Category Archives: Inspirational Okay…so Friday night we had LOTS of families over to our house…our sweet African Adoption families…I LOOOOVE these girls!!! Melissa is one of my dearest friends (far left) and they are waiting as patiently as they can for court dates for their PRECIOUS son, Charles Tucker, in Uganda. (She got her referral BEFORE we traveled […]  REMEMBER the precious family I posted and featured back in August that has chosen to adopt FIRST? Who is with our agency and who just happened to have a completed home study that would put them in a position to be ready at moments notice…only the current wait for Ethiopia is now over 1 year […] AMAZING! Thank you for sharing, Andrea! What a precious little boy! Andrea…remember how surprised I was for a half second when she was the winner of our first “Dress for a Cause” giveaway? Surprised only becasue they were not yet on the adoption journey. A perfect example of how God has us on a journey even before we know it ourselves! I remember her fb posts saying she had won like 15 adoption t-shirts and the comments were like..”Huh?? What for??” Simply amazing! What a familiar story! Thanks for sharing!  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1 I just started reading a book by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson called Counsel from the Cross. It’s a book that is rich in Biblical truth–so you have to read and then soak it in. And then read some more. If you lived […] The book sounds wonderful and encouraging! Amen!! You continue to encourage my heart time and time again!! You are a sweet blessing my friend!! 🙂 … and for me … I would not be the same person I am today had God not directed my hand to click on your link via Cris’. Seriously, I have learned so much through this circle of blogs and have grown so much this year. Thank YOU for being YOU and for sharing as openly and authentically as you do. LOVE!! You continue to inspire me Andrea! You have a heart of gold. If I was in your shoes I would probably be so overwhelmed with life. And I know you ARE but you keep giving and sharing and I know that with every post God is using your words to reach hearts. I know they continue to touch mine. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and allowing God to use you in such incredible ways!~ Beautiful post!! I just want to encourage you regarding ITY. My middle son was born with a birth defect and for 3 years we were given the run around and I became very discouraged with the medical world. I do not have a medical degree, but I am a mom and the whole time I went with my mommy instinct. In the end it paid off. He found out what was wrong and we have been treating him ever since. You are Isaac’s mom and honestly you know what is best for him. I will be praying for you for clear guidance, because I know how frustrating it can be! Simply Beautiful. You are such a gift to ME! Wish I were next door to hug your neck, hold your baby, and digest what sounds like an amazing book together! Whenever I read your words, I find myself so often saying, “I needed to hear this today!” – And today is no exception! I am so glad that I started reading all these blogs about people who truly have broken hearts for the world. And yes, my husband makes fun of my “blog world” too 🙂 Praying for Isaacs health- God knows exactly what he needs! i am sorry that there is so much confusion related to ity. could i please have that last doctor’s number so i could call him and say “you are a big, dumb poophead!”? amen to our need for the gospel for daily transformation! amen to bloggy friends who keep us connected and remind us of what is important! Just wanted to add my 2 cents about the doctors…just continue to pray about it and trust your gut instinct. Before N became ill, I trusted doctors wholeheartedly, but once a true medical issue crops up, you realize that lots of doctors will have different opinions and different treatment plans (we were given everything from a strict diet to a month of antibiotics to anti-depressants). It’s a learning process where you have to lean on God more than the doctors – which can be surprisingly difficult in a society that puts a lot of stock in modern medicine. It sounds like you are approaching everything with discernment, but I just wanted to say I know how frustrating it can be, and GRRRRR! :o) Also, I can’t believe the obese comment!!! Amen sister! LOVE your heart and LOVE you! I have this book on my shelf, but haven’t started reading it yet… just bumped up on my list! 🙂 A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon your blog when I really needed some guidence in my walk with Christ. I am nearly brought to tears with every post because of you passion for our Father, your family and your friends. You inspire…Thank you! LOVE Elyse! I got to hear her speak last November. I’m reading “Comforts from the Cross” Another one of hers… its excellent if you haven’t already read it! 🙂 oh dear friend – really needed to hear this today. I have been fighting a physical battle here (pretty sure Satan is not happy about the life-changing stuff that has been happening in our house:), and I have been feeling oh so discouraged. And yet again you remind me to look to Him – needed that reminder today!! So, even with the UTI, cold, pink eye, kidney stone, herniated disk, poison ivy that I have – I am choosing to praise Him!!! Thanks for the needed kick in the bum:) Don’t know you but am also a Christ follower. Very inspiring life you are living for Him and His glory. Have you thought about gluten intolerance? My best friend’s 2nd born went through 2-3 years of no one believing her mom instinct that something was actually wrong with her baby until one pediatrician suggested gluten. Presto chango, new baby. Praise God and pass the rice flour. (Of course today on Stuff Christians Like, Mr. Acuff discusses the person who wants to fix your prayer requests. Totally not trying to be that person but why reinvent the wheel?) Oh goodness… I can’t even imagine the