What's in a name?

I've spent a lot of time the past few weeks tossing around the idea of starting a new blog dedicated just to our adoption journey. Once we decided that "yes" this was a good idea we then had to come up with a name. Rock and I brainstormed some names, the kids threw in a few ideas but I just couldn't settle on anything. Mostly because all the titles that we talked about used the name Henry. I was having a hard time with this. My heart was protecting this name and everything it represented. When we first found out Sam was a boy we searched through the name books and compiled our list of boy names. Like many couples we started out with a fairly good list and then slowly whittled them down to our favorites. On that final list was Samuel, Noah and Henry. We loved all three but eventually had to choose one....the outcome obvious. As we added to our family Henry remained the only boy name on our list. So each time we would visit the ultrasound room to find out the gender of our next love we would leave with little Henry tucked in our back pocket for the next baby. There was Maggie, then Amelia and then of course our little Josephine but no Henry. On one hand it seems such a trivial thing...it's just a name, but to this mommy's heart it is so much more. It is a name that represents someone missing in our family. Ever have that feeling that not everyone is here at the table? Ever start to shush your kiddos for fear they're going to wake the sleeping baby....only to realize all your kids are awake? Ever leave the house feeling like you're leaving someone behind? Okay, okay I know these could be the thoughts of any mama with four kiddos running every which way but I know deep down this mama has room for another in her heart....and not just room but a deep longing. It really feels like we are missing someone at our table and it has nothing to do with being content with our present family. We are so blessed by our four monkeys and I truly believed we were full....God had filled our home and we were done. But His plans are bigger and they are certainly better and I believe there is a Henry that is created just for our hearts and our home. Instead of being fearful and anxious and protecting myself I will embrace the name.....embrace the dream of our son. He knows the plans...to prosper us, not to hurt us, to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We will put our faith in Him and follow and dream of the day we bring our son home.

Thank you for joining this journey with us. Your prayers and your encouragement are deeply appreciated and we promise to stay faithful  keeping you updated on our story.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen  
                             Ephesians 3:20