First Post

Hi all!

I've decided to finally go after my dream of blogging. This has been a year of pursuing dreams I never would have otherwise gone after. I took up painting this year, something I thought I'd try my hand at in my 50's or later, when all the kids have moved out of the nest. I also managed to graduate nursing school and just found out today that I passed the NCLEX on the second go. One of the hardest tests I've ever had to take. I also gave birth to the most beautiful little boy in all the world this year. That was the proudest moment of my life to date! Nothing compares!

pictured below is Joseph Harold 3 days old

     Since this has been a year of dreams coming true, why not add one more thing I've always wanted to do! 

    Now, let me tell you why I have named this blogg Jehovah Increases. I'm a "meaning" person. As in, I really like the reason I do something to be special and have a special meaning. If I was ever going to get a tattoo you betcha' it would have a pretty spectacular meaning. So knowing this now you can imagine that I named my son something very special. Its true. You got me, you're completely right! 

 The name Joseph is a Hebrew baby name. In Hebrew the meaning of the name Joseph is: May Jehovah add/give increase. Found on sheknows.com

   When my husband and I found out we were expecting a little boy in May (that's when he was developed enough to tell he was boy) we immediately began discussing boy names. We looked on tons of names sites and read thousands of names. We wrote lists of names we each liked but kept coming back to 5 different names and their middle name counterparts. I would share them but they might be used for different kids! Its so much fun surprising everyone with the name! 

    I had to look up all the meanings of all the names we like, naturally. My husband is not big on meanings but because he knew I was he was patient with me. Fast forward to four weeks before Joseph made his appearance and had picked out his name, AT LAST!

A picture my husband took the day after our house burned of our anniversary cards to each other.

     In January of this year our first home burned and we lost many priceless items along with some very valuable ones too. I remember watching our first home burn and thinking that God must have something else for us. I kept thinking about the story of Joseph and how he was sold into slavery by his own brothers because he was daddy's favorite. His dad loved him so much he even had a special rainbow coat made for him. Anyways, back to Joseph being sold into slavery.That was an extremely devastating event in Joseph's life, but he still upheld God's character and God rewarded him years later when Pharaoh gave Joseph more power than all in Egypt, besides himself of course. Joseph's mother had named him rightly, for when she birthed him she said, "May God add more." Joseph not only saved Egypt from a 7 year famine, but surrounding countries and his whole family too. God used the difficult situation he had been placed in to shine through and even reconcile Joseph and his brothers. 

Even though we lost a lot in the fire what we gained was indefinitely more than we could ask for or imagine in support and love from our church family and neighbors around us. Then on January 24th we found out that we were expecting!!!! 

I named my son as Rachel of the Bible named her's, though bad things happen in this world Jehovah increases! God adds more. God's blessings are continuous. He shines the brightest in our darkness!

Whenever I think of my son and what his name means, I think of this beautiful testimony. How God brought something good out of something tragic.