The Young Family Farm

Today will probably always be documented as THAT day for our family. It was a do-over to say the least. And for that reason alone–this mom just has to document it;). Because if you only document the beautiful ones–well…it’s just not real–and this was one day I hope to look back on and laugh at. (Not quite laughing just yet;).

I thought I was ahead of the game as I saw a note on the preschool bags that they boys were supposed to take in a family picture tomorrow. Most families have those already together–but since we just grew this summer and haven’t had time for a family portrait YET…I grabbed one–sent it to Walgreens 1 hour photo (I’m totally against drug stores for quality pictures–BUT it’s for the bulletin at preschool mind you!). I read another chapter of the Penderwicks to Laney–and CRASHED at 8pm last night. I *should* have not crashed–and gone to get the pictures…then we would never have THAT day to talk about;).

This morning–Rico Suave took the 2 bigs to the hybrid homeschool they attend while I took the middle 2 boys to preschool with Z baby in tow. We left 30 minutes early so we could run by Walgreens and get the family pictures for their preschool bulletin board. (Did you just read that I said we left 30 minutes EARLY? Yes–can you also say MIRACLE?! Y’all…I was on top of it–and then…it all fell apart!)

So I got to Walgreens–running in with 3 littles 4 and under in tow. I ran straight to the picture desk (Z baby on my hip, Frank spinning in circles and Isaac hysterically CRYING because he only had socks on…and was too busy singing to music on the way–and had to concentrate on singing so he couldn’t put his shoes on…and he was worried the cash register lady would laugh at him with just socks.). Oh my. I get to the photo booth and sweet lady behind the desk checks the Y basket…A basket…every letter of the alphabet basket–and NO PICTURES.

I RESEND them from my phone. And now they are printing–THANK YOU LORD! It will just be 20 minutes. Say good-bye to carpool…and hello to kids will be late for preschool (aka–park and run everyone in…aka–Zeke will be in TEARS leaving without his brothers with us and he wants to stay too). 20 minutes later–pictures are ready—we RUN out of Walgreens. AS we run out, Frank grabs the keys off my belt loop (yes–I have a HOOK that HOOKS my keys to my belt loop so I never lose them!)–I reach for my keys to realize they are NOT there. Oh no. Are they locked in the car??? I set Z baby down–dump out my purse–and then year a 4 year old giggling behind me. “I have your keys mommy!” Frank!

Well–if we HURRY…we MIGHT make the END of carpool and the Z-baby tears MIGHT be saved. I quickly put everyone in the van. RUSH to preschool. Unfortunately–preschool carpool is OVER. We run in–drop them off…but I look in my purse. NO PICTURES. Phone starts ringing–and it’s Walgreens. “Ma’am, you left your pictures…” ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

I explain to Frank and Isaac’s teachers how I left the pictures–and she tells me she needs them because she needs to laminate them. Oh my. I’ll do my best. I run out to the van. LOCKED. Keys sitting on the driver’s seat. I reach in my purse to grab my wallet to get the AAA number. NO WALLET. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I realize that when I was looking for keys in the Walgreens parking lot–my wallet must have been left on pavement. Oh my.

I run in the church because we live in Atlanta, GA people—and in September…it’s frying. Sweat pouring down–so I run in to stand in the A/C while I look up the AAA number on my phone. I go in a nursery room. THANK YOU LORD! There are TOYS for Z baby to play with!! He plays while I call AAA. They say they will be to my van in 45 minutes. I try to call Walgreens about my wallet…again and again…and again. Busy signal. Stink.

5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. Just 30 to go right??

Preschool lady comes in. “Oh I’m sorry–you can’t wait in here.”

And then. It happens.

The tears come.

I grab Z-baby. Walk outside in the heat. Sit on a white bench. And I just started to cry.

Do you see me Lord?

Why so much all at once?

I’m doing the best I can. Struggling to teach the kids. Trying to find our new groove with 5. This just feels like a hard day.

AAA man finally comes. Hands me a cold water. Makes me want to cry again–that was really, really nice.

I get in the car–thank you Lord! I try to call Walgreens AGAIN about my wallet. Worried because we are on the envelope cash system so all our grocery, gas, etc money is in my wallet…so around $500 just in there–and going to be SHOCKED if it’s still there.

