After much prayer and discussion, we have (finally!) given our baby boy a name..........Ephraim!! The origin of the name Ephraim can be found in the Old Testament: it is Hebrew (אֶפְרָיִם) and it means "fruitful." Ephraim was the son of Joseph and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Even though Ephraim was the second-born son of Joseph (Manasseh being the firstborn), he received the blessing from Jacob: "....his younger brother [Ephraim] will be greater than he [Manasseh], and his descendants will become a group of nations. He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh." (Genesis 48:19b-20) The whole story can be found in Genesis, Chapter 48. What we love most about his name, is the meaning. Not only is he a beautiful representation of Danniger and I bearing fruit, but it is our desire that he, also, bear fruit for the kingdom! As my thoughtful sister-in-law (Victoria) put it: "He is going to be a 'fruitful' follower of the Way!" Oh, how sweet are those words! "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing....You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last...." (John 15:5,16a)
Some other exciting news....we sent our first care package to Ephraim today!! To say I had a blast shopping for him would be an understatement ;) Here is a list of the things we included:
- sweater, shirt, pants, jammies, stocking cap & socks
- teething toy & "squeeze & teethe" monkey!
- sippy cup & freeze-dried fruit & veggie snacks
- training toothbrush & paste
- baby lotion & diaper cream
- photo book - w/ 40 pages of Danniger, me, Seyzae & Lita!
- flash drive - w/ a short video of Danniger & I singing "Jesus Loves Me" to Ephraim :) ....and also hoping that the foster parents will put pictures of him on it during the time he's in their care
- letter to the foster parents, thanking them for loving on our baby
- Burt's Bees hand creme & Ghirardelli chocolates - for the foster parents
It's been a very emotional and overwhelming week, knowing that I'm missing so much of his life right now....his first tooth, his first crawl, his first word, his first step. Knowing that I'm just not there, and he's not here.....but I also know that he is in God's big, able, and gentle hands. I don't know that I've ever fully trusted God the way I have these past few weeks. What a beautiful reminder that He is always in control....and He is, oh, so very good!
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