Soooo…the WORD in our house lately is that Rico Suave has purchased 2 roundtrip plane tickets to Park City, Utah for a ski trip! One has Rico’s name on it–and the other…NOT MINE! I’m super excited that he did this–and I had to practically TWIST HIS ARM and make him do it because my sweet husband doesn’t want to leave me right now. (I heart my man!) BUT…there are times when little boys need a special get away–and I’m SO EXCITED to share that the other ticket belongs to Parker man!
Have you ever read the book Raising a Modern Day Knight?? It is AMAZING and full of goodness!!! Yes…this is what we are raising our boys to be–knights in shining armor!
TRUE STORY–Several years ago I was doing photography, and I was at a client’s house–a day I will NEVER forget. The mom was snickering telling me what her husband “hoped” their sons would get into when they were in high school…things they considered “cool” for boys to do. (I felt like I needed to cover my ears hearing what the hopes were for this tender, sweet 5 year old boy one day.)
I stood there–dumbfounded, not knowing what to say or how to respond…wanting a camera crew to jump out and shout, “JUST KIDDING! You are on candid camera!) I wanted to show love toward her and try not to offend her by acting shocked–and I think I was so surprised and just realized how sheltered I was in my world–that it’s just a different world…or it’s always been this way some are just more vocal about the reality of it. I realized that not everyone has the same desires for their boys–not everyone is raising their boys to be modern day knights–and ours might just stick out in the crowd. And that’s okay:)
It is our hope that they will pray for their friends–that they will pray for girls they HONOR as sisters in Christ. I hope they write them letters instead of texts. I want to raise them to open their doors…and stand up to excuse them from the table. To respect and encourage and to build them up in their walks with Jesus. You might be surprised what some kids these days are actually encouraged or high-fived even from their parents for doing. It’s a crazy world out there–and we’re choosing to raise our men to be men of honor. Okay…so if you haven’t read that book…it’s a great one!
ONE thing in this book involves special outings where father’s invest in their sons…have a little man to man building up time. I couldn’t be more excited for Parker to be turning 8 this summer and to take one of his first excursions–one of many–to be built up and to even simply bond with his daddy.
Here is Parker receiving his gear (FOR SKIING!)
I’m sending them with the flip video and a camera…and the countdown is ON like donkey kong:)
Frank’s Question
So–we were on the way to Timothy Ministry today (where our kiddos go once a week where they take extra curricular activities) and Parker (my 7 year old) was asking a MILLION of questions with unknown answers…How old was the oldest man that EVER lived in Biblical times??? If God made everything–then who made God?? If you had to guess how far space goes, what would you guess???”
These are GREAT questions–but at 8am in the crazy mini-van with a mom who hasn’t had COFFEE…I was answering them the best I knew how, “Parker–I don’t know! That’s a great question. Um–what do you think? Do you want to listen to some music;)???”
I looked in the rearview mirror, and I could see Frank THINKING HARD (you have to picture that sweet boy in that picture there in deep thought!). He was looking at the window and then his eye brows lifted and he SHOUTED, “MOM! MOMMA!!! Lis-en!!! Who was da GREATEST man dat eva lived??” And before I had a chance to answer my 3 year old threw one hand in the air and shouted, “JESUS! Dat’s right momma! JESUS!”
We all couldn’t help but laugh–and he had the BIGGEST Frank grin on his face. For those of you who KNOW Frank know he NEVER talks. But when he does–you better get ready!!! This 3 year old boy says the sweetest things when he does choose to talk. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use this little arrow!
And a checkup…
GREAT news. I went to the retina specialist and a cornea specialist yesterday. They confirmed that my blurred vision is NOT anything permanent and there is no damage to the optic nerve yet. They retagged me with Sjogren’s Syndrome and I started new anti-inflammatories for my eyes…and they are hopeful in 6 months I’ll be able to see clearly again. HOPEFUL! No more doctor visits for me this week:)
Thank you everyone who continues to lift me and our family up in your prayers. We are so, so thankful to be on this journey with so many dear believers all over the country who pray for us–many whom we have never met. I hope to one day meet each and every one of you who have prayed for us–and if not in this world…I’ll be finding you in glory to thank you for your prayers!!! Thank you also for the emails and comments of love and encouragement. How I treasure each of you!
