What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Monday, December 13, 2021

Tuesday 4: Names

Names

Welcome to Tuesday 4 kept up for Toni Taddeo our dear friend who was taken home to God on December 14, 2019. She would be pleased to know you all join in.

Note from Pam (me)
I did not realize that this Tuesday, December 14th, would be the anniversary of Toni's passing.  I am so glad we are keeping up this meme in memory of her. (Thanks to our friend Annie). Toni was such an inspiration to all of us who "knew" her, even if we only knew her through her blogs...that's how most of us know each other, and I feel like we are a pretty close family.

Speaking of our blogging family, most of you have heard by now of the sudden passing of the beloved son of our friend Linda Conley at Just Simply Linda.  Please keep Linda and her husband Dave in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the tragic loss of their precious son Liam, their only child. 

"Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4

Now on to today's topic:  
This week let's talk about your name!

1. What name would you take if you had to change your name?
 I don't think I would want to change my name. I can't imagine myself being anyone else. It was hard enough to change from my maiden name to my married name...I had to get used to being called Mrs. John Steiner instead of just plain Pam Mursch. I went through a little bit of an identity crisis at that time, but that was over 52 years ago, and I've been Pamela Mursch Steiner ever since, and now I wouldn't want to change that ever again. It's who I am.  BTW, most people who know me just call me "Pam". But I like the name "Pamela", and have often said that name is my "alter ego"...the old fashioned, more "victorian"  feminine form of me...rather than the more modern, rather outdoorsy active  "Pam" side of me.

By the way, did you see my last post, where I showed you this picture of the three "Pamela's" in our church:
It seems rather strange that for such a small church there should be three of us in one place! But also in my school class grades 1-12, there were two of us Pam's.  We always thought we were pretty special. LOL. (there were only 50 students in our graduating class). 



2. What is the meaning of your name.. how about your last name, do you know it's meaning?
"The name Pamela is primarily a female name of English origin that means All Honey, Sweetness. The name was invented by Sir Philip Sidney for a poem titled "Arcadia" in the 1580s; used by Samuel Richardson for his novel Pamela in the 1740s."  

I just looked up my last name (Maiden) Mursch: According to Ancestry.com

Mursch Name Meaning: German: nickname for a frail person, from Middle High German mursch ‘brittle’.

I really don't agree with that description. I have not met any of the Mursch family who I would consider to be "frail" or "brittle".  Of course, none of us are totally what our maiden name was. We are a combination of both parents.  


3. Do you think you fit your name and it's meaning? Yes, I am surprised by the description  of Pamela above, and somewhat humbled and blessed at the same time, but I do believe that I possess many of those attributes, although I'm not too sure about the ingenious ideas part....LOL.

4. Were you named after anyone or given your name for a specific reason? How about your kids?
I know I've told this story before...Here's ONE link, but there are others.  My birth name is Pamela Anne...Anne with an "e", like Anne of Green Gables.  Because I was born a redhead, my mother wanted to name me after her favorite heroine, Anne of Avonlea or Anne of Green Gables.  I'm not sure why my parents chose the Pamela part of my name, but I definitely know why they chose Anne for my middle name. 

As far as our kids are concerned, our oldest son is named after several people. His first name is William, which is after both of his grandfathers and one of this Great-Grandfathers. (as well as a couple of great-great grandfathers)

This is his paternal grandfather: (William G. Steiner)

This is his maternal grandfather. William F. Mursch: (my dad and mom on their wedding day)


And this is his great-grandpa William H. Mursch, my paternal grandfather:


His middle name is Benton, which is what we call him, and that is after my maternal grandfather: Benton Tedlie:

Our other two sons were named a little differently: Matthew Everette wasn't really named after anyone, but his name "Matthew" means "Gift of God", and that he was. Matthew is now with God in heaven, but he was God's gift to us for the 41 years we enjoyed him here. His middle name of Everette we picked at random because it just seemed to sound good with Matthew. I added the extra "e" to the end of it because I thought that looked extra nice, kind of like my middle name with the "e" on it.

Our youngest son is named John Scott. We call him Scott.  He is named after his daddy, my hubby John, (who, incidentally was named John Frank for his two grandfathers),  but the name Scott was chosen by our two older sons.  We asked them what they wanted to name their new baby brother, (because I really didn't have any boy names picked out, thinking for sure that the third child would surely be a girl and we didn't have "gender reveal" tests back then)  and they said "Scotty", after the little boy who lived across the street from us.  And so we named him John Scott, and then learned afterwards that the little boy across the street was also named "John Scott". So...there you have it. We have no clue where that little boy is today (of course he'd be probably in his late 50's by now).

