Today is the day, little boy. One year ago at this time we had just met. Waiting to meet you seemed endless but as soon as we laid eyes on you, it felt like time stood still.
Sara bravely handed you over with a proud smile on her face. I hugged her first, then I took you in my arms, mindful of the unconditional love two mothers shared for one little boy.
It was only a few minutes into our first meeting that you, in true fashion, initiated me as your mama by spewing the bottle Sara had just fed you all over yourself and my white pants. And so, with caseworkers, birth family, and a lawyer watching, it was my first call of duty to get you cleaned up and changed. Oh how we laughed!
You were so tiny. Still wearing preemie clothes and barely filling them out. You were wide-eyed and alert and seemed to be taking it all in, awake the entire time.
Then the lawyer came in to complete the paperwork and needed your name. We had debated for some time: Elijah, Noah, Evan, Canaan, Riley Cane. There was so much pressure! It was to be the name you had for the rest of your life and we just couldn't decide! One of the caseworkers held you up and kept calling out different names trying to get us to decide. We finally looked at each other and knew. You would be Elijah Riley.
Elijah was the first name daddy read in the bible after he'd accepted Christ. It was significant in that it was part of the reason he ended up at Liberty and how we met and ultimately how we become a family. It also means "The Lord is my God." I've prayed it everyday over you for 365 days now - when Jesus comes knocking on the door of your heart, you will answer and make Him the Lord your God. That you will grow up to live out the meaning of your name, serving and loving and following the Lord as your God. That whatever you do, say, become - you would live all your days unto the Lord your God.
Oh how you have blessed our lives, little boy. The verse at the top of this blog is truly our anthem - He has given us the desire of our hearts and we shout for joy, praising God for what He has done!
Happy Gotcha Day, Elijah!
Posts from May 31, 2008:
http://barnhousefamily.blogspot.com/2008/05/stopping-to-say-thank-you.html
http://barnhousefamily.blogspot.com/search/label/Gotcha%20Day
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