Category Archives: Inspirational Many of you moms came to the Created for Care mommy retreat and got to experience a sweet hour created just for you to have a ‘date with God’…to spend time with Him–praying, reading scripture, listening, asking Him to show you His heart… My dear friend Jenni Means led this time. She is the director […] Well, it’s here. After four months of planning, the Created for Care adoption momma retreat is here. I wish I could tell you every thing the Lord has in store–but I only know a taste of it. And what I do know–I am humbed and amazed by. There are so many details that the Lord […] OH MY GOODNESS!! I am so tired and should be in bed, but just decided to peek to see if you had anything last minute before the retreat. I cannot believe the Lord has given you that Psalm. Just this week I was meditating on that. It has all new meaning for me, a weary mom, these days. I am SO looking forward to meeting you. Thank you for all that you’ve put into this retreat!! I will continue to pray for this glorious weekend that He so perfectly orchestrated through beautiful women that Care to be the hands and feet of Jesus – to spread His word, to encourage, to love, to never give up. Loving you …. Oh how beautiful. And oh how I wish I was going to be in attendance. oh such sweet true words. Thank you for sharing and for living them out. Praying for you this weekend too! Thank you for these words, Andrea! I cannot wait to be with other like-minded mamas this weekend! So excited for all HE is doing!!! Please let me know if/how I can order CD’s if that is an option. Praying for all the details and all the hearts that will be there! Oh how I needed this today! Thank you SO much for your encouraging words! Wish I could be there:)! after reading this post it makes me even sadder that i won’t be able to be there this weekend, but you will all be in my prayers. i know it will be a blessing to those who go and next year, after my little ones have been home for a while, i will be able to attend what will hopefully be an annual event. your words or more importantly God’s word blessed me today. Thanks so much for sharing this. A friend of mine told me about your blog. We are in the homestudy phase of adopting from Ethiopia. I really needed to read your words and even more the Word that you shared. Thank you. I pray your retreat is wonderfully refreshing and full of Him! I have been praying for you all this weekend! I really wish I could have been there! Let me know if I can order any CDs! I would love that! I love what you wrote about Ps. 84. It was so encouraging to me, as I have been discouraged this week with the journey! And, just this morning my kids and I were belting out “Better is one Day….” So, I loved reading this! God is so sweet and so intentional to us. I pray the Lord blesses you a million-fold Andrea for creating the opportunity for all of us ladies to gather and be refreshed and informed this past weekend! As testimonies were being shared…I realized just how life-changing this weekend was! So many received fresh revelation of how much they are dearly loved by the Father. That alone is HUGE!!! I came away with fresh hope, a new parenting focus, a greater understanding of my precious daughter, and revelation from the Lord showing me more of who I am in Him! All that and more in about 2 days :). God is amazing!! It was so fun rooming with you and getting to know you a bit better too!! May the Lord truly bless you my new friend!!  I’ve been wanting to write THIS post for over a year now. Finally–tonight I write it. And I’m not sure how it will turn out…because there is so much I would like to say about this girl… Some of you may have heard of her…or read her blog “Compass to my Heart”. Her name is […] Tears are flowing down my face…all I can do is cry..and praise God. Oh to be even a tiny piece of this incredible story..written by God… I am so glad you gave her back story! I am FB friends with Christie, and I’ve always wanted to know more specfics about her and what she’s doing. Beautiful! A beautiful post about an incredibly beautiful woman. My life is better because I know Christie. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do through her and George! Beautiful post, Andrea, of a woman who is so inspirational to me and so many others. I “found her” through you in May ’10 when I was so touched about reading the first post about her (on your blog) that I immediately private msg’d her on FB and we became friends. You said it so perfectly above, I won’t repeat =) but I say it a lot … she is the real-deal … a true example of being the Hands and Feet of Jesus. I-heart-you-both! I just recently “met” Christie on facebook through my little sister and I must say God has certainly blessed me by making her a small part of her life as well! This is one AMAZING woman doing things most of us can’t even fathom! I’m glad you took the time to write about her and the work God is doing through her! I pray that more and more friends and friends of friends read her story, learn of what she’s doing and feel drawn to be a part of it all as well! Bless you, Bless Christie and bless the precious people of Bugabo Village! What I’m lovin’ even more is how my life has become intertwined with so many of you that are so far away from me…..and then finding out you are all friends! =) Have followed you for over a year now, started following Christie in November. Can’t even remember how I found her! That’s the fun and ironic part… And then to discover we have a mutual friend in you girl. I love how HE fills my life with such blessings in friends that I have yet to meet. Feel honored and blessed to be a part of what Christie is doing in Bugabo. Can’t wait to see pictures of that Borehole being dug today!!! ♥ God is good! He STILL moves mountains! LOVE her heart!!! She amazes me at the depth of her faith. Love reading her story….started following this past