"What's in a Name"

Zoe Vaughan Hei-Joo Forester
I wanted to dedicate a post on my daughters name, I got to thinking about Sundays event when Zoe was blessed and given a name. I feel like giving a name to a child is like picking out a wedding dress or picking a place to live where you will raise your children, or deciding what college to go to. It took Tyler and I a long time to decide Zoe's name. Especially when your dealing with important documents where a name will be permanent such as a Birth certificate, social security card, church records, drivers license and so on. The meaning behind her name was the deciding factor. "LIFE" what a deep and beautiful meaning to a name. Zoe has two middle names, it didn't start out that way in fact it wasn't decided till Saturday morning when I woke up feeling strongly that she needed two. The first middle name Vaughan comes from my fathers side of the family. It goes back 8 generations of middle names for the girls in that line. It was generated from a last name and then became a middle name as a marriage occured. For me It all began when I realized in 2nd grade that my middle name was different from all my girl cousins. They all had the middle name of Vaughan, I was feeling quit left out so I went to my grandmother Shirley and asked her why I was different and had Kathleen Hei-Joo and not Vaughan. That day she made it offical that I would be Leah Kathleen Hei-joo Vaughan Dunham. I loved her for that. It was in middle school that I realized that only my grandma Shirley made it offical but it wasn't offical on any of the major documents. It was only appropraite that Zoe would carry forth Vaughan in her name ofically for the major documents. Like I said earlier she had only one middle name until recently when I realized how important it was to carry on my korean name. I always thought how ridiculous it was that I had two middle names but it has grown on me and there is a special meaning to that. So that's where Hei-Joo comes in. The meaning of that name is "Jewels of wisdom" Another beautiful meaning. Her name is now complete and will truly fit her contemplative personality.