The News

We are putting our Ukrainian adoption on hold. It sounds like such a simple statement, I know. Believe me when I tell you that it has come from A LOT of prayer, thoughts, discussions between Todd and I, etc. Don't think we are giving up because of the mix up with our paperwork. We have spent a lot of time praying that God would lead us in the right direction and we have to pay attention when he speaks. It is so easy to assume that the need for adoptive families in foreign countries is so much greater than the needs here in the states, but it simply isn't true. Now, don't misunderstand what I am saying. We are not talking about number of children. We are talking about number of children who are free to adopt. We have realized that the children of Ukraine get hung up in the system just like the children of the US get hung up in foster care.
Somewhere along the way, this adoption changed. It has become about "getting a good referral" and how many people are waiting. It is a competition to see who is going to go to Ukraine and come home with a "good" kid ( or even a kid at all). This adoption is not now, nor was it ever, about what "we" were gonna get.
My head is so full of things I would love to share with you, but I can't find the words. Our 171H is good for another year or so. God may turn us around tomorrow and send us back, but right now, we are no longer pursuing an adoption through Ukraine.
I will continue to pray for all of you out there. I KNOW you are going to come home from Ukraine with the child you are supposed to have. I KNOW that you will be blessed because of your faithfulness. I also know, too- that MY family has a blessing and a child in store for it. I'm not sure when, but hey- that's no different than before!
I've enjoyed this journey. Todd and I have talked about it, and there is NOTHING that we would have changed. We have grown as individuals, we have grown as a family, and we have come full circle with our desire to "care for orphans in their distress".
"God places the lonely in families" and He has a child for our family. We are thankful for that.

With a little sadness, but a lot of FAITH- We say "Good-bye"
Melinda
toddmelinda@bellsouth.net