A rose by any other name...

Early in this adoption process, Todd and I said that we wanted our future daughter to have some input on her name...whether to keep her Chinese name or not, and if so, whether to use it as her first or middle name.

Then we found our daughter.  Her name was Rissa in the shared list.  We thought that was awesome sign because we have a daughter named Riza.  We learned that our daughter's Chinese name was Yuerong.

We waited on deciding about her name, hoping we would have some contact with her, but we didn't.  Finally it came time to fill out some official paperwork and we had to make a decision.  After prayer and discussion, we decided to keep her first name as Yuerong and add Hope as her middle name.  She has been called Yuerong for a long time, so we wanted to keep something familiar.  We weren't sure how to pronounce her name :) but we were willing to call her by her first or middle name.

Then we got an e-mail from her.  She asked us if we had decided on her name.  She wanted to know if she would be able to choose her name.  She asked if her name could be Davina.

When I read the e-mail, I sat in wonder with so many emotions.  Glad to hear from our daughter.  Happy that she felt comfortable to ask.  Curious about why she chose that name.  So we asked.

This is the response we received:

"she knew the name meant 'to be loved'"

Wow.

So our sweet, beautiful daughter, who is deeply loved already, will be named Davina.  And we will be finally able to love her, hug her, and begin to know her in 5 days.  5 days. 

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!  1 John 3:1

Crazy Love or Just Plain Crazy?

Reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan challenged me to consider the amazing love God has demonstrated toward me.  The evidence of His love is everywhere.  It is overwhelming.  It is comforting.

It is also convicting.

If God loves me that much, what should my response be?  To love Him.  And God's love toward me was demonstrated through action.  He sent His only Son to die for my sins so that my relationship with Him could be restored.  My only conclusion is that my love for God should also be demonstrated through action.

Through prayer and wise counsel, Todd and I are leaping out in faith that the action that God wants from us at this time is for us to adopt another child.

Todd and I have talked about adoption and I think we always sensed we would adopt again...some day.

But not now.  It doesn't make sense.  It's crazy.

Probably my biggest struggle is this:  I love our family.  My girls get along...mostly.  We love to be together.  We are not perfect, but we love each other.  Our home is generally a happy place.

There are many, many, children who need to be in a home like ours.

But what if by bringing a teenager into our home, it is not a happy place anymore?  

We know from experience that there will be struggles with bonding, transitions, and grieving.  There will be heartache and stress.

There will be difficult times ahead.  Do we voluntarily take this on?

We have asked A LOT of people if we are crazy.  

All but one said, "No."  

One said, "Yes, but the good kind.  You have to be a little crazy to undertake this."

So, here we go.  

Trying our best, in some small way, to reflect God's crazy love that He poured out on us.

Desiring to please God more than maintain our comfort. 

Trusting that He will guide us through the joy and sorrow that this journey will bring.