Baby name suggestions

Speaking of baby names. We have asked our kids what they think we should name the baby. Here is a list of names that the boys came up with.

Yoshi
Mario
Peach
Bowser
baby Jesus
Tracy
Isabella

The other day James told me I was having "Bowser's baby." Don't know where he came up with that one, but he does say some of the funniest things. :) Our boys haven't played video games in quite awhile but apparently they still have all things Mario on the brain, as you can see from the list. :)

Bill and I haven't had a serious talk about the baby's name yet (although prayer has gone into it) so we don't really have any ideas (I have a few in mind that I really like but nothing concrete.). So we are open to suggestions. We are looking for a name that would fit well in our family. Of course the name we pick will have a meaning to us and a reason why we picked it (see post below)....but I would love to hear any of YOUR suggestions!

Naming rights

This is a re-post from 10/08/07. I was pregnant with Claire at the time (I did update the picture and use one from this pregnancy). My thoughts on this issue are still the same, and I thought it would be appropriate to post it again now as we are thinking and praying for a name for this little one. Although the meaning of the name of this sweet girl will be different the process is still the same.
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Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. Gen. 2:19

The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man." Gen 2:23

The kids and I have been reading through Genesis. The other day the details of the creation account just struck me in a different light. God gave naming rights to Adam, it says clearly in Gen, 2:19. God told Adam to name all the animals, and whatever name Adam gave them, that was what they were to be called. He was also given the right to name Eve. God very well could have done all that Himself, but instead He choose to let Adam be a part in this aspect of creation. Interesting...

Now that we know what we are having, the search for a name begins. I have been praying for this little one since we found out that she would be joining our family. We knew that this baby was a gift, a promise of the Lord's provision. I have been praying that the Lord would impress upon us what this baby's name should be. Something full of meaning, something that will show the goodness of God and His love for us during a trying time. I want, when people hear and know what the name means, that they will not be able to help thinking about the faithfulness of God. I feel like the name is like an offering. He is giving us this child, and I want to give her a name that will reflect Him and bring glory to Him.

Naming our children has always been special. Each of our children's names have meaning to us. They each fit their names perfectly. I think it hit me more as we were going though Genesis, what a gift the Lord has given us in allowing us to choose. Just as Adam was given naming rights, the same is true of our children. A name is something that is so important and special, and we have been blessed with the privilege. Maybe it sounds silly, but I was just so struck by what a beautiful thing that is that God allows us to participate in. Not only do I get to participate in the miracle of a growing baby inside me, but we have the honor of naming something that rightfully belongs to God. Wow! Thinking of it that way, just makes it seem so sacred.

I don't feel stressed or pressured to find the perfect name because I know that God already knows what it is. This baby's days have been recorded even before she came to be. I know that in His timing He will make it clear to us. While we are given the right and the privilege to call our baby what we want, we are looking to Him for wisdom. I am so excited about it! Isn't it so amazing to just sit back and watch God reveal His plan? He just amazes me!

32 week baby bump

What has happened to my feet? My belly has overtaken my view. I actually had to lean forward just a tad to even see my toes. If I look straight down all I see is belly! :)

Oh My! How can I possibly have 8 weeks left?! I'm thinking this baby is going to be big.

And just for fun
a comparison of weeks 24, 28 and 32. I still can't believe how much I (and baby) have grown!

In the rain

*I have been going through something personal lately. And although I don't want to share the details I still wanted to write the process. Even though this journey isn't always pretty I still want to be able to look back and remember the things that the Lord has taught me.

The rain began to fall ever so slowly and softly. I never saw that behind the clouds lurked a full fledged storm until it was upon us. It caught me off guard. My world was rocked in a single second. Suddenly the things that seemed so clear before become muddied. What happened and where did I go wrong?

I prayed
I pleaded
I asked for wisdom.

but only the sound of the wind and and rain answered back.

Where was God in the midst of this storm?

Sometimes His quietness is deafening.

I covered my ears straining to hear His voice above the noise outside. "God can you hear me?"

The wind howled louder. The storm raged on and darkness and discouragement threatened to overtake. I gave in to the the thoughts and feelings of failure and inadequacy. Hope began to fade. I clung to the confusion that seemed to be the only firm thing.

The wind shifted ever so slowly.

"Let go." A voice so quiet it pierced through the silence and penetrated my heart.

I knew it was Him.

"Let go of what Lord?"

"Everything!"

"I don't understand."

"Offer yourself as a living sacrifice to Me."

"But God, what does that mean."

"Come to me empty and broken. I will change you and empower you. But I want you to know that it may not look the way you think it should. The journey may be filled with pain and seem confusing at times. There are going to be some steep mountains to climb but trust Me. I know what I am doing."

Slowly my clenched hands began to loosen.

"God show me the way, because I can't seem to find it."

"Let go of the things you hold on to and take My hand."

I reached out and was comforted by His presence.

Over and over like a broken record...the theme of my life seems to be that His ways are not my own. I cannot possibly understand the way in which He works. But in the midst of the storm I am finding that I can still trust Him. He is still good even if everything in the world around me is dark. I had to come to a place of brokenness and ask myself, "Is my hope in Him or is it in the plans I think He has for me?" I am shaken to the core at the very thought.

So I let go and stand here empty. My life is His to do what He wants with. Even if that means failure in the eyes of men. Even if it means things not looking the way I think they should. Even if it doesn't make sense. I still trust Him. God is not the author of confusion. Even if things feel they are falling apart He is in the midst. He is the one who can calm the storm. All I have to do is let go and step out of the boat and walk towards Him.

My perspective has shifted as I turn my eyes to Him. Although it hurts at times I am thankful for this place...the place where He can meet me in the darkness and gently guide me to higher places. I want to be refined and to look more like His Son and if this is His way of getting me there...

I will praise Him in the rain.

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Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. The love of God did not protect His own Son... He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process. ~ Elisabeth Elliot

Hiking

Last weekend, my dad came to visit. We decided to take him to a state park around here. It was a beautiful day for hiking. We had fun exploring the trails and the castle ruins that were at the park.

How we remembered the resurrection

Last year we made Resurrection Cookies with the kids. This year I saw this idea and thought it would be something fun and a little bit different then the last time. The kids did really good at listening to the story and participating. Even Claire got into it.

Resurrection Rolls

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Ingredients:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Read Matthew 27:57-61

Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.

Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.

Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.

Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.

(Claire was sad because she wanted to eat her roll. :) )

Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. (The oven represents the tomb - pretend like it was three days!)

Let the rolls cool slightly. The children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

Now read Matthew 28:5-8

Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but He Had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!
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And then of course the kids got to eat the rolls. :)

You can read more about this Easter project at this website.

It's Friday...

and Sunday is coming!