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Born to be…more than an orphan. Born to Thrive

So…yesterday I took the kids to the Fernbank museum in Hotlanta. It was “homeschool day” at Fernbank–so me and the other plaid jumper and bun wearers united to teach our kids about wildlife rescue and such. Parker and Laney even had the joy of dissecting owl pellets to discover what their diets consist of. NICE. […]

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Kim - March 6, 2012 - 11:39 am

Andrea!! This post R.O.C.K.S! I love your heart, and soooo needed this today. “Because God is real…because this life is NOT about me…or 2.5 kids, a vacation and a white picket fence…because orphans need families to really thrive…then I can’t live my life for just me–what is easy for me. Not everyone will or can adopt–but I do think that EVERYONE can do something for the sake of the orphans.” LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

Megan - March 6, 2012 - 12:07 pm

Yes I am excited to see what the Lord is doing- in my life, in yours, in countless others! Today I am in awe of HIM 🙂 So glad you had a great fieldtrip and heard that little nudge from Him about His plans for adopting more kids. Keep believing that you’ll be healed and praising Him through it- you’re an example to us all, Andrea.

P.S. I went to a Classical Christian School (after being homeschooled for 6 years first). I’m no genius but it was a great education.

Rory - March 6, 2012 - 12:20 pm

This news is SUCH an answer to prayer. Shouts of joy, shouts of victory are in the tents of the righteous…the Lord’s right hand has done valiant things the Lord’s right hand is exalted…makes me sing and shout for JOY that your body is manifesting in the physical the healing we’ve been contending for in the supernatural. The healer is in the house!:)
Love it.

Rebecca - March 6, 2012 - 4:51 pm

I just love God….how He speaks and how He works. So glad He spoke to you today, and that He has given you such a heart for orphans.

We are on similar first year of homeschooling paths. As my daughter and I walked through Tells last week, I had the same experience. We were asking it all in, reading signs and taking our time. As a former teacher myself, couldn’t help but notice what the big groups were not learning. So glad to be blessed with the opportunity to teach my girls.

Fern bank is on our field trip let as well. Would love to have a way to find out when homeschool days are at various locations.

Amber - March 7, 2012 - 12:47 am

Thank you for this! I too saw this awhile back ago and I too cried! I love what you wrote about it. Also excited to hear that you are feeling better.

amazing what God can do through the faith of His people…

I love the story in Mark (2:1-12) where the paralyzed man is healed. So…this dude is completely paralyzed–but his boys are determined to see Him healed. DETERMINED. They believed! They believed if they could JUST get their friend to Jesus–he would be healed. It seemed impossible. The crowd was too much. Everything stood in their […]

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What God Can Do Through the Faith of Friends

I love the story in Mark (2:1-12) where the paralyzed man is healed. So…this dude is completely paralyzed–but his boys are determined to see Him healed. DETERMINED. They believed! They believed if they could JUST get their friend to Jesus–he would be healed. It seemed impossible. The crowd was too much. Everything stood in their […]

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Beth Templeton - February 29, 2012 - 2:35 pm

Andrea, this was so good to read. I can feel the rejoicing through your words and in your photos. And I can feel the faith too. I add my AMEN today to what the Lord has already done, and to what He is going to do. The world better watch out indeed! And, for the record, you look really good without make up girl!

Susan Hillis - February 29, 2012 - 2:41 pm

ANDREA!!!!! YES!!!!! I have been so praying for you for this for several months now!!! I just know your transparency is going to be used to help others believe God for their healing!!! Thank you so much for sharing!

Cristie - February 29, 2012 - 5:30 pm

Hey friend! I am praying for you and believing God for complete healing!! Our family is moving to the middle east this summer, so I’d appreciate your prayers for us…for all the details surrounding it!

Dawn Wright - February 29, 2012 - 6:46 pm

LOVE YOU!!!

AND PRAYING FOR YOU BELIEVING WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I totally love your pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ***ps don’t care about your make up just glad you are feeling better!!!!!