I pull up to Walgreens and run in. I run to the photo booth. She hands me the photos–the now SACRED photos. I hope they look fabulous on that preschool bulletin board;). I ask about my wallet. The manager goes to the back to get it out of the safe. She says someone brought it inside. EVERYTHING was there–um–except the $500. Gone.

Just for kicks–I call the police to report it. You never know what they can see on drugstore videos right? He comes–and oh the compassion in his face as he walks up was enough to remind me that it just stunk but would be okay. He watched the videos with the manager. A sweet lady turned it in. And they could actually see what appeared to be a Roswell High School kiddo with a backpack who walked by…grabbed my wallet–took the stash and left the wallet. Sweet police man said he’d go to the school and just see if he could figure it out as there might be word among kids at school that day. But really–there’s nothing else to be done.

So…off I went now lunch time to feed my little Z…put him down for a nap and then go pick up the other boys from preschool.

One little share of my morning to my sweet friends–and one friend so sweetly sent me a Starbucks coffee and another sent me a gift certificate to bless me. Although there are not so thoughtful and dishonest people in world-there are JUST AS MANY if not MORE–people who want to bless and love on you when things are hard. So thankful.

I wish I had a really good ending to this yuck day…but I’m afraid I don’t. And I’m just really glad that it’s over! Tomorrow is a NEW day–and I’m thankful that JOY comes in the morning. When things like this happen–we really can just give them to Him–and trust Him to make justice happen. I know every penny He restores–and that kiddo who took the money and walked away–has much more to carry. Our sweet children prayed for him tonight and prayed that he would know Jesus and His love…and that we would love him big. And then my sweet Parker brought me his piggy bank and told me he wanted me to have it. AND THAT…a child with a heart like his is worth more than anything you could lose or get back in material value. Hearing Laney pray for that sweet boy…watching Parker insist we take what he has worked so hard to save (for a skateboard!)…makes you realize the hard things do not matter and some times you just have to step back and NOT see things in this world from a worldly perspective. The lessons that were learned today in the hearts of my children…were worth so much more!

And tonight–I go to bed with a thankful heart–that He is making my children into such precious ones…and that we don’t have to worry about the things of this world as we keep our eyes focused on Him!! And THAT…that ending–is about as good as it can get!

As things don’t go your way or as hard things happen–ask the Lord to give you EYES TO SEE…to see things differently and to understand what He might be doing or how He wants to work through the hard. He is El Roi! The God who sees! You are never forgotten!

 

Life is full.

My heart is more than full.

But I’m not going to lie–it is also really challenging (aka = hard) with so many littles right now. We are in a sweet, sweet season. Full of finding missing lovies (very high priority on our list), discovering baking soda and then Colgate removes stains from American Girl doll faces, running carpool craziness from activity to activity and trying to slow down in between to just be together and listen to their hearts.

Today was one of those hard, crazy days. Flying solo with Rico Suave doing business. Guitar lessons for him. Piano lessons for her. Soccer for another him. Gymnastics for another. And then Awanas for all. I ran into the church–late (of course)–dropped them all off (minus Zeke of course who is permanently glued to my hip)…and I took a deep breath. I looked up to see other moms doing the same. Y’all. It’s not easy. No matter where you are–it’s hard…so good–but hard. (I often don’t write about the hard because I get the comment that I should just be thankful to have children–and I AM…but it is perfectly okay to voice the hard y’all.) And today–well, it was one of those days. I stood here in that hallway taking a deep breath. I had made it…through another day. And with Awanas–I had just over an hour with just me and Zeke tonight since Rico was out of town on business. Zeke squatted down–and as everything got quiet in the PEACE–he let one rip (aka – passed gas!). The other moms looked our way–he grinned, patted his bottom and said one of the 2 English words he knows—BUBBLES. Oh MY! I bursted into laughter…as did the other moms–and in my fatigue I was laughing reminded how SWEET this mommy journey really is!

Honestly, this momma NEEDS this time to refuel–which made me want to encourage YOU other moms to REFUEL as well. Homeschooling with 5 children ages 9 and under–there are definitely a few things that help us thrive…or some days SURVIVE. Some days you just have to get through!! Here are a few things that really have helped me reaching the thriving side:

1. Take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating healthy–3 meals a day and staying hydrated. This might sound silly to some–but if you have a bunch of littles…you know how 2pm can hit and you realize you haven’t even had breakfast yet. This is NOT good for your health, immune system or for your littles. Make SURE you are eating well–in the very least 3 meals a day.

