HE KNOWS HIS NAME - ANNAIS

Pregnant with our second child we anxiously awaited the sonogram when we would learn the sex of our unborn baby. We were sue it was a girl. “What do you think it is?, asked the technician. “A boy!?,” I said hesitantly (I had a sneak peak during my echocardiogram; although my husband was still convinced it was a girl). Yes it is a boy! My first thought was “we have no names for a boy.” As we did with our daughter, we had been praying for God to reveal the name He had already chosen for this child. Now that we knew the sex of the baby we could start compiling some boy names and pray over those. The list grew rapidly to seven names; there was Micah, Samuel and Dominic just to name a few. Micah means, “who is like God”, Samuel means, “asked of God” and Dominic means, “follower of the Lord.” All great names with great meanings, but we still could not narrow it down. My husband had his two favorites and I had mine. I was sure we would know when we saw him. We believe as it says in Psalm 139:15-16, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.” That meant God already had a name for this baby that was symbolic of the call He had already placed on his life. We just had to hear God when He revealed to us what that name was. About a week or two before my scheduled c-section I was beginning to get apprehensive about the baby not having a name, although we waited until the day after our daughter was born to name her. I felt strongly that this baby needed a name BEFORE he was born. I prayed, “Lord, I know I can hear your voice, but I have not heard anything about this baby’s name.” Then I heard it, clear as day, “Anias”. I asked, “Annanias, Lord?” “No, Anias,” I heard again. Barely able to contain my excitement I ran downstairs to check my baby names searchers. I typed in A-N-I-A-S and hit enter. I could not wait to find out what the name meant. “Name not found” appeared on my screen. Disheartened I asked, “Lord, did I hear you correctly? I know you have blessed us with this baby, but what will he be to our family?” “A gift,” I clearly heard in response (Psalm 127:3 Behold children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.) Knowing I could search a name by meaning I typed in “gift from God” and hit enter. The third name on the list was “Annais!” I had the name right, but the spelling wrong. I immediately picked up the phone and called my husband and asked, “What do you think of the name Annais?” “I like it,” he said. That’s it! We have got a name for our baby. Without any further hesitation our baby boy was Annais (Ah-nigh-us), a gift from God named by God. After reading and re-reading the meaning and characteristics of his name I began to pray that he would be all the things that his name implied. Of all the characteristics, the one that stood out to me was “always gracious.” Graciousness is the very nature of God, our Father and is synonymous with His son Jesus. Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 111:4 He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. The spiritual characteristic of Annais is “full of hope (Christ)”. 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by appointment and command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), our Hope. What more could any parent want than for their child to be full of Hope (Jesus)?

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:7

HE KNOWS HER NAME - ISABELLA

Names are important to me (read more here) so, I did not name my firstborn lightly. I immediately began praying for a name. God had a perfect plan for her life and I believed her name would be indicative of that, I just had to wait and listen. After more than a year of trying to conceive I got pregnant with my first daughter. I knew it was a girl and had her closet full of clothes even before the sonogram. I had purchased a daily pregnancy prayer journal and prayed for her almost everyday. One day the scripture at the bottom of the page was “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 27-28 The night before I found out I was pregnant I was reading a book, Who Will Love Me? by Joe Jackson and the Lord spoke to me on page 41: Taken word for word from Who Will Love Me? by Joe Jackson "And sometime before dawn God spoke to me. I will never again have any doubt about children. I want to share with you what He told me. He told me that these were not really my children, but they were His. He is just letting me have the joy and responsibility of raising them for Him. He has entrusted me with their future. Listen! Our children belong to God, and we are just instruments in raising them. Someday they will pass away and return to Him if we have done our job. That is our responsibility and duty." It was the first time I ever considered that this child I prayed for was not mine at all, but His. It was a huge revelation. His child? That changed everything for me. It shifted my self-focus and made it God focused and after months of selfish thinking, desires, prayers and actions – I surrendered. My process of conception was a time of great healing. There were things in me that God healed that are of great benefit to me, my children and my relationship with Him. As the pregnancy progressed my husband and I chose two names and said we would name her when we saw her. She was born with big, beautiful brown eyes and a head full of dark hair, but that did not help us decide. The first time they placed her on my chest I looked at her and prayed, “Lord I prayed for this child and you granted my request and I dedicate her back to you.” It was not until the next day that we chose her name Isabella which means “dedicated to God.” Had the Lord not spoken to me the night before I found out I was pregnant I may not have been able to speak, let alone pray the words, “Lord I prayed for this child and you granted my request and I dedicate her back to you.” God’s plan and purpose for Isabella’s life included me surrendering mine to Him (completely).

