What's in a name?

So, I've finally joined the blogging world. I was inspired by my sister's new blog and thought I'd join the craze. Inheriting my love of writing from my mother (she hates to write), we'll see if it lasts. I've spent the last hour or so catching up on my friends' and families' blogs as I was setting up mine. It brought to pass one of my greatest fears-- spending too much time blogging. Then I thought about whether I'd wasted my last hour and decided that I haven't. This is a great way to keep involved in each other's lives. I'm able to experience the excitements and disappointments of my family and it makes me feel as if they're closer. My sister wrote about how lonely it can be to live away from family. Maybe this is my way of being a little closer.

I wanted to be creative when I was thinking of a blog name. Let's face it, I'm not creative. But I have always been fascinated by the origin of names and what they mean. My first name means "ewe" or "innocent lamb," my maiden name means "gift of God," and my married name means "one who lives by an island in a fen or near a holly tree." Anyway, my husband and I were discussing what our names mean and he had no clue and didn't seem to think it a big deal. So, I took the privilege of looking up his surname and first name. His first name means "down to earth" or "descent" which made me smile because he's one of the most down to earth people I know.

My conversation with J.W. about name meanings got me thinking. What's in a name? Both J.W. and I take strong pride in making our name mean something. I think J.W.'s feeling is that a name means what you make it mean, not what it meant 2000 years ago. I agree in most ways but I also think that who and what we are comes so much from those who came before us. What I want my name to mean includes the characteristics my anscestors had-- strength, hard work, loyalty, devotion to God, honesty, quiet service. So, my blog name isn't so creative, but I hope it means something.

P.S. Despite the name subject, I've left the names of family out because I want to keep this a public blog. So, if you don't know what J.W. stands for you can email me. :)