The Young Family Farm

Just ONE more day until this little cupcake turns TWO!…

While I wish my little cupcake was in my arms this week–I have to admit I have some of the sweetest friends EVER to celebrate him with me! So…here are some cupcakes in celebration of my little man’s life!

From my friend Meggan in Texas…

From my friend Stephanie in Illinois…

From my friend Jen’s kids…SWEET PRINCESS I took pictures of her when she was a NEWBORN!!! So big and beautiful! (Thank you sweet princess for celebrating my Zeke baby!

And her sweet little sister…

Seriously–could they be ANY cuter?!

From my C4C and AGCI momma friend Amber in Illinois…

And one of my dearest friends Angie’s kids made a video of her kids singing happy birthday and eating donuts I’ll have to get my hands on to share too!

And on FRIDAY–we will be eating our cupcakes. BECAUSE SERIOUSLY…

Thank you friends for thinking of my Zeke baby and loving on him by remembering him and celebrating his birthday with us this week!!! I am about to POP to travel and can’t wait to have belated birthday cupcakes with him soon! We are now over TWO WEEKS waiting on our TA…so we can really get the “book your flights” call ANYYYYYY day!!! We are SO close–and momma is SO ready. I will confess–this part feels like the hardest part of the wait so far. I sat and had a good momma cry last night. You get this close and you are just READY. Yet–I feel such a peace that we are RIGHT where are supposed to be in the wait. I know His plans are perfect–and I can trust in Him for every last detail. I hope to be posting very soon our news…and will be posting the MINUTE we hear!!!

And on a completely different note. I’ve been thinking lately about how we are to walk as brothers and sisters in Christ. I came across this scripture tonight as I was thinking about this and just wanted to share some of Ephesians 5.

Walk in Love

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

AND THIS…

Philippians 4…

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This is such goodness and truth. Such encouragement on how to live as brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me Lord to live this way!!! So thankful for my sweet friends the Lord has brought into my life who press me so sweetly and tenderly closer to Jesus. Thank you to you sweet friends for praying for us and for our little Zeke. May you know Him deeper and run fast and hard toward Him!!

Your sister in Christ,

Andrea!

I wanted to be there this week. So much on the birthday of my sweet boy. The day we first his picture–this is the week I started praying that we would miraculously be there. This Friday–our little man will turn two. And oh how this mommy wants to be there!

This week…I am remembering something very important that I want you, Zeke, and all my children to forever hold onto. God is never late. He is always on time. Always.

There will be times–even now…when it feels like He is…much too late. (It feels a bit like that to this mommy heart right now–but I have a PEACE this this is still–STILL–perfect timing.) Over and over again His timing is perfect…you will see this in your lives sweet children of mine. And again–I trust in His perfect timing. Just 7 months ago we saw Zeke’s picture for the first time–and the Lord has moved mountains to bring us where we are preparing to travel to meet you for the first time. Seriously–just 7 months and here we are waiting for a phone call to travel! God’s timing is not only perfect–but it is steadfast and pretty amazing. Even when our hearts want more–we can step back (to be there now), we can step back and see His perfect and miraculous hand writing a pretty amazing story to be told over and over again of His great love for us and our children…

This week…sweet Zeke, you are very much remembered!!! We are celebrating you and your sweet life EVERY day this week!!! Both sides of the world will be celebrating YOU. Ann through Red Threads is putting together a little something this week and making sure you have a sweet birthday with all your friends at the orphanage. On Friday we have a little delivery coming your way for you and your friends. Cake, LOTS of lollipops, a letter read to you from us and a camera to document the day–LOTS of pictures will be taken that we will be able to put in a special book to see this day that we very much wanted to be there for and to actually be present in the pictures too. I wish I could rewind time the last two years and be there for every milestone, every moment–and I will forever be thankful to the special mothers at Half the Sky who have loved you big for us the last 2 years of your precious life. You are kind of a big deal to us–and this week, despite us not being there in person, you will very much be celebrated.

On THIS side of the world–there will be cupcakes…and singing after dinner time as a family on Friday…and pictures also taken to show you one day…reminders of just how very much WE LOVE YOU.

Mommy is declaring this week CUPCAKE week for you little man!!! (So if any of my friends and family and those praying alongside us this past year are reading this and you would like to celebrate Zeke with us–you now have an excuse to eat a cupcake THIS week to celebrate our sweet boy!! If you celebrate with a cupcake this week for Zeke’s special day–will you please email me or text a picture to andreapierceyoung@gmail.com for us to share? And when you eat your cupcake–will you please say a prayer for our sweet boy and for his precious life, his transition to come, and for us to quickly get to be with him? Okay–I totally had to throw that last part in because I can’t help but wanting our travel to quickly get here!!) I just got THIS sweet picture from my FB momma friend in Texas – Meggan! Thank you Meggan for celebrating our Zeke with us and remembering him on his special birthday week! What a treasure to know that others are waiting and praying alongside us! Thank you!!!

Eat a guilt free yummy cupcake in honor of our sweet boy this week! (You have a great excuse–and full permission from me to even eat one every day:)! You are loved so much little man!!! And we can’t WAIT to hold you in just a few weeks! HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!

Whatever you are waiting on in your own life–trust Him in the timing, wait on Him with expectation–and get ready to celebrate His goodness…because our God is never too late–He is truly always on time!

XOXO!!!!

Mommy