 - 2:23 pm

I don’t get to play 🙁

Amy S - February 5, 2010 - 2:25 pm

I’ll bite. 31 and 19. Anywhere close????

JonesEthiopia - February 5, 2010 - 2:26 pm

hey no fair. But new numbers are exciting no matter if they are higher or lower than what you thought!

missy - February 5, 2010 - 2:34 pm

i’m gonna go with 29 and 16. i don’t even know how old you are now, so i hope i’m not offending you. glad you got new numbers. that always is fun.

okay, totally bizarre. i feel like i know one of the girls in the chuckee cheese pic. the one in the front isn’t named stephanie by any chance, is she? if not, she has a doppleganger in ohio. 🙂

Tara Neal - February 5, 2010 - 2:35 pm

Oooh, I really want to win this!
I will say Girl #32 and Boy #14???

Amy Kirk - February 5, 2010 - 2:38 pm

I love guessing games! Even though I’m not the best at it I’ll have to try because the T-shirt is toooo cute!….boy-#19 and girl-#27.

Sarah Beth - February 5, 2010 - 3:19 pm

Hi Andrea! I love your blog, your ideas are wonderful! My guess is 30 and 17 – I really have no idea – just a guess! Praying these numbers fall incredibly fast, so you can be with your sweet baby.

Karee - February 5, 2010 - 3:25 pm

I’m so anxious to hear your new numbers…so I’m going to play. 28 and 17. 🙂

Leigh - February 5, 2010 - 3:44 pm

Not on the listserv yet so I can play! woohoo! Total guess, Here goes: 28 and 16

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 3:50 pm

woohoo, yay for new numbers!! i’m gonna guess.. 27 girl and 18 boy.

Shannon - February 5, 2010 - 4:52 pm

I’m guessing 29 and 17…This is so fun!

admin - February 5, 2010 - 5:06 pm

OK…no one YET! One of you is KILLER close (off JUST by one!)…and the boy number has been guessed and the girl number guessed…BUT NOT YET ON THE NOSE TOGETHER!…OK…you can guess more than once if you have already…who is gonna WIN?!

Shannon - February 5, 2010 - 5:24 pm

29 and 18?

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:24 pm

Am I lame for guessing again? I love this game and can’t wait to hear the results! Here’s my second guess- 28 and 18.

admin - February 5, 2010 - 5:25 pm

I’ve got a HINT—I am 33 now! (Parker is 5 and Laney is 4!) And someone has gotten both right (the boy more than once!) BUT not on the nose together…oooooook…whose gonna get this ADORABLE T! Keep guessing;)! Anyone? Anyone????

admin - February 5, 2010 - 5:28 pm

Hee, hee. OK…you can guess more than twice;). Put your thinkin’ caps on…you are close:). And one person has been off just by one!

Shannon - February 5, 2010 - 5:30 pm

28 and 18? Can I guess 3 times?:)

Shannon - February 5, 2010 - 5:31 pm

No wait, I’m going with 28 and 17!

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:32 pm

Haha! 30, 18?

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:33 pm

Haha! 30,18?

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:35 pm

30, 18?

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:37 pm

haha! 29, 18?

Amy S - February 5, 2010 - 5:40 pm

Can I guess again? 30 and 19

caitlin - February 5, 2010 - 5:42 pm

Okay, seriously. So sorry! My phone freaked out.

Amy S - February 5, 2010 - 5:42 pm

or maybe 29 and 19

admin - February 5, 2010 - 5:43 pm

YAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Amy S is the PROUD new owner of this adorable Africa T! Amy, send me your address to andreainga@yahoo.com or on the contact page and it’s comin’ your way!!!!

Our new numbers are boy 19 and girl 30! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Good guessing everyone!

admin - February 5, 2010 - 5:44 pm

And Caitlin’ love that I have a junior in college playin’ so hard on their phone! The Young family loves some Caitlin!

Shannon - February 5, 2010 - 5:51 pm

Ahhh…what was I thinking? Of course you were older than 28…Parker is obviously not a newborn:) What a fun game and congratulations on the new numbers!!

kellycoury - February 5, 2010 - 11:43 pm

HILARIOUS! Great memories! Look at my bangs. Great game, and I love that shirt!

Jen - February 9, 2010 - 10:35 am

We are currently on the waitlist to adopt a child from Ethiopia through AGCI. Can you tell me what the listserv is? Thanks!

February 5, 2010

New numbers!