Another component of taking care of yourself–find TIME TO YOURSELF. No matter what your personality type is–we ALL need time to unwind to ourselves! Make sure you are getting some QUITE DOWN TIME every day–even if it’s just 30 minutes. Nap when you have the opportunity. And if you don’t–give your little a book to read while you lay beside them and read too. Our kids have quiet time EVERY DAY. The babies and toddler nap while the bigs read…and mommy some times dozes off while reading too! It might just be for 30 minutes–but it is good to unwind and rest! ALSO be sure to take time ONCE a week to be KID FREE. Some times this isn’t always possible when you have a newborn or one newly home through adoption. (We are in that boat right now!) BUT–our kids go to Awanas one night a week–a program at our church. It’s the night we will go grab coffee together–or when Rico Suave is out of town–it offers me a breather and an hour and a half to do a Target run…some times just walking up and down the aisles looking at things and piddling is restoring to me. Find a way whether through a kids program or a babysitter to get time away at least once a week. (This might look different if you homeschool or have toddlers–just be sure you are getting time to yourself in some way…even if its during nap time–simply sitting on your back porch and breathing!)

2. Make time in His Word and pray Throughout the Day. Your quiet times will look very different as a mom and in different stages of life. You have to get creative. Right now, I keep a box of Bible verses and I’ll sort through them through the day. It’s a way for His Word to speak to my heart. In the middle of crazy some times I’ll just pick out 5 cards and read them…and it’s amazing how His Word speaks to you and calms. My prayer time as a mom looks vastly different than before I was a mom. I find myself talking to Him constantly–praying through out the day rather than waking an hour before littles rise. We often have long nights at our house with our new one–so this momma sleeps until the first bird wakes her. The Lord knows and sees me…El Roi–He is the God who sees us!! Right now in this season I might not can wake early or have extended daily prayer times–but I recognize my need for Him and pray throughout the day to Him. Oh how I need Him that is for sure!!

3. Unless your house is on the market–don’t clean it like it is. I always tell friends who come over to my MESSY house that my job is to make them feel better with my messy house;). When your littles are little–do not worry about keeping a perfectly clean house! With 5 children–I have to do a load of laundry a day–BUT I wait until the weekend to fold everything. It’s all clean by Friday. If they need something clean–they get to use their visual sensory skills to sort through the piles (it’s good for them;)–and on the weekend when Rico is there to help…I turn on some music (or enjoy the QUIET) and fold away. Sure my children do chores–but did you see their ages?? I have to remind them…I often have to help them…and if I wanted it to be perfect–I’d have to redo it for them too. But life is just too short to live that way–so I let them help, do their best and I try to rest after I put them all to bed.

4. Let the big kids help where they can. Never underestimate what children can do! I remember watching African children in Zambia at the ages of 5 and 6 carry siblings on their back and care for them ALL DAY LONG while their mom was gone! Now, I’m not saying you should put your 6 year old in charge of the others by any means;)…but they can definitely help more than you might think! Our 7 and 9 year olds help the 2 and 4 year olds with their breakfasts so this mom can shower in the MORNING instead of going all day without. I definitely couldn’t homeschool without the bigs taking turns helping with the littles while I teach the other big–so never underestimate what a child can help with! It’s amazing to watch them rise to the occasion and even how they grow when given a challenge.

5. Stay connected to your spouse. This is actually probably more like #1–but these are in now way ordered in number of importance:) The more littles you have–the harder this can be. COMMUNICATING WELL is probably the key component of this. Richard and I don’t go to bed angry. We voice the things that are hard–and we walk through how we could each possibly tweak things to help make them better. We have thrown out every idea of “who should do what”–and we both cook, we both clean, we both do laundry…as well as bed time, bath time, sports coaching and often even school work (although for the most part I’m done with that by the time he gets home from work). We bleed a TEAM mentality here–and talk through our day at the end of every day. And we pray together. The kids see us talking through things, being silly together and serving one another–and they are learning as they watch…how to do life with another. If I ever say I think we could use counseling to get back on track–Rico Suave doesn’t fuss…he just says LET’S DO IT!! We take our connection and time together seriously–and make sure we are agreeing and staying on the same page in every area concerning our family. This can be a lot of work at first–but once you get in your groove–it’s really so much fun and such a joy to have someone to run with!

