Names

Names:

We didn't even buy a baby name book when we were expecting Jacob.  We both loved the name and it was that simple.  Jacob Michael ...done!  (Michael is hubby's name:)

When Jacob was a baby I read a book that had the name Caleb in it. (The 'Blessed Child'- sooo good!)

 I fell in love with that name and knew that if our next child was a boy- I'd want him named Caleb.  Mike loved it too.  Caleb Raymond...done!  (Raymond is both Mike's middle name AND my father's middle name :)

While waiting for Sova to come home- every time I walked by the refrigerator and saw that cute little face in the photo I just saw the word 'GRACE.'  I couldn't get past the name Grace. We already choose her middle name to be "Elliana"  (the Lord has responded) and it seemed so appropriate! Mike thought the name, 'Sova-Grace  Elliana Turner would be too long...I thought it was just too lovely and meaningful Not to have! (plus I loved those southern style hyphenated names!)

Christmas morning (the one where we promised no gifts because of the adoption...) Mike gave me a gift 'from Sova' and the tag read:  Love, Sova-Grace  Elliana Turner :)

Done!  (ya, I know he's awesome) 

We found out in India that 'Sova,' is in fact an uncommon Indian name but it means beautiful...

 Now the twins:

When we thought we were going to adopt a baby we were going to name her: 'Talia-Faith' and give her Ethiopian name as her middle name.  The kids especially loved that name and these past 2 years they would even pray specifically for, 'our sister, Talia-Faith.'

The girls birth-mother's name is Azmera.  The name means 'Harvest'  both our favorite season and well- our life's desire...when we hear 'harvest' we think of people coming to know who God truly is...what's not to love about this powerful name!  Defintly a name worth carrying on- it will be a special way for the girls to keep their birth mother with them.

So in keeping with the tradition of long yet meaningful names:

Helen-Talia  Azmera  Turner

Helen means  'sun ray- shinning light'  (Love it!  'you are my sunshine' is my theme song to the kids)

and   Talia means "dew from God" 

 And....

Jerusalem-Faith  Azmera  Turner

Jerusalem's real name is actually spelled, 'Eyerusalem.'

It is common in Ethiopia to spell it that way- but it is the same name as 'Jerusalem.'

We are not 100% on this but we are thinking it may save her alot of trouble/confusion in the future if we changed the spelling.

Jerusalem (Eyerusalem):  means  Possession Of Peace and is pretty much the coolest most important city on the Planet  :)

In each picture we have of Jerusalem she is wearing her cross necklace...so 'Faith' it is for her!  Done!