I was SO excited to read some good news from you early this morning. I’ve been up ALL night long with a croupy 3 year old and I couldn’t shake you from my mind. I’ve been praying all night. Since there is no sleeping, I got on the computer with my little sweetie sitting on my lap, barking away, and here I see some answers to prayer. Praise God!! So thankful for God bringing you some encouragement!!
SleepyMom -February 22, 2012 - 10:05 am
Having absolutely no idea if you diagnosis is correct, I do want to encourage you that if inflammation is the problem, sometimes it takes trying different anti-inflammatories and then several months for a response especially if you’ve had the problem for a while. I get unexplained inflammation in various parts of my body. The last bout was in my knee. Once my doc found an a.i. that helped with the pain I just stayed on it so at least I would be more comfortable. In theory you see improvement after a couple of weeks in the inflammation. I had no change other than pain management for 9 months. Then the inflammation started to go away and 2 months later I went off the drug (granted with some rebound side effects for a couple of weeks) and my knee is fine now. This was inflammation that had no known cause and had been there nearly 3 years and severely limited my mobility. Quite frankly, I’d given up hope that my body could respond to anti-inflammatories. In my past inflammation issues it had taken anywhere from 2 weeks – 2months to see results from the anti-inflammatories or taking steroids or in one case the hormonal changes of pregnancy. I only tell you this to give you hope since you’ve been dealing with your issues for a while and it seems you’ve tried lots of treatments already. Sometimes I think when your body’s inflammatory system is really out of control it takes a lot longer for medicines to work than most doctors will give them time to. Praying for your full recovery and the holy spirit’s guidance in your decisions and patience of course.
I haven’t written very much about what is REALLY going on with me–but I feel today…on this sweet day of Sabbath…I am being asked to share. Walk by faith…
Every week, I visit random doctors for this ailment or that. One says maybe it’s the beginning stages of MS. Another confirms through blood work Lyme’s disease. My eye doctors send me up a tier each month to another specialist–even tomorrow morning at 7:30 (the best time for stay-at-home mommies to get in so they can be back home in time to start the day…changing diapers, fixing breakfast–and in my case–teaching homeschool to my two older ones while the younger two play Thomas.)
Every week, I feel like I lose more vision in my right eye…I’m more and more fatigued…I feel like I struggle with remembering things…and some days I’m challenged to pronounce words and I have to concentrate to express myself (so forgive me if this blog post makes no sense–but I hope it does:). I’ve always felt called to write–and my heart still wants to write a book–and I have to smile thinking maybe it’ll be a children’s book instead of the novel my heart has always longed to write. Still…I hold on–believing. I am called to walk by faith.
Last March, the Lord laid on our hearts the call to adopt a special needs little girl from China. I still believe that will happen. Walk by faith.
As we stepped out in faith, completed loads of paperwork, finished our home study…we dreamed of a BIG family. Richard asked me if I was SURE we were also done having children biologically. I laughed…winked at my man…and said, “Nope. I’m not sure;).”
These longings and hopes–they are still in my heart.
But for now, they are put to rest…just in a slumber. We are at peace. Yet, every now and again–when Laney says, “Momma, can I put this dress away that doesn’t fit me any more for my little sister?” or when I fold up the 18 month jammies that no longer fit Isaac…I feel it…the struggle between walking, trusting and believing and fear of accepting broken dreams…things that we were sure were promises and even calls from our sweet heavenly Father.
Have you ever experienced this?
Are you there now?
It’s the struggle between being called to walk by faith and fear of the future if things do not change the way I want them to.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.”
And for us–we are walking by faith because we have seen and experienced His faithfulness on this journey.
Every step of the way, the Lord has provided…a new doctor–another person going through this same thing to shed light and encouragement. While every doctor seems to have a different plague for me to hear–there has been some light shed in it. Recently I found a new doctor who comes highly recommended…who thinks she can help me…but of course she doesn’t take our insurance. So–walking by faith here is emptying our adoption savings–trusting He will provide again–and spending $2,000 in just 2 visits in 2 weeks with many more on the horizon. But she is helping me strengthen my immune and GI system which have both been compromised–and I see bits of the puzzle being put back together. I heart though–wants it all at once.
I told Richard I want to reach out…and touch His coat…and be healed.
