I've always been fascinated by name meanings, or at least I have since the point where I first started reading through the Bible seriously. I was about ten at that point, so it seems like always. As you go through the Bible stories, there are so many times where a comment is made about what a name means. Of course, I go looking into my name and it is b-o-r-i-n-g! More on that later.
When the Homeschool Review Crew had the chance to review a
Personalized Framed Plaque with Name Meaning and Bible Verse from
CrossTimber, I was really excited. For my kids. Because, for the most part, I had done more than just try to come up with names that sounded good when we were naming everyone. I tried to have names that meant something.
By something, I mean more than just what little Baby Name sites tell you. We chose names that belonged to family members we admire. My grandfathers. My dad and brother. My entire paternal line (with a maiden name of Williams, and a son named William -- well, he's named after simply everybody!) Dale's grandfather (who died when Dale was really little) and the grandfather he actually knew (so a step-grandfather, I suppose). My grandmother. A couple of friends.
But we also looked at what those names meant according to the little baby books. My boys pretty much all have names that include "defender" or "strength" in one of the meanings, for instance.
CrossTimber creates name meaning products to help uplift and encourage you.
I intended to get products for each of my kids. It's a big year for most of them.
- Connor just headed off to college, and I really think he needs the grounding of a 'this is who you are' reminder. "He who seeks God's Perspective."
- William is about to turn 18. What a perfect time for a 'this is what you are to be' gift. "One with a Desire to Protect"
- Thomas is about to turn 16. Hello. Big year for him too. He needs a 'remember who you are' gift. "Blessed Abundantly by God."
- Richard will turn 13 in a few months. Cannot believe I am this close to having four teen sons. I want him to be aware of the kind of man he is to become. "One with a Heart of Compassion."
- I asked about Trina too, though 11 isn't a milestone birthday or anything. Her name echoes Connor's. "Seeker of God's Perspective."
All of them turned out perfect for them.
I ordered the "artist's choice" frame, and John Dehnart messaged me back to find out if these would be hanging together or separately. The idea was that he could try to coordinate frames if they were going to be all together. I told him that the kids were probably going to be together right now, but as most of them are older teens now, it isn't for long. I'd rather have the perfect frame for each one and not worry if they look okay as a group. As it turns out, the boys still at home coordinate really well. Connor's is very different. Trina's is very different.
It is perfect.
I also told him that the ones for Dale & I will probably end up together in the long run, though I was envisioning them going up "at work" as a reminder to us in our daily lives as to who we are in God's eyes. Bottom line was that I'd like it if ours looked good together.
I love that the frames are not identical. Each is right for the image inside, but they do really look nice together.
These are beautiful products, and the photos I took don't do them justice. But the best reason to support this company is the amazing customer service.
I mentioned above how I always disliked my name from the whole name meaning thing. When I asked John about what he'd come up with for my kids, I threw in this comment as well: "And I probably won't do anything with it, but I'd love to know what you come up with for Debra too. Everything always tells me my name means 'bee' and that is beyond boring."
His response literally made me cry. I don't cry easily, for the record.
Oh, but Debra! Bees aren’t boring! Bees were designed with so many rich qualities, that there’s a host of characteristics you could apply to a name meaning! They’re organized, industrious, hard working, precise in their communications, and they bring life to millions of plants that would otherwise die.
Debra
Hebrew
Honey Bee, Enabler of Fruitfulness:
One of Leadership and Organization
Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and altogether righteous. They are to be more desired than gold, than much pure gold: they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
You know, you should put that on your TOS desk. Those character qualities definitely show your skills for coordinating all these Review Crew details!
Seriously. Dale heard that, accused the guy of flirting with me, told me he was absolutely right, and then told me I needed not just the print, but a mug as well. Here's the result:
All of that really got me thinking. I never pressed my parents as to why they chose Debra. Mom told me once that I wasn't named after anyone, but she just liked the name. In reading what John wrote, it got me thinking about my parents. Mom was working on her master's degree in entomology when I was born. Her thesis had something to do with aphids and their impact on crops. I attempted to read her work once when I was a student at NDSU, and I really didn't follow it. The bottom line though, was that Mom was researching ways of decreasing crop losses from these nasty insects.
Had they even looked at name meaning books or anything? Did they know they were naming me after an insect that is all about increasing yield? Probably not. But I find the whole thing interesting. And I chose an agricultural background for my framed print to remind me of all of that.
I'm drinking coffee out of the mug as I type up this review. And thinking more about how the ancient world had it right. Names do mean something, and I want to be an enabler of fruitfulness.
Before I close this out, CrossTimber is doing a huge giveaway. Go. Enter it. And I highly recommend considering some name-meaning gifts for your loved ones.
Go check out some of the other reviews. The name meaning stories being shared are simply amazing.
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