Nope. We didn’t get them yet. What a teaser to put that as my header;). I am discovering my lack of patience during our wait. We have our USCIS fingerprint appointment tomorrow at 10am. Pray the results come back before our referral does. But for now…I’d settle for updated numbers…much lower than last month;). And when we get them…trust me, you’ll be the first to know;). Last month we were boy #24 and girl #34. Fingers crossed they will be much, much lower. We’ll know in 24 hours;).

Singing this to my baby tonight…(by Steven Curtis Chapman “When Love Takes You In”)

I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever
cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

I can’t wait to bring you home!!! Mommy loves you to pieces and pieces and more pieces!!! Can’t wait to see your face, hold you and have you home!!!! Praying the Lord’s protection over you tonight sweet baby. Momma’s comin’!

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kristi johnson - February 5, 2010 - 12:11 am

oh, hurt me…love that song!!! kj

admin - February 5, 2010 - 12:25 am

Sorry K! I just want my baby home:). BUT…if I can’t have him/her home…might as well come hang out with you and drive YOU crazy! Can’t wait to see ya!!!!

Kim - February 5, 2010 - 5:36 am

You are killin me. Our wait was 26 months long while we served as foster parents to the twins. That was the song we choose for Sam & Lucy’s adoption video at our celebration brunch after our final court date! What sweet memories you are in store for!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Jenny - February 5, 2010 - 8:20 am

still no numbers??? they’ve gotta be coming today! praying you’re a good chunk lower!!!

Amy - February 5, 2010 - 11:47 am

That was a cruel joke 🙂 Maybe I should put “GOT THE CALL” as my header and maybe it will help with this agonizing wait 🙂 I don’t know what is going on but this wait is getting so stinking hard!!!

Thinking of you today. Praying you get your FDL in record time 🙂

Amy @ Filled With Praise - February 5, 2010 - 12:40 pm

Nice! You got me all excited! I was talking to Doug Frazier about our new numbers email and those referral last night 🙂

We will be at Kristi’s Monday! I am so excited to get to finally meet you in person 🙂
Blessings,
Amy

February 4, 2010

Chocolate Kabobs Valentine Treats (Scripture Reading: Exodus 10:1-12:51)

I’ve heard from several of my sweet blog readers they now have fun Valentine window decorations in their home! For those of you who ended up doing most of it yourself because you have little ones, the more you do cutting crafts–the easier it will get for your little ones. I didn’t start my crafts when I started my blog–we’ve been doing things like this since they could walk! I remember when Laney started her 2 year old preschool class and the teacher gave her scissors one day and was teaching her how to cut. She gave L-bird the scissors and she whipped out some things for her and shocked her teacher. My kids are geniouses—they just were forced to do crafts with momma from the day they could sit;). So…each year it’s LESS ME and MORE THEM…but you have to start some where. So be encouraged–when you do these crafts for awhile it may seem like they aren’t getting anything out of them–but trust me THEY ARE! AND…I really think having a plan/craft of some sort keeps us stay-at-home mommas ~~mentally and emotionally challenged~~…I mean mentally and emotionally healthy;).

AND…one thing that keeps me mentally and emotionally healthy is…CHOCOLATE! Okay, so kid-crafts are great—but mix ’em with some chocolate and we’re all happy. Remember the fun marshmellow dipped treats we did for Christmas. Well…here’s a fun twist for Valentine’s. When I think of Valentine’s treats (and what I want from my hubby) I think of CHOCOLATE. These will make GREAT valentine treats—simply slip a clear bag over each one and tie with a pretty pink or red ribbon! For this yummy treat you will need…

1 bag of marshmellows
chocolate bark candy coating (or 2 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips…OR both;)
wooden kabob sticks
sprinkles
I love my double boiler, and it’s really the best way to make these. So…get that double boiler out and boil water in the bottom. Once it boils, plop the top pan on and toss your chocolate in…

The water in the bottom boiler will keep the chocolate up top hot so it stays melted during your craft (I tossed in a few chocolate chips left over from our last chocolate craft too)

Give each child kabob sticks and marshmellows. This is a great COUNTING GAME! Have your child count 5 marshmellows and put 5 on each kabob stick…

I got my kabob sticks at Williams Sonoma, but I’m sure you can find them just about anywhere…It’s a little tough to dip the entire kabob in the pan of melted chocolate so momma did this one. I just used a spoon to carefully cover each kabob while holding it upright in the pan of chocolate, put them on wax paper or foil and let your kiddos go to town with the white and red sprinkles…We had some left over chocolate…and I think it should be a sin to waste chocolate—so we did what any chocolate lover would do…And after that was all said and done—I spotted a fortune cookie left over from Chinese take-out earlier this week. I opened ‘er up—and what-ta-ya know…
I couldn’t agree more! If one thing is helping me through this adoption wait…it’s definitely—you got it—chocolate!

