Our Inspired Journey

No, she's not here yet, but this will be her name :)...and here is the story...

Even before Ryder was born, John was excited to have a daughter someday. We were so excited to find out 2 boys preceded her and he has since then forgotten his longing to be daddy to a little girl because of his love for our boys in every way imaginable. But every once in while, in between papers, classes, rehearsals and football games, I remind him that she is coming....the little girl that he once held sight of is on her way very soon!

He says...
John has always loved the movie, "The Last of the Mohicans." His favorite song in the movie is one called "Cora." He loved it long before we met. It became a central theme running through our relationship, since many times I'd go to his apartment in college and it would be playing in the background on repeat for hours! He still plays this song now when he is reading or studying as it helps him calm down and focus, blocking out all other distractions. It is beautiful. It is not the kind of song you even realize is being repeated since it slightly resolves but not enough to make you think it's finished and should be turned off.

She says...
When I found out we were having a girl, and the flood of girl names that had been off limits to me until now opened up, I was overwhelmed and thought...Lord, I just want you to name her. One night as I was studying the Psalm 123:1-2 which says "I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. Like a servant's eyes on His master's hand, like a servant girl's eyes on her mistresses hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God..." As I read this, I prayed for my daughter to learn to love being at the feet of her master. There really is no higher place of peace and contentment than to be bowed low before the One who loves us most.

I had searched many baby name web sites and one of the neat things you can do is enter in a meaning and have it tell you what names have that meaning. I had come up with my own noble meanings looking for the perfect name, but now in the quiet of night with only God's Word to think on, I was struck by the picture of a servant gazing upon her master not out of obligation but out of adoration and willingness to serve because of the way she is loved. I put my study down, went to the computer and typed in "servant" as the meaning I was searching for on the baby name web site. The first name that popped up was Cora.

Cora carries different meanings with different origins as do many names, but the ones I love are "maidservant or maiden" and "filled heart." When I first found out we were having a girl to complete  our family, I remember writing that my heart was full. Her name really does speak that truth for both John and I. We were ready to have 3 boys...my heart would've been joyful in different ways, but with the news of a girl our hearts are filled.

If you'd like to listen to "Cora" here is a link that all you have to do is click on and after the page loads completely, it will start playing. You don't need to click on anything else once you go to the page. It speaks to us of a daughter who is willing to go the distance for her master...who is steadfast in her commitment to the One she loves.

http://www.imeem.com/people/rZPCmU/music/eWZJVPBz/the_last_of_the_mohicans_cora/