Triathlon Success and a trip to Texas

     Thank you all so much for supporting Alyssa's triathlon fundraiser. She did amazing and placed 1st in the overall female category. Not only did she best her personal record by over 12 minutes, she had the fastest female time since 2009!
     You all did amazing as well! We had a call this week that our $2500 grant was totally matched!! We thank God for those that supported a leg of the triathlon and supported our final adoption push as well. We are so blessed to have family and friends that get to share in the inheritance and joy of the little one we hope to soon bring home. The grant agency does not release the names of those who gave, so please accept our thank you here!!
     Two days after the triathlon we received a call from our social worker with a case in Texas. We really felt the Lord's leading on this opportunity to be matched. There was a baby boy born on Sunday and the mother was leaving the hospital that Monday and did not want the child. She did not want to tell anyone about the child and did not want to see it. We were the only family that was ready to go. The only risk at the time was that the mother not return to the hospital to sign her papers, in which case our lawyer would have to intervene so that the child did not get put into the foster care system.
     We left for Lubbock that evening and we received a call about 3 hours before arriving that the birth mother's sister now knew of the birth and wanted the baby. This was very difficult news for us and we really entered a time of contending through prayer for this baby. The mother was still leaning on us adopting the baby, but wanted to hear her sister out and have 24 hours to make a decision. We felt we were to stay in Lubbock until we heard the word.
    Thank you to those of you who were praying for us during that time. We really felt your prayers. Unfortunately for us, the next morning we were told the mother chose to have her sister adopt the baby. Even though she was told the baby would still have to go into foster care for 2-3 months while the sister became home study approved, that was the decision she made.
       We really prayed over this baby boy and our hearts were really grieved when we heard the news. It was difficult to see Kaitlyn go through the grief process. She was so excited to get a brother and then had to work through the anger and sadness of not seeing it come to pass at that time. We know that this baby boy belongs to the Lord though and there were many people praying over him during the first few days of his life. We will continue to pray for him and his mother until God releases us from that. That in itself is an honor and reason enough for us to have been involved in the way we were. We will never know if the mother made the right choice, but we do know that we serve a God who makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28.)
     Despite the difficulty of experiencing a failed adoption, we must say that God's faithfulness and love has been so amazing. People have asked me (Alyssa) how I'm doing and I can honestly say I am doing well. We did have to go through a period of grief and loss, but God's love was amazing during that time. God was even faithful to help Kaitlyn with her feelings and emotions. So many times as parents, we want to protect our kids from anything that could hurt them, but I think it was good for all of us to go through this together. And God is faithful to protect our little ones and help them sort out life.
     One thing I am so grateful for during this process is God's voice. He has spoken so clearly through this process and that is a rock for me to stand on. I know that I know God called us to adoption. I even believe that God told us to drive to Texas to adopt this little boy, even knowing the possibility that we would not get him. When you know God has spoken, it's not your job to questions him, but to trust and do what He's asked you to do. He's the best Dad and only wants the best for His kids. So I can trust in that. And even if things don't turn out the way I think they should, God is always faithful to see me through. Always! I know God has a baby out there for us and I know His timing and plans are the best. I also know that I am just a tiny part of a huge picture. I may not understand all this until the other side of Heaven, but I don't have to understand it. I can rest in the fact that God loves me and has the best plan for me. And He will make it come to pass. All I need to do is, in obedience, trust Him. He is a good Father and He loves me. What more do I need?
     So we will continue on this journey of adoption. This was a very difficult step in the process, but we stand on the hope that God will see us through until we hold our baby in our arms.
    Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. Please keep pressing in with us for those children who need loving families.