Our Newest Dear One

(or, A Partial but Wholly Sufficient Reason for Why I Have Been So Quiet Lately)

Well, this is overdue. ;-)

This is Hollin Rose, our beautiful baby girl born into our family on November 16, 2019, and baptized into God's family on November 23, 2019. We are all in love! 

Sing praise to him, play music;
proclaim all his wondrous deeds!
Glory in his holy name;
let hearts that seek the LORD rejoice!
(Psalm 105:2-3)

This is (basically) the text for her birth announcement:

"Hollin" is a literary name, a land of Elves in Tolkien's beloved Middle-earth. It is also an English name that refers to the holly, a tree of Christian symbolism. 

The name "Rose" honors the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, under her title as Mystical Rose. After we chose the name, we were reminded of my grandmother, who loved roses and was given the inscription "Beautiful Rose" on her headstone, so we felt that the name was meant to be. 

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
(Psalm 9:1)

**For those who keep track of such things, the first citation, of Psalm 105, comes from the New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE). The second, from Psalm 9, is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition.