Church!
First of all, Ashley and I want to sincerely thank you for lifting us up in prayer on Sunday morning — and continuously. Knowing that our church family is praying for us means more than we can adequately express. We are surrounded by your love, encouragement, and God’s presence in a very real way.
Your prayers are a powerful reminder that we are not walking this journey alone. We are not the only ones going through the heartaches AND joys of fostering, and for that we join you in prayer for the others who are.
For those newer to The River, please know we recognize our story is only sort of unique in that we (have) battled infertility for years and cannot have biological children of our own. After all the tests, procedures, failed opportunities, and an adoption match that ended with the baby passing away five hours after he was born, it all nearly ended us. Not our marriage or our faith, but our emotional and mental states. So many why’s. Such crippling doubt.
But we kept going, hoping and believing that God would allow us to be parents. So in 2024, we prayed about and started the foster (to adopt) journey. “God please bring the perfect baby to us. Please let us be parents” we prayed. We were very selective and even said no to eight foster children that didn’t appear to be adoptable. In February last year, we said yes to a 10 day old baby girl who looked to need us as much as we needed her. And three weeks later, we said yes to a similar four day old baby boy. TWO babies — Yes, perfect. Thank you, Father!
Tomorrow, the baby girl, whom we love as our very own —after almost a year with us— will be returned to her birthmother. We are crushed. Broken. We can never replace her side-eye giggles, her precious little cries, the bouncy raised-hands squeals when one of us walks in the room, or the way she rests her head on our shoulders. We’ve done all we can do. It’s the greatest loss either of us have ever experienced in our lives.
But we are not without hope. We still have the sweetest boy whom we also love as our very own. And maybe we will get to adopt him. Oh God please. We are clinging to your promises.
We are deeply grateful for your kindness, faithfulness, and support, and we count it the greatest of joys, the greatest in 30+ years of ministry, to be part of such a caring and compassionate church family. Thank you for crawling in this foxhole with us, and for continuing to keep us in your prayers. We love you and thank God for you all more than words can say.
Pastor Brent and Ashley Warren