The God who performed miracles is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Don’t you love this story…
Mark 5:25-35
“A large crowd followed and pressed around Jesus. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
I have faith He CAN and WILL heal me. I really believe He will. But while I wait–I will just put one foot in front of the other and follow Him. I will go to the doctors He gives me guidance to go to–and on weeks He tells me to wait–I will wait. While this might sound crazy to many, I sense His presence and know He is enough and He is caring for me.
Today I can just see out of my left eye. I got glasses last July–and tomorrow I’ll need new ones as the blurriness grows. I’ll make decisions based on reality and what is true today–but I will also press into to Jesus. I will continue to reach for His cloak and in faith believe I can be healed–by Him alone.
Last night, I lay in bed unable to sleep. I felt I was battling so much more than unknowns…but there was a spiritual battle in all of this as well. I lay there hearing lies, “This is your new life…you’ll never be the same again…people are going to just think you are crazy as your memory goes…you have no future because you are going to get sicker and sicker and sicker…” Lie after lie–I whispered truth in my heart. THE LORD, MY GOD, IS WTH ME. HE IS ENOUGH. IN MY WEAKNESS HE IS STRONG. And I felt His Spirit calling me to CLING to Him and walk by faith. To trust Him. TO BELIEVE I COULD BE HEALED…and THAT I WILL BE HEALED.
I got up and went downstairs and began to pray. I took my supplements for my GI and sleep problems that join the list of issues I am striving to run the race with and press through. Then I felt Him guide me to go to my computer type something in the search engine. The first article that came up was enough to encourage my heart in the calling I feel He is
calling me to walk in…
To trust in HIM.
To wait on HIM.
To listen for Him to tell me what the next step is.
To walk by faith AND NOT BY SIGHT (I’m losing that anyway…so I better walk by faith right;)?!
I started this blog 2 years ago to document our adoption journey. God shined and showed off all through our adoption journey. If you don’t believe me–read this blog from beginning to end. I love how He laid the name ISAAC on our hearts–which means “to smile”…and what do you know the ONLY thing checked on our boy’s referral paperwork that HE COULD DO was “smile”. He was 8 months at referral–and couldn’t lift his head, he couldn’t sit and he couldn’t even eat anything other than the special formula UNICEF provided. We knew he was ours. The international pediatrician told us that the problems looked to great and she didn’t recommend us to accept His referral. YET the Lord gave us peace. We knew in our hearts Isaac…this boy who only smiles was to be ours…and we walked by faith AND NOT BY SIGHT. Praise God that we did! Praise God that He has healed our boy! Praise God that our problems with him now are just normal sharing and listening like any 2 year old boy! Glory be to God in the highest. We heard His call and followed. Despite what the world said–we listened to our Creator…because He is good. And ultimately His desire is to heal and bless His children He so dearly loves.
Last night–I felt the Lord whisper to my heart–to BELIEVE. To trust and believe I will be healed. This blog is no longer just about adoption–but about following Him…walking by faith…and trusting God is who He says He is and that He will do all He says He will do.
I believe we WILL adopt a little girl from China one day. I even believe it’s possible one day for me to have another baby. While doctors and the world might look in and say we are crazy…or that’s impossible–I have to tell them that I serve a God who makes the impossible possible and is able to do all things. I have nothing to prove–I don’t want the impossible just because it’s impossible. I want the impossible because I feel He is calling us to it. We will wait on Him, and REST in HIS PEACE.
Luke 1:36-37
“Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Matthew 19:26
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The next practical steps for us is to decide if we are going to stick with the naturopath doctor who has been treating me since November, go with this new internal med doctor here who thinks she can help me (as we deplete the adoption fund–that I know He will refund in His time) OR to head to a new doctor in Florida who will take a more aggressive route with putting a pic line in and doing IV antibiotics with mommy probably getting really sick before she gets better.
I will not live in fear but wait on Him to lead me. And I won’t lie to you and tell you that I haven’t had fears since this new journey began because it actually started in fear. My calling my daddy crying–telling him I was scared how this all might turn out. I caught myself praying with my children for mommy to be healed–and then I realized I needed to teach my kids not for mommy to be healed (for this cup to be taken from me)–but instead for HIS WILL TO BE DONE. That is how Jesus taught us to pray. That is the example He set. The lessons we are learning as a family…will change us forever…as we are learning to trust in Him in new ways together and to walk by faith and not by sight.
