Beautiful

Go here and read this story. This is where I want to go this summer. I'm praying God opens the doors for us if it is HIS will.

http://newdayfosterhome.blogspot.com/2009/04/uncle-adam.html

I never want to forget this post, so I am posting the link here so I can find it when I need to read it.

Oh, that God would use us to be His hands and feet and arms that wrap in hugs, the orphans of this world. Use us Father so that others may know You.


http://jacobandcarrie.blogspot.com/2009/05/glimmers-of-joy-and-signs-of-hope.html

Some of My Favorites

Recently I read some beautiful picture books about adoption. I wanted to share my favorite.

International Adoption

I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose Lewis
Star of the Week by Darlene Friedman
The Red Thread by Grace Lin
Ten Days and Nine Nights by Yumi Heo
Made in China by Vanita Oelschlager

Domestic Adoption

Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis

New Name

I renamed the blog....for two reasons. First, obviously...we have chosen a name for our sweet girl and I wanted the blog to reflect that. Second, because of something I learned today that I wanted to be a part of this blog as well.

I was browsing, as usual, on New Day's blog and noticed, not for the first time, that at the end of each post there is a picture of a red thread. I couldn't stand it anymore, I knew it had to mean something and I wanted to know what, so I emailed Carrie who answered back very speedily. Here is what I found out...

"The red cord is an allusion to the following red thread legend:
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,
regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle,
but it will never break."
- an ancient Chinese legend"

I thought this might be unique to New Day, thus the e-mail to Carrie. If I'd know its enormity I would have realized a Google search would have satisfied my wondering mind. As it turns out, after some research into it, I found that the Chinese Legend does refer to the red thread, however, it is really about soul mates meeting. The reference was connected to China and adoption by a waiting momma who was inspired by the legend and what it meant not only to man and woman, but people in general. Very appropriate, I think!!!

So, to all who are committed to following our journey to Hadlee, know that we are so thankful for the part you will play in our "Red Thread." We covet your prayers and value your friendship.

She has a Name!!!!

I am so excited to write this post. It has been a long time coming. Much thought has gone into choosing a name for our sweet little girl. Now, it is decided and I get to share it.

I am really big on the meaning of names. Both of our other children have a biblical name and a family name. So, I really wanted to do the same with this baby. So, here is the name we have chosen for our sweet baby girl. Explanation will follow.

Hadlee Ruth

I got up this morning and just prayed in frustration that God would give us the perfect name for our little girl. We'd chosen this name, but I was wavering. I liked what some other names meant as well. So, our BIG God, in His own loving way, cared about the relatively small detail in this world and in really short order (only one day) gave us the perfect name for the baby with great confirmation.

Hadlee came to me from 2 names. In the Bible, Esther's Hebrew name is Hadassah. Lee is J's mom and sister's middle name. He knew he wanted to name her after his mother and sister. Lee is also my mother's middle name, so it kinda works in a number of ways. Hadassah Lee was thrown around knowing that we would call her Hadlee anyway. Until the day I mentioned to J that her name would have a curse word in it. Maybe that is so silly to others, but either way, we decided against it, not to mention that teachers would always call her Hadassah before Hadlee, and what 13 year old girl really needs any more trouble with teasing?

So, Hadlee comes from Hadassah (Queen Esther) and Lee. J does not count this as naming her after his mom and sister since it is combined in another name, but I do. What clinched the deal for us tonight (confirmation from God) is that we looked over the meaning of the name one more time. I didn't catch it the first 100 times I looked at it, but J caught it immediately tonight and with a huge smile on his face, he proclaimed, "This is it, this is her name!" The inherent meaning of Hadlee is "From the Field of Heather." Heather is J's sister's name. So, Hadlee is named in more than one way, after her Aunt Heather, and also after her Grandmother, and her Nana.

Ruth is my grandmother's name. My Nanny has been the only really involved grandparent I've ever had until I married J and now have his wonderful grandparents as well. I've always wanted to name my first little girl after her, and J has honored me with this request.

So, Miss Hadlee Ruth, you have some BIG shoes to fill sweet girl. May you trust in God, our Father, the way Hadassah (Queen Esther)did. May you pray for your family the way Nanny did, may you love fiercly the way your Grandmother and Nana do, and may you be a strong, beautiful woman like your Aunt Heather. No matter what, I pray that you would be the most beautiful YOU and follow in Holy Father's footsteps NO MATTER WHAT all the days of your life. I already love you so, sweet girl. I can't wait to meet you.
Love,
YOUR MOMMA