I was up past 2 am last night unable to sleep. Right before heading to bed around 11, I received an email from our adoption agency with 24 pages of medical history on a baby that we're praying about adopting. It was heart breaking to think what a difficult life this little 6 month old has had so far! Of course as I read the details, everything in me wanted to go to the orphanage and scoop her up to bring her home. And that's what's so hard. Just like so many other processes around the world, our adoption process has come to a halt.
Over the last few weeks I've heard from others how circumstances in their lives have had to be paused as well: fertility treatments, weddings, medical procedures, jobs/income, etc. It's not easy for anyone in the world right now. And for me, in my little world here in Adjumani, Uganda, the hard thing that's hit pause is our adoption.
One of the reasons I'm so frustrated is that we were so close. We had completed everything else on our home study except for the home visit and just when our local probation officer was about to come do our home visit we got word that US courts made a new law in 2020 that home visits for a home study had to be done BY THE AGENCY doing the home study. Meaning - a social worker with our agency needed to fly all the way here to check out our home and meet our family before we could be officially approved to adopt. This was a big blow, but she was able to book tickets 6 weeks out for March 28. And then COVID...
So here we are. With this one little piece of the puzzle remaining but it's the key to being able to bring this little one home. And now I can picture this precious baby. I don't know her name or know what she looks like. We actually have very little information about her but as silly as this might sound, I already love her and care about her deeply. I believe she is meant to be in our family.
Over the last few weeks I've heard from others how circumstances in their lives have had to be paused as well: fertility treatments, weddings, medical procedures, jobs/income, etc. It's not easy for anyone in the world right now. And for me, in my little world here in Adjumani, Uganda, the hard thing that's hit pause is our adoption.
One of the reasons I'm so frustrated is that we were so close. We had completed everything else on our home study except for the home visit and just when our local probation officer was about to come do our home visit we got word that US courts made a new law in 2020 that home visits for a home study had to be done BY THE AGENCY doing the home study. Meaning - a social worker with our agency needed to fly all the way here to check out our home and meet our family before we could be officially approved to adopt. This was a big blow, but she was able to book tickets 6 weeks out for March 28. And then COVID...
So here we are. With this one little piece of the puzzle remaining but it's the key to being able to bring this little one home. And now I can picture this precious baby. I don't know her name or know what she looks like. We actually have very little information about her but as silly as this might sound, I already love her and care about her deeply. I believe she is meant to be in our family.
This picture represents the posture I know God is calling me to be in. Hands up towards heaven, palms open, surrendering to HIS plan, HIS timing, and His best for our family and this little baby. In the big picture of everything going on in the world, I know there are much BIGGER things at stake, greater suffering and real heart ache. And believe me, I'm aching for them as well.
I just wanted to share with those who read our blog and pray for us that this is a heaviness on my heart. And like I said in the subject line, it's a hole I'm feeling. Even though we have 6 Faders sitting around our dining room table, I feel like someone is missing. Will you pray for this sweet baby who needs a family? And will you pray that God will move this process forward in HIS TIME.
