Update

      Sorry this post is late. It has been really crazy this couple weeks. Summer school has officially started so trying to figure out the new routine with a changing flow of students is the main thing right now.

       This summer Jonathan is teaching Engineering and Robotics. I am teaching English and, I found out recently, dance. I am excited about dance but my knee injury is acting up again so it is proving difficult. Plus, I have to be careful with the music I select which adds another element to everything. So far, I have been using veggie tales silly songs for the little kids and a variety of secular, but good message songs, with the older kids. I don't have many students and sometimes none so it is pretty low stress. English is mostly vocab and punctuation so it's not difficult either.

       I made a trip to the States last week for a few days. Jonathan and I decided to not make it public on social media for many reasons. This is why there was no blog post last week. I was traveling and Jonathan was prepping for a mission team and doing car repair so there was just no way to do a post.

       I made the trip home on little notice. We agreed to not make it public because I needed the time to rest and be with family. I have experienced a lot of emotional and physical stress the 6 months I have been here; far more than I ever share in writing. Some for confidentiality, some for privacy and some just because I don't think it needs to be shared. My health was starting to take a bad turn so for the health of me and Amos, I took a brief trip home. Also, it will be impossible for me to travel again until I have a passport for Amos, so I knew this was my last chance to see family for at least a year. My Mom will come for Amos's birth, but my brothers and Father I will not see again for an unknown amount of time. I needed a chance to say goodbye...the beginning of nesting I guess.

       However, while I was there, I got some much needed maternity clothes, because they are hard to find and expensive down here. I had only found 3 tops in all my searching, so coming back with a nice wardrobe of about 9-10 pieces of clothing was fantastic. I can now be modestly covered and work appropriate, as well as comfortable for the remainder of my pregnancy. A bonus is that a good portion of my clothes were made in India! Those of you that know me, know I am obsessed with India. Their food, clothes, culture, all of it. If it is Indian, or looks Indian, I will love it!!!! Although, I never went to a store looking for Indian maternity clothes, I think it is cool that I found some anyway!

       My visit home, although short, was incredibly restful and much needed. I saw almost my entire family, got to call my grandmother and hear Mom play cello again. It was also nice to be able to understand everyone and have air conditioning for a few days. I swear I got a lot bigger from just resting and eating!

       My departure from the U.S. was stressful as Delta was asking me about a visa and not understanding that I did not need one. But I was finally able to leave and there were no other difficulties. I was also able to communicate with Dominican customs/immigration in Spanish upon arrival so that was a spirit booster as well.

       I am now back and teaching summer school (obviously) and getting back into my Dominican routine. Summer school ends the last week of July, then I get about 12ish days off. I will work for 2 more weeks planning for the fall semester then will be out on maternity leave until January. It's hard to believe how everything is working out and starting to wind up for the arrival of Jonathan Amos.

       Well, I guess that is it for now. Not a super interesting post, but hopefully next week will be much more so! Blessings to your homes.

What's in a name?

          So, my husband has decided it is time to let everyone know the name of our son! I wanted to spend this post explaining why we chose this name, the story behind it and the meaning of it.

            Names and their meanings are very important to us. We wanted to make sure the name is a person of good character in Scripture and the meaning is also a good one. Since Jonathan is a Pastor and we are both involved in ministry, (and I come from a family of Bible names) we wanted to use biblical names, at least for names that they would be routinely called (nicknames and such). Also, since we agreed on the English pronunciation (Jonathan’s idea not mine), we had to make sure the name could not be made into a joke in the Spanish version, and just for simplicity, we wanted the names to cross the languages fairly easily.

            As you can imagine, all these perimeters limited our name pool significantly. But, while were dating we agreed on 4 names (two of each gender) fairly quickly. We even agreed on order as well! However, what I find even more interesting; is that years before we even met each other we both prayed (hoped, mentioned to Adonai, not really a prayer but more of a “I hope, thing) that our first-born be a boy. This is for different reasons, but I still find it interesting that this was a desire for both of us, and that He did listen and answered our request.

            Anyway, onto the name of our little boy:

Jonathan Amos Espacio Hardin

            Let me begin with the double last name. That is a Latin American culture thing. The Paternal name passes down but when our grandkids come, the Maternal name goes away. For example: Jonathan has a double last name Espacio Chavéz. Chavéz is his Mother’s name but our children don’t take that name, they take mine instead. But Espacio will continue to pass down forever. If our son has children, they will be Espacio _____ if our daughters have children they will be _____ Espacio. Make sense?

 The Paternal name is the “legal” last name and the one you call someone by. For instance, Jonathan is Señor Espacio, not Señor Chavéz. So, our little one is still known as Espacio even though my name is tacked on the end. It’s just a culture thing that I kind of like, and will help our son (and future children Lord willing) not feel out of place here.

            Now onto the “main” names: Jonathan Amos

            First, let me say that we will be calling our son by his middle name, Amos, instead of his first name most of the time.

            I insisted on our first-born son having my husband’s name. Fortunately, he doesn’t mind so no issues there! I wanted that for several reasons:

1) It is a good, strong, bible name, with a good meaning and he was a good person in scripture.

2) I think it is an honor for the first-born son to carry the same name as the Father, but that is just a personal thing.

3) I have (and have had for years) a “name crush” on Jonathan even wanting my brother John to be called that (but Dad said no and decided on John not Jonathan).

4) I have come to find out that naming the first son after the father is actually not uncommon in Jonathan’s family. His older brother is named after his father, and Jonathan’s nephew is named after his father. Both his brother and his nephew go by their middle names as well which is kind of cool! Amos will not feel weird at all!

            We chose the name Amos for a couple different reasons:

1)      It is not a common name in either of our cultures, but not so uncommon that there would be weird looks or trouble spelling it

2)      It is easy to say in both English and Spanish

3)      It cannot be made into a joke in Spanish like some names we like can be

4)      Amos was a prophet

5)      We like how the two names sound together

6)      It’s not a uppidy, show-offy name,  but rather a good, solid, “normal” name

7)      It’s not a name that would ever cause difficulty. We do not know what Amos’s ministry will be, but whatever it is, his name will never be an issue it can cross language barriers and beliefs without difficulty or offense, fairly easily.

Although “Jonathan Amos” does not roll of the tongue well for some people, we like how it will fit into both cultures and feel strongly that this is our son’s name.

            Now, what do the names “Jonathan” and “Amos” mean? Well, I am glad you asked! Both these names are found in the Old Testament and are Hebrew in origin.

Jonathan means “Yahweh (God, Jehovah, etc.) has given”. The most famous Jonathan in Scripture is the son of King Saul, friend of King David.

Amos means “carried” or “carried by God”. Amos is a book found in the minor prophets. His occupation was originally a herdsman.

If you put names together you get an overall meaning of: “God has given and carried”

            How true is this? If you have been following my blog you know that I have been having a hard time and struggling with some stuff. It is only with Adoani’s help that I have made it this far. Our son’s name is a constant reminder of His provision and care for us.

            So, there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about our son’s name and then some! Talk to you all next week. Blessings!

*For those of you who are curious. Espacio means “Space”

         Hardin means “Hardy, brave, strong”