I've gotten some questions about our boys' names. Many people are confused about Tobi's name, at least those that have seen his listing on Reece's Rainbow. His name is Fletcher there. That is NOT his birth name. It is illegal for children in Tobi's country to be listed with their birth names and pictures together outside of their country. And so, the team at Reece's gives each child listed an "alias". Josiah was never listed on Reece's. We got to choose his alias when he was added to our family page. We figured we'd cut some confusion and list him under his "new" name. The names that we call them are names that we have chosen. Names have great meaning in our family. There is a story or special meaning behind each of our children's names. We have chosen names for the newest members of our family in the same way.
Tobias = The Lord is good
Asher = happiness
Josiah = God sustains
Matthew = given; a reward
Many have asked. We do plan on changing their names. We plan to give them both new names to begin new lives. This was done many times in the Bible to mark important moments or life changes. We think that joining a family in a new country qualifies:)
We recently found Tobi on his country's database. With the help of Google translate, we found out his birth name. It just happens to be a name that was on our list of top 5 baby boy names. Often times children are not called by their names in orphanages. They are often called by common nicknames instead. If we get to our boys' country and find out that they are known by their birth names or that there are strong ties to their birth families in some way, we are definitely willing to reconsider it. As much as we want to provide our boys with a new future, we absolutely do not want to take away their pasts. We want them to have strong ties to their past as well. We want them to have a heart for their people. They will find a future and a family here in America, but they were given life in their country. Our reasoning for changing their names is not to destroy all ties with their pasts. As much as I hate the thought that they are spending their first year in an institution and wish it could have been different, it is a part of their story. God can use their story and will. I want our boys to embrace that, resting in our unconditional love and trusting in their heavenly father.
Asher = happiness
Josiah = God sustains
Matthew = given; a reward
Many have asked. We do plan on changing their names. We plan to give them both new names to begin new lives. This was done many times in the Bible to mark important moments or life changes. We think that joining a family in a new country qualifies:)
We recently found Tobi on his country's database. With the help of Google translate, we found out his birth name. It just happens to be a name that was on our list of top 5 baby boy names. Often times children are not called by their names in orphanages. They are often called by common nicknames instead. If we get to our boys' country and find out that they are known by their birth names or that there are strong ties to their birth families in some way, we are definitely willing to reconsider it. As much as we want to provide our boys with a new future, we absolutely do not want to take away their pasts. We want them to have strong ties to their past as well. We want them to have a heart for their people. They will find a future and a family here in America, but they were given life in their country. Our reasoning for changing their names is not to destroy all ties with their pasts. As much as I hate the thought that they are spending their first year in an institution and wish it could have been different, it is a part of their story. God can use their story and will. I want our boys to embrace that, resting in our unconditional love and trusting in their heavenly father.
I agree with you, and people can be very opinionated when it comes to this topic!!! Love the names and your heart for adoption!!! Praying your boys come home soon!! Amanda
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