What's In a Name?

It all started when I was pregnant with Jordan.  For months, while I was expecting, Jeff and I would email one another back and forth during the day with name ideas.  Names would drop off and others would be added; some would be starred as favorites and others would be made fun of.

Several months ago, while we were waiting for our referral, I resurrected this tradition.  We've had many, many email exchanges, actual conversations and considered lots of different names for our girl.

Before I share the name that we've decided on, let me explain more about our decision.

"Little Girl" ("LG" for short), as she was formerly known, obviously has an Ethiopian name that was given to her by her birth parent(s) and we want her to keep that, of course.  We actually LOVE her African name but we also know that there might be a time when she doesn't want to be so different.  (After all, there likely won't be any other Yenenesh's in her school).  And also because even though she's Ethiopian born, she's about to become a US citizen (both countries will forever be part of her heritage).  Because of this, it was our decision to give her an American first name and keep Yenenesh as her middle name.  As we've shared in the past, her Ethiopian name means, "good news" in Amharic (her native language).  With this in mind, one of the names that we were considering means "unexpected blessing" and we just didn't think that it got any better than that.

Soooo......

Halle Yenenesh Williams

it is.

We love it!

As a matter of a quick update, our Preliminary Hearing was held last Tuesday.  We haven't heard anything regarding the hearing and have been told that no news is good news in this regard  Typically, you would hear quickly if there was something missing or incorrect in your file so NOT hearing is a good thing.  It is our understanding that our file is lacking the final document from MOWCYA (Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs) and once that letter is received, we will be given a court date.  Our caseworker seems to think that we will get that call THIS week.  A fellow adoptive family with our agency (who actually lives nearby) whose PH was the same day as ours, got their call last Friday and flew out yesterday (Monday); talk about traveling on short notice!!!  We are preparing ourselves for an equally short notice and I began gathering and pre-packing today just in case......will keep you posted.

Getting Closer

Two and a half months ago we saw Yenenesh's face for the very first time ever.  And, since then, while we wait for courts to reopen in Ethiopia, we've managed (so far) not to go completely crazy.  

It helps that we've been SUPER busy.  

And that God is faithful to sustain us during a time when there's absolutely not one thing we could do to change our circumstances.  Short of moving to Africa, I guess.

But now, we find ourselves REALLY starting to feel the reality, excitement and anticipation of what's about to come.  

As I shared earlier, our Preliminary Hearing (PH) is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 22nd.  We do not appear for this portion of the process, but our agency's in-country director and a representative of Yenenesh's orphanage will proceed on our behalf.  

The very next thing to happen following this PH (assuming that everything goes well) is that we are given a court date and, because we do appear at this hearing, travel dates.

I polled some of my fellow adoptive families (on our Facebook page) about how quickly this portion of the process went for them and was pleasantly surprised that it can be pretty quick.  I also emailed our Lifeline lifeline (pun intended) and was told that once the hearing takes place, it can take 7-14 days for a court date to be scheduled.  HOWEVER, she also pointed out that (because of the court's closure), there will be no backlog of cases.  We should be/are one of the first families with cases being heard once court reopens.  She recommended that we be prepared to travel on short notice - YIKES!

It is so surreal to think about the fact that we are finally fast approaching that moment when we will meet our daughter face to face.  

Please pray for our PH which will take place on the 22nd.  Technically, because of the time difference, it will happen while we are sleeping on Monday night.  

Pray for Yenenesh.  With as many emotions as we are feeling/have felt, I can't even imagine what's going on in her little heart and mind.  Adoption is a beautiful thing but ALWAYS comes with great loss.  Out of respect for her story, I will just say that she has suffered much loss and soon, though she will gain a family, she will lose everything else in her life that she knows, including but not limited to her culture, her country, her language; the nannies who have loved and cared for her and the friends that she has made at the Transition Home where she now resides.  Nothing here will look the same, feel the same, taste the same, sound the same or smell the same.  We must not forget that.