After twenty-three hours of labor, Daniel Benjamin made his appearance today on April 20th at 3:53 p.m.! He weighed in at 8.8 pounds, 21 and a half inches, and looks just like his momma. He's got a sweet nose and chubby cheeks. He is long and lean. He's extremely quiet and happy with the most beautiful complexion.
Mom and baby are doing well; we are at Hendersonville Hospital in Room 223.
Pictures will follow...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Coming Soon!
After 18 hours of labor, Jenna is still at Hendersonville Hospital with contractions every 3-4 minutes apart. The water has broken and she is dialated to 9. We are on the brink of one of the greatest moments of our life, and we are excited to be able to share this with you. Children truly are a gift of God. We may still be a few hours away from delivery, and we are exhausted from an all-nighter. Please stay posted to the blog for more details...
Friday, April 17, 2009
What's With His Name
Why the name change?
Of course, I ached over changing our baby's name, simply because I am human and couldn't help but think of all of the monogrammed bags, paintings, and thank you notes we purchased and were given and had sent out that all said, "Elijah Thomas." Although that name was particularly special to us, we quickly learned that God had other intentions for this baby's name. Thus, Daniel Benjamin was spoken in my husband's ear.
Many people have asked why we would change a name just weeks before our due date, and others have questioned whether this is what God intended. Many women become quite distraught over the idea, as I did when it was first brought to my attention, and many of you have wondered if we even like the new name.
Yes and no. No because it wasn't what we chose for him. We've been calling this baby Elijah from Week 18 when we saw his little hands "praying" on the ultrasound screen. However, as the weeks have passed, we have learned what a gift this little boy truly is to us. How God has knit him in my womb, taken away fluid from around his kidneys, grown him into a large boy, and brought his parents to their knees in humility. Then, the Lord began showing us the "why" around our baby's new name, Daniel Benjamin.
Daniel:
Did you know that Daniel biblically means, "God is My Judge"? If you knew what all we have gone through and how we've been judged over the course of the actions we've taken for the Lord, you'd feel as humbled by this fact as we are. We feel as though God truly has been our judge. He's been the deciding vote in all we have done. He's the one who has defended our actions, and He will continue to do so. I bet you didn't know that my Nana, who passed away just a few months after we were married, had intended on her first child being named Daniel. Turns out her first child was my mom. My Nana's favorite name was Daniel, and though she never had a boy of her own, I'm certain that she would be thrilled to know her first great-grandchild will be named that favorite name of hers.
Benjamin:
Did you know that Benjamin means, "Son of My Right Hand"? Jacob, the father of Israel, struggled with his twelfth son's name when he was being delivered. As his wife, Rachel, bore this son, she named him, "Ben-Oni," which meant, "Son of My Sorrow." Oh, do you know how perfect that is for us? Do you know the sorrow we have faced? Did you know that it was the day after my husband's mother died that the Lord began pressing him to rename our baby? Brian struggled with our baby's name as well. It hurt him to hurt me and let go of a name that had meant so much to us... But, Benjamin, well, it was perfect. Benjamin also happens to be a family name. Brian's dad's middle name (he passed away May 2008) was Benjamin. His granddaddy's name (he passed away August 2007) was Bennie. His great, great-grandfather's name was Pappy Ben. We are honoring not only the Lord but many generations of the Johnson family.
Hope this helps us to remember why our son's name was changed... What is with his name? It's perfect and straight from the Lord.
39 weeks today...
Of course, I ached over changing our baby's name, simply because I am human and couldn't help but think of all of the monogrammed bags, paintings, and thank you notes we purchased and were given and had sent out that all said, "Elijah Thomas." Although that name was particularly special to us, we quickly learned that God had other intentions for this baby's name. Thus, Daniel Benjamin was spoken in my husband's ear.
Many people have asked why we would change a name just weeks before our due date, and others have questioned whether this is what God intended. Many women become quite distraught over the idea, as I did when it was first brought to my attention, and many of you have wondered if we even like the new name.
Yes and no. No because it wasn't what we chose for him. We've been calling this baby Elijah from Week 18 when we saw his little hands "praying" on the ultrasound screen. However, as the weeks have passed, we have learned what a gift this little boy truly is to us. How God has knit him in my womb, taken away fluid from around his kidneys, grown him into a large boy, and brought his parents to their knees in humility. Then, the Lord began showing us the "why" around our baby's new name, Daniel Benjamin.
