While waiting...

Yes....we leave in just a few days and YES....I'm about to have a nervous breakdown. Ha!!! Seriously, I haven't packed a thing yet. Mainly because I'm never home TO pack anything. This is just a brief account of how we've spent our time lately.....

-- I've spent some quality time with this little man...who's becoming quite fond of baseball. This is the first year of kid-pitch so it's gotten more challenging for everyone. He's already taken a few licks by the ball while batting :(. BUT...he also got his first GAME BALL ....and his daddy was soooooo proud!!!! (so was I)!!






We went home to visit and enjoyed some time in the country with daddy and nancy....always a favorite place of my boys (and me). I love getting away from the busyness of where we live and soaking up the sunshine and peace and quiet of the country. We even enjoyed a little fishing.






Kevin and I enjoyed a very rare date night while the boys were enjoying "movie night" at our church. It was so nice to enjoy a great dinner and conversation with my favorite person in the world :)




I squeezed in another 5k and it was super special because I did it to encourage my precious sister-in-law as she ran HER first ever 5k. It was such a fun time for us both, and I look forward to running another race with her soon!! I love to run...and I sure hope I can figure out how to work it out to still be able to when we come home with lane.



Nobody but me looks this dorky when they run.....Why is my head all janked up and to the side??




I've also been LOVIN' on this spoiled baby.....who will miss her mama while I'm gone to china!!!!




I've also been decorating my baby girl's room....which I hope to share with you very soon. Thanks for checking in on us!!!!


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The story of her name

We like to use family names for our children. I don't know if that's just a southern thing, or an everybody thing, or just a Kevin and Demetria thing. Naming a child after someone in your family is ...to me....a way of honoring that person. It's also an outward expression of thanks and hope that the child will develop/possess some of the named-after person's good qualities/characteristics. We named our first son using Kevin's middle name, and they even have the same initials. Next came Russ, and he is named for both my grandfathers.

On to the story of Lane's name. When we were still praying/talking this over, we would go back and forth...day to day...like you often do with a major lifechanging decision. One day we were YES...let's move forward...and then the next day...WAIT...this is scary and uncharted territory!!! I'll never forget the day I was talking it over with God....OUT LOUD...IN THE CAR....and I jokingly said we can't do this...I don't even have a name for her. See, it was no surprise to God that it'd have to be a family name....and the one person I definitely would want to name her after would be my precious granny, Blanche. But honestly...I said that I couldn't name her blanche. I LOVELOVE my granny....but that'd be a HARD name for a little girl to carry off gracefully these days. And just like that....as soon as those words came out of my mouth....I heard very quietly the following sentence..."Her name is Lane.". I promise you I am NOT kidding...that's how it went down. And then it dawned on me...inside Blanche is the name Lane. See...bLANchE :):):). And that is the story of how her name began.

Much later, my sweet husband wanted to honor his mom by adding her name as Lane's middle name...Carolyn. And finally....after we saw her picture....we knew we wanted to keep part of her given Chinese name....Wen. And so.....we have the lovely, precious and meaningful name of Lane Carolyn-Wen Raper for our sweet one.

Interestingly, the name LANE means "Narrow path". This brings to mind the verse :
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NIV84). It is our hope that sweet Lane will one day find that gate that leads to peace and hope in Jesus :)

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One year ago, Easter weekend was the time we made public our decision to adopt internationally from china. In fact, Good Friday was the day we drove home to tell our parents face-to-face the news. We were somewhat nervous about it, because we had consulted no one for an opinion while praying over this decision. We really wanted it to be between us and God. While very surprised, our parents have been gracious through this process, and I KNOW they can't WAIT to see this face in a few weeks:



I love LOVE the fact that our story/Lane's story unfolded over Easter. What a perfect and beautiful time for God to present a picture of renewal and restoration He renewed my own hope in His promises and restored to me joy I had lost in years of grieving over not being able to have another child. He restored to my daughter a family and renewed hope for her future. More importantly, through his death and resurrection, He renewed hope for mankind....taking up our own punishment on the cross....and provided the way for a future for us with Him.

Jesus adopted us as his own sons and daughters....

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17 NIV)

In other news....WE HAVE OUR TRAVEL CALL (TA)........and will be traveling to china to get our sweet baby girl in a few weeks!!!!!! We are soooo excited...and yes, a little nervous too ;). We appreciate your prayers as we make final preparations.

I'm planning on updating this blog very regularly as we get close to leaving and hopefully....while we are there as well. Maybe someone who is thinking/praying over the decision to adopt will stumble across this blog. Goodness KNOWS I stalked sooo many blogs of adopting families while we were discussing adoption between ourselves.

Thanks for checking in on us :)