summer…..and loved to see how God provided EVERYTHING!!! Another time when God just blows you away! I became a “friend” of Christy through facebook this past year and have loved following her story and seeing her ministry unfold! Thank you for sharing her story here! OH Andrea!! You know how I love you and Christie both!! My heart melts and I have enough tears just reading your blogs most of the time but you writing this…. oh my!!! They are streaming now!! Love you guys, this was/is beautiful!! I am reading this and my heart is full. I have to say, that in recent months, I have been amazed at how God has worked through some of my high school classmates. I have connected to you and Christie through Katie’s blog and I must say that I have been amazed at how God has worked through you guys. You have encouraged me in my walk beyond words. You guys encourage to take risks that would normally take me months to mull over. You guys teach me to trust God to in ways I never have before. I just recently wrote about Christie as well because she just blows my mind…so with all that said. Thank you to you and them for sharing your journeys because it means more than you know. Wow, I didn’t know her story. Thanks for sharing! Today marked a very BIG miracle in our house today…and I am overjoyed with excitement and thanksgiving!!! We have been praying our little guy would walk (he has hypotonia so we were guessing it’d be closer to two–and weekly we do physical therapy)…and HONESTLY–we have seen the MOST gains since getting our dog Rosie as […] The boy is a miracle… a walking, amazing, precious miracle. Praising God!! Go go go!! God has great things for Isaac!! I have tears in my eyes 🙂 Such a beautiful miracle little Isaac is! He just looks so squeezable!!! Blessings~ And he’s off! Way to go Isaac (and mom)! Oh, what a reason to be home!!! God knew what He was doing snowing you all in!!! 🙂 What a happy and exciting day for you to see the Lord working in your little one…! Just precious! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS AWESOME!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! Crying, crying, crying and rejoicing with you! oh my goodness! so many tears for you tonight! What a great great God we have! Go Isaac Go!!!! tears of joy!!!!! praising an all mighty God tonight for the progress he has made. Way to go Issac!!! Your picture hangs on our bulletin board in our kitchen and everyday when I see your face I am reminded of God’s love and mercy! Tonight as Fisher (our three yr old) was sitting at the table, he pointed to your picture and said our baby will have skin like Isaac! (: You have made an impact on our little family and so many others! Cannot wait until our daughter can meet you one day! (: Beautifully amazing. His smile lights up the room and the look of joy on his face is priceless! Rejoicing with you! yayyyy isaac!!! this just made my day!!! What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. Wow…what a beautiful, beautiful thing! Love it! Oh, praise God! Truly amazing! Wow!!!!! That is awesome! And this is about the time both mine started walking and they didn’t even have an excuse for not walking before then. Bless his heart! Precious boy! And I know I’m a dork, but I was really excited to see Ann Reid too! 🙂 Although, we already knew she could walk. Excited for all ya’llsss!!! Thank you, God!!! What a miracle we all get to witness! You know we have all been praying for this day!!! Rejoicing with you today!! We serve a God of miracles! This brings HIM so much glory! Thanks for sharing each step of the journey! Really looking forward to meeting you at the retreat in just a few weeks. what a true testament of who God really is! absolutely amazing! i loved hearing everyone squeal as he took each step! and so excited to see that you had a new post up and that it was of Issac walking…a whole MONTH before you were hoping he would walk! GOD IS GOOD! You have me in tears…as usual! SO proud of your sweet boy =) YES YES YES!!! Go ITY!! hugs! Andrea – no words. That is the work of God right there in front of you; Isaac has been touched by Jesus. So beautiful, what a wonderful and powerful day for all of you. Celebrating the victory and sending you Big Hugs!! Oh my goodness, that just made me CRY!!! Tears of joy for ya’ll and sweet Isaac! Praise God!!! I can just never tire of reading miracle stories that God is doing through little Mr. Isaac! BTW…the only time I was “holding my breath” for you was when you got a dog…LOL! So happy to read how well that is going and what a blessing he is to your family! 🙂 YEAH!!! Rejoicing with you!!!! What a testimony that little guys is going to have!!! Hugs to you!!! what precious first steps to see! can’t wait to see you running to mama, isaac!! Praise God!!! We are so thankful for little Isaac and all the joy he brings. Andrea, he could be RUNNING by the 15th of FEB.!!! Way to go Isaac..Never give up!!! Praising God with you for this beautiful miracle. Can’t wait to meet you at the retreat! GO, ISAAC!!! YAY, GOD!!! 😀 Oh! Praise God!!! He is so faithful! 🙂 How wonderful!!! Oh wow. Tears flooooowing this morning; this is just what I needed to see and read this day. Thank you for showing us what God is doing in the life of your family. God has put together a beautiful creation: the Young family! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!!!! The works of God are GREAT 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing God is so good. ALL the time. Isaac is so beautiful, and definitely healthy!!! Love his little rolls. I love that everyone wants to be so close to him and love on him all the time. =) Truly precious. All that ‘waiting’ seems like a distant memory huh? 😉 ♥ Brings tears to my eyes! God is so good! Rejoicing with your family! SO overjoyed with how far that precious little cutie has came. I just had to share that I now have to go in & re-do my makeup now that it’s all running down my face after watching the coming home video again. 