A NAME - Part One

What's in a name??? I think that question has lots of answers! From nothing to everything and all in between. Why do we give our kids the names we give them? Again.....lots of different reasons. With my first born, it was just because I liked the way all three names flowed together, Chrissy Lyn Lawrence and the first name was close to her dads, so that worked out good. Her middle name, I spelled with only one n because it was different and sometimes I just like to do things different!! Then came our second, a boy. I liked the name Casey and wanted a biblical middle name, so we went with Joseph, and there you have it....Casey Joe. I always knew I wanted more kiddos and since my first 2 had names that began with a "C", I wanted the next one to also. Long before Cole came into the picture, I was pretty sure if I did adopt again, my next little boy would have the name Cole, simply because I liked it, and it began with a C!. BUT, his first name........now that's a different story all together. Of course I like Samuel, but I didn't name him this just because I liked it. I named him this because it is fitting. He is a "Samuel."  "I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him" 1Samuel 1:27       Many times in the beginning of Cole's adoption, I questioned if I was hearing God correctly.  I just couldn't believe He would want to use someone like me, even though I had prayed and prayed that He would. I didn't feel worthy then, just as I don't now, but because He is a God of mercy and grace, and because He wants the very best for us....... He continued to call my name, to stir my heart, and shake me up until I knew without a doubt. I finally said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (another scripture from 1 Samuel)  And my life has never been the same! At some point in the beginning, after I knew this was where God was leading me, I was reading 1 Samuel 3:11. This is what it said. "And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle."  Now, I don't know if that means anything to you, but it was just more of God's revelation for me.  You see, when I was first told about adoption in Lithuania, I got goose bumps all over my body and I swear....I tingled from head to toe.  I was not familiar with this particular verse at the time, but when I "happened" upon it months later, it was just another WOW from the Lord.  So you see.....my little orphan boy from Lithuania could be no one but a Samuel!!

Now......that brings me to the whole reason for this post on names........but........I will tell you the rest of the story in PART TWO in couple of days! (i hate it when people do that!)

Last of apostilled papers are in route to New Jersey and from there to Gabes country. These are not needed to set a court date but at least they will be there for WHEN the day comes.

Don't forget to come back for THE REST OF THE STORY!!!!