All in a Name

I called a friend, who seems to be able to find anything related to Chinese adoptions, and asked her if she thought their was anyway to find out about the medical condition of XiaoWang. At this point I did know that her name was XiaoWang and that her paperwork had been re-submitted. So I was hopeful that we could get even a little information about her medical condition. What I did not realize at the time was, in finding this information, I would know what agency her paperwork actually went to.

Ray was still questioning whether GOD was calling us to adopt. "I gave you a couple of fleeces before you went to China and HE has not fulfilled those." (You remember those two fleeces: God speaking audibly and an American name.) Quite frustrated, I said, "Her name is XiaoWang, and as far as an American name, you would've hit the ceiling if Alex and I had given her an American name." Later that morning God prompted me to look up her Chinese name (I did have the Chinese characters). To my amazement XIAO (using the Chinese character given to her) means TO KNOW or TO TELL. Wang (again using the character) means HOPE. With her infectious smile, what an appropriate name: to know or tell of hope (or something really close to that).
Alex and Ray were equally as amazed. Was God beginning to give Ray the answers that he needed to even begin to think we were supposed to adopt XiaoWang?

The NAMING story continues. Ray has this bizarre thing about names and cadence. The syllables in a full name should be a multiple of the number of syllables in a last name. Mullican has 3 syllables therefore all of our kids names have 6 or 9 total syllables. If we were to adopt XiaoWang (2 syllables), she would need an American name with 4 syllables to fit Ray's name formula. Yes it is a bit crazy but that is what we do. We would obviously keep XiaoWang, so I google- girl's names 4 syllables. I go to a site that has a list of names (NO meanings). I perused through the list and jotted down 12 or 13 names. I showed the list to Alex and told her to look them over and give me your top name and I would do the same. Within about 2 or 3 minutes we had both come up with ELLIANA. Again, we were shocked that we came up with the same name, and I included no "strange names" only names that I thought Ray may agree with. "Mom, what does Elliana mean?" Okay now we are getting to the second fleece! ELLIANA is a Hebrew name which means: THE LORD HAS SPOKEN! Wow!!! Two fleeces answered and all in a name. God does speak to us in many ways!

Ray's response..." (silence) ,that made my eyes tear up. I guess God has spoken." Alex was thrilled, to say the least, that her dad was at least openly pondering the adoption. And did I say that Alex never once demanded in any way that we adopt XiaoWang. She only questioned who would love this little girl.

About two weeks later (mid October), I received a call from my friend, "Her paperwork has been found. I have already talked to the agency who has it. They are expecting your call."

All a coincidence...I think not!!