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 27-28

SOMETHING REALLY DIFFERENT

This is not my typical kind of post, but these days are not typical kind of days. I may be nesting months before I should, but I am trying to de-clutter and organize the house prior to baby number four arriving. The GREAT news is I am doing all this in a peaceful and relaxed manner, not in my previous perfectionist and obsessive way. I am able to enjoy this pregnancy so much more than I have been able to in the past because I REST and it is wonderful and I am at peace with all the REST I am doing.

Although I am resting A LOT (ask my husband and kids) I am still able to get some things done...like organize the homeschool room.

Here are pictures of my wonderful new homemade organizers:

On the top right are cereal box magazine organizers and the red boxes are bulk, Ramen noodle boxes that I spray painted with paint I found in the garage.

Close-up of my bulk, Ramen noodle box spray painted and labeled. This one holds ABC books and other alphabet activities.

A close up of cereal box magazine (or book) organizers. Of these I am most proud since these usually cost several dollars a piece, my cost - $0.

Side-view of cereal box organizer.

This is the closet - truth be told 75% of the stuff in here is my stamping/scrapbooking stuff, which often comes in handy for homeschooling.

My only bookshelves in the room and they need to be utilized to the fullest, so they MUST be organized.

I do not want to mislead you, we do not use our homeschool room, well at least not for homeschooling. There is no way it would be this neat if it was used everyday. We opt for the kitchen table or couch for two reasons 1) my youngest sleeps in there (I moved the pack n' play that sits in the middle of the room for the pictures) 2) my little one is like a tornado when we are in there. We used to have a table in the middle of the room where now said pack n' play sits and do everything in there, but right now it just does not work. Maybe one day we will make it back in there.

THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY

My reminders this week are found in this song:

1. In Christ alone my Hope is found
2. I am His and He is mine
3. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
   
   

Congratulations to the other "Mari" you won my 100th post giveaway! Email me.

For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday, visit Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders.

THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY & POST 100!!!

Here it is, post 100! I have been waiting for the right moment and tonight while listening to the song below on YouTube it hit me – this is IT! So, this is a combined post with Then Sings My Soul Saturday and my 100th, why? Because as I read over ALL my posts searching for my favorites leading up to this moment I wept because He has brought “restoration” and continues to do so. If you have not read your own blog in a while, do so and thank the Lord for the “restoration” He has brought you. Thank Him now for the “restoration” He has yet to do too.

Below is my TSMSS post, but before we get to that it is time to celebrate 100 posts. That is a lot of writing about what the Lord has done and if I could write it all down or wanted to share it all on the World Wide Web it would be more, trust me. I had mentioned I would be sharing a list of future topics and I will, but it will be brief because I am making no promises. I am in a unique season and I take it minute by minute.

Future posts will include:

Inner Vows
When does life begin?
The Crushing Weight of Rejection
Still Small Voice Sunday – A Blog Carnival
He Knows Their Names – Part 1, 2, 3 & 4

Now to the prizes, there will be prizes and some of them will be tea because that is what I do and trust me it is GREAT tea, but other than that I have no idea. Leave a comment and let me know you want to win something and I trust the Lord will show me what to give away and how to do it. You have until next Friday to do so and I will announce the winners Saturday.

Thank you all for your email and prayers, I look forward to sharing what the Lord is doing as soon as I get it somewhat sorted out in my own head.

Enjoy this song and be blessed – YOU ARE RESTORED!

For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday, visit Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders. I have missed TSMSS more than anything about blogging and it seems appropriate to come back with this. Thanks Amy!