There are many seasons in life. There are ups and there are downs. There are seasons of abundance and seasons of lean. There are times when our season takes us to the mountaintop, and there are also those times when we find ourselves in the cold, dark valley.
Ladies, I'm in one of those valley seasons right now. It's hard to post about this because I don't feel comfortable giving a lot of details. However, our family is in a season of trial right now.
And Brad and I feel worn out, exhausted, and emptied.
Parenting an adopted child, particularly a child that was adopted as a teenager is THE most difficult thing I have ever had to do so far in my life. We are attempting to cling to God, but, honestly, sometimes the situations seem overwhelming.
The stress of this all over the last 3+ years has left my health in a bit of shambles, and I'm afraid that Brad is not too far behind me.
Please pray for us?
I desperately miss a sense of normalcy. I miss peace. I miss calm. Am I wrong in missing those things? I don't know. I know that God doesn't call us to do easy things, but to do things that stretch us, cause us to cling to Him, and, ultimately, grow our faith.
But I miss something as small and mundane as getting on here and posting happy posts. But, honestly, right now I'm literally just doing what I need to keep pressing on, moment by moment of each day. We're in survival mode. As my husband said, "We're just getting by on life support."
I covet your prayers right now. We need peace. We need strength. We need wisdom and direction. We need a renewal. We need filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can endure and persevere.
14 comments:
OH Amber! Megan was 9 mos when we brought her home and we still see some scares from her life pre-adoption. Such as huge anxiety when things are different. It makes her separate issues rear their ugly head and it is hard on all of us. I can't even imagine the scares of one that was adopted as a teenager. Plus the fact that teenage years are sometimes just hard! Does your adoption agency offer any kind of post adoption services?
Praying for you, my friend. And no I don't think it is selfish to desire a simple, peaceful life. If everyone was honest I think that is what 99% of us all want and need. Praying for strength and peace for all of you!
I will be praying for you. I have ask for help in praying for thins and felt God closer to me. Prayers of other Christians is what gets us through the rough times. I have never adopted, but I do have a teenager of my own and know the struggle of that. It is not bad or wrong to long for peace. Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord of my Peace. He wants us to have that. I will be praying for you and your family.
Amber, I'll be praying for you all. I can't imagine how difficult it must be.
Praying for you and your family..If you can talk to someone that would help and maybe they could help some how...
Never give up, keep praying God is seeing you through this as you know..
hugs,
You definitely have my prayers. I am so sorry you are going through a hard time. I pray that it will get better soon and you will find some normalcy again.
There is so much power in prayer, thanks for asking...I will keep you in my list.
You WILL get through this.
God WILL help guide you all, and give you ALL the strength you need.
Hugs to you.
I cannot even pretend to imagine what you are dealing with right now, but I WILL pray, and will ask my children to do the same. (I believe there is extra power in children's prayers.) What you did, by adopting a child into your family and your home, ws a gift to our beloved Lord and I know he hasn't overlooked that. You gave one of his children a better chance at this life and even if he using this for soul growth right now, I have no doubt he is a merciful God and will acknowledge our prayers for your family. Stay strong my friend. ♥
I am going through a VERY challenging time in my life right now too....it seems my whole family especially me have huge health problems and it has affected our whole life. I too try to be strong and put all my faith in the Lord, but sometimes it is hard. I'm a SAHM mom to a 4 yr old little boy and it's so hard to take care of my family. You are not alone, I will pray for you and your family. God Bless You!
Jodi from OHIO
Hi Amber,
You know I will be praying for you. I have to say... I do completely understand... adopting teenagers was one of the hardest things we have ever done as well. We have had to pray for strength, grace, endurance and love to go on. That's what I will pray for you. I have felt as if I had lost a part of my life and family in the journey to help restore someone else's life. I have learned to hold onto and even take back what belongs to me in Jesus. For a season, life seemed out of control, and those normal things you spoke of
missing seemed to have been robbed from us also. So much rejection at work in the lives of these children has a tendency to be spilled into your lives to such an extent that you are now wounded also. I have come to peace with the knowledge that I can't restore what what was broken in my children, but we have intervened, and provided a platform for the Lord to change the course of their lives. I have been learning to reclaim my own wholeness. We are truly stronger people these 8 years later. The Lord has done a work in us through it all. Be blessed Amber, you guys are gonna make through.
Much Love,
Pam
You are fighting a good fight. I know you desire peace and peace will come. You and you family always have my prayers.
Amber, being a mom--a stay at home mom especially--can be very isolating. I have NO idea what it is like having an adopted teenage son, and I will not pretend to know anything about it. But that said...
Sometimes you just need to feel validated, for your emotions (or at least, that's been my experience). Sometimes you feel SO alone in your struggles, that it can be suffocating. And very lonely.
You don't know me well, but I just want to throw it out there...I have a lot of darkness in my life. A LOT of ugly that I wouldn't mind sharing with someone who is both unbiased, Christian, and understands the need for privacy themselves.
That's my way of saying, I don't know you THAT well as a blogger, but if you need someone unrelated to talk about the difficult issues with. I'm here. Casual blog friend, though I am! Sometimes I feel I could use a listening friend also. Forgive me if I sound presumptuous. Something about you and your blogging style has always made me feel like I can share my raw side with you. If you ever need to talk, privately, I'm here.
If nothing else, know you're not alone. You're a mom, an amazing wife, fighting a good fight. It is NOT easy!! You are amazing and beautiful! I hope you're well. Love your family :-)
Heather
If He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. You're in my thoughts and prayers, my friend.
Amber I have not visited in some time. I am sorry to hear this. I know being in a valley takes quite a toll on your health. I wonder if I will ever have happy posts. It is so good you are still creating. I am trying at a extra slow pace to get back into some creating. It is just so hard. I just exists from day to day. Your photos are so good. How wonderful the kids are cooking. They do make good cooks. I miss my son cooking for me. I miss every thing about him. I keep you and your families needs in prayer. I find I can believe and have more faith for others rather than for myself but hope that hearing others needs are met it will renew my own faith for myself. Lara
Hi Amber - it has been so long since I have had time to even read blogs I follow so I haven't seen your post till now. We have started fostering and have two brothers with us aged 3 and a baby of 11 months. I have also found losing peace and time very hard to adjust to so I know exactly how you are feeling. I take my hat off to you and Brad adopting a teenager - I honestly admire you so much and know that I couldn't do what you have done (it's hard enough with my own three teenagers in the home)and so I will keep you and your family in my prayers and trust that He will give you everything you need to walk the journey. You should be so proud of your kids - Ian is being a champion cooking and Lily helping too - that is all credit to you and Brad. Here's to your health going from strength to strength and if you ever need to vent my blogging door is always open. With love Caroline
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