A NAME: PART TWO

And now, THE RRRREST OF THE STORY!!(see, it wasn't that long of a wait!)  You now know where and why I have named my kids Chrissy, Casey and Cole. My other 4 kiddos came already named(ha!) when they and their dad came into our lives almost 10 yrs. ago. Jayla, Jocelyn, Kobie and Rylie. It's really probably a good thing that their names didn't begin with a "C" or I really would get all their names confused!! But anyway, on with the story:

Since I came across Reece's Rainbow, there have been several kiddos that grabbed ahold of my heart instantly. Maybe you know what I'm talking about. That  "connection" that just moves you to tears. You see many faces but you go back to these same kids everyday, sometimes several times a day, because you are drawn to them. There is just something there. Can't explain it. It's just there. The first little boy that caught my eye, reached thru the computer and grabbed me, was Aaron. This was when I first learned of RR and began to follow this ministry. Not long after this, I learned that Aaron had a family coming for him. Wow I thought. What a lucky family. Then I found out who they were and I began to follow their journey to Aaron. I was already on a journey of my own. I just didn't know the destination yet. But as I followed them and became more aware and involved with RR, it became very clear that THIS was the destination and I prayed that I could somehow play a small part in helping some of these precious kiddos.  It was Aaron's mom Julia, who introduced me to the next little fellow who would steal my heart and eventually give my next son his name.
Gavin.......sweet, precious, Gavin. (RR gives each child a "screen" name instead of using their real names to protect their idenity.)

Gavin was needing a family and soon. You can read the post Julia wrote about him here. Oh how my heart ached for this little boy. He was facing transfer anytime and I knew what that meant for him. I wanted so badly to be his mom. But I knew in my heart of hearts......that just wasn't going to happen........it just wasn't going to happen and besides, Gavin needed a family NOW and although MY heart was ready.......Rick's wasn't (ooohhhh but God had a plan!)

As these kids (alot of these kids) became a part of my life, Rick began to ask questions and look at some of the different kids I was following and advocating for. And guess who he began to ask about and follow himself?!  Yep..... Gavin.

Gavin and Brady.

He began to ask if I had any new news on them and  began to get my laptop at night and check on them himself. Them and others. But especially Gavin.

I'll always remember the night I learned that little Gavin had a family.

Rick was checking on him I guess and Julia had just posted that he did indeed have a family coming for him. Rick hollered out, "Gavin's being adopted!", and I hadn't seen it so I was like...."nooooo." And he said," Yeah! Him and Brady both!!"

I'm going to be honest.......for a split second, there was disappointment for me. I had still prayed that somehow, someway, Gavin would be my son. But, only for a second and then "thankful tears" began to fall. Both of these precious babies had families committ to them. Both of these kiddos now had a chance at life.

There was still much to be done and many mountains to be moved before they would be home, but it was a beginning.

It was also the beginning of a man's changed heart. I don't know exactly when it happened, but I know little Gavin played a part in it.

Rick's heart was slowly becoming God's heart for the orphan. The least of these. Those left behind. Those abandoned because they were different in the eyes of the world.

As I said, I don't know exactly when it happened but as Rick became more interested in the kids on Reeces Rainbow, we would sit on the couch at night and look at different ones and read some of the stories that went along with them. He had some kids that he was drawn to and I had some that I was drawn to but then there were afew that we BOTH kept going back to. Myron was one of them.

Remember Myron is his screen name with RR.

We kept looking and talking, praying and talking. And then praying some more! We were both very drawn to this little one and finally, Rick told me to call and see if he was still adoptable. I think I ran all the way to the phone!!

While we were waiting to see if Myron was still available to adopt, I was still keeping up with some other adoptions of RR kids and for sure I was watching to see about Gavin, who by the way had gotten a NEW NAME. His family had decided to name him Gabriel and call him GABE.

I loved the name immediately. I thought of the angel Gabriel and the messages he had carried from God to Zechariah and to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I then went and looked at my Myron. I looked at his sweet face over and over again for the next few days. Finally we got the word that he WAS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.

We committed to him right then. The next time I looked at his picture........I knew what this boy's new name would be.

We would name him GABRIEL and call him GABE. 

Because he was an angel who was already carrying messages from God and delivering them right here in our very own home.

And, after precious little Gavin, now Gabe.

Also an angel, that I believe God used, to carry his own little messages to Rick. Messages of love, surrender, courage, and trust.

In my kitchen window sill, I have two pictures. Two little boys. Two little orphans no more. Two GABE'S,  brought together with two families, by ONE AWESOME GOD.

And now you know......the rest of the story and where our newest member of the family got his name!

Please pray for Gabe House as he is in pretty bad shape. He is 6 yrs. old and weighs about 25 lbs. He has basically layed in a crib his whole life. They have so much ahead of them but are too so thankful for this opportunity. You can follow their story here.

And if you have time, please say a prayer for our Gabe and our court date to be issued soon. His mama needs him home. Thanks and God bless.

.

 

.