So thankful for how the Lord has been caring for us these last few months…and things truly are really, really good. Last night Zeke even slept in his crib (in our room!) for the ENTIRE night without crying or needing to get through the other half of the night sandwiched between us! Each week seems to bring another connecting, secure milestone–and we are just trusting Him daily for strength. I’m not EVER looking into tomorrow–because tomorrow has enough of it’s own. We are just one day at a time over here!! We are having a lot of fun–learning a ton–and I hope our children in between all the lessons (lots of them in this season!) are feeling the LOVE more than anything else. For those of you who have been praying for us during this time of connecting with a new one–THANK YOU. We have felt your prayers…and we are thankful.

Tomorrow is a new day!! I’m excited to experience it…and can’t wait to live it to the fullest!

Blessings!

Andrea

We had an eventful crazy summer–and there is just no way to write all that we had going on. But today–I was reminded of something I didn’t share…that I want to. I want to share to help those that don’t always get to leave with good news.

After we brought Zeke home, we were having a lounge around the house day. I was watching my older kids sitting in the breakfast area–swinging there little legs back and forth as they sat eating their cereal when I noticed what looked like a knot in my 8 year old son’s leg. I thought MAYBE it was the way the sun was hitting it. Surely it was just the way the light was hitting it–but having a mommy mind and heart (aka – struggling not to make everything a worry)…of course my mind started racing. I ran over and asked my Parker to stretch out his leg–and the lump was even larger. It was below his knee where he said he had been experiencing pain, and it was hard as a rock. I called the pediatrician to be safe, and we went the next morning.

Our pediatrician said he wasn’t worried, and it could likely be just a Baker’s cyst. If it was–it could go away on it’s own or need to be removed–but wasn’t anything to be worried about. Because of it’s size and how it felt though, he referred us to the pediatric orthopedist to be sure. The days that followed, I caught my mind wandering and myself staring at my little Parker–wondering if our worlds were about to be rocked. I sent Rich with him to downplay it, and I stayed with the children. Honestly, I don’t react so well to uncertain news…y’all I am so NOT strong–so I knew it’d be better to send Richard. I know that makes me sound awful–BUT we also had just been home for a few weeks with our newest from China who wouldn’t stay with a sitter either. Richard called me to let me know they had completed the x-rays–and the doctor just wasn’t sure. My heart SANK. What do you mean not sure? So many questions–all that would have to wait until we went to Emory for a full MRI.

We scheduled it for Sunday, so one of us could again take him while the other stayed home with our new one and the other children. We would also have to wait for the report on Monday after the doctors reviewed the results. Lots of time on our knees here…and realizing that really–everything can just change in a blink for our children. Knowing there is NOTHING we wouldn’t do for all our children to be well–to say I was distracted for most of July in a fog is an understatement. Our doctor called with GOOD NEWS on Monday morning. It was benign, and we would watch it–but it was NOTHING to be worried about. I think I lost a few hairs in those weeks–but here’s the thing…we got to walk away with good news. Not everyone does. Yet in that moment…I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING to find a cure…to help my child…to be a part of helping other children that have childhood cancer.

Just a year earlier we had been at a party celebrating our friend’s child being cancer FREE after a long and hard journey with childhood cancer. We watched osteosarcoma take little Bailey’s leg–but it did not take this little bulldog of a girl’s spirit to fight. She fought long and hard and BEAT cancer. And unlike me–well, she can’t just walk away with good news and forget her encounter. Because her encounter wasn’t just a scare–but it was an ugly beast that sent thousands to their knees praying for her fight with her. Bailey and her family are now trying to raise funds for Rally Foundation and CURE for childhood cancer research. For the next 48 hours you can join them by pre-ordering one of the t-shirts on Bailey’s mom’s blog! But you need to pre-order before September 4th at midnight! Pre-order a childhood cancer awareness t-shirt here on her blog.

Currently, we have another precious friend named Lindsey who’s precious little daughter Lola is fighting childhood cancer. With every Facebook post of little ones with backpacks heading off to school–I can’t help but think of all the things racing through Lindsey’s mind as she prepares her daughter for a year being in hospitals and at home more than school…and instead getting her little monkey in her place so her friends don’t forget her and remember she’s coming back–she just needs to get well first.

Oh my heart. I can hardly take the thought…so I can’t imagine how the mommy heart feels that doesn’t get to leave with good news. For those of us who get to back up our loves tomorrow for preschool and school–we can do something though. While these children fight–we can support organizations like Rally and CURE raising funds for childhood cancer research.

I’m so thankful I got to walk away–but heartbroken that that’s not everyone’s story. Will you join me in supporting this amazing cause? For all the Creeds, Lolas and Bailey’s out there! Let’s make a BIG HUGE smile on Miss Bailey’s face and flood her mommy’s blog with pre-orders to help them raise funds to win the fight against childhood cancer!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE TIFFANY’S PRE-ORDER TEES – ALL PRE-ORDERS MUST BE IN BY SEPTEMBER 4TH AT MIDNIGHT!

We have had ONE busy weekend! We celebrated P’s birthday Friday night, my niece’s birthday Saturday…and then we decided to surprise my parents with a little wedding fun renewing vows with ring pops as the grandkids put on a little wedding and reception for them. It was so sweet…and so fun! Here’s a little sneak peak! (Here’s the direct link just in cast the one below doesn’t load well…)

My dad helped us a bit plan the night–and about this time last year he started working on a song to give my mom on their 40th. Sweet man drove to Nashville a few times to actually have it professionally recorded in a studio for her. Here is the video…he started it out making it look like he just recorded it on the back porch..but he definitely went to great lengths to make it special! I have some pretty sweet parents who are still very much in love! So blessed! (You can watch the direct the direct link HERE.)

And then we enjoyed watching this video of more sweet pictures…(direct link HERE)

So this is our crazy family! We might be as country sounding as they come with our Southern accents…but we love each other–and that’s better than anything you could ever hope for when it comes to family.

The greatest gift my parents have given me–is showing us girls how to work things out. We are committed to our husbands, our families and to our friends. We have watched our parents and learned how to work through hard–because it hasn’t always been easy…but we have learned that you never, ever give up. We have learned when you have hard relationships–friendships…or whatever–that when things get hard or uneasy or uncomfortable…you don’t avoid…you don’t run–you go deep–TOGETHER…because right around the corner…well, that’s where the best stuff is. They have taught us to be loyal, true and to take risks. And to be vulnerable–real and authentic in who we are with each other. I’m so thankful for what they are leaving us…a legacy to pass down to our children…and to our children’s children. And so thankful for sisters–who have shared every part of the beautiful alongside me. Mom and dad–we love you very much! Thank you for fighting for one another and for teaching us what it means to really love.

Blessings!

Andrea

Foster moms.

I’m sitting here…pouring over page after page after page…of 2 years documented from my son’s nanny from the orphanage in China. This is not normal I know. Such a gift for me to have this. A treasure.

Every milestone…every funny…every illness…every new mannerism–2 years this special caregiver–so much more than a care-giver…really “middle mom”…standing in the gap…she jotted–she documented–(she made this momma laugh with the nicknames and how many times she wrote the word naughty;) and made pictures to go along with the milestones. (Even my first child–as over zealous as I was–doesn’t have this!)

Everyone who meets our little love is surprised with how bonded he is to us–and how happy and secure he is in just 2 months home…TODAY–2 months home today! I have to give huge props and a standing ovation to the “middle mom” who stood in the gap and loved him first. He didn’t know he was waiting while I was jumping through hoops because he was being loved so big! It may have been her job–but she loved him as her own. THANKFUL. And now I’m trying to figure out how to get back over there and really thank her…again.

I realize this is a treasure. We do not have this for other son. Oh how I wish we did! BUT what this really reminds me tonight of is this–the importance…the powerful impression–the privilege of molding and shaping of a precious heart…the most amazing job these “middle moms” get to be a part of. She did this beautifully. Not knowing or caring if we would appreciate it. But because she loved him.

I. Am. Thankful.

Never underestimate the healing you might be a part of and what your love can do as you foster, stand in the gap, teach children at school…or where ever you are! Make the most of every opportunity to love big!