The NAME Above All Names

"Naming is Edenic. I name gifts and go back to the Garden and God in the beginning who first speaks a name and less what is come into existence. This naming is how the first emptiness of space fills: the naming of light and land and sky. The first man's first task is to name. Adam completes creation with his Maker through the act of naming creatures, releasing the land from chaos, from the teeming indefinable mass. I am seeing it too, in the journal, in the face of the Farmer: naming offers the gift of recognition. When I name moments--string out laundry and name-pray, thank You, Lord, for bedsheets in billowing winds, for fluff of sparrow landing on line, sun winter warm, and one last leaf still hanging in the orchard--I am Adam and I discover my meaning and God's, and to name is to learn the language of Paradise. This naming work never ends for all the children of Adam. Naming to find an identity, our identity, God's."
-Ten Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

I have read the first two chapters of Genesis numerous times, but I am seeing it differently now. I am realizing how important names are to God and, above all, how important God's name is. it is interesting to me that as God was creating this amazing universe He was naming it. Naming brings order. To name something is to know it's essence. A name helps us understand the fullness of a thing. God gave us His name so that we could know Him. We are to worship in His name, pray in His name, Fear His name, praise His Name, gather in His name, and glorify His name.

When Moses encounters God at the burning bush Moses says to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The YHVH, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation."
-Exodus 3:13-15

Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7).

Compounds of El:

El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1, 2).

El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).

El Olam: “The Everlasting God.” Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness (Gen. 16:13).

Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).

JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim). From the verb "to be", havah, similar to chavah (to live), "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written "YHWH" without vowel points. The tetragrammaton. Josh., Judges, Sam., and Kings use Jehovah almost exclusively. The love of God is conditioned upon His moral and spiritual attributes. (Dan. 9:14; Ps. 11:7; Lev. 19:2; Hab. 1:12). Note Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh'ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.

Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character

JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.

JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.

JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6.

JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies" "To make whole, set apart for holiness." The Lord says: "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy." (Leviticus 20:7-8)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected." Related to "well," welfare." Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.

SHEPHERD: Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11.

JUDGE: Psa. 7:8, 96:13.

JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU "The Lord Our Righteousness" Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.

JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh" (to pasture).

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35).

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:4, Rev. 19: 11-16).


EL ELYON: 'Most High" (from "to go up") Deut. 26:19, 32:8; Psa. 18:13; Gen. 14:18; Nu. 24:16; Psa. 78:35, 7:17, 18:13, 97:9, 56:2, 78:56, 18:13; Dan. 7:25, 27; Isa. 14:14.

ABIR: 'Mighty One', ("to be strong") Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1.

BRANCH: (tsemach), The Branch: Zech. 3:8, 6:12; Isa. 4:2; Jer. 23:5, 33:15.
KADOSH: "Holy One" Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17. Isaiah uses the expression "the Holy One of Israel" 29 times.

SHAPHAT: "Judge" Gen. 18:25

EL ROI: "God of Seeing" Hagar in Gen. 16:13. The God Who opens our eyes.

KANNA: "Jealous" (zealous). Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 5:9; Isa. 9:7; Zech. 1:14, 8:2.

PALET: "Deliverer" Psa. 18:2.

YESHUA: (Yeshua) "Savior" ("he will save"). Isa. 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Joshua." The latter is a contraction of Je-Hoshua. ("Christ", the anointed one is equivalent to the Hebrew Maschiah, or Messiah). [See Wikipedia article].

GAOL: "Redeemer" (to buy back by paying a price). Job 19:25; For example, the antitype corresponding to Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer in the Book of Ruth.

MAGEN: "Shield" Psa. 3:3, 18:30.

STONE: (eben) Gen. 49:24

EYALUTH: "Strength" Psa. 22:19.

TSADDIQ: "Righteous One" Psa. 7:9.

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (God of everlasting time) Gen. 21:33; Psa. 90:1-3, 93:2; Isa. 26:4.

EL-BERITH: "God of the Covenant" Used of Baal in Judges 9:46. Probably used originally to refer to the God of israel.

EL-GIBHOR: Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)

TSUR: "God our Rock" Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29.

