The Young Family Farm

Momma is officially tired. I’m tired of doing the charades. Tired of typing in google translate. Tired of lots of things that have been really, really hard. I have to smile though as I think tonight–what encourages me most right now? And–it’s my children. They have been so sacrificial in their time, their love, their summer–their rooms, their parents, their space. They give and give and give more…and they are such a reminder to me how to really love. I honestly think I stink at it actually. I have to constantly call out to Him to take over…I truly can’t do it on my own. And as today marks the 1st day of our 2nd half of the hosting summer…I’m taking deep breathes because this hasn’t been easy for momma. I don’t want to share the HARD parts because our situation is different than most hosting families–but more is required than me than ever–and my work load has doubled–and truly I can’t do this without His strength. I stink at this–and if there is any good you see in it…glory be to God…because it is Him intervening!

In news for today–we all packed our bags today for a little adventure. We are leaving Rico Suave behind so he can work and fund our outings;). He also needs a little breather so it’ll be so good for him to have some down time. AND he is going to play in a golf tournament with his old Bible study from back in the day–so it’ll be great. Momma on the other hand…I’m loading up 5 kids for a 5 day adventure with my crazy older sister April and her kids + my parents. Pictures to follow:) So we packed for that. THEN we introduced T to the library. Free outing was sounding really good to me. THEN at 4ish we loaded up and headed to pick up Rico Suave from work…and we took T to her first professional baseball game!

I got ALL the kids geared up in their Braves shirts and we even had T one! She refused to wear it though:(. I thought it’d be fun…but she didn’t think it was so cool:). Here’s ITY on our way down…oh my glory–is he not SCRUMPTIOUS?!

What I’m most thankful for tonight is GRACE. I’m thankful we were not shot because sweet T was pointing and laughing at people tonight that she saw that were different than us. This is something you do NOT do near East Point…near the Braves stadium. I’m thankful we are still alive and their is grace and kindness in the hearts of those we passed tonight. And once again–I was ministered to by Parker and Laney who were upset by those whose had very little…and they wanted to put quarters in their cups and bless them. I was reminded tonight how experience grows and shapes your heart–and while one with us needs a lot of love and experience…my others are using their experience and love they have been given to action. I have a tornado of crazy things going on when we are out in public…I feel like I’m learning so much.

Then–we got to the stadium…

We discovered baseball isn’t sweet T’s thing–but she was quite entertained by the people watching. And I had no idea how cool it is for young people to go to Braves games. I need to get out more because I was shocked at the lack of modesty in the wardrobe of young ladies. Oh sweet boys out there–praying for you guys. It’s a tough world out there!

We came home…tucked everyone in bed…and Richard shared one of his heirlooms with me:) Momma whipped up a yummy midnight snack…(gluten free wheat bread + garlic – toast for 8 minutes…add tomato + mozzarella + basil + olive oil = DELISH!)

Alright faithful readers and friends…please pray our 5 day adventure brings much rest, much love and much connection. I’ll do my best to blog and keep you guys in the know. And when we return on Sunday…we have a party to plan!

xoxo!

Andrea

Okay–if you need to laugh…then this is the post to read:)

Look carefully.

What does NOT belong in this picture?

Do you see something that does NOT belong in a bathroom?

‘Cause this is Rico Suave’s side of the master bath…and I think he has lost his hosting mind.

I went in last night to brush my teeth and about lost it. The man cracks me up. So–you know how when you make change in your life it can be the little things that either make you crazy or just 1 or 2 things that help you keep your old normal for a moment that keep you sane? Well–his thing is his tomatoes.

He had his cherry tomatoes…his standard globe tomaotes–and what I call his “sacred” heirloom tomatoes. You can eat all the cherry tomatoes and regular home grown tomatoes you want. But the “sacred” tomatoes…those require a daddy cutting ceremony for.

Our sweet T loooooves tomatoes. Last summer we were able to share lots of tomatoes with friends and family–but this year…T has it covered. Sweet girl eats at least 4-5 regular bad boys a day. And the cherry tomatoes I can’t pick them before they’ve all been eaten off the vine. Our sweet girl can EAT. Food has never been so plentiful–so I go to the grocery a lot more to restock and our grocery stash in our envelope system has for sure doubled. It’s truly amazing–and I had to smile watching sweet girl eat breakfast this morning (2 tomatoes + pasta + a triple ham sandwich + a cereal bar). And that’s just breakfast.

