What's in a name and Falling in love

I love the rich meaning and significance that is often given to the names of people in the Bible. Names were used as both curses and blessings. And many names were prophetic...a parent's prayer for the future of their child. As I chose Matani's name, my decision was based largely on it's meaning: "The one who steals from death." "The one who saves."

When I began the adoption process again in February of this year, I immediately began praying about and considering what name to give my new daughter. As I prayed, I felt the Lord speaking to me about the name which I believe He has chosen for her: Mikaiya. It means "Who is like God?" (literally: "Who is like Yahweh?"). Her birth name (which I can't share publicly until the court proceedings are finalized and she's officially a Heller) means "full of grace" and will remain as her middle name.

This means that when hers and Mati's full names are combined, the meaning will be: "Who is like God? The One who is full of grace; the One who steals from death and brings forth life."

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Have you ever experienced the puzzling and wondrous sensation of falling in love with someone you've never even met? I imagine that all of you who have had children, whether biologically or adopted, have experienced this phenomenon. I remember pondering this over and over again during Matani's adoption, and now I find myself experiencing it again. My heart is full of love for this precious little 4 year old, and I ache for her to be "mine" and to be able to wrap my arms around her. I see this love for her sprouting in the rest of our family as well.

My sister-in-law told me that a few nights ago, my precious 4 year old niece was praying for her newest cousin before going to bed. Without any prompting from her parents, she prayed that God would take care of Mikaiya, give her lots of food, and that He would heal her heart. I think my niece must comprehend the pain and brokenness that would come from being left without a family at her age. The Lord has given her a heart of compassion for this little girl her own age whom she's never met, yet will soon be related to her. Yes, Lord...heal my daughter's heart.

I have a picture of Mikaiya framed and hanging above the bed that will be hers in the room she will share with Matani. Several times a day I will help Mati climb up on the bed so she can look at her sister and practice saying her name. Tonight before getting into her own bed, she climbed up to look at her sister's face again. As she stood there, she put her hand on the glass and said, "Awwww...", then leaned forward and kissed Mikaiya's face. Yes, Lord...bond these two girls together as sisters.

So yes, the Heller family is falling in love. Please continue to pray for the process to go quickly and smoothly. Specifically, I ask that you would pray that Mikaiya is able to come home by Christmas of this year. I have no way of knowing if that's within the realm of natural possibilities, but I do know that it's within the reach of our All-powerful God. And who is like Him, after all?