Long ago in a world far far away, when Kerry and I were dating we picked baby names. We knew we were getting married, we hoped for children and we had a long drive back to Manhattan from visiting home. The wedding planning was done, so we talked baby names.
We were married when we were 19 and our first son was born 17 months later in November. We used the first boy name we had on our list. Gabriel David was born on November 22, 2002. He was born 3 weeks early because I had a pregnancy induced rash that was miserable! He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long.
Two years and a day later our second son Otto Daniel was born on November 23, 2004. We took a little longer picking his name, in fact we hadn’t decided completely on it until the night before he was born. He was much smaller than Gabe at 6lbs 9oz and 17 1/2 inches long (our nurse and sister Kristi measured him 3 times to be sure). As our siblings got married and had children we hoped they wouldn’t us our girl name. In fact, I think it was kind of an unwritten rule that this name was “ours”…don’t touch it. 🙂
On November 19, 2008 we welcomed our 3rd son Ezekiel Jackson. He was our first “non-Kansas” baby and also our biggest at 8lbs 6 oz. After 4 years of not having an infant, we were delighted to be back in this stage of babyhood again.
Titus James is our “odd ball” not being born in November. He was born August 26, 2010 at home before the midwife got here. He weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long. He had the most hair of all my boys. I should point out that ever since Gabe was born, Kerry had been waiting and wanting to use the name Titus. I joke I consented because I was running out of ideas after the first 3.
On December 3, 2011 we had another son, Knox Cornelius. We were blessed to be pregnant with him for 15 weeks. We anticipate the day we get to meet him when we go to Heaven. I have lost 2 other children early on in my pregnancy, one in October of 2003 and one on November 15, 2009.
After waiting for over 10 (almost 11) years we will get to use our girl name. Our daughter’s name has special meaning to us. She will be named after Kerry’s Grandma Plett who died in Spring of 2007. She was a special lady and had such faith. We celebrate her and the legacy she and Grandpa Plett passed on in their family. The love, faith and trust in God. The love shared. Our daughter’s first name will be Lillian. I should note here, that we generally do not share names before our babies are born simply because we don’t want to invite commentary. However, we want to share her name now so that you can pray along with us for our daughter by name.
Her middle name will be Faith. We have relied on God for this baby, we have trusted Him and we have praised Him. We rejoice, but with the diagnosis we received this week I find myself needing the faith so much more. Faith that God will help us navigate this path, faith that He won’t bring us to anything we can’t handle.
God is faithful, He will do what He says He will do, He will be with us every step of the way. I trust that God has a purpose for this journey, even if I don’t know why. I know that God has knit this baby together in my womb for our family. He created our daughter for us to care for and love, for however long that may be. I still struggle with fear about what lies ahead for us, I still struggle to understand, but I have to give each of those things to Him. He knows and He helps.
Thank you God for our daughter Lillian Faith.
How you can pray for Lillian today:
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Pray that she will be born alive and at term (in November)
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Pray that she will have a healthy heart and won’t have any heart defects
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Pray for peace and understanding for me
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Pray for wisdom for the doctors
all our kind thoughts from our household are with you. Lillian is a gorgeous name! I hope she arrives happy, healthy, and well to join your family. 🙂
As Grandma Lillian’s only son, I am thrilled to think think that Lillian Sarah will be remembered in the life of Lillian Faith!! I pray that Faith will grow into the image of Sarah…an image not distant from The Son. Thanks for sharing this wonderful news!! (PS- Lillian Sarah graduated to Glory on June 1, 2007, rather than in May.)
Lillian Faith. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl that God is knitting in your womb.
Congratulations! What a beautiful name and new creation. Thank you for your open sharing. We are praying for all of you, your doctors, and health for little Lillian Faith. I believe her Great Grandma’s prayers are following her as she was a great prayer warrior especially for her family. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” was our family Hymn. Love, Ruth & Tim
I love her name. My grandma was named Lillian. Thank you for sharing. I absolutely adore the picture of little Knox’s arm.
Our Mother Lillian is honored by the sharing of her name… how beautiful! And if she were here, she would be praying earnestly for little Lillian Faith – as we want to continue doing, holding you all up. So sad for the deep pain you are experiencing. Thanks for sharing. Our prayers are for you.