Sooo…I had to smile last night at my man–who has the kindest heart–who said yes to hosting a teenager while having 4 kids ages 7 and under…and all the man asks for…is to slice his heirlooms. The rain and thunderstorms hit his heirlooms hard–and he’s only had about 4 survive. (Almost 5–but the bugs got in #5…and he talked about it for days.) I don’t dare touch those heirlooms on my life–and I had to snicker when I saw one sliced one morning. While I say it’s just a heirloom–you men who are in touch with your tomato plants know the beauty of a pumpkin size organic heirloom.

I tried not to crack a smile as I walked in the bedroom last night holding one of the palm size tomatoes and asked, “What are THESE doing in our bathroom???”

Our life is crazy Ang. What if they were cut before they ripened? That’s all I ask–is for my heirlooms to ripen… And then we both burst out in some much needed laughter. Love my man–his simplicity…and for his sneakiness in hiding his heirlooms. Gotta love ’em.

At the pool…

Okay. So let me tell you about a normal trip to our hood pool. Not sure this is laughable at all. It’s kinda sad.

I was swimming with my 5 little birds when another momma bird came in with her 2 little birds.

My kids were doing their thing–sailing the 7 seas in their inflatable pirate ship and 7 foot inflatable paddle boat. (Yes–we are that family that brings all the annoying inflatables to the pool that make your kids whine. Sorry about that. I need the inflatables to survive. And we really do share and welcome any friends to play on them;).

I looked redonkulous with my 2 and 3 year old jumping in and swimming to me (proud of my boys withOUT floaties–momma has been working hard!) But I look crazy because they both jump in and swim to me at the same time and then they jump on my back…which at that point I remember to look around to make sure the 6 and 7 year old are sharing–and that the 15 year old is aware of personal space. Eek…and this time she wasn’t…her float was touching this other mom in the back while she threw a ball to her 2 birds the ages of my big birds. SOOOO…I swam as fast as I could ACROSS the pool with my 2 and 3 year old on my back and pulled her away apologizing that we are from the Ukraine and we are still learning personal space. WHICH made for a scene because our T isn’t Miss Grace…she was startled when I called her name and started pulling her away which made her jump and fall off her float giving me and the other momma bird a good splash down. Princess T hopped out of the pool to run to the restroom and this conversation followed…

Where’d you say she was from?

Me: The Ukraine.

Oh. That’s so nice. So you have a little au pair from Ukraine to nanny for this summer??

{What I wanted to say: Did she look like an au pair when she was on her float running into you while I tended to the littles??}

Me: On no. She isn’t an au pair.

A foreign exchange student then?

{What I wanted to say: This conversation could go many ways–I think I hear thunder. We always leave the pool when it thunders.}

Me: No. She isn’t an exchange student. The orphanages in the Ukraine close for the summer. There is an incredible ministry called New Horizons that helps find families for these kids to live in so they are off the streets, get to stay in a safe place and get to experience the love of a family.

Ohhhhh. That’s nice. I don’t even know what to say.

{What I wanted to say: I think I hear thunder. We always leave the pool when it thunders…}

And is this your little boy? Is he adopted?

{What I wanted to say: Which one?}

Me: Yes, he is my son. Isaac can you tell this sweet mom where you were born?

Isaac: I was born in Ah-ri-ca!

Me: Yep. This sweet boy was born in Africa, and we couldn’t be more thankful for how God has grown our family.

Her son chimes in now…

Son #1: Can I touch the black boy?

{What I wanted to say: Can you what? Now–he doesn’t bite–but his momma does…what country do you live in? And I thought us homeschooling folk were supposed to be the weird ones?}

Me: Well, you should ask him.

Son #1: Black boy, can I touch you.

{What I wanted to say: You don’t really want to read what I wanted to say.}

Me: Well, my son has a name. Can you tell this little ig-nant white boy your name. (Hahahah! I totally DID Not say that…rewind!)

Me: Well, my son has a name. Can you tell this little boy your name?

Isaac: My name is Isaac. I don’t want you to touch me.

Me: Sorry–he doesn’t want you to touch him. But I hope you guys have fun throwing ball with your mom.

I just love what your family is doing. I think God just gives some people a heart to help others.

{What I wanted to say: I think God gives everyone a heart to help others…it just looks different for everyone…and some listen and some let the fogginess of the world keep them from hearing…}

Me: We aren’t doing anything really but living. I would love to have a play date some time…

and then…it really did thunder…so we went.

Oh the conversations this momma bird some times has.

At home…(before the pool conversation)

Today was a CHILL day for us. I had a sitter come to help with the littles so I could CLEAN. I knew she would willingly clean for me–but I knew our T needed to see me in a different way and another role a mom must play. So–I let the sitter take the littles to the pool and since T has to be with me 24-7–we stayed back while Isaac napped…and I promised to take her to the pool after I was done scrubbing.

I told her she could read or scrapbook, but she opted to watch me clean. It is a bit humbling to have a teen follow you from room to room standing there just watching you scrub and sweat. It took me an hour to scrub my bathroom. I haven’t been able to clean since the princess arrived–and much needed to be done. I told her she could read–but she insisted on just standing over me while I scrubbed. I confess I was tempted to hand her a scrub brush but I didn’t feel that was what I was supposed to do. I felt I should humble myself before her and scrub. So I did…really unsure why.

Then I felt after my bathroom–I should scrub hers. And I felt the Holy Spirit in their speaking to me…crazy I know. Wash my feet. And that is what it felt like…as I scrubbed her toilet while she just stood there and watched. I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed…and ever now and then I looked up to say, “You okay?” to show my care for her while I cleaned. And I really did feel like I was washing holy feet. I know that sounds crazy–but it was a moment. And she left the room and didn’t return.

I kept cleaning and she still didn’t return–so I went to find her. I found her in Laney’s room…CLEANING. She was going through drawers (in an orphanage you can’t explore–there’s nothing to explore)…I walked by now and then watching her carefully tend to her dolls and line them up on her bed…and of course I did what this momma always does…and wondered and wished…wondered what it was like for her…and wished it had been more. She lined up her shoes. She made her bed. And He did something today in my not getting frustrated that I was cleaning while being watched and that I resisted the temptation to ask “Wanna help?” or “Could you wash your own feet?” Something happened today–and she saw me in a new light and wanted to serve with me. And it was sweet. And even holy.

And that…that was our day.

Tomorrow is going to be another good one. I just know it:)

Blessings to you this day!

andrea

We had ANOTHER great day! I think I’m on to something;). Our T really thrives most when she has us one-on-one. When my babies slept through the night for the first times when they were little, I always tried to “recreate” whatever helped them sleep well…fuller bellies, shorter late afternoon naps…AND after seeing how well T has done when she has momma bird all to herself–and how GOOD it was for her and our connecting–we decided to spend today at the Georgia Aquarium (the largest aquarium in the world!)

It took an act of congress to pull it off. I have had a babysitter come much of this week from 9am-4pm to help with my kids so I can focus on T. When I catch my heart missing my babies–I just have to give that sacrifice to the Lord ask Him to be enough for them and for me right now. There is more stress in our home when T doesn’t get what she needs–so we are taking a few days each week to switch things up to love a little more. And today was another one of those. And it required Congress. (Thank you Addie for picking Parker up from camp and bringing him home. Thank you Kelly for bringing your kids to my house and sacrificing your entire day to help with my children. It takes a village—especially where things are broken—so thank you for loving our family and T. Very thankful knowing my littles are loved and well cared for…such a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.)

So…after this act of Congress was in place–T and I headed down the aquarium. We were on the road for about 30 minutes when T asked to call her friend. I explained (over old faithful “Say Hi” iPhone app that I didn’t have her number–I could tell she wasn’t buying it. She has several friends numbers who also traveled here to be hosted and she has their numbers written down at home. I then tried to explain as I held my iPhone in one hand and navigated ATL traffic in the other that momma bird doesn’t have all the numbers memorized in my brain–I was sorry, but we would have to get it at home later.

One thing these kids CAN NOT do–is think long term. They are survivors and they only think hour by hour–some times minute by minute. They fight for what they want right then–because that is how they work. And dog-gone-it she needed that number RIGHT then. She translated that we needed to TURN AROUND and GO HOME and get the number. (Deep breath from momma bird.)

Really?? You mean–no aquarium? You want to go home and get the number and just call your friend?

YES.

Another deep breath.

But what about Congress? What about everything momma bird set up? What about my friend Kelly who gave up her day…and carpool delegation??? Really?

YES.

I thought I might cry…and I hoped maybe she didn’t understand. Understand how hard I had worked to pull this off…how my 4 little birds NEVER get these kind of days from momma bird–but I’m really, really, really trying. I asked if we could call the translator and she said NO. (The translator is over us and she knows it I think;). I explained that IF we go home to get the number we will NOT return to the aquarium. Not because I don’t love her–but because we would no longer have time.

She said okay.

Then momma bird explained that we would probably not get to go the aquarium AT ALL while she is here if we didn’t take advantage of every thing in place right now and go. Her friend might not even answer the phone. Okay??? (Held my breath…)

Okay.

I took another breath…because I needed one. I needed to give my frustration to the Lord and not compare how my little children who have been cared for and raised in my nest would have died for a day like today. Oh Lord–please let this be a good one…I am so tired…I feel like I need to take care of me…please bring Your peace today…

And He did.

