Dear Friend,
As I write today, I’m siting in my cozy home with African rain pouring down outside. But even the sound of heavy rain on the roof can’t silence the hum of children laughing and playing from nearby neighbor-homes. In Southern Uganda March is rainy season and in our village with it comes muddy madness. You may think, “Where in the world is Uganda anyways?” and well, that’s a great question. Uganda is a small country East Africa where I currently live and work for a nonprofit organization. You see I live a fairly unconventional life in some people’s eyes and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
When I was only 19, I moved to Uganda to start an organization that is passionately fighting childhood malnutrition, and working to end world hunger. Years later, I am still here, plus one…
Over 8 years ago I began fostering a baby girl who was brought to my gate, and I quickly determined that she and I were meant to be family. She is now 8 years old and a bombing ball of energy. She is lively and loves to laugh! In part, her deep desire for a sister is what pushed me to follow my heart-pull and begin the adoption process this year. Ever since I adopted my daughter, Selah Grace so many years ago I have longed to add to our family again though adoption and we could not be more excited to finally be on this journey.
A little bit about us:
Selah is 8 years old and in 3rd grade, she attends a small international school not far from our home. She loves to cook, play school with her friends and eat ice cream. She loves animals and hopes that I will let her get a puppy soon—the jury is still out on that one, but we did recently rescue a baby camel so that is holding her at bay for the moment! Her first language was not English; though it’s my only language, she is tri-lingual and wants to one day speak “all the languages”.
For the last 3 years on her birthday when asked what she wanted she has answered with a resounding and confidant, “I want a little sister!!!” She has been saving her pennies and telling people every Christmas for years that she wants a sister, so to say that she is ready to take on big-sisterhood is an understatement.
I became a single Mom when I was 20 to the most amazing kid in the world and we have been doing life together ever since! I work as a Programs Director for non-profit, which has been my life-calling ever since I was rather young. My work looks different everyday, which is exciting and always keeps me on my toes. I am a homebody by nature, but ironically, I love to travel and would always choose to spend my free time on a tropical beach somewhere, watching Selah play with starfish. I come from a family of 5 siblings and we are all still close as adults, so having time with them is always a priority when we visit the US (once or twice a year).
We love to travel together to far off places, Selah started traveling the world when she was just 1 year old and she hasn’t stopped yet, I pray she never lets go of her fierce desire to explore her world! That is my wish for all of my future children! That they would live life to the fullest, seek adventure, be bold always, love loudly and serve their world with passionately.
I want you to know that in our home, we speak of Selah’s bio-mom fondly. And we speak of her often. When my daughter was little we would talk about her biological mother as her “tummy-mommy” because I wanted her to know, even before she could speak or sit, that she had another Mother who was extremely brave and courageous, who loved her so much that she wanted her to be healthy and loved, so much so, that she chose to let her go. The same applies if you choose to place your child in our home; I want her to know that she is chosen by me, but I equally desire her to know that there is another woman connected to her. A woman who loves her fiercely. A woman who is undeniably a part of who she is. A woman who literally shares her DNA. Another woman called Mother. And one day, I hope she realizes the great sacrifice that was made for her life.
You, my friend, are a brave and courageous woman; you are making a sacrifice that I cannot fathom by loving the little human within you to life! You are a hero.
With deep respect,
Renee and Selah Grace
