A Rose By Any Other Name...

This post is not about Eleanor.  But I figure if I put a picture of her on top, people will read it. 

My sister, Denise, was so excited when I had Jack.  Excited for lots of reasons, but one unique reason is that all growing up there was a man in our home town who would say, every time he saw her, "Hey Denise!  Where's Denephew?"  Understandably, this was considerably more funny to him, than to her.  After all, one of the principal considerations when naming a child seems to be, what can people tease him/her about if we give him/her this name?  I don't think my parents thought of the whole Denephew thing - you have to give the guy points for creativity.  But now you can see why she was excited:  because I had a boy, the next time she sees this guy she can just whip out a picture of Jack and say, "My nephew you ask?  Right here."

I was actually a huge fan of nicknames as a kid.  That is, I gave everyone else nicknames.  I called my best friend "Krista," "Driz," "Biz Bleach," "Mouse" (her last name was Krause), and many, many others.  I actually called my mom "Salami" for some period of time.  I called my sister "Ed," which isn't that big of a stretch since it is just De backwards - but then she started calling me "Derf," or "Derfie," which is Fred backwards, but I can't recall where Fred came from...  Back when it was cool to write things on the seat of your workout shorts, I had Derf on the back of mine.

I called Jared "Elder Southard" when we first met, and then just Jared all the way until we were engaged.  For some reason I distinctly remember when I started calling him "J", which is what I call him most frequently now.  It was in Centralia, at Kellogg's cleaners, when we were picking up my wedding dress before we drove down to Portland to get married.  I just kind of threw it out there, "Hey J, can you..." and it has been that way ever since.

In the book Freakonomics, the authors suggest that children's names are a reflection on how the parents see themselves and what kinds of expectations they have for their children.  I can say that seems to be true for me, as we have given our children names that are old fashioned, and what we view as strong names that carry with them a certain power and legacy that we hope that will live up to.  Or, maybe I just love old people. 

Some interesting info out there on determining your baby naming style, naming trends, etc.

One day I will do a more comprehensive study, but for years in the back of my brain I have been noticing the prominence and emphasis placed on names in the scriptures.  A great example is in Abram and Saria. 

After committing fully to the Lord their names were changed to Abraham and Sara.  Granted, most cultures place a far greater significance on the meaning of a name than those of us in the U.S., but still, it seems the name change was a very necessary part of their progression.  Why?

Similarly, many Christian faiths speak of taking upon us the name of Christ.  This must mean more than just a passive acceptance of His divine mission on the earth, but a complete adoption of His character.  To take upon us the name of Christ means we will strive to act as He did in all situations.

We had a fantastic Enrichment activity this week.  A lady came and shared some personal experiences in her life where friends, and strangers, reached into her life and made it just a little bit better.  It was touching and motivating. 

It really is easy.  It is easy to see that lady at the grocery store who is stressed over the screaming kid in her cart.  It is easy to give her a smile and a look of understanding.  It is easy to give someone a call when you notice they weren't at the gym or at work or at church when they normally are. 

We just need to pay attention.

Get outside of ourselves.

Perhaps the most striking attribute of names is that Heavenly Father knows each of our names.  Absolutely impossible to fathom if you try to imagine it, but true, nonetheless. 

I can remember in seventh grade, lying on the trampoline in my backyard with Krista, Sam, and Sarah, practicing writing our first names along with the last names of the boys we liked. 

I can remember a boy I liked in Jr. High calling me "Di Di who died twice."

Krista's dad called me "Grace" because I once knocked over an aluminum can on a metal table in a very quiet, very full room.

Small people call me "Jack's mom" or "Henry's mom."  I have even been called "Inga's mom" (she's our dog).

But to me all those names are summed up in just one:  Diahan. I feel that somehow it says everything about who I am.  So, thanks mom and dad, for the name.  I think it reflects you, and somehow has encouraged me.

But for those of you who don't feel that way about your name, try renaming yourself, here.  Though, when I did it, Diane wasn't even listed...