We are holding hands now believing in His healing power–and reaching for His coat. I will press into Jesus…nearer and nearer…trusting in His perfect timing…and His will to be done.
And I will lift my hands in worship while I wait on His promises to be filled…believing ONE day I will be completely healed. And this story–it will be a testimony to His healing power.
He who has called you will not forget you–His timing is perfect. Will you trust Him and believe Him with me? If there are things in your life you feel He has called you too–and you are longing to be restored so His promises can be fulfilled…take a minute to sit before Him…to listen to this song…and step out in faith with me…trusting Him in a deeper way…
Thank you for your honesty and boldness in writing what you are walking through. I love knowing how to pray specifically for you, friend.
He is the healer!
Love you sweet friend! Praying and trusting with you in the Lord”s healing and perfect plan for you and your family! Thank you for sharing the journey with us! What a priveledge it is to pray with and for you!
Sara Bouman -February 19, 2012 - 2:54 pm
Andrea, I am praying for you. And I appreciate this post. It deeply encouraged me.
Andrea, thank you again for your testimony of abiding in HIM! As Dawn stated, I’m thankful to be able to pray so specifically for you. I was just listening to some of the speakers from the Orphan Summit IV. I just finished John Piper’s session on “What Does It Mean to Live by Faith in the Service of the Fatherless?” before reading this post. He states:
In that moment of trusting Jesus alone, you are justified, you are forgiven, you are totally accepted by God, you are adopted into his eternal family, you are loved, you are secure forever. And all of that by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. So that, from that moment on, everything you do you do in this faith. Everything you do from that moment on, you do in the confidence that you are accepted, you are justified, and God is 100% on your side—not in order to be accepted or be justified or to get God to be 100% on your side. That is, from that moment on, you live by faith. Nothing you do from that moment on creates or earns God’s commitment to be 100% for you and never against you. That has been settled by faith alone in Christ alone.
As you I know you know Andrea, HE’S 100% WITH YOU!!
Beautiful! Thank you for reminding that His timing is perfect in all things. I needed to be reminded today to walk with FAITH and not by sight. God CAN do all things, nothing is impossible with you. Keep walking out your faith, for God loves a heart who is faithful. You have a beautiful testimony of God’s grace.
Beth in Atlanta -February 19, 2012 - 4:03 pm
Oh, Andrea. Thank you for sharing your heart. I am praying for you.
When I wake up in the middle of the night frightened or anxious, these are the verses I say (often outloud and rather emphatically). They are my ‘take that’ sword thrust to the voices that are dragging me down. “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. The Lord is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies!” Ps 18:1-3
A couple of things I especially love about these verses – they tell me that He is my rock, He is the fortress built upon that rock AND He is my deliverer inside that fortress on that rock! 🙂 I also learned that ‘horn of salvation’ indicates a symbol of power. So when it says that He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, it is telling me that He is both my offense and by defense.
Continue to lean hard into Him. And tell Him all about it. Don’t hold anything back. He loves you so tenderly and passionately and He has such plans for you.
Staci -February 19, 2012 - 4:23 pm
Standing by you in faith and praying in agreement with you for wisdom, direction, and obedience to God’s direction.
Anna -February 19, 2012 - 5:46 pm
Andrea,
I meant to message you the other day that your blog is like Pinterest for me…I get lost in your story and before I know it I have spent over an hour reading on your blog and I am filled up on your words and blessed with the inspiration and light God sends through you. 🙂 I am sorry to hear about the medical complications you are dealing with. You are so incredibly strong. I will pray for you and I do have faith and trust in him that he will heal you.
Oh, sweet friend, In KNOW he will heal you, I know that He is working your heart to be more like His, that you BELIEVE he will heal you, it is so beautiful!!
Oh, Andrea. Keep on reaching for His coat, sister. He loves you so dearly.
Tiffini -February 19, 2012 - 10:34 pm
Thank you for being real and honest. You are in an excruciatingly hard place, but you are giving glory to God in the midst of it. I’m praying for you.
Lisa -February 20, 2012 - 7:37 am
Andrea, doing my quiet time this morning after reading your post and I couldn’t help but think of you when reading my scripture for today. Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” Praying for the Holy Spirit to wash over you and immerse you in peace.
