Ethan George King: What's in a name?

Ethan George King born March 4, 2014  8 lbs 10 oz 21 inches

As I type this I'm 39+ weeks and so close to having this baby boy! I want to say how wonderful I'm feeling and how the third time is such a breeze...but I can't. I'm tired, achy and waddling. I don't want to sound ungrateful or negative, but this blog here is for me to document our life and it should include ups and downs and everything in between. I've noticed lately I've tended to post to this blog after I've wrestled through an issue/circumstance with God and found some peace or insight. And thank goodness He provides that! However, it may paint a picture of myself that isn't wholly accurate. Not that I'm narcissistic enough to think anyone really ponders that deeply over my posts, but I'd like to think our kiddos will read these someday and learn what our family has gone through and see how we relied on God through the hills and valleys.

So I'm about a week away from meeting baby #3, if he decides not to come on his own. I won't be posting this until he arrives, so here's his name...after much contemplation...are you ready? Ethan George King. (When I post this I pray there is a precious picture of baby Ethan at the top of this post and I'll already be saying that I can't remember life without him!) And it's true! He's here now and we are so in love with him! He's such a wonderful baby already! I will post his birth story in a new post ASAP.

There it is! Ah, if feels so good to type it out! When we found out he was a boy Tyler and I both were drawn to the name Ethan quickly. It means "solid, enduring, wise." Then we found out it was #3 most popular boy name for last year and we decided to go back to the drawing board. (There are four Carolines in C's 1st grade!)

 We both loved "George" for his middle name after Tyler's grandfather. He is Tyler's dad's father and one of 9 children!

George Leroy King during WWII

I also thought it was cool that there will be another George as the King of England one day thanks to William and Kate across the pond.) but I digress...

Then toward the end of my ladies' bible study in the fall we were studying the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore and in the homework it talked about Psalm 89 being written by Ethan the Ezrahite. Once I read the psalm I felt it was confirmation of our son's name. Tyler agreed that it felt like Ethan was his name all along. 
The psalm starts off praising God for His faithfulness, the next verses remind me of the book of Job when he writes about all God has created, then Ethan doesn't shy away from exclaiming his frustration when it seems God has left them, but at the end he praises God "forever, amen and amen." It's a psalm I don't remember reading before, yet speaks to our life and what a relationship with Him feels like to me. He took all my pain, questions and uncertainties during very dark years and He stayed faithful to me (and I to Him, all the while questioning Him.) He not only stayed faithful and provided peace for us, but heaped blessings on us with first healing of my heart, then with Tyler and now baby Ethan. It is good to remember the dark and the light. Thank you, God for this blessing.

Caroline and Thomas meeting Ethan for the first time!

Psalm 89 by Ethan the Ezrahite (vs 1-8)
"I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
    through all generations.
² I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
³ You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
⁴ ‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”^[c]

⁵ The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
⁶ For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
⁷ In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.
⁸ Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you."