What's in a NAME?

I've thought about writing this post for YEARS, I am serious, years.  And I actually did originally write this on September 12, 2016, when we thought we were a few weeks away from finalizing the adoption. Now that we have officially added TWO more to our forever family, I decided that I should finally write it down and have it in the books.

First of all, when it has come to selecting names for our children, Jake & I have always liked classic names. We also prefer names that you immediately know the gender of the child.  We're just not into the make up a new name, no one knows how to spell it, or pronounce it, and then they still have to ask if its a boy or a girl.  But that's just us. Secondly, we have always picked a family name for the middle name.

Lily Anne
We had a list of names the first time around.  We narrowed it down to Lillian, Lily or Olivia.  We ended up with Lily Anne. Anne is my middle name.  Lily Anne sounds like Lillian and growing up everyone asked if my name was really Megan, not Meg Anne. So we liked the similarities.

I have always loved this passage of scripture that reminds us of how useless worry is since God provides & cares for his own.

"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these."  Matthew 6:28-29

Ella Taylor
Once again, we had our list narrowed down to boy & girl names.  We settled on Ella and we would nickname her "El." I also have a dear friend from Minnesota who has an Ella.  We did a Bible study together while she was pregnant with her Ella. Ella was also in our wedding. So "Ella" has always had a place in my heart.

Early on we decided that either way, boy or girl, we would use Jake's middle name, Taylor, for the baby.  Realistically, there is NO WAY we would have a boy, we both have all sisters, 6 of them to be exact!

Benjamin Lee
Benny's given name is Alexander Benjamin.  One week into having Benny in our home, we were told he did not go by Alex, but by Benny. From then on he has been Benny.
We chose to keep both kids given first names to honor their parents.  They gave them LIFE! Their parents have made poor choices, but they have also made some very hard and brave ones.
When we found out Benny & Wren were going to be in our forever family, we started looking into family names for their middle names.  Lee is my Grandpa G's middle name & Mae is my Grandma G's middle name.  We wanted to honor my grandparent's. Jake & I sent them a letter back in August of 2016, to tell them about our decision.  In the letter we wrote out the many reasons we love them and want to honor them. They are role models. Their love for the Lord, God-honoring marriage, generosity, thankful hearts, and hard work ethic are something we aspire to. God's grace and sovereign hand is so evident in both my grandparent's lives and Benny & Wren's life. We are grateful. And isn't our Lord in the details? Benny & Wren's adoption finalized the day after my grandparent's 66th wedding anniversary!

Serenity Mae
Wren's given name is Serenity Jade. Ever since we brought her home from the hospital, we have been calling her wREN (seRENity). Our girls have been calling the littles Benny & Wrenny.  It's rather hilarious. My previous paragraph explains choosing Mae, after my Grandma G.

I also love the beginning of that same Matthew passage that references the birds of the air (maybe the bird Christ was referencing was a wren).

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Photos are from the first time we met each of our children.