Meliss Barnett -February 20, 2012 - 11:09 am
Hi Andrea !
I have read your blog since we began our Adoption Journey from Ethiopia .Both of our Sons are home now (one in Dec and then our second Son in Jan ).I posted Before on your blog about My 15 yr old Daughter having Lyme.She is Chronic and very sick and will be getting a picc line soon. Many of the symptoms you Describe in your Blog are things my Daughter has as well. I would love to talk more with you more about finding a Lyme Literate Dr. near you and some other crutial things about getting on the road to recovery and the controversary with Lyme . Also go to HULU and watch Under Our Skin Documentary it will explain ALOT !! My Email is jusb777@hotmail.com.we can even talk by phone Jesus will Guide you every step of the way Andrea !! You will be in my Prayers.
Morgan -February 20, 2012 - 3:12 pm
I read this the other day, and meditate on it all the time, especially when the Devil tempts me with worrying about tomorrow:
“We have an earthly reality, but I am going to stake my heart and emotions on the truths and promises in God’s Word.”
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Sandi -February 20, 2012 - 4:08 pm
My sister in law is a teacher & was experiencing similar neurological symptoms. It turned out to be Moya Moya. Thankfully after having revascularization brain surgery at MD Anderson her speach, neurological & vision problems have returned to normal. At one point she couldn’t even pray but that’s where others interceded for her & through prayer she was healed. Praying for answers & for miraculous healing for you!
Jenn -February 20, 2012 - 5:23 pm
Andrea,
Thank you for this incredibly honest and encouraging post. You will be in my prayers.
Oh, Andrea, I am so ,so sad for your not feeling aok. I know being a momma is exhausting …I just know that hatever you have will pass. You are beautiful and wonderful and God has so many greta plans for you . Heal Sister ! Allow God’s sweet whispher keep fear from ypu . If my medical family can be of any ‘words of help ” please call us. W e know that He has you in the palm of His Hand. I will include you in my Rosary prayer. Blessings and Pax,m
Kati -February 20, 2012 - 9:57 pm
Andrea, thank you for opening up your heart to us. I have never commented before, but felt the need to share a song with you. God has been speaking through it, to me, over the last few days. It is Give me faith by Elevation Church. The words are so powerful – give me faith to trust what you say, that you’re good and your love is great, I’m broken inside, I give you my life – I may be weak, you’re spirit strong in me, my flesh may fail, my God you never will. I am praying God will purposefully lead you to your next step. Love.
Fighting fear with FAITH. God’s been speaking that to us, too. Thank you for being part of the confirmation!
Sara -February 21, 2012 - 8:25 pm
Amen and amen. Believe, sister, believe. You ARE writing a book – it iis “written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts,” for now anyway. (2 Corinthians 3:3) You are writing for all of us, but most of all you are writing on the hearts of your children as they watch you journey through this trial all while dancing with the King.
Andrea, thank you for sharing your heart. It’s truly beautiful and it’s evident that the Lord has a mighty work He’s doing in your life. I just wanted to share that I was diagnosed with MS when I was 18, 9 1/2 years ago. If that is indeed what is happening in your body, I would love to help you walk through that if you receive an MS diagnosis. The good thing about MS is that the fatigue and symptoms come and go… you don’t have to live this way all the time. In fact, since switching my medication 6 years ago, I have been free of ANY exacerbation! Praise God! I sat at your table at C4C one night… I’m one of the twin moms at the table where there were like 5 of us, haha!
Whether you have MS or not, it’s certainly very similar and I know that God has allowed this in your life for a very real purpose. I have never experienced His provision for me quite like I have through MS. He has made Himself so tangible and near to me through it. He truly IS our Healer! He has been so sweet to me through it.
Praying that you find a sure diagnosis soon. Thank you for sharing your sweet heart!
May I just take a mommy moment to celebrate my two oldest??? We took “The Well-Trained Mind” advice and aimed to complete most of “The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading” BEFORE starting “First Language Lessons“…SO–we began “First Language Lessons” this week with my precious little kindergardener and 1st grader.