This is a favorite picture of what I call "My Three Sons", taken way back before they all went their separate ways of college, marriage, work, etc....while they were still just that, "Our three sons".  Of course they always belonged to Jesus too. Our children are a gift to us, on loan from God.  
It is our job to:
  "Train up a child in the way he should go, 
And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Matthew, Benton, Scott

No matter what name we may give our children, or what name we are called ourselves, the most important name we have is that our name is written down in the "Lamb's Book of Life" in heaven. There can be no more important name than that.
Except for this one:

The Names of Jesus:
The One whose Birth we will soon be celebrating:

Merry CHRISTmas!!






Note from Annie regarding this Tuesday 4 Meme: "As always thank you so much for joining in and making this a success. It just means the world to me. And, remember I am always looking for topics and questions so leave a comment if you have any!"

27 comments:

  1. Your parents look like movie stars in that picture!

    So interesting to hear where all the names come from and to see all the photos.


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    1. THank you, Sandi. My mother was often compared to Ava Gardner, the actress. She really was a beauty, inside and out. My Daddy was a redhead like me, and just a wonderful man. I was blessed to have such good parents. I'm glad you enjoyed the "name game" tonight. LOL. Blessings to you dear friend.

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  2. This was a fun one! I liked learning about your family names and seeing the photos. .Our Matthew gets only his middle name from a great-grandfather. He was a gift from God as our first born and growing up, he was the child after my own heart, the one I had so much in common with. We just got each other. His adult path has taken him away from us, but I treasure those days he was ours.

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    1. Don't lose heart or give up...remember the verse I quoted above Proverbs 22:6. Give him time. Apparently he just needs some time to "grow up". But God knows where he is and He won't let him get too far away. (((hugs)))

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  3. How interesting! I'll say again, I so enjoy learning more about you and yours. My son goes by his middle name (Troy), too. His father said if he was a girl I'd get the naming rights, then he went and chose the James Troy -- after himself (James Roy). I've always been fond of the name Pamela. In fact, I used to work with a Pamela -- our boss always pronounced it, "Pam-ELLA." Lots of years ago, but I've never forgotten that. So! When we finally get to meet up (not if!), please forgive me if I call you "Pam-ELLA"! LOL.

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    1. Ha Ha! The only person who ever called me Pamela when I was growing up was my mother, usually when I was in trouble, and then it was "Pamela Anne get in here right now!!!" You may call me "Pam-ELLA" if you wish, just don't call me late to supper. LOL. I like the name Troy.

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  4. I think that description of the name Pamela suits you to a T! It's such fun to figure out what names mean and where they came from. I was named Martha Jane for my aunts Martha and Mary Jane. That means the world to me!
    I also loved learning how your own children were named, too. That's a wonderful photo of the three of them.
    Blessings!

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    1. How wonderful that you are named for your special Aunts. Did you get to know them when you were a child? They must have been very special to have you named after them...and you were pretty special too to be given their names. Do you go by "Martha Jane", or just Martha? I wonder about your sweet granddaughters and their pretty names. Are they named after anyone? Take care and thank you for visiting as always.

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  5. You have such a lovely family. I love looking at the photos.
    Since I'm the product of a feral human, and the adopted family wasn't loving, I don't know who I am. It gave me an identity crises too. I struggled for so many years. But now I know I am a child of the King through the blood of Jesus Christ, so, I hold onto that with all my strength. I'm so grateful He gave me a Home and a name.
    Love & Blessings. xx

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    1. You are a daughter of the King of kings, and a royal princess. Someday you will see just how special you are in His courts. Yes, He gave you an eternal home, and a name that is written down in Glory. There can be no greater name than that. And yes, He also gave you a loving home now here on earth. Someday you will see the whole story through "heaven's eyes" and it will all make sense. God once sent a little frail feral kitten to me and it needed me and I needed it. It helped restore my heart at a time that I was feeling pretty low. It was only with me for a little while, but God used that little feral kitten to brighten my life for the time I needed it most. So even "products of a feral human" are beautiful and wonderful in God's sight and plan. Don't ever underestimate the value God has placed in you. (((hugs)))

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  6. I believe God names us all and he names things what they are. Frail and Brittle can have a religious connotation.. those who need God are often frail and brittle w3ithout Him. Just a thought. Great photos and info.. so glad you joined in.

