The good news is that we finally have a definite travel date to go get our new son. The bad news is that 1) it’s still another two weeks out (July 24), which is completely shocking to everyone involved; 2) we won’t know our return date until the attorneys tell us we can leave, which could tack on another $600 for our plane tickets; and 3) ticket prices have increased dramatically during the time we’ve been waiting. We’ve done our best to estimate our stay there and planned a return date of July 31. In reality, though, we could end up staying until August 7, so we have to be prepared for two weeks of expenses instead of just one week. (For anyone wondering what happens to money donated for our son if the trip costs less than feared, it will remain in his TSC account and can still be used for any expenses related to his care after he comes home – medical co-pays, clothing, adoption finalization fees, etc.)

Thanks to the loving generosity and, in many cases, genuine sacrifice, of so many, we have been able to pay all of the required fees (in spite of the unpleasant news we shared in our last update!); book our hotel; assemble his bed, purchase his mattress and bedding and a few clothes, and choose a few toys and books that we feel will be helpful with the bonding process while we live in a hotel with him and wait for the green light to bring him back to Ohio. Thank you all so much for all that you have done to make this possible. (See pictures at the end of this post.)

But, in spite of these amazing things — and because of the things explained above — we still find ourselves about $3000 short of what we expect to need to actually get our new son home. As I said, we have booked the hotel, but we don’t have the money to book our flights. We are told that there are still three seats available for the flights we need, but we don’t have enough money left in his TSC account to purchase these tickets. In order to book those, we need an additional $500 immediately.

The remaining ~$2500 will be for the airline change-date fee since we don’t know our return date (which won’t be needed if we can actually leave on July 31), checked bag charges, and other travel expenses like car rental, food, etc. This remaining money will be needed by 7/24, when we leave. If you feel led to help with any of these remaining expenses, donation info will be below at the end of this post.

Lastly, we want to share one more thing with you. Every time Scott and I bring home a new child, we choose a special stuffed animal, and a song to be that child’s special song. We have chosen a stuffed lion for our new son (we can’t wait to share this son’s name — soon!), and we’ve chosen his song.

Andrew Peterson wrote this song and said that it is, “. . . kind of my exhortation to myself and whoever else out there might be struggling to believe that God can both know them completely and love them completely.”

Almost on a daily basis, Scott and I are struck anew by the ways in which the stories of our children’s adoptions mirror our relationship with God as our Father.

He sought us and sacrificed for us; He fights on our behalf every minute of every day; He sees our brokenness and our “uglies” that no one else ever sees; He loves us deeply, passionately, completely in spite of His full knowledge of how hard, unloving, and rebellious we can be; His love for us is not dependent on our love for Him or our behavior; and once we are adopted as His child, we are His forever.

We, as adoptive parents are called to seek our children, fight for them, and commit to them; to love them with the same kind of unconditional, never-ending, passionate love God has for us, regardless of how they treat us, how incapable they are of returning our love, or how many “uglies” are hiding inside of them. Please pray for the two of us as we try to fulfill this calling. It’s very hard sometimes, and not even possible through our own strength. God is faithful, though, and has promised to work through us in our weakness. Would you consider committing to pray for us on a regular basis? We aren’t afraid to confess openly that we need those prayers. We would be fools if we didn’t confess our inability to do this through our own strength.

This chosen song is from the album titled, “Light for the Lost Boy.” What could be more perfect for our new son’s very special song? These lyrics express the love that we already feel for him, even as we wrestle with our fears about what’s waiting for us on this new journey.

You are not alone
I will always be with you
Even to the end

You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy

Do not be afraid
Nothing, nothing in the world
Can come between us now

The Shepherd’s Crook has so many children in this same situation, waiting for new families. In fact as I was typing this update, we got an email from another family who is looking for a new home for their 6-year-old daughter. This grieves us so much. There are so many factors that go into the heartbreaking reality of failed adoptions, and I’m not going to go into those things here. But we do want you to celebrate with us that there is now one fewer of these little ones lost out there; that our son is no longer waiting for his family. And you have been a part of that! Thank you!

((Scroll on down for photos))

As always, if you feel led to help in the adoption of this already-cherished son, the donation info as follows:

HOW TO DONATE TO OUR SON’S ADOPTION

donate online here

or

mail a check to:

The Shepherd’s Crook Orphan Ministry
P.O. Box 773
West Chester, OH 45071

Either way, be sure you designate that the donation is for “Marcus Rosenow”

New Lion waiting for our little guy

Some of the kids helping Scott put together this bed, which was a gift for our new son

Lots of siblings preparing for their new little brother

Done and waiting for him