Our first lesson consisted of memorizing the poem “The Caterpillar” by Christina G. Rossetti. We added to that by role-playing a bit and extended it in an art activity. THEN we took it to Mama Reid (their GREAT-GRANDMOTHER) on her 90th birthday!!! Frank, our 3 year old, REALLY wanted and tried to memorize it–but he opted to take an extra’s role and acted as the bird:)
Caterpillar by Christina G. Rossetti
Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.
Here is their rendition…
Soooo…that was our Monday! OF WHICH–I also fit in going to my new doctor and did some kind of treatment where they take blood, put something in it and then put it back in. Starting this different Lyme’s treatment and we’ll see how it goes. I’ve been SOOOOO tired lately so I’m hoping to turn a corner soon:)
Today–we celebrated Valentine’s AND Parker’s half birthday a few days early:). I figure if you are going to celebrate your half birthday–it’s alright to do it a few days early! Can you tell we LOOK for days to celebrate over here???!!! But isn’t that a fun thing about LIFE and about being a MOMMY!!! Teaching our children to look for reasons to celebrate life!
I have to tell you–it was partly an excuse to party with the McBrayers–a family we do A LOT of life with. Our Valentine’s were also out of town on business–so it was a great excuse to party together. Our girls made too cute Valentine’s tees, our boys played and we laughed! THEN I came home–and my sweet 7.5 year old;) came and grabbed me–and said, “MOM! Today was the best birthday I’ve ever had! We got to eat candy for Valentine’s. I got to give a bunch of glow sticks. We ate with the McBrayers. THEN we had birthday cake. Really!!! It was THE best birthday I’ve ever had!”
And to think…I just decided this year I’d be fun and start celebrating half birthdays;). I’m totally IN now. That was totally stress free and REALLY fun!
Oh and I ALMOST forgot to tell you what we did on FRIDAY. We went with the McBrayer’s to see an exhibit at the High Museum of Art. It was the Picasso to Warhol exhibit–and it was amazing…and the kids LOVED it. I mean LOVED it. They had their little head phones on–and they would go to each piece, type in the number of the piece and STAND there–taking it in. FRANK especially loved it!!! And adults around us would just stand back and look at FRANK instead of the ART because of how into he was!!! The funniest part was when he spotted Pollock’s piece and said loudly, “THIS ONE’S MY FAVORITE!”
Now…let me tell you WHY this is his favorite;). Cause Frank’s baby brother LOVES Olivia–and we have to read this book almost every night:)
How fun is that?! Parker says he can totally paint just like Pollock if he wants too;)
Alright–a disclaimer from this post–PLEASE do NOT let this blog post fool you that I’m on top of it and have it all together. Because I don’t. And it’s okay for you not to have it all together too:). More and more, I learn that it’s really just DAY by DAY by DAY. Because each day has enough trouble of it’s own (Matthew 6:34). We really have to just LOOK to the LORD–and not compare ourselves to anyone else—to simply put one foot in front of the other each day and just do the best we can for HIS glory (and NOT our own). That means…undone laundry, a sink full of dishes and remembering at 10:30pm you need to make your kids Valentine’s with glow sticks that say “You make me glow!” (yes–I know…my kids should do it for themselves…but we were doing other things–and that’s okay!) Keep your eyes on Jesus–pray to Him throughout the day–trust Him to walk with you through it–LOOK for Him as you walk…trusting and believing He is with you…and at the end of the day…REST. It’s really amazing that when you decided to JUST start living for THAT DAY–you really fill it with SO MUCH more than if you wasted time worrying or even planning too much for tomorrow. JUST TODAY–one at a time–trusting Him to be with you through it!!!
We celebrate half birthdays here, too – and they are so simple and fun! No presents, just happiness – and half a cake. 🙂 Thanks for this fun and real post.
My H loves that Caterpillar poem. She had to use it for speech meet tryouts and totally rocked it after saying it since the school year started! 🙂 So fun! And love the half birthday celebration too!
I love the lyrics to the song “Your Grace is Enough”…especially the beginning…
Great is Your faithfulness, O God
You wrestle with the sinner’s restless heart
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart.
So, remember Your people,
Remember Your children,
Remember Your promise, O God.
Your grace is enough.
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me
This morning in the worship service at our church I was taken back as I listened to the testimonies of several new believers before they were baptized…
First–an 18 year old girl who had struggled with identity after having a learning disorder. She had struggled through school. Struggled with self confidence. And finally–she met her Savior. His grace was enough for her.
