What's in a Name?

Names are a big deal around here. Scott and I are just sentimental like that, I guess. This whole time we've referred to him as "Wallace" (not his "real" name). We thought about keeping part of his birth name in his name but ultimately decided on a new name to go with his new life with us. Awhile back I wrote a song that was based on a verse from the book of Zephaniah in the Bible. Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Curious, I had looked up the meaning of Zephaniah here:

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Zephaniah.html

It means, "Stored By (For) Yah" or "Hidden away by God" (like a treasure).

To some people this little orphan is just one in an endless sea of millions. But to God he is much, much more. Before God laid the foundations of the Earth He had plans for the creation and life of this precious child. His worth, to God, cannot be measured. God has a history of taking situations that seem hopeless and giving hope. He takes what little faith we have and multiplies it. He takes our weakness and makes us strong. He is taking this little orphan and placing him with a family who will love and cherish him as their own. The journey has been long. Even before we board the plane - today we've hit turbulence. Plans have morphed, trials have started, spiritual warfare is in full-swing. Holding hands tightly we continue to step forward, each step closer to our son. We're coming, little "Zeph"! We love you! We want you! We lovingly await the day we can hold you in our arms! We know you will not understand at first and that you may fight love that you've never known before. But we will be patient. We will hold your hand. We will trust in God through the journey of being your parents.

Tomorrow we board the plane. Our plan is to name you "Zephaniah", dear little one.

But... just a disclaimer - Scott really wants to meet him first before it is for absolute "birth certificate certain". We will save the middle name and the "for sure" name for court day! This might be our last post for a little while. We'll try our best to update as technology allows.

Reece's Rainbow will allow donations towards the adoption expenses until we are back so please continue to share about our adoption. I MUST share this, too. This morning I got an e-mail about these two young ladies, Haylee and Naomi Adamson, who have been fund-raising for Wallace and another little girl "Masha". They are selling beautiful bracelets to benefit Wallace's adoption and necklaces to benefit Masha's. They deposited the amount they've raised thus far into our chip-in. If you have a moment please visit their blog:

http://laciesbracelets.blogspot.com/2011/08/help-us-help-wallace-come-home.html

Our hearts are so touched by their story (they started out raising funds for their own little sister's adoption) and what they are doing for orphans!

I'd type forever just to be thanking everyone who's come along side us so far and helped in so many different ways. I am in awe of how far we've come and trusting God (my ONLY option!) to get us through the rest of this journey.

God bless and keep you all!