What's In A Name?

Raina, of Spanish origin, pronounced RAY'-nah... meaning "peaceful, queen". Just thought you might be interested.

Changes

Well, it's been over 6 months since I've updated the blog. I must admit that these past 6 months have been filled with a whole lot of nothing. And it's been somewhat painful and depressing to have absolutely zero to report. It's hard to blog about nothing... I'm not Seinfeld. But, at the same time, something quiet has been stirring in us. Something good. God has had an amazing way of drawing us closer to where we believe He wants us to go. Last August, we filled out our Special Needs paperwork with Bethany, and then promptly waited for an immediate call. As the days fell off the calendar, we felt our time was nearing. As the weeks fell off the calendar, we became more discouraged. As the months fell off the calendar... yeah, you get the picture. Yet, all the while, we could sense that the Lord was doing a work within our hearts - within our lives. He has been preparing us for changes. What those changes are, we still don't know yet. But one thing is certain... He will be glorified. Through whatever means He deems necessary, He will definitely be praised. And if there's one thing the adoption process has taught us, it's that we are NEVER in control of it. The waiting is excruciating. And just when I think He's taken me to my limits, He surprises me with even more. So we were moved to revisit our paperwork. Now, I won't lie and say that we're not ready to be done with this. That we don't want the blessing that we've been so eagerly looking forward to. But EVERY delay, EVERY path, EVERY tunnel, EVERY turn, EVERY detour has been secretly leading us towards Raina. See, we don't believe that there are a bunch of Rainas out there... that she could be just one of many. We have come to believe that there is only ONE Raina. And every "what if", or "could've been" just wasn't her. She waits too. For the ONE family that she's been created for. We stand in confidence on this truth. God has ultimately led us to open our hearts up even further than we could have imagined. This won't be easy. But who ever said it would be? I've always been of the opinion that when you get lost going somewhere, there's always gotta be another way. But sometimes, there's only ONE way to get to where you need to go. And you gotta take THAT next exit... the one that says "Changes". It may be a place that you're not sure you wanna go... but it's the ONLY way there is. HE knows - I've just gotta let Him drive.