A bit of our Adoption Journey pt. 2

As I fulfilled my commitment to my husband to pray about adoption, our daughter, Carly had begun her one-year mission in Uganda.  Not long after she arrived to live at the orphanage, Carly went to visit a very sick 24-year old woman, with no husband and one small child.  As Carly sat by her on the floor, the dying woman murmured through a weak voice, "What will become of my daughter?"  "Who will take care of her?"  "Please... ask her sponsor....take her to America?"   Well, Carly couldn't promise that, but did promise that she would take care of the girl, somehow.   That night, through many tears, Carly related the story over Skype to us.  "Mom & Dad, will you pray about adopting this 6-year-old girl?"   My heart felt many things at that moment....we both said "we will PRAY. "  I told myself, "Carly has only been there a month...we can't promise to take this little girl....there may be a dozen more by the time she comes home in a year..."  But through all my fearful excuses, I could feel my heart was being softened.  Here now was a real child, with a real dying mom, and a real need.  Three days later, the Mama died.   As for me, the Lord had connected my heart to orphans in Uganda.  "I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."   (...to be continued)   

A bit of our Adoption Journey....pt. 1

Three years ago my husband mentioned something to me about "adoption....us...empty nesters."  I instantly dismissed it. ("we still have 3 single daughters; one teenager; we sponsor orphans already.")   Within the next 2 weeks it seemed every radio program & advertisement I heard was about adoption.  I said, "Lord, if You are speaking....well, please just get back with me, okay? I can't even think of it right now."   Two years later, after Mark had been to Haiti & Uganda doing missional engineering for orphanages,  he took me out to dinner and said, "there's something I'd like you to pray about."  me: "okay" (I'll pray about anything...)  mark:  "I'd like you to pray about us adopting kids...specifically from either Haiti or Uganda...."   me, (mouth dropping open/heart on alarm.....having completely forgotten about the two years earlier):  "okay, i'll pray about that." (thinking:  "i'll pray about it and vow to NEVER bring it up again....it'll go away....")     "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."   (....to be continued)

MamaJane's a JaJa!

J

Today, I became "JaJa" to this sweet girl....from Uganda. I never would've dreamed my youngest dear daughter would be the first to make me a "gramma" and that I would from now on be called "JaJa" by my grandchildren ....but this is God's way and it is much better than anything I ever could've imagined. Isn't that how the Lord is?   Welcome to our family, Rinah!  "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."