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    1. Interesting thought about the "frail and brittle". That is so true. We are ALL frail and brittle without His strength. Thank you for sharing that insight. Than you for doing this Annie. Blessings to you today dear friend.

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  7. Thank you sweet friend...and we are going to meet up ---how fun is this going to be? smiles

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    1. Yes, we are going to meet up, and I can't wait to see you in person. Finally get to see the "real you" up close, since you refuse to share a recent picture! You can bet I will take your picture and broadcast it everywhere. LOL. Love you and praying for you every day, several times a day. I know a LOT is going on in your life right now, but I am happy you are smiling here. One day at a time. (((hugs)))

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  8. This was a fun Tuesday 4 and I enjoyed your answers and photo, Pam! I will stick with Terri!! That is a great photo of your three boys in their younger years! xo

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    1. Thank you, Terri. Yes, your name suits you well. And yes, I love that picture for the obvious reasons. Plus there's a story behind it. This was the first visit for Benton and Matthew to our new home in NH. Scott was still in high school with us, but they were in GA in college. They came home for fall break and Nicole was a young lady in our church, and she wanted to take them around and show them the area. They ended up on top of this mountain called "Cathedral Ledge". That's where the picture was taken. 10 months later Matt and Nicole were married.

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  9. Pam: Thank you for sharing such intimate information about your family. I got my first name because when my parents were going together, my dad gave my mom a lapel pin with blonde braids. He called it Cecelia. Our son's middle name (Roger Dale)is his dad's name. My best friend is named for two of her aunts. People don't seem to honor people by naming their children after close personal friends any more. Such a shame. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

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    1. Cecelia, for a lapel pin with blonde braids? I guess he just liked that name, and then you came along...but did you ever have blonde braids? I think you are a brunette. I like the name Dale too, which I guess could go either way, for a boy or a girl (Dale Evans). I like that name. Yes, I like it when people name their children for someone they loved. It means a lot. Peace and blessings to you too.

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    2. When I was very young, I had blonde hair. It started getting darker when I was about six or seven. When I was in Kindergarten, I was Goldie Locks in a school program, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears." I have been blonde with help two times later in my life.

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  10. I love the photo of the three of your boys together...I know you treasure it. This is so interesting about names. I always think of Anne with an 'e'! Maybe I'd like to be called Cordelia! heehee! Hugs!

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    1. Ha Ha! That's a good one. I remember that... Thank you...yes, I do treasure that picture of our three sons together...as I said, it was the "last picture" of them together as just our sons. About 10 months after that Matthew was married and the empty nest had started...

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  11. I will 5ry to contact you--- email died-- I got your sweet message!!! I couldn't respond. Hopefully later HUGS!

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    1. Oh dear, maybe I sent too many pictures at once??? I'm so sorry, but Lily was SO excited she just had to send those pictures to you right away!! I've been wondering what happened, and have been contemplating calling. Do I have your #? I probably do...but it must be in a former email and I didn't put it in my address book. Oh, wait, I think I have it in my contacts in my phone. Not now, but maybe later. Love you.

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  12. I so enjoyed hearing about the names in your family. I have always thought "Pamela" was an elegant name. My best friend from college named her only daughter Pamela. I love the images you put up, both of family and of Jesus. Of all his "nicknames," I think I love Wonderful Counselor the most!

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    1. Oh, yes, "Wonderful Counselor" is my favorite too!!!And isn't He exactly that? There can be no better Counselor than Him. He is our high advocate before the Father, and He is always there to give us guidance and wisdom. We just need to be willing to listen and heed. I like the thought of Pamela being an "elegant" name. I'm afraid I'm not living up to it quite exactly these days. LOL. Thank you for your sweet thoughts always.

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  13. Those old photos are fantastic. And the one of your boys, that's just priceless. I liked all the meanings of the names and how you all got them. It's always fun to get the back story of things like that! That list of names of God is so powerful. He truly is all things to all people, and such a good, good Father. Merry Christmas!

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  14. Cute photo of the Pamela's! I have no desire to change my name. I didn't even play along this week. The questions didn't interest me. I like how your parents chose your name.

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.