So where did these names come from, you might ask? Because many others are asking, I thought I'd post away on it!
Will's grandma Susie (Anna's great-grandma) has lived out before us a beautiful picture of Anna, the prophetess in the New Testament...
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about 84 years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." -Luke 2:36-38
Our grandma Susie has been a widow, lover, follower and minister of Jesus Christ and His gospel for many long years. (And what a special gift it was to her to be able to be here when we found out what baby Anna was!) This was a picture of grandma Susie and a name that God laid on my heart for a girl before we even knew we were pregnant, so we pray that this wee little package from Him will grow to love and serve and follow at an early age, just like her namesakes. "Anna" actually means "favored by God or gracious" and we already believe she is a gracious and favored gift from above! Another cool part too, that we just found out this weekend, is that 2 different grandmas on Will's paternal side both had Ann or Anna in their names as well!
Malia is a different one, not one I would have expected Will would have been a fan off, since it was a little unique and didn't have a deep meaning or namesake that we could trace it back to (Will's major criteria for naming a child). I was in Polynesian dancing on and off from the age of 5-25 years old. So when I heard the name as we were discussing girl names, I decided that any girl-o-mine would have to have a little hula in her hips! "Malia" is a Hawaiian variant of the name "Mary" and has many meanings: perhaps, probably, bitter, wished for child and calm and peaceful waters. We'll probably stick w/one of the last 2, with so many options, one should have a right to choose, right?! The funniest part is...Will is just in love with this name and it is the main name that he communicates with, to his little princess. Gotta love it how God works both of our hearts to love and enjoy the names of the babes that He bestows into our care! He's just that concerned with those intimate details of life.
Will's grandma Susie (Anna's great-grandma) has lived out before us a beautiful picture of Anna, the prophetess in the New Testament...
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about 84 years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." -Luke 2:36-38
Our grandma Susie has been a widow, lover, follower and minister of Jesus Christ and His gospel for many long years. (And what a special gift it was to her to be able to be here when we found out what baby Anna was!) This was a picture of grandma Susie and a name that God laid on my heart for a girl before we even knew we were pregnant, so we pray that this wee little package from Him will grow to love and serve and follow at an early age, just like her namesakes. "Anna" actually means "favored by God or gracious" and we already believe she is a gracious and favored gift from above! Another cool part too, that we just found out this weekend, is that 2 different grandmas on Will's paternal side both had Ann or Anna in their names as well!
Malia is a different one, not one I would have expected Will would have been a fan off, since it was a little unique and didn't have a deep meaning or namesake that we could trace it back to (Will's major criteria for naming a child). I was in Polynesian dancing on and off from the age of 5-25 years old. So when I heard the name as we were discussing girl names, I decided that any girl-o-mine would have to have a little hula in her hips! "Malia" is a Hawaiian variant of the name "Mary" and has many meanings: perhaps, probably, bitter, wished for child and calm and peaceful waters. We'll probably stick w/one of the last 2, with so many options, one should have a right to choose, right?! The funniest part is...Will is just in love with this name and it is the main name that he communicates with, to his little princess. Gotta love it how God works both of our hearts to love and enjoy the names of the babes that He bestows into our care! He's just that concerned with those intimate details of life.
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
-Proverbs 22:1
So, here's our little Anna Malia...
