Adoption Update - October 29, 2012

A little update on us after receiving our sad news on October 4th...

God is healing our hearts and we definitely can feel everyone's thoughts and prayers. We also appreciate your encouraging words and sweet cards. It's been a tough lesson/reminder for our family that life isn't always fair and doesn't always go the way you want - but God's plan for our lives IS always best. We continue to rely on Him and follow His promptings. He knows our desires and we truly want to follow what He feels is best for our family.

Sometimes I think we were matched with Little R so that he can always have someone praying for him. I think of him and pray for him continually throughout the day and at night when I can't sleep. I  know many of our friends and family have been praying for him, too. I just have to believe that God has His arms wrapped around him and He'll never let him go. And just in case you are wondering why I still refer to him as "Little R", part of me is still hoping that he'll be returned to the orphanage (ONLY if he's not being well taken care of) and we'll hear that we can come to UG and take him back home with us. Stranger things have happened ;-)

So...in the meantime, we are moving on. We still plan on adopting and will be matched again soon, God willing. We thank you so much for continuing to pray for our process. It's all in God's timing and it's all in His hands. He is continually growing and stretching our faith - which isn't always "fun", but it is always for our good.

For Those Who Feel "Worn"...

May you see redemption win!

I'm tired 

I'm worn 

My heart is heavy 

From the work it takes to keep on breathing 

I've made mistakes 

I've let my hope fail 

My soul feels crushed 

By the weight of this world 

And I know that you can give me rest 

So I cry out with all that I have left 

Let me see redemption win 

Let me know the struggle ends 

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn 

I want to know a song can rise 

From the ashes of a broken life 

And all that's dead inside can be reborn 

Cause I'm worn 

I know I need to lift my eyes up 

But I'm too weak 

Life just won't let up

And I know that You can give me rest 

So I cry out with all that I have left 

Let me see redemption win 

Let me know the struggle ends 

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn 

I want to know a song can rise 

From the ashes of a broken life 

And all that's dead inside can be reborn 

Cause I'm worn 

And my prayers are wearing thin 

I'm worn even before the day begins 

I'm worn 

I've lost my will to fight 

I'm worn 

So heaven come and flood my eyes 

Let me see redemption win 

Let me know the struggle ends 

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn 

I want to know a song can rise 

From the ashes of a broken life 

And all that's dead inside can be reborn 

Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn 

Though I'm worn 

Yeah I'm worn

Adoption Podcasts

Here's some great podcasts that have been featured on Family Life Today about adoption. Take a listen when you have a chance...

Reaching Out to the Orphan, Part 1 (w/Dennis Rainey, Rick Warren, Russell Moore and Jedd Medefind) - great message for men ;-)

Reaching Out to the Orphan, Part 2 (w/Dennis Rainey, Rick Warren, Russell Moore and Jedd Medefind)

More to Give (w/Mark and Katharyn Richt)

Adoption: The Gift That Keeps On Giving (w/Mark and Katharyn Richt)

Two Lives Changed (w/Chey Gethers and Mary Lee)

God's Call to Adoption (w/Jill Savage)

Adoption Seen Through Jesus' Eyes (w/Russell Moore)

Welcome to the Family (w/Russell Moore)

Embracing Adoption (w/Russell Moore)

Grappling with Infertility (w/Russell Moore)

Adoption Update - Oct. 4, 2012

It is with a heavy heart that we share this news with you. We just found out this afternoon that "Little R" has an uncle in Uganda that wants to keep him. Amazing to me that Little R was in an orphanage for over a year and not one relative came forward to even visit him. And now, this man came out of the blue and said he will keep him. In his words, they will "manage". The uncle already has Little R in his custody and we are no longer able to adopt him. Don't get me wrong, I am totally for reunification with family IF they are able to provide the child with a good home. I've just seen too many cases in Uganda where children are tossed from family to family and they aren't given proper care. They are often times forced to work hard at an early age, are abused, or go hungry. I just pray that Little R doesn't become one of those cases.

I have never personally lost a child in the womb, but I can imagine what I'm feeling is somewhat similar to what a mother experiences when she looses her unborn child. You spend months thinking about your child and what life will be like once they are with your family. You dream about them and their future. You pray for them and that you will be good parents. And then one day, they are gone. Totally unexpected. It is at that moment that you realize that life's not fair. In fact, sometimes it stinks (as a nice way to put it). But then you get up off the floor, brush off your pants, and thank God for another day. You realize that even when times are tough, God has a perfect plan and we must trust in Him and His promises.

Would you please join our family in praying for this uncle? If he truly is supposed to care for Little R, please pray that he will be a good role model, teach him about Jesus, love on him and that he will be a good provider for his needs. And if he's not supposed to care for him, please pray that God impresses on his heart that there is a family that already loves him and wants to adopt him. Pray that he understands what a big responsibility it is to raise a child and if he can't step up then he needs to step down.

We are so very sad but I suppose situations like this are to be expected. I keep hearing stories of how hard adoption is and I believe it. But I also believe very strongly that we are called to adopt and God will get us through the tough times. We just need a little time to grieve but we aren't going to let this stop us. We will continue on with our adoption journey and follow God's leading. We appreciate your prayers - and especially for Little R, wherever he is.