Lily's Name

Each time God has added to our family, I have loved the process of picking names for our newest little one.

I become consumed with every aspect of it.  Counting syllables, coordinating letter sounds, discovering the meanings.  It's almost like an art form to me.

Back when we first locked Lily's file, we began thinking about an English name for her. I knew her full Chinese name but didn't know if it we should keep that or change it.  And since we talked about her all day, every day around here, I knew we had to settle on something pretty quick.

After praying about it, we decided on the name Abigail.  And loved it.  Still do.  But something happened when we corresponded with Lily and her foster family through email a few weeks back that changed my mind.

One of the questions I asked her foster mom was "What name does she go by?" thinking that if nothing else, this would help when we first meet her...to know the name she is used to being called and to continue that familiarity as we got to know each other.

Her foster mom wrote back"Lili (like Lily)" and then she wrote "she thinks it's a name [that] stands for love and favor."

And that is what sealed the deal for me.


It was a name that meant something to her.  

Love and favor.  Isn't that something we all long for?  It's certainly something our family can't wait to lavish on her as our heavenly Father has so graciously lavished it on us.

It made me love her sweet seven year-old heart even more.

And so Lily Claire Pingli  it is.   And we think it's as cute as a button.  Just like her.