Reality Hits and Reality Hurts

Dear Jenna,

My heart hurts tonight as reality hit in a real way for me today.  I got an e-mail from a person that I don't know...she  was part of an e-mail distribution list to receive information about RACE for the Orphans that your daddy and I are organizing as a fundraiser for our adoption with the goal of making it an annual event for Raising Awareness, Compassion, and Education about the needs of orphans around the world.  The person stated that this is a misleading fundraiser since it is benefiting a family that is adopting from another country and that there are plenty of children in America that could benefit from a similar fundraiser.  MY HEART HURT as I read her e-mail.  I quickly forwarded the e-mail it to your amazing father and he provided the perfect response to share with this person, stating that we did not intend to be misleading at all but that we are looking for people to be part of the journey of bringing you home and the RACE is part of that process.  I am truly thankful for how your daddy responded, as well as other friends who encouraged me when I shared my heartache with them.

The truth of the matter is that not everyone is going to be supportive of our obedience to follow God's call to adopt you.  Not everyone understands that your daddy and I are so excited to welcome you into our home and call you our daughter.  Not everyone is going to understand why we want to adopt a little girl from another country since we are Americans.  Not everyone is going to understand that God loves the world and we want share His love by Raising Awareness, Compassion, and Education about the needs of orphans worldwide.

Reality hits and reality hurts.

But the TRUTH is that you, Jenna, will one day be part of our family forever.  The TRUTH is that God has a perfect plan for your life and part of that plan is for you to be our daughter.  The TRUTH is that we are trusting our Heavenly Father to provide us with wisdom, strength, faith, and love for the journey He has us on until we finally get to meet you and for the rest of our lives as your parents.  The TRUTH is that we cannot wait to have you in our arms, in our home, and in our lives.  The TRUTH is that your older brothers and sister cannot wait to play with you and teach you so many things.  The TRUTH is that we are asking the Lord to bless us with people who will support us in this journey.  The TRUTH is that you are loved!

I know these hits and hurts with reality from the world will continue to come...but I'm clinging to these TRUTHS and believe that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world (I John 4:4).

I'm praying for you, Jenna.  I love you and cannot wait to have you in my arms and show the world the joy of adoption!

Love always,
Mommy