Adoption Update…
OK, I have no update. But I just like writing that pretending that I did. One of the hardest thing about our wait is…I stink at waiting. Stink. Don’t get me wrong, I believe this is God’s perfect plan…His way of putting us with the right child at the right time…and I smile kindly at everyone who gently reminds me of that (thank you Richard;)…but my mommy heart is really longing for our babe. LONGING. I hear the statistics—and I want to bring our baby home and have him safely here with us as soon as possible. Our family is on a list open to special needs—but we are stuck in a very fine line of 0-12 months because our agency requires our babe to be younger than Frankie baby. SO…as waiting children come in…I have to sit and watch and it breaks my heart. BUT…I can pray. I can pray the Lord would move families who are able to adopt them to say YES. I can pray that others would be moved by the Holy Spirit to say…not my will—but Yours be done! I can pray that just as the Lord finds the sparrow a home (Psalm 84) that the Lord will also provide these orphans loving homes where they can hear the gospel and know HIS love. Open our hands Lord. Open our hearts. I want nothing more than to do Your will. I wait on You. I trust in You. For Your glory…I will wait. (Our new numbers should come today or tomorrow…I will share the minute I get them:) And for those of you adopting that are reading—what a JOY to be on this journey with you. Forever you will be a part of my heart for sharing this time with me. For others who have followed our story, I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this journey with us too. I know as you have read you have thought about us throughout the day. You have voiced prayers…and those prayers have been carrying me on hard days. They have given me energy to do things with my children instead of checking my email for adoption updates…they have encouraged me…and most importantly I know they have been heard by I AM who is protecting our precious child. Thank you. Thank you for being a part of one of the sweetest times of our lives. If I don’t get to meet each of you in this life…I can’t wait to rejoice with you in heaven. Each of you are precious to me. I know there are some readers who never comment…but I sure have felt the prayers of many…so thank you. And just to make you smile:)…how cute is this picture that my Addie captured peaking in school in Zambia…aren’t they precious?!…Hello little bitties…don’t you all want to come live with me;)?! Ooooo…if ONLY my hubby would let us move to Zambia!!!! One day friends…one day;)

Scripture Reading – Exodus 10:1 – 12:51

Today I confess I am a bit weary…but I declare that I will not give up coming to the throne, opening His word and clinging to the One who loves me most. Speak to our hearts today…make Your Word come alive as we read…change our hearts and conform our desires to YOURS…and fill us Lord with your Holy Spirit.

Some verses that spoke to me in today’s reading…

10:2 “I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord” The Lord has made Pharah stubborn not only so He will be glorified through miracles AND BE KNOWN but for the sake of Moses children AND grandchildren—so they too will know Him. The Lord wants to be glorified IN ALL THINGS. There are so many things that happen that I do NOT understand. BUT–in all things the Lord WILL be glorified. If I REALLY believe, then this world is only about Him being known and being glorified so others (my children and grandchildren included) knowing Him. He wants to shine THROUGH the darkness and be glorified. And to be glorified more here–the Lord had to harden Pharoah’s heart. Take heart that when things are hard–that it is for His greater purpose. And like Moses, no matter how hard it may be, open your hands to be used. When it is too difficult, remember the Lord is full of mercy to provide “Aaron’s in your life” to go with you and hold your hand through it. And in the end–others will know more of Him.

The same song and dance continues in this chapter…ask to leave–Pharoah bargains–plague comes…Pharoah begs for forgiveness agrees…locusts are sent into Red Sea (interested because this is also where God will send Pharoah’s army!)

This story is such a foreshadowing of Revelation and what is to come. In the last days there will be many Pharoahs whose hearts are hardened and the more they hear of God and from Him the more they harden their heart. Hebrews 3:7 “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Chapter 11 & 12 One more plague–the death of the firstborn and the Passover Lamb.

12:27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped. The Lord was faithful to protect His people. And it was Moses’ faith and obedience that brought Moses back to Eqypt to save them. It was his faith that helped him approach Pharoah. And it was his faith to follow through with the Passover Lamb that protected them. No matter our circumstances, we can trust the Lord to bring us out and carry us through. Jesus was the final Passover Lamb. He blood stands over us as He died for the sins of the world. How thankful I am for the Lamb of God!!!

Let us not give up reading His Word!