Beautiful Babies Born At Home

I received some devastating news this week. My midwife, Amy Medwin, was arrested. She is an amazing woman who has helped women have beautiful births at home for over 30 years now. She is a CPM (certified professional midwife) and can practice legally in all the surrounding states of SC, TN, and VA. I believe women should have the right to choose the health care that they are most comfortable with, but North Carolina doesn't believe women should have that choice. They think we should let the "experts" (the people that supposedly know more about having babies than the mothers themselves) decide. It doesn't make sense to me that in NC a woman who has had a c-section can choose to have subsequent children via elective c-section in a hospital but a woman can't choose to have a v-bac at home with a licensed midwife. Which option seems healthier for the mother and the baby, having a major surgery or having a baby naturally in a natural environment? I know the answer because I have experienced both sides. I had a c-section in the hospital with our first child and it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I never fully got over it until I had my first v-bac at home. When I was pregnant with our 2nd child I visited 4 different doctors who told me I would have no other choice but to have a repeat c-section and weren't even willing to let me try to have a v-bac. Then I went to a CNM (certified nurse midwife) who told me she would TRY to support me in having a v-bac but if I didn't have the baby in less than 12 hours then they would have to do a repeat cesarean. I knew I could do it, so why weren't they willing to support me? I knew I had to find another option and that was when I turned towards home birth.
I met my wonderful midwife half way through my 2nd pregnancy. She had delivered numerous v-bacs at home and told me she would support me 100%. She seemed to believe that having a v-bac would be no problem at all. I knew that I had found my best option. My first v-bac was very long and the hospital would have definitely made me have another c-section. But Amy allowed me time, space and freedom to labor the way that I needed to. Caleb came after 26 hours and Amy was by my side the entire time. She slept on my couch. She rubbed by back. She talked to me in her calm voice, reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. And it was more than ok. It was triumphant. When Caleb was born and I held him in my own bed, in my own house, I felt like my entire terrible hospital experience was redeemed. I did it. I knew I could. Amy's confidence and encouragement liberated me- she believed in me when no one else did. It was empowering to know that I did something that the "experts" told me I could not and should not do. Each birth after that was faster and easier. Having my babies at home was the BEST decision I ever made in my life.
My hope is that her arrest will stir up such a commotion that the state will have to make it legal for CPM's to practice in NC. You can read another testimony here and go here to read more about this situation and find out what you can do to support Amy and other midwives in NC.


Caleb was my first v-bac. There is a joke that a woman in labor will find the smallest space possible and decide to have her baby there. That was really true with this birth. We squeezed a birthing pool into our small farmhouse bedroom giving barely enough room for us and the midwives. It was a very quiet birth... mostly because I was so tired. The labor was very long and exhausting but I knew I could do it and so did Amy!

Jonas was my 2nd v-bac. I labored through the night, cleaning every inch of the house while everyone else was sleeping. This time the length of the labor was half the time of the first. Amy arrived about 2 hours before Jonas arrived and helped me move him out of a back labor position. This was the birth of the primal scream heard around the world. We all laughed about it afterwards...but it wasn't too funny at the time:)

Ezra was my 3rd v-bac. My labor was cut in half again. His birth was, by far, my easiest. Amy's calm voice helped me focus and before I knew it I was holding him in my arms.

Silly baby with her pants too high! Adara was my 4th v-bac. The labor was 6 hours long, but very intense. Amy recommended that I get in the tub and it was exactly what I needed to do. I was able to relax a little in between contractions. When it came time to push, it only took one strong push and she was here. I was determined to have that part over with quickly:)

