What's In A Name?

A lot of people have asked us how we decided on the name "Eden" for our baby girl.
The decision came very naturally, almost like a "Ahhh, yes, that's it." If my post-pregancy memory serves me correctly, I'm almost positive that I first heard the name through another blogger. I can't remember who, but her daughter was named Eden and from there the name just could not exit from my mind.

I remember one afternoon when I was about 2 months pregnant, I went to our local coffee shop to blog. I had my laptop open, a cup of coffee in my hand, and my Bible in the other. I decided to look at the back of my Bible, in the concordance, under "Eden." I found Isaiah 51:3--

"Likewise I, God, will comfort Zion,
    comfort all her mounds of ruins.
I’ll transform her dead ground into Eden,
    her moonscape into the garden of God,
A place filled with exuberance and laughter, 

 thankful voices and melodic songs."

I remember texting Joshua and being like "I love this name!"

It's meaning-- "perfect, delightful." Surely, this sounded like the exact description of our lovely daughter-to-be!

Her middle name "Grace" was a no-brainer for me. I have always loved the meaning of that name. God's grace has been so evident in our lives, in our marriage, in our pregnancy. It also went with the meaning of Eden-- "perfect, delightful grace"... the kind that God so wonderfully lavishes upon us! Joshua wanted to use my middle name, Renee`, but ultimately I won ;)

As a music player and lover, I've always wanted that reflected in my child's name, as well. Two songs have always been dear to my heart, played by two musicians I love dearly. Phil Wickham is one, a Christian musician from San Diego who is sooo talented. The other is Joy Williams, half of the duo The Civil Wars. I first felt Eden kick at a Civil Wars concert last January, so this was also fitting.

Joy Williams, "Child of Eden"
"Oh, don't let me forget where I was without You // Don't let me forget the pain that You went through //
Don't let me forget that I became Yours // When You spread out Your arms for me //
I'm a child of Eden I'm a child, child of Eden, I have been // But I won't look back it's just my past The story doesn't end for this child of Eden"

and Phil Wickham's "Eden" (listen here)

"When the first light brighten the dark
Before the breaking of the human heart
There was You and there was me
Innocence was all I knew
'Cause all I had to know was You
We were running underneath the trees
I wanna see you face to face
Where being in your arms is the permanent state
I want it like it was back then
I wanna be in Eden
I remember how'd You call my name
And I would meet You at the garden gate
How the glory of Your love would shine
And I remember when the stars were young
you breath into my lungs
Oh I never felt so alive
Where my eyes can see the colors of glory
My hands can reach the heaven before me
Oh, my God I wanna be there with You
Where our hearts will beat with joy together
And love will reign forever and ever
Oh my God I wanna be there with You."

I felt like we took a risk with a name that was different.
And now I know why-- it is such a perfect, fitting name for Eden.
She brings us so much delightful, perfect grace every day.
Oh, and after reading Ann Voscamp's "1000 Gifts" recently, I'm really happy I decided on this name.
So many references to Eden and it just settled my heart.
So there ya have it! :)