🙂 Not that I’m complaining… I love how God is using your family to touch so many lives. YOU ARE A BLESSING TO SO MANY! SO SO happy for you guys!!! I am speechless and in tears reading this. Isaac is a miracle and our God is so, so good! Oh what a perfect way to start my day!! Loved watching Isaac do his stuff! Love watching God do His stuff!!! He is so good and perfect! Wishing I could hug ya in person at the retreat…maybe next year!:)Stay warm! wwoohooo! Praise God! Tears of joy! Praising God for his goodness! Can’t wait to meet you next month at the retreat. with tears in my eyes, I am rejoicing with you. what a precious gift! Way to go ITY! Praise the Lord! Oh girl…don’t you know he’s going to be RUNNING before long! Good luck w/that! AAGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh the Joy. What a day, God is so good. This is too much!!! I love it!!! I remember seeing him a few weeks after you brought him home at the AGCI picnic. How many questions you still had, but how hopeful you were. Your little ITY has been showered with prayer and God is good and faithful!! YEAH!!! So EXCITED for you all!!!! Oooooooooooooooooh I’m praising God with you!!!!! HOW AMAZING! Am dying to read that first story you linked to and it’s coming up as unavailable! Amazing, way to go Isaac!!! I am sitting here in tears at work feeling such joy! God is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! I’m thrilled for all of you! What a beautiful picture of God’s Kingdome on earth! This is so incredible, Andrea!!!!!! Yay! This child is such a living testimony of God’s GLORY! We are praying for him to continue to wow everyone with his miraculous healing!!! (Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man (boy) whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.) Way to go ITY! Such wonderful news Andrea. Feeling blessed that you are one of the many amazing families we’ve met on this wonderful adoption journey! Uh oh…now that he’s mobile…let the house destruction begin. 🙂 YAYAYAYAY! So excited for you, sitting here with tears in my eyes. How beautiful! What an amazing moment and what a sweet boy. So glad to rejoice with you! And oh, that Frank picture in your header makes me LOL EVERY time it pops up! LOVE it! woo hoo!! tears in my eyes. i’ve been away from blogland for awhile so i’m catching up. this has to be my favorite post!!! what a joyous celebration of god’s faithfulness and of grace he has given to work hard. i loved how the kids (and rosie) were right in there celebrating too. i love getting to celebrate with you from afar. While I originally thought the Journey of the Magi would last around 2 weeks right up to our Christmas in Ethiopia celebration (January 7th is when they observe Christmas!)…BUT we have little to go on in Matthew’s documentation–but what we do have is rich enough to follow Christmas with their story every year. I wish […] |
|
by admin
Thank you!!! Love it! Can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Thanks for the reminder. I accidentally left my picture at the hotel, but I can still see it clearly in my head. I needed a reminder of what God taught me during that time. I’ll have to remember to do it more often.
When I came home from the conference I couldn’t figure out how to use this with my kids. I am encouraged by this idea. I will be using this!
What a great post! I have told many people about my “Date with God” and I truly hope that they all have an opportunity to have one of their own. It was such an awesome time for me and my relationship with HIM. Thank you for including it in the weekend.
i very much enjoyed the date with god time. it was a spirit filled time for sure. i spent my time in the tent, with scripture, play dough and painting. God reminded me again during that time that he has asked me to be his hands. So, i made a hand with play dough. He also told me “there’s 2”, 2 children for us to adopt. I asked him if they were coming together and he told me that wasn’t important now, just keep working on getting on the waitlist. So, i painted 2 hands on the shape of africa. 2 hands i will hold one day. such a wonderful weekend for so many reasons, this was just one hour! i feel so blessed to have been able to attend.
I just posted recently about how I despise cleaning the house, but now I put on my worship music and clean like there’s no tomorrow. I’m sure if there was a camera in the house, someone would get a good laugh. One minute I’m dancing like a nut and the next I’m crying my eyes out all the while cleaning house! And it never looked or smelled better!!
LOVE THIS!!!! We have done a version of this with our campers before…very powerful. Now to do this with our children more often 🙂
i LOVE this!
this is right up my alley…strikes my heartbeat…
the “everyday” stuff CAN be the BIG stuff!
The Date with God was seriously the best part of the retreat for me. It was exactly what I needed. It was so so beautiful and worshipful for me. The Lord has continued to speak over me things that He spoke to me that weekend. I love that I can do this with my daughter too! 🙂
Thanks for reminder. Was so blessed by the “Date with God”, and so inspired by the idea that God speaks to my kids, that they have a spirit…regardless of how little they are, or whether they can communicate with words. Love this idea.
I loved my date with God at the retreat. I arrived a little late and ended up staying for 2 sessions. As I was leaving I told Jenni that I wished I could stay all day, and she sweetly responded, “you can stay all day if you want.” Love her! I look forward to doing this with my boys at home. It was also a reminder to me that I can worship and walk with God any time, anywhere.
What a FABULOUS idea!!!!
I love this! We call it “painting a prayer.” Each time is more powerful than I anticipate and I wonder why we don’t do it more! Let the little children come….