You see–in large, LOUD crowds–“Say Hi” translator does NOT work. SO–we spent almost 4 hours at the Aquarium and didn’t say one word. She talked to me in Russian–but I just smiled and rubbed her back and said, “Yes, yes–you like it!” over and over again:)

Happy girl…

Because she can’t read or understand English–she really didn’t have any interest in stopping to really read or see anything (my crew asks me to read almost every one when we go–and I crazily LOVE the discovery and knowledge of every creature). After she saw the beluga whale she blew off the little guys…she was absolutely in awe of the belugas!

Okay–y’all don’t get mad at me for this next paragraph–but I was really crackin’ myself up today because the differences socially–this girl would push and shove to get up to the glass every time. People would give HER the stink eye like, “I don’t know what you think you’re doing”…THEN she would turn to find me and start trying to talk in CHARADES. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME the people who had just given her the stink eye would look at me and make a compassionate face…some times they would make more room for her quickly…and a few even came and told me, “I’m so sorry–I didn’t realize…” What? What didn’t you realize;). I just smiled and said it was okay. They thought something was definitely off with us–and then she’d SHOUT with joy and delight and then start in with the charades what she wanted to say…and almost every time she’d tap the window with her fists or wave at the fish…this was just the first time in her LIFE ever getting an experience like this–she was a KID AGAIN…and the people around us weren’t sure what to think. She flipped out in the 3D Finding Deepo movie! It was pretty cute!

THEN…off to the BIG tank…

…I look at this picture (above) and although this princess turns 16 in just 2 weeks (aging out)…I see so much hope. This face is the face of a girl who is going to change the world. I just know it. And I’m going to keep reminding her of that. I see lots of trips to the Ukraine in our future;)

Last but not least–was the dolphin show…it was truly AMAZING!

I was sitting there–watching this girl…watching her face full of awe…and I started praying. Praying for her future. Praying for her to know His love. Praying that she would be okay. Praying that the Lord would bind our friendship and hearts in such a strong, real way that we would forever walk with her and be a part of her life. And then…I looked at the dolphins and trainers…

…and they were dancing…

…Here. Here were these VERY two different creatures…that couldn’t speak the same language. YET–they were dancing.

Their lives truly looked completely different…unable to understand one another’s words—yet some how…they were connecting. And even dancing.

The dolphin would never survive on the land of the trainer–but instead…the trainer had to go into the world of the dolphin…meet that dolphin where he is used to living…where he can breath—so they might connect, learn one another, train together learning how to communicate…and eventually they would dance.

I looked over at my princess. I wished for sunglasses or that she wouldn’t see me discreetly wiping away a tear or three. I felt fear bottle up in my heart–I want her to be protected…I want them all to be–as the faces of children aging out now take on a new and real face for this momma. I want to be able to connect with her…to communicate…like the trainer and dolphin. And to even–dance…that our hearts would be in sync and she would have a vision and a purpose for her life that is only from her Creator. And that some how…we can help her dance…and dance with her for her vision and purpose. But like the trainer…our calling might look different. I know we were only called to bring her into our home and love her for 5 weeks through New Horizon’s hosting program–a program that provides loving, Christian homes for these kids during the summer and winter orphanage closures in their countries. This summer–she has been kept safe. This summer–she has been loved. But what next? Lord I trust you. Do something big. Even if it means taking us like the trainer to where this beautiful creation lives…where she breathes…and help us some how dance for your glory.

Just as I was praying, I tuned back into the “show” and on the big screen wind was portrayed…and a deep loud voice came over the hundreds watching…(there was a story line where a ship and dolphin were in great trouble…)…I kid you not.

“FEAR NOT. Arise great dolphin so I may blow my wind and move your sails!”

I sat there smiling. After just praying for her and thinking about our language barrier and how the trainer had to meet the dolphin in a different way for them to connect…I thought of her again. ARISE. Arise my princess. So that He might blow His winds and move your sails!

Praying big. Hoping big. May He finish what He has begun.

And then we drove home…with the passenger seat declined–my princess slept as I drove. She felt safe, secure and at peace. Yes, it was another good day.

Thank you sweet Kelly for helping make another day like today possible…

We’ve had a really good night together–and tomorrow we head South as she gets to go visit Papa and Nana for the weekend! They got approved for backup hosting with New Horizons and she ADORES them–so they are treating her to a fun weekend where she will get lots of love and attention while momma bird rests up. This SUNDAY is the half-way mark of the 5 week hosting program. We have covered so much ground in her time with us–and can’t imagine what the rest of the summer together holds!

Please keep praying for miracles for sweet T! And if you would like more information on hosting–please visit New Horizons for Children and tell them I sent ya!

Andrea