I have been waiting to write this post for a while, not so much because we have wanted to keep the boys' names a secret, but not really knowing how to begin it, what to include. To me, naming a child, in our case two children at once, especially sons, is such a huge feat. A name goes with you all of your life, it is as much a part of your identity as your fingerprints or your social security number. Jim and I both grew up being called names other than our formal given names, so making sure people knew our identity was and still is very important to us. Then there is the challenge of giving them names that lock them into the specific era in which they were born. There's the challenge of using a family name, offending people by not using a specific name that they prefer, using a Biblical name because of a desire for them to know their ultimate inheritance. Do you make the spelling unique or does that just make it more difficult in the long run, will the name fit them as an adult when they're going on their first real interview, and on and on. Then you question if they will grow up to dislike their names or wish we had chosen differently. It really can be quite overwhelming, daunting, frustrating, etc. Can you tell we've experienced all of these emotions?!
We really feel like the names we have chosen have come full-circle. After finding out that both babies were boys, we threw around several first names, all Biblical, and then looked up the meanings. We weren't thrilled with the meanings the internet provided, so we went to the better source, the Bible. We also knew that we wanted their middle names to be a family name. I think deciding on those was more difficult than the first names! I was confident in our decision on the first names, but you still have to wonder if you're making a mistake that will live with your precious heir for the rest of his life! Then two weeks ago two dear friends gave me a wonderful baby shower. I knew that my Mom was planning to make a pillow for the boys' room. She's so wonderfully talented and crafty, that I guessed she would embroider something on it. She actually made two, one with each boys first name on it, each with a scripture that includes their name and a cute little angel boy holding a droopy flower. When I opened the pillows I knew that we had named them well.
Caleb James
Caleb: "My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit, and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it." Numbers 14:24; Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the Israelites, because of their faith, that God allowed into the promised land. The rest of the Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for forty years.
James: Jim's formal given name and a name I have always loved. It's also one of our favorite books in the Bible.
Jacob William
Jacob: "Behold I am with you, Jacob and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15; both Jacob and Caleb were promised by God to inhabit and be a part of a great nation. Read both verses together and you will see that they almost say the exact same thing!
William: My grandfather who has given our family a great legacy of faith, hard work and devotion. It is also a name that I have always loved.
Here is a picture of the precious pillows their Gan made for them
And now that you know their names, I'll share a poem I wrote for the boys:
Blessings Two By Two
Two little boys growing inside,
Two little boys still wanting to hide.
Two little boys will soon be due,
Two little boys, Mommy and Daddy’s dream come true.
Will you have your Mama’s blue eyes?
Will you both be the same size?
Or red hair like Daddy’s, could it be?
We know for sure you’ll both be a sight to see.
We’ve dreamed of you, prayed for you and have already laughed a lot,
And have wondered how we’ve been so blessed with these miracles we’ve got.
Caleb and Jacob, our sons, our twins
We pray you will always remain the best of friends.
