Her name

We've recently announced to our families that we had decided on a name for our China girlie.  At one point we thought about keeping her name a secret until we received a referral, but we talk about her so much at home, the boys were bound to let it slip.  By telling people ahead of time, they can also pray for her by name. 

Her name will be Ava Ruthanne.  We will also include some portion of her given Chinese name to incorporate her birth heritage.  We choose Ava because it continues the "v" theme in our children's names.  The "v" theme just kind-of happened without any real reason when picking the boys names.  With Ava, we wanted her to feel included with her name, and continue the "v" theme.  Ava also has a beautiful meaning; "Filled with Life and Praise."  We want her to celebrate her life even though it means she has suffered loss.   We pray that her life will also be filled with praise and thanksgiving for all the the Lord has provided.  The bible verse associated with her name is " Praise the Lord.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever"  Ps 106:1.

Ruthanne is a combination of my maternal grandmother's first name and the middle name of Jeremy's Great Aunt Ethel who was like a grandmother to him.  It was so special to get to tell my grandmother, who is 92, that her newest great grandchild will carry on her name.  She responded "I'm honored."  Ruthanne means companion and faithful.  The scripture verse is so meaningful:  "Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments"  Ps. 119:73.   We pray that Ava will know and understand that the Lord formed her, knows every hair on her head, and has chosen to place her in our family.  We are so humbled and grateful.  We pray that she understands and believes how special she is in the eyes of the Lord and to us. 

We have completed our homestudy visits, and now wait about 1 month for the writing of the home study to be completed and processed.  We are hoping that the homestudy will be in the hands of our placing agency, Lifeline Children's Services, by the middle of August.  Then we will work on our dossier, which includes the homestudy plus some other paperwork, which gets translated and sent to China.  Once the dossier is in China, we will be logged in.  Then we will be eligible to receive a referral. We know the Lord has chosen just the perfect child for us so we rest and wait upon His timing.  But we can't wait to see the face that goes with this name!!!