frustration of the doc visits and the circles they have you running. We are constantly praying for Isaac and I’m kinda with you in the belief that he is healing from past malnourishment and muscle weakness but he is doing SOOO well and has come SO far. It’s so hard when docs just quickly dismiss you. Thank you again for giving our shirts a shout out! We love you! I’m SOO excited to get a chance to go visit all of these blogs of the women who bought our shirts:) I’m not a doctor- but I play one at halloween. (not really). Here’s the scoop that 8 mo has taught me on the belly situation. Parasites are not always noticable in the stool samples. Giardia is especially difficult for a few reasons. (i won’t go into them). So if the parasites or eggs were spotted in one sample then they are there. Even if, without treatment, they aren’t spotted on the next sample. Another thing to consider- is to treat imperically for .. campo… something or other. It is quite common and it is a bowel infection caused by kids having poo on their hands and then in their mouth. It creates a call from your states CDC but it is quite common and answering… “he’s had since I met him in Ethiopia” is generally enough for them to realize he didn’t get it from a public source. The belly size. It gets huge for a number of reasons. First- he has no muscle tone. Not just skeletal muscle that we see when we are inshape but the muscles that keep his organs in place. Plus his organs now have to FIT into place. THAT TAKES TIME. Second- They feed him extra calories in ET to get the numbers on the scale to go up. Often this is with sugary milk. Regardless of how they get the weight up- his body isn’t ready/able to absorb it- because it is geared toward retaining fluid/calories rather than using it because it is stuck in ‘survival’ mode. Add in the parasites and belly infections and it simply takes longer than we expect. Teg had HORRIBLE night sweats. I never said much about it to the doc = I just assumed it was normal. The DAY- VERY SAME DAY – he started being treated for campo… (bowel infection) the sweating stopped. WHOA! I had never thought about that. He also had gas that would literally- I mean literally- clear out the house. (I thought my nephew was bad). People visiting in the middle of winter would go outside for fresh air as it was so prolific and pungent. That went away within 48 hours of treatment. (just what you wanted to read about… sorry) Our ped- said that it could take a year for T’s stomach to not be so.. ‘out there’. After 8 mo- it is ‘pretty normal’ most of the time now– but any swimming activity where he swallows air and water in mass amounts and it’s right back out there looking painful as ever! But keep in mind T is older than your little one. So I have no idea if it might take more or less time, for proper belly distribution (hee). I posted some before and after photo’s on my blog back in my August update if you want to see a bit of difference. It’s better now. I don’t know if I can add a link in this but I’ll try.  Well, the 4 of us made it safely to Austin, Texas…the FOUR of us you ask? Yes, it was supposed to just be me, Rico Suave and Isaac T.—but we were heading out for our flight when we ran into some traffic. (Might I add we were also already running late trying to get all […] Count me in on the girls weekend! I would LOVE nothing more than to spend some girl time with other women who have a heart for orphan care and adoption as I do! Just let me know the time and place and I will be there… no matter how far away! I am SO in need of an adoption support system and there is just not many adoptive families here…hope you got our box of panties on your doorstep last week! (: Bobi I am so there for the adoptive mommas weekend!! Count me in!! 🙂 So nice to meet you on Saturday! I would definitely be in for a moms weekend. The leadership at our church doesn’t share our passion for orphans and adoption either. It is hard and heartbreaking! But, we haven’t given up! Oh, and I’m in for a mommy retreat! I’m on the same page as you! Email me so I have your email address and I will send you the pics! I would love that picture with everyone in it. I heard T4A is in Phoenix next year! I am so excited as that’s only a three hour drive from me AND my parents live there (which=free babysitting!) It looked like a great time and I can’t wait for 2011! Andrea, I loved our time this weekend! Your family is beautiful and a delight to spend time with! Keep me posted about plans! Kim wow…what a weekend! Hey girl! I can’t believe y’all were in Austin! I wish we’d come down from Waco to hug y’all and meet ITY in person!!! And can you believe that in only 3 months of living here that I’ve gotten used to these crazy crickets…I mean, you step on and squish crickets on the floor in stores sometimes because there’s so many! Crazy! I never saw crickets (and roaches) this fierce in ATL!!! We are new to the AGCI family, but we love it already. I would love, love, love a mommy retreat! So glad you had a fun weekend! Andrea, I have some bags and panties that we made for the It’s A Girl Thing…but don’t know where to send them…if you’ll email me an address I’ll get them on their way! We have about 80ish bags… Ashley oh girl – let’s do it! I am all for a weekend with my AGCI girls!!! Let me know when, where – and I will try my hardest to be there (unless of course I am halfway around the world! cannot wait for that trip!):) Love the idea of a weekend get away to support one another!! Not sure if I’d be able to come but I would love to try! So wonderful meeting you this weekend – what a blessing it was to be with other families who have the same heart! Loved meeting you at the conference! 🙂 Thanks for not thinking we are crazy stalkers!! 