Daniel:
Did you know that Daniel biblically means, "God is My Judge"? If you knew what all we have gone through and how we've been judged over the course of the actions we've taken for the Lord, you'd feel as humbled by this fact as we are. We feel as though God truly has been our judge. He's been the deciding vote in all we have done. He's the one who has defended our actions, and He will continue to do so. I bet you didn't know that my Nana, who passed away just a few months after we were married, had intended on her first child being named Daniel. Turns out her first child was my mom. My Nana's favorite name was Daniel, and though she never had a boy of her own, I'm certain that she would be thrilled to know her first great-grandchild will be named that favorite name of hers.
Benjamin:
Did you know that Benjamin means, "Son of My Right Hand"? Jacob, the father of Israel, struggled with his twelfth son's name when he was being delivered. As his wife, Rachel, bore this son, she named him, "Ben-Oni," which meant, "Son of My Sorrow." Oh, do you know how perfect that is for us? Do you know the sorrow we have faced? Did you know that it was the day after my husband's mother died that the Lord began pressing him to rename our baby? Brian struggled with our baby's name as well. It hurt him to hurt me and let go of a name that had meant so much to us... But, Benjamin, well, it was perfect. Benjamin also happens to be a family name. Brian's dad's middle name (he passed away May 2008) was Benjamin. His granddaddy's name (he passed away August 2007) was Bennie. His great, great-grandfather's name was Pappy Ben. We are honoring not only the Lord but many generations of the Johnson family.
Hope this helps us to remember why our son's name was changed... What is with his name? It's perfect and straight from the Lord.
39 weeks today...
Delivering Daniel
Have you ever truly read the story of Daniel in the Bible? I hadn't. Well, that is, until my husband decided just six weeks before the due date of our son that his name was to be Daniel.
I was devastated to be completely honest. For four, long months of my pregnancy, I had called this little miracle Elijah. My husband was so burdened, though, that I could not ignore the fact that God was speaking to him about our child's name. Far be it from me to question that voice.
It was then that I began searching the scriptures about Daniel. I knew he had been in the lion's den, but I truly didn't know enough about him to be confident about naming my child this particular name. Did you know that God gave Daniel and three other young men knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom? Did you know he fasted for twenty-one days? Did you know that the Lord gave him the ability to interpret dreams? Did you know he was a prophet that loved God? I didn't. I had no idea.
It was the deliverance of the Lord that got Daniel out of the lion's den. It was the deliverance of the Lord that allowed Daniel to be a mighty man in the king's court. It was the deliverance of the Lord that provided him with great understanding. It was the deliverance of the Lord that caused him to speak with wisdom concerning the ways of God.
I soon will be delivering a Daniel of my own. I anticipate with great joy what the Lord has in store for this little boy. Though I realize my child isn't the Daniel I read about in the Bible, I have to believe that the same power the Old Testament Daniel had is the same power that will live inside of my son. God is good. We anticipate His hand as He delivers our Daniel to us...
I was devastated to be completely honest. For four, long months of my pregnancy, I had called this little miracle Elijah. My husband was so burdened, though, that I could not ignore the fact that God was speaking to him about our child's name. Far be it from me to question that voice.
It was then that I began searching the scriptures about Daniel. I knew he had been in the lion's den, but I truly didn't know enough about him to be confident about naming my child this particular name. Did you know that God gave Daniel and three other young men knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom? Did you know he fasted for twenty-one days? Did you know that the Lord gave him the ability to interpret dreams? Did you know he was a prophet that loved God? I didn't. I had no idea.
It was the deliverance of the Lord that got Daniel out of the lion's den. It was the deliverance of the Lord that allowed Daniel to be a mighty man in the king's court. It was the deliverance of the Lord that provided him with great understanding. It was the deliverance of the Lord that caused him to speak with wisdom concerning the ways of God.
I soon will be delivering a Daniel of my own. I anticipate with great joy what the Lord has in store for this little boy. Though I realize my child isn't the Daniel I read about in the Bible, I have to believe that the same power the Old Testament Daniel had is the same power that will live inside of my son. God is good. We anticipate His hand as He delivers our Daniel to us...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)