What's In A Name Part Two

Now then, where was I? Oh yes I was saying that even though I had this experience about Susan I wasn't going to share it with Mark because the timing wasn't right. If it was meant to be then it would be. Well Liam's adoption day came, 20 days after my Easter Sunday experience and even though I was still constantly thinking about Susan I wanted to enjoy Liam's special time becoming an official member of our forever family. As much as I wanted to discuss the matter with Mark and take her name to the temple to give me/us more clarity, I knew that I just needed to enjoy being in the temple with Liam and my family. That day, April 27th was so wonderful! Busy too! We had the court ceremony in the morning, the temple ceremony in the afternoon and a party that night at our home. Once the festivities were over and we were getting ready for bed, Mark said that he had something for me. He handed me a box and it was a Willow Tree figurine "Child of My Heart". I had hinted that I wanted this figurine to represent Liam's adoption. I have many others that are significant to other events in my life and that represent my other children. So I was touched by that gesture alone, that he listened and got it for me. I was really tired and even said, "I'm not going to take her out of the box because I know what she looks like. I'll just wait until tomorrow." But Mark said to me, "You're going to want to open it." I opened the box and inside was a note with the Reece's Rainbow header that read, "OK Let's do it!" Once again I was in shock. Was he serious? "Are you serious?" We just adopted our 4th child and now he's on board for a 5th? I seriously froze and had no idea what to say or what to do. I had only prayed that this moment would happen. My prayers were heard and answered. The Lord had prepared Mark's heart for this moment just as he had prepared mine. God's love and timing amazes me!

All I could do was hug him and say thank you! At that time he said, "I don't know who, I haven't had a chance to really look but I am ready to do it." I said, "I know who" and then I was able to tell him of my "Consider the Lilies" experience. Another week and a half went by as Mark and I prayed and pondered about our decision. Luckily Susan was still available and after 1 month of her being listed with Reece's Rainbow we committed to her on May 7, 2012. It was meant to be. Many prayers were answered that night of April 27th. What a special day in many ways! I adopted the "Child of My Heart" and knew that another "Child of My Heart" was waiting and would soon become mine. Susan is the one who we were meant to consider and soon our "Lily" will have a chance to blossom and bloom! (This is the personal touch to the Bloom necklaces, the fact that Susan means the flower Lily and that she will soon bloom.) There is no doubt about it, we have been led by His love and it was all in her name!

I have always loved the song Consider the Lilies and it will forever remind me of my Grandpa John. And now it has even more significance. The scripture alone is about God's love and how He will take care of us if we trust Him. "O ye of little faith?" "for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:28-33

Lyrics to Consider the Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field,
How they grow, how they grow.
Consider the birds in the sky,
How they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sheep of His fold,
How they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains,
He knows the meadows where they feed.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky,
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.

He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.