Caleb, servant of the Lord

I prayed for Caleb daily. I got pregnant with Elijah so quickly that I thought it would work out the same way for our second child... but that didn't happen. I started wondering if there was something wrong with me and I wasn't sure why it was taking so long for me to conceive. Then 6 months later, the month that I just KNEW I couldn't be pregnant, his little body started forming in my womb. I remember my pregnancy with him as my healthiest. I ate sweets maybe 2 times during the whole pregnancy, I ate lots of raw foods, had "green" shakes, and walked everyday. When it was close to my due date I started to get anxious that my body wouldn't do what it was made to do- which is what happened with Elijah... (who was 2 weeks overdue, never a single contraction, ending in a c-section). I was way too naive that first time. This time would be different. I always joke that I willed Caleb here. I had him on his due date after 26 hours of labor... born at 2 a.m. I did it! My first v-bac, my first real labor- redeeming the first... Matt cried, I couldn't stop smiling. The funniest thing was that for 3 years after he was born the stop watch we used from his birth had an alarm that would go off at 2 a.m. every morning, though we never purposefully set it up to do that:) God's little way of bringing me back to that joyful day.
Then Caleb turned into the baby that NEVER stopped crying. I tried everything. Nursing, rocking, patting, swaying, walking, driving... but nothing seemed to help. From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. every night like clockwork he cried and did. not. stop. Some nights I wanted to burst out of the back door and go running down the road so that I wouldn't have to hear him cry anymore. It drove me crazy that I couldn't do anything to comfort him. Eventually that ended, only a few short months later (but it seemed like forever).
Then he turned into the sweetest, fattest little baby... though he was never much interested in smiling. Always very serious. Desiring to be big like Elijah, he stopped taking naps when he was 2. That was hard because we now had little baby Jo-Jo. That year was a blur. Ezra was being knit in the womb, we bought our first house, Matt was coaching soccer and that was the year that Caleb almost broke me. He just turned 3 and he was such a wild heart. He would throw the biggest fits you have ever seen... red-faced, thrashing body, pulling hair. I tried spanking, time-outs, "tomato staking", natural consequences and nothing seemed to work. I was so frustrated. What was I doing wrong? I wasn't really sure what to do. Then I birthed Ezra. Now having a newborn baby, a 2 yr. old, a 3 yr. old and a 6 year old that I was trying to homeschool, it turned out to be a very challenging year to say the least. Then something happened. Caleb turned 4 and he turned a corner. He was happy. He started controlling himself and he has never thrown one of those wild fits since then. He started begging for people to take his picture- smiling big and all the time. He started discovering who he was and what he liked instead of always following and doing what Elijah was doing. He still had moments of passion where his strong spirit would surface but nothing like before. Then an even funnier thing happened when he turned 5. We shaved his head and he was a totally new kid. We always joke that it was like Samson when his hair was cut off- it kind of took his power away. That day when we shaved Caleb's hair he became the happiest kid in our family. Strange but true.
I LOVE the person he is becoming. There were days that I was worried about who he was going to become. Now my heart swells with happiness over him. He his the most tender-hearted child. Out of all the children he is the most affectionate- always wanting hugs and kisses. When I read him stories he likes to play with my hair and he already talks about wanting to get married. It is funny. That thought doesn't even cross the minds of the other boys, but he thinks about it a lot. Caleb is extremely patient with the younger kids- especially Ezra (who is similar to him in many ways). He shows initiative- if he sees that someone needs help, whether it is me, a sibling or a friend, he will help them without me having to ask him to. He is the one that thinks deep- asking me questions that I don't always have answers for- like where is God? and what does He look like? Why did God make poisonous snakes and alligators? Caleb is the one that will work with his hands. He likes challenges and problems that he can solve. He loves to hear the story of his name-about the Caleb in the bible- name meaning "servant of the Lord", a spy and soldier, trusting that God will deliver, rewarded for his faith- we pray that our Caleb will be as faithful and that his heart would always be confident in God's deliverance.
So take heart, dear friends. If you are in the midst of a challenging season with your child, just stay in prayer. God WILL give you wisdom and patience; and, eventually your child WILL turn the corner.


never a real smiley baby, but still very adorable


always very pensive


the wild year


turning the corner


cutting the hair, a totally new kid with the strength of a joyful spirit

Goat Study

We just finished studying goats at The Cottage. We have a really amazing goat farm around here that our family has visited a few times, but it is a good way out of town so we went to The Natural Science Center farm instead:) It's not exactly rolling pastures, but the kids got to brush the goats and look at them up close, so it served the purpose.


We mostly learned about the typical domestic goats, but I also made some other interesting goat discoveries in the process. Have you ever heard of fainting goats? Click here to watch a video of these funny little creatures.


This is a picture that Elijah drew of a fainting goat.

Goat are ruminants, which means they have a four-compartment stomach; they "chew the cud". Caleb found this very fascinating, so he drew a picture of it.


I also discovered the moroccan tree climbing goats. Click here to watch a video of these guys. Who knew goats could climb trees? Very funny.

Other interesting goat facts:
They have rectangular pupils and are thought to have excellent night vision
Their hooves always grow just like fingernails and have to be regularly trimmed
They can jump up to 5 feet high
They are actually very picky eaters... no, they don't eat clothes or cans or other random objects

Mr. Potato... Cup?

I went into the kitchen to make lunch the other day and I stumbled across this funny character sitting on the counter...



I am so thankful for all the little ways the kids make me smile and laugh throughout the day.