What's in a Name?

 This week we added a new member to our family...Samuel Elias.  He's a sweet little guy with golden brown hair and eyes that hint at turning brown like Daddy's.  As with our other two kiddos, he is named after some of his ancestors.  His first name comes from both sides of our family, my hubby's gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather Harmon Samuel Griswold and my gr-gr-gr grandfather Samuel Winfield Scott Pribble.  Interestingly enough when my hubby and I were first married we lived about 10 miles from where grandpa Pribble lived and is buried.

Harmon Samuel Griswold

Samuel W. S. Pribble

 Our baby's middle name comes from my gr-gr grandfather Elias W. Clem whom I always heard stories about when I was a child.

Elias W. Clem

Coincidentally, and somewhat purposefully, he is also named after two Old Testament prophets who have the most notable "listen to God" stories associated with them.  Samuel was the little boy who's mother desperately wanted a baby and then turned him over to God's service when she was blessed with one. Samuel heard God's voice calling to him in the middle of the night and when he finally recognized it for what it was, answered.  Elias is the Greek form of the name Elijah.  Elijah was listening for God's voice and heard him call not in the wind, or an earthquake, but a still small whisper. 
  It is something we are striving toward as a family to listen carefully for that voice.  This sweet little boy has renewed our commitment to living for God and instilling that in our children.  What a wonderful new adventure we are embarking on!