Friday, December 30, 2011

He Sets the Lonely in Families...

The adoption process has been full of twists and turns, so we have gotten used to expecting the unexpected.  Honestly, though, we never expected the news that Kaylee is being adopted by a Russian family.

When you commit to a child from another country, very rarely is that a binding commitment in the eyes of that government.  You can begin the process and attempt to pursue the child, but until you actually have the approval of the judge you have no legal claim to her.  If a citizen of that country steps up and pursues an adoption of the child, there is literally nothing an American family can do.  We have known all along that this was a possibility but that these situations rarely arise.  Unfortunately for us, this is precisely the case for Kaylee.

In talking with a missionary friend from the country, it is rare that families there adopt children (let alone children with any kind of medical or special need).  He said that it is almost always a Christian family that pursues these adoptions.  So, while we have no official knowledge of her family, we have good reason to believe she is going to be in a Christian family.  We rejoice in that hope and will pray that the Lord directs her path and she comes to know Him in a personal way.  It brings us joy that she is no longer counted among the "lonely."  

Are we disappointed?  Of course.  Despite not ever meeting Kaylee, our family "knew" her from pictures and descriptions.  We "knew" her in the sense that we pictured her in our family, in her room and at our school.  Poor little Laney (our three-year old niece) just knew that she and Kaylee would be best friends.  When her mom broke the news to her tonight and let her know that there are many other lonely, orphaned kids who need a family, she cried and said "But I don't love the other kids!!!"  (It's okay to laugh at that...it's cute.)  Our own kids were very surprised and I think are not sure what to think...they had really adjusted to the idea of a new sibling and were expecting to meet Kaylee soon.  So, certainly our disappointments are real.  Whether we "met" Kaylee or not, it is difficult not to imagine her in our family.

That said, God is a comforter and peace-giver and He has shown Himself to be present in adjusting our perspective.  We feel just as much joy as we do sadness.  Two orphans will now have a home!  This is certainly greater than just one little girl coming to be with us.  When we decided to adopt, our decision wasn't based on Kaylee.  We want to adopt because kids need families.  God cares for the orphans, the lonely and the brokenhearted.  We want to have that same heart.  So, while our plans have shifted in terms of specifics, nothing has changed in our general plans.  We are still headed to Eastern Europe as soon as we have a referral.  There are some minor paperwork adjustments and perhaps a little more waiting (no surprise there), but nothing will stop us from fulfilling God's call to care for orphans.  While we do not have a specific child in mind, we do know that we will be referred a little girl.  Once we get that referral, we will probably not provide very much information to friends and family until the adoption is official.  We learned our lesson about attachments throughout these months, and we want to protect our friends and family from any unneeded hurt.  

Will you pray for us as we walk with God through the next steps of this journey?  As I'm sure many will ask, here is a tentative timeline (note that I did say tentative---everything is tentative when dealing with adoptions!):

January- Remaining updated paperwork will be sent to EE for dossier submittal in another region.  Assuming there are no errors in the paperwork, this could be a relatively short process.

January/February- We hope to have a referral during this time period.  Basically, once everything is submitted, we will be matched with a child that meets our requests.  We will then have time to pray over the referral, review it and decide whether or not to accept it.  It is unlikely we would not accept the referral unless there were unforeseen issues that arose or some factor we felt would not fit with our family.  

February- Once we have a referral, we will do another large fundraiser of some kind.  We still have money to raise, but we wanted to put a long block of time between our fundraisers.  We do not want to burn anyone out or offend anyone.  We know people support and love us (as well as orphans), so we do not feel bad to fundraise.  But it's nice for everyone to have a break.  This fundraiser will likely be an event (a bowling night maybe?)

February/March- Maybe we will finally get to travel?!?

March/April/May- If we have taken a first trip, we should be able to travel during these months.

We covet your prayers.  Pray that our family will be able to maintain a joyful spirit despite the circumstances.  Pray that our paperwork will be accepted without any mistakes.  Pray that we will be issued a quick referral.  Pray that we will have wisdom as we make a decision about accepting the referral.  Pray that we will be able to travel soon and that this little child will find a family in us.  

Thanks for hanging in there with us...we will try to update the blog a little more frequently now that we have been able to put this news out there!

8 comments:

  1. Derek & Alyssa, having "lost our first child" we committed to, our family can relate. After losing Alexander, we did not share Andriy with Jared or Jackson until shortly before we left. Jared was heart broken we weren't bringing Alexander home and Jackson thought Alexander would still come home even though we told him he wouldn't be.

    I will keep your family and you family's adoption process in my prayers.

    Christie Taylor

    ReplyDelete
  2. we know that same, strange, heartbroken and hopeful feeling you have now. His timing and His plans are always best. We are still waiting like you, and with you to see what He has in store for all of us!
    much love,
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  3. one other thought...we still think of Mahogany as we had dreamed of her being a part of our family. Now, I just make sure to pray for her whenever I think of her. Had we never met her, I wouldn't know to pray for her by name. Just the same, Kaylee has a bunch of prayer warriors for her that she will never meet but are invaluable to her. God bless the family the stepped in the gap for her! There will always be a need for more families to adopt and in EE, no doubt. Let's pray that this family can win others to the cause of adoption in EE too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Praying for your family during this time and excited to see who your daughter is. We may not understand Gods reasons for things happening, but we can find comfort in knowing His ways are best.

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh my goodness! i am so sorry and you are so in my prayers! big hugs to you all...please do come over to the flight platform and link yourstory on fridays and giveaways on sundays if it helps with your continued journey.

    i am now following my blogs in google reader so hopefully i will be more organised in commenting and reading. thankyou for your blog over the year and have a blessed new year where prayers lift you up to get you through this sad surprise turn. God HAS IT...Rest in that dear friend xxxxxxx lots of love from jane at the flight platform xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Because you committed yourselves to Kaylee, she has had the benefit of so much prayer. I believe that changed the direction of her life. Not to take her away from you. But prayer brought to pass this part of the good plans God has for her. Your heart had to be bound to her to pray for her as you did. Still though, my heart aches for you in the "can't help but feel disappointed/loss". And I admit a glimmer of looking for the happy, expected ending just like the movies would wrap it up for us with Kaylee still coming to you. Oh I believe there is yet a happy ending just a different one than first written in your own heart.
    "Then the LORD andswered me and said:
    Write the vision
    And make it plain on tablets
    That he may run who reads it
    For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it will speak and it will not lie
    Though it tarries wait for it
    Because it will surely come
    It will not tarry"
    Habakkuk 2:2-3
    Praying for you today...

    ReplyDelete
  7. After just going thru a similiar experience, I am heartbroken for you guys!! There are no words that can sooth the pain easily, so I will just tell you and I am praying for you guys!!! ♥

    Sarah
    www.matthew18vs14.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm very interested in hearing about how you came to decide to switch regions and where you are going. I know 100% that the little who ends up coming home with you is exactly the right one! Big news. Hang in there. We had our share of twists and turns, too, and it all worked out so beautifully in the end.

    ReplyDelete