What's in a Name?

(This is copied from our ministry blog, so some of you may have read already):

After many weeks of trying to decide the perfect name for our wee little girl, we finally chose one! We had been praying for just the right one, and it came to us at church as we were singing a song with "Hallelujah" in the chorus. Kristin thought, "Gosh, I love that word! What name could we get out of it?" Then it came to her...Halle! (Pronounced like Allie but with an H). This fit perfectly with a thought Shane had previously: The due date is a year from the date we moved, which is an amazing affirmation of God’s faithfulness. As we look back on our year in East St. Louis, we're excited to take her name from "hallelujah" because it means "praise and thanksgiving", and we have much for which to praise and thank our Lord.

Her middle name is Isabella, after Isabella Lilias Trotter (known as Lilias), who ministered to disadvantaged women during the 1800s. She was born to an upper-class family in England in 1853. When she was a young woman, God called her to love and serve poor women on the streets of London. She taught them job skills, helped them find work, and also shared with them the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Lilias chose this life instead of pursuing a career in art, even though a famous artist desired to mentor her and encouraged her to forsake these marginalized women in favor of the opportunity for fame and riches in art. She later moved to Algeria to share the news of her merciful Savior with Arab women.

We pray that Halle Isabella will experience the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and live a life that gives much praise and thanksgiving to our great God. Also, we pray she will be one who boldly loves and serves others, regardless of their race, wealth, or social status. Thank you for praying with and for us for this little child!