Why Hannah? Why Not.

     Why Hannah? For starters, it is a beautiful name. It is also a younger name whereas Ruth is an older name.

    I have spent the last year pondering the idea of returning to my first name, Hannah, and then finally on March 2nd, 2022 at around 9 am, I was thinking about it again and having a lot of anxiety over it. Then God spoke, “If you are still thinking about it, it means you want it.” Instantly I felt at peace and knew my decision. Two hours later at lunchtime, I texted my hubby and the rest of my family and informed them of my decision. Then I started telling my coworkers and asked them to make the necessary changes.

    It has been quite the transition for me and everyone around me, but I am thankful that everyone is doing their best.

    When people ask me why I returned to Hannah I do not have a black and white answer. Or at least not one that I think will make sense to anyone.

    I considered going back to Hannah when hubby and I fir got married but it did not feel right. Now it does.

    In the Bible both Hannah and Ruth are important characters, Ruth even has a full book. I spent years relating to Ruth and wanting to reflect her character; loyalty, devotion to family, hard worker, etc. In the last few years, I have found myself relating more to Hannah and her story. She loved God, had a devoted prayer life, and loved her husband.

    This next part may sound a little silly or odd but bear with me. Like I said before, Hannah is a “younger” name compared to Ruth. I consider myself to be a rather “old soul.” More so in personality than character, but still. I would rather curl up in bed at 8:30with my book or journal and Blessing than go to the bar. I enjoy older television shows like Murdock mysteries and Downtown Aby instead of police shows. I find it a little funny that someone my age prefers this life over a “younger” one. So I thought if I returned to my younger name, I might feel younger. Silly, I know. I do not intend to change my lifestyle choices, or start going to the bar.

    Either way, I have fallen in love with my first name and am happy with my decision. The day after I announced my decision to my family and coworkers I started to regret it. I was sitting in my rocking chair reading my Bible before work and wondering if I had made the wrong decision. After a minute of thinking about it, I realized I was still happy with my decision, I just was not looking forward to correcting everyone. As a child, I did not like my first name and a few kids teased me with it and used the nickname Hanhan. It no longer offends me and I have even debated letting people call me that nickname. Although I would rather my full name of Hannah.

    By now I am sure you are wondering why my parents raised me by my middle name and not my first name. Well from my understanding mom and dad like Ruth more than Hannah. Except Ruth Hannah does not flow as nicely as Hannah Ruth. So they picked Hannah Ruth and brought me home and for the first two weeks of my life I was Hannah and then they decided that Ruth suited me better and decided to raise me on Ruth. There was also the bonus that the two women I am named after, Mom's aunt Ruth, and grandmother Hannah, Ruth was still alive when I was born, and sharing a name gave my great aunt and me a special bond that I will always cherish. She is gone now though. So I do not feel bad for “leaving” that name behind and moving on with my new/first name. Hannah.

    So there it is friends, the story of why I have returned to my first name of Hannah.

    Thank you for taking the time and reading along with this post and my other posts and for allowing me to share my hobby with you.

God Bless

~Hannah

                   Today's photo is simply a pretty flower from my mom's garden last summer.