give us three hours and it will all make sense again
by willeya
“Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid. What is was, she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her.” -Little Women
i have been telling ben for a while now that i miss us - not us the parents, cleaning-cooking duo, couple friend, or ministry partners – but just us. this weekend between the three parties and one concert we hosted and attended, he began to feel this too. so today after work we left atticus at nana’s a couple hours longer and snuck off to dinner and the bookstore. sipping coffee, searching for baby names to bestow on our littlest one in my tummy is by far my favorite date of all time. if that’s all having children was, i’d have a thousand.
ben feels that more than us is getting past him, so he ordered his life with a list of goals that will bring him back. as i read his goals, it reminded me of someone i once knew. me in high school, spending hours with God, not leaving until i found peace. me in college, reading books and praying with girlfriends. me in grad school, writing life mission statements and reading more books.
i told ben that if i were to make resolutions to get that person back, atticus would become a burden, keeping me from all the rest. besides work, i keep my days open slates for me to meet our basic needs and for him to write on. it’s not that i will never return to a life of intention and resolutions, it’s just that too much purpose gets in the way of who i really want to be right now – a present, contented mom of young kids.
i was going to tell you a true {free} story that one has called a “story for the ages”, but Ben wants to start The Hobbit together. there were a couple of things on his life list that move me along too; i am grateful he is there, providing the broad brush strokes that paint our life picture, while i follow behind, filling in spots that he left with the detail and color of following through. one of his goals is for us to read together. it’s been so long since i’ve read a classic.
instead of the story that would take too long to tell, i will leave you with a list of boy names that we found tonight that means peace, which is the vision we have for our second son…and his name. not a lot to work with, but we will find the perfect one. feel free to pick a favorite.
Aaru—Egyptian—peaceful
Absalom—Hebrew, father of peace
Axel—Danish, German, father of peace (a form of Absalom)
Calum—Celtic—dove, symbol of peace
Casimir—Slavic, peaceful leader
Colm—Celtic, dove, symbol of peace
Frederick—German, peaceful ruler
Geoffrey—pledge of peace, God’s peace
Godfrey—English, peace of God
Halim–Arabic, peaceful, gentle
Humphrey—German, peaceful warrior
Jonah—Hebrew, dove, symbol of peace
Kynaston—English, royal peace settlement
Milo—German, peaceful, mild (among other possible meanings)
Oliver—Latin, the olive branch is the symbol of peace
Paciano—Latin, peaceful
Pax—Latin, peace—Roman god of peace
Paxton—Latin, peaceful village
Paz—Spanish, peace
Placido—Spanish, peaceful
Salamon—Hungarian, peace (version of Solomon)
Salem—Hebrew, peace (related to Shalom and Solomon)
Shalom—Hebrew, peaceful
Sheehan—Celtic, peaceful
Shiloh—Hebrew, place of peace
Shlomo—Hebrew, peace
Siegfried—German, peaceful victory
Solomon—Hebrew, peaceful
Wilfred—English, hopeful of peace
And I am just finding time to read blogs again myself….a season of peace and regrouping perhaps :) I think I like Salem so far of the above….but the little one will define it and it will be just right whatever the name. Love, love, love, mom
I like Humphrey. knowing names get shortened, the idea of calling him, “Humph!!”…too appealing to pass up.
dad
Hmm, I’m tempted to vote for this one too! ;-)
I love Salem. It’s been on my list every time.
Wilfred schlomo Willey. Can’t fathom how we could name him anything else:). Love you and at peace with our peace direction even most of the above names are *ahem* interesting.
I like Axel actually. Also Colm, but maybe because it reminds me of Cole, my own dove boy…
Shiloh used to be my way favorite girls name but Tom didn’t like it….
I actually don’t think that list of names is weird at all, maybe I tend to like the not so normal ones…
I also like Oliver. And calum.
wow, such great names! I like several: salem, paciano (sounds spanish), possibly axel and oliver. paxton is one i hear sometimes recently. gotta think how this name will fit this child as a boy, teenager, adult. sure you are on to that. love, mom
Hi, just me again. aunt mary and i were talking today. she and uncle bob were discussing names for the new willey baby. so i told her about your names meaning peace. she liked salem when i told her about salem and axel. didnt go into many of the others. love you, mom
You could always go through the list of Nobel Peace Prize winners and pick names from there, or find characters from books and history that helped to negotiate peace, bring peace, maintain peace, etc. That is, of course, if you don’t go with Ben’s suggestion of Wilfred Schlomo Willey.
Calum, Colm and Milo are my top picks. I think this is very special to have a specific thought in mind when choosing your little guy’s name. We have some ideas but nothing serious yet. And, I feel like I fill my days too much sometimes too & then end being irritable and cranky…especially at this time in my life when I am so much more fatigued. It’s not fair to my sweet Jaz! Thank you for the reminder to keep open slates and let her fill them. Wish you were closer, An :-( I love you dearly!