She shared about her life growing up as an only child–and then finally becoming content with who she was in CHRIST. He is enough.
Then she shared about a radical change in her family’s life. Her parents adopted 3 children out of foster care–who were refugees from across the world. Their birthmother suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and relinquished her rights as she entered an institution and was unable to care for them. This 18 year old girl–then struggled through family changes…no longer being the only child and having 3 brothers enter her home who were struggling with their own changes and grief. The Lord worked in her heart–and taught her to give more than she had ever known possible…and as she followed Him–He led her to love more than she ever thought possible. HIS GRACE was enough.
Her father baptized her…and the tears fell down my cheeks. And then as she stepped out of the water…her father remained in the water—to baptize now one of the three sons who had now found Jesus.
He shared about being a refugee. His eleven year old voice so strong, yet quite–he had already lived a hundred years in his life time. He shared about losing his family and entering the foster care system here in the U.S. He shared about being ALONE–although he had two brothers by his side. He shared what was once his fear…and how darkness seemed to follow one thing after the other. Ant then…
a family…
A family came forward to adopt not only him–but his other brothers as well. A family who had just one older princess who was beginning her walk with her King. He shared about seeing Christ through his new family…he now had parents, a sister, aunts and uncles and grandparents—WHO LOVED HIM. And then…He accepted Christ. His grace was enough.
Just before his father baptized him, he looked at him and told him that God’s grace covers him. And then he was baptized in believer’s baptism and raised to new life with Him. And my shoulders couldn’t stop moving as I weeped for joy. THIS! This is why we grow.
To hear this boy say, “I praise Him because I am not only adopted here on Earth–but now I am also adopted by God forever as His child!”
THIS IS IT!
Oh that OUR children would know Him…that we would NOT get caught up in the busy culture of our world…that we would sit before Christ and bring our children with us. If we choose to grow our families for any other reason besides THIS…then what is it for??? His grace alone.
We can get side-tracked by others–by comparing ourselves to others–by worrying about the next thing. We can stress out about our children with learning disabilities–will they catch up…will they be accepted…when in reality–just like this 18 year old girl who had academic struggles to overcome…really–that has no value in eternity. She let the world push her down for a time–and then she met Jesus! His grace is enough!!! How we spend time with your children, the way we educate them, the things we surround them with should be LESS about keeping up with the world and instead EVERYTHING about what shines more of Christ into their lives…so that ONE DAY–Lord willing–they too see that His grace is enough for them.
Oh that we would keep our eyes on Christ–and live out our days to walk more closely with Him…that we’d be okay with letting dust settle here and there in our homes so that we might instead focus on having clean, pure hearts and motives…that we’d make decisions based on eternity instead of this world.
His grace is enough…for you and for me. May you rest in His grace this blessed Sabbath.
what an incredible service! thank you for sharing it with us to remind us that his grace is indeed enough!!
Keely -February 12, 2012 - 4:18 pm
im all choked up with tears filling my eyes. BEAUTIFUL! oh how i wish i could have been there, seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears… but thank you for blessing my soul by sharing this story!
Oh my goodness, the tears keep falling. Absolutely beautiful.
Tiffini -February 12, 2012 - 8:45 pm
Thanks for sharing this, Andrea. It really spoke to me as we consider another adoption and all that could be before us. What a beautiful example that young woman and that family is of what adoption is REALLY about. Beatiful!
Staci -February 12, 2012 - 9:02 pm
An especially beautiful post. Sounds like a powerful service this morning. And, I loved your statement, “that we would sit before Christ and bring our children with us.” I’m writing that down! Thank you.
I am reading Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus. It is such a great reminder of our true calling and ways to live that out practically. Oh so good!
Soooo…I completely stink at teaching history. Really–I do. We have been studying the Roman Empire all year–not because I ordered a history curriculum that is only about the Roman Empire–but because I can’t seem to get past chapter 4 as we have been focusing on reading, math and lots of Home Economics (aka: you really can learn by helping mommy around the house;).
On Monday, however, I decided it’d be more interesting to teach and learn if we were Egyptians:) Frank didn’t seem to understand. I’m quite sure there were pirates then…minus the Mater hat of course;)
I even pulled up “Walk Like an Egyptian” on YouTube and showed them how it’s done;)
LOVE my little Egyptian princess!
