The name we have chosen for our baby girl.....

Since we first found out we were expecting a baby girl, we have been asked many times if we have a name picked out for her. The answer was always yes. So I thought I would take a few (okay maybe more if you read all the way through it) minutes explaining the name we have chosen.

From the minute I found out that I was expecting, things seemed different this time around. I felt off, so took a pregnancy test earlier than I would normally expect to see a positive. To my surprise, there was a very light but obvious positive line. Over the next several days, they got dark..and fast! By the time my cycle was due, it was so much darker than the test line. This what began my suspicions on the gender of the baby. After the initial excitement,most of the next two months seemed a blur. Please read previous posts so you understand why.

As hard as those couple months were with the emotional ups and downs, God was already beginning top to show that He was in control. As much as my ears were hearing what the doc was telling me, my heart was telling me the complete opposite. There was a strong push from the doc telling me that he was certain this baby was not "viable". But I had absolutely no peace. God was telling me the complete opposite. So, do I listen to this man or God? The choice was easy and I am so thankful that I listened to that still small voice. To think that we could have killed our baby still blows my mind away. Thank you God!!

But again, God knew what I needed exactly when I needed it. Part of that need came in the form of a very special friendship that is a blessing beyond words. Through my high and low moments, etc, God allowed many people to be an encouragement, but to give me someone who was going through the same thing at the exact same time, still leaves me in awe.

Over a year ago, God allowed a sweet friendship to begin to grow. We have known each other for years, but we're not what I would call close friends. Through a series of events, we were able to share many things our lives. I truly believe God knew how much we would need each other in the months to come. Little did I know how important that friendship would be during this time. This precious lady's name is Joy. She has been a priceless value to our family lately. I pray that I can be at least half a part of her life as she has been in mine.

She found out that she was expecting another blessing a little over a week before we found out that we were also expecting. That in itself was great, but the events over the next few weeks allowed a deeper friendship to form. I started having "issues" with this current pregnancy, and she also began having almost the exact same issues issues with hers. The only real difference was that my doc was telling me that there was no hope and my pregnancy would not continue, while her docs were saying everything was normal. There were many phone calls shared, and through the laughter and tears, we were able to encourage each other like no one else really could. Do you see?!?! God knew what our family needed.

One evening, I got a phone call from my sweet friend. She was in the hospital. Over the next couple weeks, she ended up miscarrying her precious gift who is now in the arms of Jesus. That was hard for me because my heart hurt for her. At that point, I had gotten a second opinion, and knew that we had a "viable" pregnancy (at least at that moment). All three of us (my hubby, myself, and Joy) all thought that this baby was a girl due to all the differences already. But only time would tell.

As my hubby and I pondered names one evening, we both liked the name Anna for a girl, but nothing was for sure. We were having a hard time settling on a middle name. Would we 1)name her after my side, 2)name her after my husband's side, or 3)did God already have another name already chosen? The answer is number 3!!

One evening, I was talking on the phone with Joy. I can recall exactly that moment laying on the couch while on bed rest. Through the conversation we were having, it just came to me. I knew at that moment the name that God had for us if we had a baby girl. But I didn't say anything that day. I wanted to talk to my husband first of course.

After talking to my husband, we both agreed that the name was a perfect fit, that is, if we did end up with a girl. The next day while talking with Joy, I shared with her the name we really felt lead by the Lord to name a girl. We also shared the meaning behind the name. It just seemed so perfect. It fit!! It was a perfect name. And I will always think about my sweet friend whenever I think about this time in my life and the experience we have shared. At the same time, I will remember this time and her loss as well as our friendship with a full heart. The name is perfect!! A name full of meaning. So here you go everyone:

The first name we have chosen is Anna. Anna means grace!! It is nothing more than God's grace that this baby is alive right now. If we would have listened to man instead of the Lord, our baby girl would not be alive today in my womb. I love the name!! I love the meaning behind it, and that it will always give us opportunity to give God all the glory for this precious one's life. Such meaning to us. Great witnessing opportunity!! It is perfect!

The middle name we have chosen is Joy!! Again...perfect. Because of God's grace, imagine the "joy" we will have the first time we are able to hold our precious daughter. That day when this name came to me while talking to Joy, I couldn't have felt more a sense of peace. It goes perfect together and gives a powerful and meaningful name to a very previous baby, while honoring someone special to us. It just felt right. And my friend Joy has been a blessing to to me in ways that I could ever imagine. A Godly encouragement. I will never forget the times through our pregnancies that we shared. I truly hope that when she sees our baby girl, it will be a moment that we both never forget. I want her to know how precious she has been to both me and my family!!

Joy, you are a treasure and I am so thankful for our friendship and all that we have been ale to share with each other. I hope you know how special you truly are!!!

So there you have it...here is the name we have chosen for our sweet baby girl...a power packed name...full of meaning...and giving God all the glory:

Anna Joy