Sarah - February 29, 2012 - 7:14 pm

Andrea,

PRAISE THE LORD for his healig hand and for using your illness to show those just how BIG our FATHER IS!!! You and your sweet family are always on my mind through out the week and I continue to pray that God continues to heal you and restore your health.

I would be forever humbled and thankful if you would please pray for me. I traveled to Ethiopia in January to meet my sweet Isaiah and to go to court. Ever since coming home I have been sick. I have been in the ER three times and to my regular doctor numerous times. All my routine blood work looks fine, but I am just not myself. My stomach constantly hurts, I have horrible fatigue, at times I feel light headed, almost as if I am going to pass out. The last few weeks I have had a hard time catching my breath and I can’t lie I have been really scared. I have been checked for blood clots and praise Jesus I didn’t have any, but I am left not knowing what is wrong with me. I have loaded myself up on vitamins and pro biotics for the last few weeks but still feel bad. My entire body hurts all the time and this morning I couldn’t even get out of bed because my back and legs were hurting so bad. I don’t know if I will ever know what is going on with me, but I do know our God can heal me of whatever is going on with me and I just continue to pray that God heals me and restores my health so I can be 100% when it comes to my boys, not to mention my case got filed with embassy today!!!! So I could be traveling soon to bring my sweet boy home and I don’t have to tell you how important it is for me to be healthy :)I would be so thankful if you would pray for me!! I can’t wait to continue to watch and see how God heals you completely!! Blessings to you!!

Sandi - February 29, 2012 - 7:18 pm

We have found that whenever we “act” on what we feel like we need to do for God the strangest diagnoses seem to crop up. You know what? We read every verse on healing out loud with the sick one & BELIEVE that those words are healing. Surprisingly whoever is sick gets better, even in the scariest situations. I don’t know if attacks on health are God testing & shaping us or the devil trying to distract us with fear. Either way, the power of prayer is absolutely real. It has been documented in medical studies that people who are “prayed for” by others get better faster. This is just the beginning. I know that God is loving the JOY in your house & that you will have even more to celebrate soon! Stay strong!

Beth in Atlanta - February 29, 2012 - 8:17 pm

That is an AWESOME fish face! So glad to hear that your eye is improving.

So, even though you don’t know me, I will take you up on that offer of prayer. I have an interview tomorrow morning for a job that would be wonderful in many ways … for example, it is located one mile from my house. As you know, that is an unbelievable commute in Atlanta – well I guess anywhere. But there are many other things that make this seem like a God-made fit. Please pray for peace and clarity and that God will just provide the job for me that He fits His plans for me – whether it’s this one or one further down the road.

I continue to pray for your healing.

Lauren - February 29, 2012 - 10:34 pm

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is amazing news!!!! And you look absolutely beautiful with no makeup!!!! Plus the boys are just adorable as usual! 😉 I am continuing to pray and believing with you for complete healing!! LOVE YOU!

marci - February 29, 2012 - 11:03 pm

SO ,SO ,SO happy for you ,Andrea ! Praise God….the great healer.

Julie - March 1, 2012 - 9:14 am

Andrea,
Praise the Lord for all the miracles he is bringing into your life! Praise to God our healer!
I am praying and believing for some of the same with some concerning symptoms I have been having. My son is having surgery tomorrow as well which causes the symptoms to increase due to worry. Please pray that God will increase my faith and that I will absolutley trust Himw to care for me and my family.
Prayers for my son Josh would be appreciated as well.
Thanks for sharing your life and your faith!
Many blessings to you and your family,
Julie

Heather R - March 1, 2012 - 11:38 am

I wrote a blog post in response to this post. Will you help us pray our daughter home?
http://projectfindher.org/pfh/?q=node/62

bobi bobbitt - March 1, 2012 - 9:39 pm

Praise God!!! This may sound strange, but every morning while in the shower I have been praying for you and for your healing! What great news to read this!!! And your eye looks great! Not sure if you got my FB message last week, but just wrote to say that you have been on my mind and in my prayers alot lately! So happy for you, friend!!!