On a side note–Laney asked me yesterday: “Mommy, do you wish you had golden hair like me?” OH YES baby girl. I love how she describes her hair…she is truly a little princess through and through.
And this one is for Papa. My dad is a HUGE Alabama fan–and as many of you know Rico Suave and I do NOT get wrapped up in sports. So despite Rico Suave being a GA boy (Rico’s daddy was an All-American at UGA) OR my being a Tigerette for Auburn back in my day)…my daddy thinks it’s funny to gift us lots of Alabama gear. My parents weren’t even here this weekend–but because it’s fun for them to match…AND because I get this stuff for free…I geared them all up on Saturday. Now in the SOUTH college football is HUGE–so I think people ’round here think we’re weird that we gear our kids all up in another states gear that we don’t even root for–even rivals of the teams we went to. It’s free people–and football really doesn’t matter…so this is just like princess and pirate stuff to me;) Aren’t they cute though???
Check out my line-backer’s game face in this one…
Isaac calls this his “MAD FACE”! Watch out people…
looooove this sweet boy!
Frank on the OTHER hand…he doesn’t do so well with a “mad face”…
Just in case you’re missin’ Parkerman. He says he’s too cool for our shenanigans. We are still counting down the months (almost 8 months waiting) for one of his front teeth to break in:)
In OTHER news. The kids have decided they really want a baby in our house. I told them we ALREADY have a baby! I ran to the garage–carried the stroller downstairs…popped on the carriage attachment that I never used for Frank…and put it to use! We played “push the baby” which involved running and turning corners AS FAST AS YOU CAN! Our “baby” had a blast!
AND…YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT…
LAST but not least…Y’ALL get geared UP for the 2012 Wiphan Warthog Waddle! THIS YEAR…Frank and Isaac will be taking each other on in the 1K…and Frank is sacrificially agreeing to give Isaac a 30 second HEAD START! Stay tuned for a rockin’ promo video featuring these two. You know we don’t play when it comes to Wiphan Waddle promo videos😉 And a sneak peak of this year’s Wiphan Waddle’s trophy (carved in Ndola/Zambia by Justin one of Wiphan’s skills training teachers)…modeled by my sista April…YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT;)
That’s a wrap folks! I want to say thank you for all the comments of encouragement and prayers you guys have been sending our way. Thank you for being on this journey with us…I know He makes ALL things beautiful and I’m truly excited to see what He does through it!!!
Hahahaha!! We were stuck in Egypt for months and months and months (because we, too, were focused on math and reading and raising babies and lots of Home Ec) until we were delivered just like the Israelites. Praise Jesus!! Now we’re moving on into Greece. Look out Dark Ages!! We’ve got your number!!
by admin
I was SO excited to read some good news from you early this morning. I’ve been up ALL night long with a croupy 3 year old and I couldn’t shake you from my mind. I’ve been praying all night. Since there is no sleeping, I got on the computer with my little sweetie sitting on my lap, barking away, and here I see some answers to prayer. Praise God!! So thankful for God bringing you some encouragement!!
Having absolutely no idea if you diagnosis is correct, I do want to encourage you that if inflammation is the problem, sometimes it takes trying different anti-inflammatories and then several months for a response especially if you’ve had the problem for a while. I get unexplained inflammation in various parts of my body. The last bout was in my knee. Once my doc found an a.i. that helped with the pain I just stayed on it so at least I would be more comfortable. In theory you see improvement after a couple of weeks in the inflammation. I had no change other than pain management for 9 months. Then the inflammation started to go away and 2 months later I went off the drug (granted with some rebound side effects for a couple of weeks) and my knee is fine now. This was inflammation that had no known cause and had been there nearly 3 years and severely limited my mobility. Quite frankly, I’d given up hope that my body could respond to anti-inflammatories. In my past inflammation issues it had taken anywhere from 2 weeks – 2months to see results from the anti-inflammatories or taking steroids or in one case the hormonal changes of pregnancy. I only tell you this to give you hope since you’ve been dealing with your issues for a while and it seems you’ve tried lots of treatments already. Sometimes I think when your body’s inflammatory system is really out of control it takes a lot longer for medicines to work than most doctors will give them time to. Praying for your full recovery and the holy spirit’s guidance in your decisions and patience of course.