[Linny]

I forgot to add this on the other board. You asked about 'what do you do when you fall in love with a child's photo, etc.'

This has happened to a lot of us.....and it happened to me...twice. Once was with a sib group that we had such a great chance of 'getting'....and it fell through. The other was a little girl who was being treated in the hospital and when I inquired about her (photo was on the internet under system kids).......the caseworker was very thrilled to talk to me and told me he liked my attitude for this little girl. Said that I was unlike the other people who had called about her.

I was so thrilled to think about having her in our home, and I wanted to go to the hospital (way out of state)....just to stay by her side!!!!! UNTIL.........I was told of a condition she had that was inoperable, very, very serious, and would require many ongoing surgeries and therapies. I knew then......and I HATED to hear that she had this condition.....that with the children I already had, there was no way we could devote the time needed for her treatments. And, the eventuality that she would very likely live a very fragile life with many complications. Ones that I knew would not be 'cured' and forever be there.

If she had been the only child we would have had in our home, it might have been different. However, I knew this was the sign that we could never have this little one. It was hard to accept. I talked to God about it. I decided that she would be a little one that I COULD pray for and hope that the 'right parents' would come along and adopt her.

And......if this child is not meant to be....then I suggest that you do the same? Maybe, if he's not meant to be yours (and he is lovely)....then you are meant to pray for him and the parents he will have.

Sincerely,


Linny