So, what name do you want? November 13, 2008

*New pics on the picture website!

Today was a good day for the homesick Williams clan. Yesterday, we just hung around the apartment and did school work, took the last of the Lexapro, and prayed over a can of near empty hairspray. To say that we were homesick would been an EXTREME understatement. We had it BAD yesterday and we didn’t get to see Petya either. The days that we can go and visit Petya, excuse me Jake, makes the time pass faster. You know it is going to be hard to get accustomed to calling him Jake after these three years. Oh, that reminds me we haven’t told you that he had to pick out his official name and the reasoning behind it. Sergey had to type up some official documents that required an official name. It seems Petya has chosen Jacob Petro Williams and wants to be called Jake, or Yake as he told me over the phone yesterday. Gotta work on those “J” sounds! So as far as we know we now have the son formerly know as Petya and currently known as Jake. Although we gave him any option that he wanted I did suggest the name and hoped that he would choose it. Thankfully he did, so why the choice of names, well I wanted each name for several reasons. I wanted the middle name Petro because I did not want him to lose everything that identifies him with these past 15 years. They are filled with miraculous stories of God watching over him and a totally unbelievable story of how we came together. Did you know that Petya, wait Jake, was never supposed to come to the US to begin with. There were actually 12 other orphans from a totally different city that were ALREADY on a plane when they were refused to fly because of some silly paperwork mishap. So, rather than waste the tickets the organization looked for other kids that were ready to travel and in all the orphanages of Ukraine, the one that housed Petya was selected and it just so happened that he was travel-ready and it also just so happens that when the director closed her eyes and pointed to select the kids that he was chosen. What happened to the original 12 that didn’t get to travel the first time? Well it seems that after Petya’s group arrived the minor paperwork mishap was fixed and all 12 of then traveled also! What a set of coincidences! Beth Moore had a statement in one of her books that is basically to the effect of saying that it takes more faith to try and prove that God doesn’t exist than to accept the reality of Him and enjoy following Him, and you know what—I fully agree! I want Petya to KNOW all the things that God did to bring our family together. Also Petro is the Russian version of Peter—the rock of the church. I have prayed ever since I knew God was calling us to adopt him that God would bring salvation to his life and then use him in a might way to reach Ukraine. I can only imagine what impact my “rock” will have on the spectrum of eternity. I want him to be a “rock” for his family to come, I want him to be a “rock” for adoption and I pray that the Eternal Cornerstone will establish my Petro! Now the Jacob part. This is a strange story and it actually takes me back to a time with a former student. There was this kid that was at MCHS and EVERYBODY warned me about him—they told me how much trouble I would have with him and that we would never get along. I began praying for and about this kid long before I had him in any class. I would see him in the hallways and I wonder what I was facing, and what he would be facing with me. Then it happened, he was assigned to my class. The other kids were just watching and waiting for our first encounter and what would happen. After our first week of class together I began to realize that this kids was very likeable and had a truly kind and gentle nature that was as big and broad as his shoulders. Everything I had heard about him was totally different that what I was seeing in class. Could it be that people made ASSUMPTIONS about him that were untrue based on some stereotype? The answer was yes! As the semester went on I began to realize that this was a special kid and that there was a heartstring that just attached to him. Jerry met him and confirmed my impression and Jon loved him instantly. I found a very special heart in that young man and I consider him a member of my family. I want for others to see the HEART of my Jake and not make assumptions about what he is based on an accent or different methods of doing things. I want them to look into the beautiful young man that he is and find a heartstring and attach to it. I want his name to be a constant reminder that what other people think about us, or even say about us, can NEVER define us if we continue to stay close to God and hear what HE says about us. I am still close to this former student and now friend. I hope the two Jakes can meet one day and that they will both encourage each other to allow God to shape their lives and not the opinions of others. So Jake it is! There is a lot to a name in this family. Jon Michael is no different. Jon is in reference to my great-grandfather and John the Baptist. I wanted a name that would give my son a family history. That is so important since I am Janet the First. Being adopted myself, I wanted a connection to my family, I wanted to be a part of the family story and bringing Jon into the picture is a wonderful offering. Like John the Baptist, I wanted Jon to be filled with the Spirit as soon as possible and to be aware of the Lord and to prepare the way for The Way. Michael was in honor of his father. Now I know that I give Jerry a hard way to go, its purely spiritual—it keeps him humble and contrite. But I do love him deeply and I may joke about him, but no one else better! He is an honorable husband and servant of God and I hope Jon can become the type of man that his daddy is. Whew, that took it out of me. The names of my children are precious to me and they are rich in meaning and hopefulness and deeply drenched in prayers. In scripture names play a vital role in revealing the person and nature of God. I hope that my boys will always use their names wisely and never take for granted their meanings. So we are going to try to practice calling Petya Jake and he is going to practice answering to the name Jake! That’s equally as difficult. Although both my boys have different names there is one part that will soon be identical—WILLIAMS! I pray that it will only be a reflection of the unity of our hearts. I can’t wait until the legalities finally match what has been in my heart for 3 years. Today we spent the afternoon together and again left him at the trade school waving goodbye from the street. There is a day coming, oh and it is coming, when we will pull away from that school and not need to look back because he will be with us! Everyday is one day closer, every second that passes just brings us closer to God’s promise. Every signature, every paper, every stamp every filed document is just one step closer to never leaving him behind again. This mama is ready for that day. I am ready for have Jon Michael Williams and Jacob Petro Williams under ONE roof ! Oh, and by the way, my name has a special meaning as well. Janet means “Gracious Gift of God” ain’t it true, ain’t it true!

Love from us “J’s to all of you—Jan, Jerry, Jon and JAKE!

Jan, Jon, Jake & Jerry