After my post yesterday, I realized that there is more to say as we embark on this journey.  Allow me to answer a few questions:
When we identify some members of Leah's biological family {yes, I am hopeful}, I want to meet them.  I want hug them.  I want to understand the circumstances of Leah's abandonment.  I want Leah to meet them, if it's appropriate. But Leah is not going back to live with them.  Her adoption is final both in Uganda and in the United States.  When we find the family, Lord willing, our family will expand in size and our hearts will explode with love for an extended Uganda family of our very own.  Yay!  There are many open questions in this regard and we are proceeding with caution; I am hopeful that this adventure will be a beautiful and healing process on both sides of the ocean.  
I was also asked what my blog post means more globally.  Do I support International adoption?  Do I think that every family who has adopted Internationally should be tracing the backgrounds of their children?  What does it all mean?  The short answer is I don't know.  I'm on a journey through this life and trying to find my way, just like all of us.  But there is more to say.
I am deeply concerned about the state of International adoption.  While my heart will always ache for true orphans {with no biological parents} who have no extended family to care for them, I do think that the number of children who fall into that category is significantly smaller than the extraordinary numbers that we hear about in our Christian communities.  In the vast majority of cases, children have extended family who love them and want them.  Special needs or not.  Check out this story:  http://ekisablog.org/2014/01/14/13-stories-from-2013-amys-home/  I believe that International adoption may need to close in order to put appropriate checks and balances in place to ensure that no more children are trafficked.  It goes back to this for me:  would I be willing to sacrifice my {wanted, loved, adored} child to adoption so other truly needy children could be adopted?  No, I would not.  That's what we are asking some percentage of mother's to do when we continue to use a system full of corruption.  But that doesn't solve the problem for children who are truly in need and this is where my thinking continues to develop.  This is hard, hard stuff.
I think it is very important that our children know their roots.  I can't imagine not knowing my biology. My parents.  The mother who carried me for nine months and labored over me.  My home town.  My home.  This is why I search.  For Leah.  Seth knows about his birth family and, Lord willing, will spend more time with them as he grows up.  We also have details about Zechariah's birth family.  But Leah?  Nothing.  I have watched as my Christian sisters have searched with success for birth families in Ethiopia.  I've seen them develop relationships born out of loss and tragedy that have grown into something beautiful for their children.  I want this for Leah and, ultimately, for all children who were adopted.  Does that mean I'm all judgmental and upset with people who chose not to search for families?  No, of course not.  The world of International adoption and biological families is far too complicated for me to take such a wrongly glorified position.  I am merely sharing my story in hopes that others will consider what's right for them and their families.  That is all.
Last, we covet your prayers.  I am aware of some files of children who were Internationally adopted that contain the name and contact information for the birth family.  Leah's file does not fall into that category.  It is going to take more than one miracle to identify her family, and I am praying for success!  
I will continue to post as the investigation develops.  Thanks so much for your support and love!   [Image]