The news we didn't want to receive.

Today, on World Adoption Day, I received the phone call from our adoption agency that we've been waiting for. I was told that DGA issued a response to our appeal to adopt Lene via a 2.5 page letter.


They closed the door on our pursuit of her.


Supposedly, the reasoning is that her needs are "just too great" for our family. Despite the fact that they clearly aren't, which we have proved time and time again.


What breaks my heart the most about this isn't our empty arms, but the likelihood of Lene ever having a family of her own. Adoption in Peru is going through huge changes and they are implementing new guidelines that will likely make adoption even more difficult on families than it has already been.


We haven't given up on adoption and we haven't given up on Lene. We still believe what God has told us; we still believe that we listened and we obeyed Him correctly. I do not understand the timing, but I suppose that I don't have to. Not now.


 We have some decisions to make on what steps to take from here as far as adopting in general goes. Those decisions will be made within the next few weeks. We need time to grieve and pray. We will be grieving the hope in our hearts and in the hearts of our children that has been built over the past two and a half years.


Please pray for Lene. She needs a family and if it is not to be us (whether that is now or later), then she needs someone who will love and care for her for the treasure that she is. She is a magical little girl and deserves so much more than what she's been given thus far.