🙂 Think the adoptive mom’s weekend is a great idea! Oh… and it is so funny that you said something about the crickets, during one of the main sessions I saw a huge one crawling down the auditorium isle!! I am there! I would love to help you organize! Sign me up! Let’s all use those frequent flyer miles from traveling to get our babies to come to your gathering!:) You’re awesome! Where do I sign up for the weekend away??!! That sounds amazing! I REALLY hope I can go to the T4A next year… sounds like a wonderful time! It was fun to see you in real life:-) Learned so much at T4A this weekend, just still trying to process it all.  HAVE YOU MISSED ME?! Okay, you know I love bloggin’…and I’ve been MIA for a bit–which could mean 1) Something is wrong 2) I am extra busy 3) I’m on vacation. Okay…I can assure you that I haven’t been on vacation…that would be nice–but not so much. I am also happy to share–that for once…NOTHING […] SO very exciting!!! I cried watching the videos. We are so happy for you guys!! Andrea, this is truly amazing video!! What a miracle! Wonderful news! It brought happy tears to my eyes. What a beautiful sight! Truly a work of God! Praising God along with you. oh, that is the cutest stinkin stuff ever!!! LOVED IT!! I just posted too…maybe I’ll go add the video now to the bottom of mine…So fun!!! CAnt’ wait for yall to come back! 🙂 it was so great, kristi go isaac go!! i don’t think i’ve ever rejoiced so much over a crawler…including my own kids! so fun to see the video and pix with the johnson’s too. rejoicing with you! Yeah!!! He is not just crawling, he is crawling like a pro! Wow. That boy is going to be pulling up before you know it! (: SO excited for you! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZED, SPEECHLESS, IN AWE!!!!!!!!! Praising God with you, and believing that God has such great things in store- even more than we can hope. Because that is how our God Rolls!!!! Crying happy tears of joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing isaac!! amazing God and amazing family! yaaaaaaay! Praise the Lord!!! That is so exciting! I love how he just follows Frank. They are going to be best buds for life, I can tell! 🙂 What an exciting time for all of you! We are blessed to share in your joy over Isaac’s hard work (and yours in supporting him)! Glad you enjoyed a nice getaway with family and special friends… Look forward to another playdate soon! SO AMAZING! I’m crying watching this video!!! Praise the LORD! Andrea, I was so sad that we were not able to come hang out with you all this weekend. You have to come back soon. I still have so much to tell you 🙂 Hugs, So Fabulous, Andrea!! Praising HIM for this week of firsts for Isaac, and the story behind the first with Laney is too sweet. Love your videos. Awesome! Way to go, Isaac! Tearing up at this joyful news! Isaac is just precious. Thank you! I cannot tell you how powerful your story is in inspiring others to act on God’s behalf. I needed this as a reminder of all of the miracles that God has shown me in my life. I have been praying about adoption hubby is not quite ready (yet). We are helping other families in mean time. aw yay!!! I’m so excited – how cool is that?!! I love how God WOWs us! oh Andrea – Hannah and I are sitting here rejoicing with you! Our God is amazing! We have seen His healing hand in our lives with Jadon and Hannah both, and we are praying with you believing that Isaac is going to be running and talking and praising Him in no time!!! and oh my – love the video with LL – hannah thinks that lucy is her little sister that we are waiting for and she just squeals every time we watch the video:). Awesome news! What an wonderful answer to prayer! I just love his chub… it doesn’t get any cuter!! Yay!!! I am believing with you! Praise God! After stalking your blog for months and crying EVERY time…I figured I should say Hi and let you know how encouraged I am from reading…I was so excited watching ITY crawl that it was like he was my very own! So very neat to see the Lord’s hand in that precious little life. So glad to SEE ITY crawl! I called my husband at work today and he said he was in his office watching this video at lunch and he was crying! That is how much we all celebrate the wonderful things that ITY is accomplishing. We are all so connected through this journey and if we never meet, no worries, we are still praying! Love, Karen Smith “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” acts 16:5 This is truly an amazing blessed by God moment! Through him (and the amazing moms he chooses for His children) all things are indeed possible! Isaac is doing so great! Miracle baby!!!!! Oh you go Isaac!! The video has been watched over and over here at our house!! Love, love, love that he is on the move…praise the Lord!!! Hey Andrea! WOOHOO! Rejoicing with you guys! I am LOVING following your journey!! Praying and celebrating with y’all! OH this just made me CRY! I am believing with you sister. This little boy will be running marathons! Jenny |
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Wow!! TOTAL God moment, LOVE it!
found you through Emily A’s blog roll. Loved your post and even those of your sweet friends. Particularly loved the Korah story. I love seeing His fingerprints. He is in the details-something we saw countless times in our adoption.
Don’t you just love watching God work! Thanks for sharing such a great story…and all of the cute pics of the family, of course!
i’m loving all the pics from the fellowship and the soccer game!!! and what an AMAZING Korah story! God is GOOD!!!!
That Korah story… wow!!! I LOVE how God cares about the small things too. 🙂
Andrea! I am SO EXCITED that the kits are on their way! I will have to let all my “Panty Party” girls know our panties are on their way over the ocean!!! I REALLY want to be able to come to the retreat however I am curious about the cost? Could you get bk with me on the cost or is it on the registration page, I will ck there now! Thanks! bobi
You go to Crawford’s church?? We’re at his son’s church in Memphis!! Small world 🙂
[…] last Sunday when God worked out the details for me to run into someone who lives in Nashville who volunteers for Korah…in my little ole town in Georgia? WELL…here is my new precious friend Danielle feeding […]