What's in a name...

How important is a name to you? Is it just one of those things where you hear a name, you like it and maybe name your kids that?  Or are you one of those people, like me, who need to know the meaning and what's behind the name?  I have always loved to hear stories of who people are named after or how their parents decided on that particular name for them.  To me, names are very important.  They can describe a person's character (or not)  and possibly define who they are.

When my husband and I were deciding on names for our children, we decided to use original names for first names and middle names would be family names.  Our first born, Annaliese means gracious, full of grace, and God is my oath. I thought that was such a beautiful name and meaning.  There was another name I had liked until I read the meaning, it was bitterness toward God.  That was not really the meaning I wanted my daughter to be carrying around her whole life!

I figure, since I put so much thought into the names of my children that maybe I should put a little more thought into the name of my blog. Now, don't get me wrong, I did put a lot of thought into the name I have now. The thing is that since I started this blog a lot of things have changed and shaped me into the women I am today.  The first of these being my faith.  My faith would not have grown if it weren't for the trials in my life.  Each one of those trials that my husband and I have been through, since we got married, have shaped and molded us into the people we are today.  Now, we are FAR from perfect, but we are certainly more in love with each other, our God, and our children then we ever dreamed we could be.

The second thing would be being a wife and mother. I love being married and having my wonderful husband beside me. He is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Sometimes I'm not sure how I made it though life before I met him!  Then most of you already know that children change you, they change your priorities and they way you look at life.  I loved my life before kids but I love it even more now.  My girls have taught me so much about myself and my faith. 

The third thing would definitely be Diabetes.  These disease that ravages my daughters body is with me too.  I can't get away from it.  It has forever changed my outlook on life and my faith.  It has brought my husband and I closer together then we had ever thought possible.  Who would of thought that something so horrible could be so good?  

So, with these things; faith, being a wife and mother, and diabetes; I felt I needed to change the name of my blog to reflect this person that I am now and the life that I live.  I sent out a email to those that know me pretty well, and some of my really creative friends, asking them if they had any suggestions for me for a new blog name.  Lord knows, I don't have a whole lot of creativity in me!  I just wasn't blessed with that gift as well as others.  I also did some brainstorming of my own, trying to come up with something original and creative.  The new name may not be totally creative (on my part) since my sister thought of it for me, but I really like it.  It think it fits me well.

Is the suspense killing you yet? Okay, probably not, but hey I had to try!  The new name comes from a verse in Proverbs.  Proverbs 16:24 "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." (NLT)  So I decided on "Sweet to the Soul"  for my blogs new name.  The sweet describes both my life as a wife and mother, and Diabetes in my life. Soul describes my faith.  Perfect.