When you know you are ABSOLUTELY His…

My parents came in town this weekend so Richard and I could get away. We wanted to get away–just to have a day to pray together for this momma to be 100% again. This mom has some serious fog-brain tonight which makes it so hard to think of words–so I’m going to do my best […]

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Cheri - February 27, 2012 - 1:47 am

Do I stand with you ~ ABSOLUTELY!

Olga - February 27, 2012 - 8:54 am

Oh Andrea, I don’t know you, but I pray for you and HE is with you! Thank you for this post and all the others that have touched my life in so many ways. I needed this today, thank you!

Naomi - February 27, 2012 - 9:12 am

Yours words were so refreshing this morning. I am seeking His face with many what ifs regarding our adoption from Uganda. I look forward to meeting you in March at C4C! You are an inspiration always and the Lord is already being glorified!

Praying for your healing also.

Naomi

Kari - February 27, 2012 - 2:01 pm

I’ve been following your blog for a while now. We are on our agency’s wait list for a referral from Ethiopia and just when we thought we should be nearing the top of the list we find out that referrals are slowing WAY down and out time estimate got bumped out 3-6 more months. I’ve been so encouraged and challenged by your words of faith lately. This post in particular reminded me of the song, “You Are Mine” from Enter the Worship Circle. It is on the album Chair and Microphone vol. 3. Its the words from Isaiah in song. Thank you for sharing your story and calling us on to crazy faith.

Polly Bice - February 27, 2012 - 3:49 pm

Andrea, I am doing Beth Moore’s study, “Believing God” right now with a group of my girls from a local transition home here in town…. I can’t wait to share this message with them. YOUR faith and belief in God is going to inspire them so much! I am always encouraged by you and I can’t wait for them to get to “meet you” too.
Thank you dear sister for letting us be a part of this journey with you. Praying alongside you for total healing….. believing God to heal you! Much love to you 🙂 PB

Julie - February 27, 2012 - 10:24 pm

Andrea,
Thank you for sharing. I too am dealing with some health issues and have allowed the voice of “what ifs” to take the joy out of my days and fill them with additional worry. I so needed to hear this message from the Lord today!
Praying for your healing!

Kim - February 27, 2012 - 11:43 pm

Continuing to pray for your healing. Continually grateful for your example!

Sandi - February 28, 2012 - 1:29 am

What if God is once again using your struggles, your pain to minister to and to help heal the hearts of others? Every single trial we go through strengthens our faith, but also gives us another way to connect to those around us who may be hurting. When we go through the trial ourselves we will know how to act to help someone else when they are suffering. Praying for God’s hand to be on you and to heal as you go through this time of affliction. Praying that that the fog will be lifted & that the birds will sing once again. (Job 36:14-16) 15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. (1 Peter 4:1-3) whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Beth Templeton - February 28, 2012 - 2:39 pm

SURELY Goodness and Mercy will follow you ALL the days of your life dear Andrea. Surely. So glad you had that time at the monastery. You know that is where Susan goes regularly over the years in order to get away and spend time with God. If you haven’t heard her testimony from there when God called her to adoption you must! It is pretty amazing.

Called to Walk by Faith…

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 […]

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emily - February 19, 2012 - 2:42 pm

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!

ev

Dawn Wright - February 19, 2012 - 2:43 pm

PRAYING for you dear friend! Having FAITH!!! KNOWING GOD will lead you in HIS PATH!!!

Love hearing your heart. It helps me know how to pray for you more specifically!!!

Joy portis - February 19, 2012 - 2:45 pm

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.

Julie Bennett - February 19, 2012 - 3:16 pm

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!!

Kim - February 19, 2012 - 4:01 pm

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.

Kaylyn - February 19, 2012 - 8:36 pm

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!!

Lara - February 19, 2012 - 9:48 pm

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.

marci - February 20, 2012 - 9:05 pm

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.

abby - February 20, 2012 - 11:48 pm

praying for you, sweet andrea. thank you.

Steph - February 21, 2012 - 8:44 am

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.

Lindsey - February 22, 2012 - 7:49 am

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!