A Vision Fulfilled!

Many of you have been asking me questions as to whether or not the vision we had in our mind of what this baby would look like was correct. I thought it was about time to answer that question. I have also had a few questions about the story behind her name that I would like to answer.

When we had our failed adoption back in March, I was devestated. For you see when I got the call about that baby and that we were chosen, I was told that child would be African American/Hispanic. I got chills knowing that only God could have fulfilled the vision we had of our child. Yet, a few short days later I found out that my African American/Hispanic girl was not a girl, but a boy. Nevertheless, after praying about it, we decided to continue on, trust God and work on figuring out a boy name! As most of you know, that adoption fell thru and I was so sad, yet at peace.

When we got the call about Xiomara, and that we were picked, the first thing running through my mind was, "Please be a girl, please be a girl". It wasn't that we didn't want a boy, it was just that we felt very certain that God had lead us to that vision of a little girl. In fact, I have a picture of a little girl that I cut out of a magazine years ago in which the little girl in the picture was the vision of the girl we were to adopt one day. I won't know until she is older if she looks the same or not, but even if she doesn't, it shows me how strongly God guided us in this process. So is she African American/Hispanic? No, she isn't, at least that we know of. I will be honest and tell you that I was a bit bummed about this at first. However, God showed me very clearly that it did not matter what her race was, but all that mattered was fulfilling His plan to adopt this little girl into our home.

Part of the vision in adopting a girl was the name that God had given us. Xiomara (pronounce See-o-mara) means "prepared for battle". It's such a strong name for such a little girl. Long before we started the adoption process, when we were first married, I was on an adoption message board and came across this name. I instantly fell in love and tucked it away in my mind. Name meanings are very important to us, along with using a unique name. As our adoption journey went on, and we battled to even adopt, it was made clear to us that should we adopt a girl, her name was to be Xiomara. When we first met her, there was no doubt that was/is the name God has given her. Her middle name is Marie after my middle name. I never wanted to use family names. However, God kept drawing us time and time again back to Marie as a middle name. We finally realized why when he showed us that she needed to know that she was now a part of who we are. That she was passed on a family name because we love her that much.

"I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." -Isaiah 49: 15-16

So yes, God has completed and fulfilled His vision for us and most of all for Xiomara. He did not forget her and nor did He forget us! It's pretty amazing that His final vision is greater and more complete than mine ever could have been!