Auggie and Yesterday.

Yesterday, while waiting in line for Thunder Railroad…
We found out that Auggie is no longer available for adoption.
His biological family is planning to take him out of the orphanage.

And I began to grieve and rejoice.
Auggie’s family wants him. And that IS amazing.
But I still miss him.

We were and are aware that children can become unavailable at any time in Auggie’s country. We knew the risks. But there are very few, if any, risks we are unwilling to take on when a child is involved.

My sweet friend Sarah was texting me yesterday. We were talking about our adoption and about Auggie and his family. She forwarded a message she got earlier in the day from her brother, Heath.
Here is what Heath said:

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

I am not sure if this is you or anyone you know today or not, but if it is may this promise sink deep into your spirit and may it bring you or whomever you know that needs it hope and strength. And if you are believing something for someone else may you “stand fast in the Lord” and receive courage that the everlasting almighty God never, ever has been too weak to save, too deaf to hear, nor will He ever be. 
Strength and courage, Heath.

And that, my dear friends, is when a grown woman started crying in the Jungle Cruise line.
I cried partly out of shock and loss. I cried for what won’t be. I cried out of sadness for us, and hope for Auggie. I cried because I am afraid. And I hate to be afraid.

I cried because a family is being restored. And that is a precious gift. 

I cried because I spent those few minutes between Thunder Railroad and the Jungle Cruise wondering if God is still sovereign. And I was reminded that Yes, He is…in a text message.

So what happens now? 
Our options are:
1. Choose another child and continue on with our adoption plans.
2. Stop all adoption plans and possibly re-do later.
3. Do a “blind referral.” Meaning we fly to Auggie’s country (where we are approved for adoption) and request children that fit our home study and then choose one of them.

Honestly, we just aren’t entirely sure what we will do next.
We know we will adopt.
We know we will adopt from Auggie’s country.
We just aren’t sure what that looks like quite yet.