The naming of children #1

Do you know how I got my name?

When mother was pregnant with me she had chosen the name "Lois Beth" if the baby was a girl. There is no history of Dad's involvement in the choosing of the names of children. Also, I have no knowledge of what the name choice was for a boy.

This choice was a combination of the names of two of grandma's (Emma) beloved sisters. Emma had five sisters and they held a cherished place in her heart. It would have been an honor to have been named after Aunt Lois and Aunt Beth. I love both these names. I don't know if the family would have called me Lois or Beth, but either one would have brought me pleasure.

At this time Cheryl Marie was 3-years-old and, as has been consistent across her life-span, had a vivid imagination. She had an imaginary friend. Particularly, she would go out to the back yard to play and then report she had played with her friend. Her friend's name? Carol Jones. So, when baby #5 joined the family, and was a BEAUTIFUL, perfect, baby girl, somehow it seemed the perfect name for her was Carol Joan. I absolutely love having this bit of personal history. I feel my name was somehow inspired through this pure and innocent child who was to be the older sister to this baby. And the fact that I love young children and adore 3-year-olds just adds to my delight in this story.

Dad frequently called me "Jones" as a nickname and I loved it!

However, this is not the end of the story. My namer, Cheryl Marie was named in part, for another beloved sister of Grandma, Marie. When Aunt Marie died in the 1980s she left Cheryl Marie a very nice inheritance because she was a "namesake". Isn't that lovely?! That was so generous of her.

But when Aunt Lois died, and when Aunt Beth died there was no inheritance for me! I had been denied that hope by alittle switch in name. Three-year-old Cheryl didn't know what she was depriving me of when she shared that little secret of her imaginary friend. I say she owes me some money! What do you think?