Formal Introductions: OUR SON
*Insert soft moving drum roll appropriate for such introductions*
May I introduce to you, our son,
This, is the anchor that held us through the thick and thin, the storms and the calms, and that is now getting sold with Zephyrus while we invest our lives into a new sort of Danforth that will be an anchor in the next journey we embark on, symbolic of our becoming One. All beginning in June. It stands as a reminder of our beginnings, as two wide eyed wanderers upon the unpredictable expanse of fresh sea-like waters, as two inexperienced individuals, learning through hell-and-hair raising summer storms how to function as a team during any level of intensity, and as two individuals found a Covenant Love joining lives and names, becoming a family on the 1st of October 2011.
*A sidenote*
I recall the (now) laughable memories of how we handled anchor setting, late night groundings and other such tasks through our 3 summers of Zephyrus at Sea. For those of you that have followed our blog, you may remember the traumatic first-night-anchor-setting-grounding experience, in Big Bay, Lake Superior back in the bone-cold nights of May 2011. Images of Corey man-powering ourselves off the sandbar with our spinnaker pole of all things! We laugh now, but in the moment with howling 2 AM winds, and no prior experience, we swallowed emotions and functioned together. I can recall so many hilarious anchor setting feuds through the past three summers I could easily take you all on a tangent of great images of a Meg spanking Corey for a blatant defiant anchor dropping heap, or a tear laden, scene making Meg after multiple failed attempts to anchor in a 50ft deep and crowded anchorage, or some epic nights where the storms blew in with viciousness....and the success of Danforth's style, holding us tightly and safely through the night.
*Back on Track*
So now you may see, Danforth has much more attached to it, than may appear to the eyes. For the sake of a slightly impatient world and the lack of eternal time to share such delightfully hilarious or nerve wrenching stories, I will proceed.
September 2nd, just 24 days before Danforth came into tangible existence, we were taking an Engelhart family (meaning with C's parents) walk around Presque Isle's wooded trails enjoying Daddy Rob's birthday. Along the way, Momma Berta was doing her thing, examining every inch of ground in search for treasures when she came upon this tiny thing, off the path. She of course, picked it up examining it, bringing it over to us saying "hey, doesn't this mean something to you guys?"
And wouldn't you know, of all the names, words, phrases or titles, THIS is what just so happened to be inscribed on the side (notice my index finger for size proportion):
To us, Danforth has only ever meant one thing. The name of a future son. So if this wasn't God's tangible 24-day in advance promise from the heavens to my pocket, I don't know how much more real one could get. And of course, we had no prospect of idea when a child would come. For one, truly, is never quite prepared for that absolute reality-shifting moment when a child is to arrive in one's life.
"William"
And William is a whole depth of stories in itself. You see, William Maier is a man, who just so happens to be my very own, deeply intricate and uniquely inspiring, Daddy.
There was no question in my mind. As a way to honor my father, a man without a son to pass the tradition of names, or shared complaints for the female gender, or other such things that a only a father-son relationship can provide. As I am not one to bestow so many letters to a last name with the addition of a hyphen, this is an amazing way to give the 'gift of grandson' to my father. Though I tried to be the "son he never had" in my early teenage years, the tomboy thing doesn't quite cut it for a dad, a son is a son. And I am so grateful for this opportunity to honor my dad with one in his name.
May I introduce to you, our son,
Danforth William Engelhart
"Danforth"
For those interested in the story behind the chosen names, it all started during our lovely "Zephyrus at Sea" days, cruising the Great Lakes for 4.5 months as fresh college grads, in 2011.
As proof of our documentation, here is an excerpt from our 8th of July, 2011 Blog when Corey pondered how the name of the anchor could be a potential name for a son, after describing what an awesome anchor it truly was.
This, is the anchor that held us through the thick and thin, the storms and the calms, and that is now getting sold with Zephyrus while we invest our lives into a new sort of Danforth that will be an anchor in the next journey we embark on, symbolic of our becoming One. All beginning in June. It stands as a reminder of our beginnings, as two wide eyed wanderers upon the unpredictable expanse of fresh sea-like waters, as two inexperienced individuals, learning through hell-and-hair raising summer storms how to function as a team during any level of intensity, and as two individuals found a Covenant Love joining lives and names, becoming a family on the 1st of October 2011.
*A sidenote*
I recall the (now) laughable memories of how we handled anchor setting, late night groundings and other such tasks through our 3 summers of Zephyrus at Sea. For those of you that have followed our blog, you may remember the traumatic first-night-anchor-setting-grounding experience, in Big Bay, Lake Superior back in the bone-cold nights of May 2011. Images of Corey man-powering ourselves off the sandbar with our spinnaker pole of all things! We laugh now, but in the moment with howling 2 AM winds, and no prior experience, we swallowed emotions and functioned together. I can recall so many hilarious anchor setting feuds through the past three summers I could easily take you all on a tangent of great images of a Meg spanking Corey for a blatant defiant anchor dropping heap, or a tear laden, scene making Meg after multiple failed attempts to anchor in a 50ft deep and crowded anchorage, or some epic nights where the storms blew in with viciousness....and the success of Danforth's style, holding us tightly and safely through the night.
*Back on Track*
So now you may see, Danforth has much more attached to it, than may appear to the eyes. For the sake of a slightly impatient world and the lack of eternal time to share such delightfully hilarious or nerve wrenching stories, I will proceed.
September 2nd, just 24 days before Danforth came into tangible existence, we were taking an Engelhart family (meaning with C's parents) walk around Presque Isle's wooded trails enjoying Daddy Rob's birthday. Along the way, Momma Berta was doing her thing, examining every inch of ground in search for treasures when she came upon this tiny thing, off the path. She of course, picked it up examining it, bringing it over to us saying "hey, doesn't this mean something to you guys?"
And wouldn't you know, of all the names, words, phrases or titles, THIS is what just so happened to be inscribed on the side (notice my index finger for size proportion):
To us, Danforth has only ever meant one thing. The name of a future son. So if this wasn't God's tangible 24-day in advance promise from the heavens to my pocket, I don't know how much more real one could get. And of course, we had no prospect of idea when a child would come. For one, truly, is never quite prepared for that absolute reality-shifting moment when a child is to arrive in one's life.
"William"
And William is a whole depth of stories in itself. You see, William Maier is a man, who just so happens to be my very own, deeply intricate and uniquely inspiring, Daddy.
Little did Berta know, that when she proposed this middle name idea (nor did it enter into her mind to even considering her own husband's name), that "William Maier" is the name that has been passed on from father-to son for 5 or 6 or however many generations in my maiden-name-Maier family.
There was no question in my mind. As a way to honor my father, a man without a son to pass the tradition of names, or shared complaints for the female gender, or other such things that a only a father-son relationship can provide. As I am not one to bestow so many letters to a last name with the addition of a hyphen, this is an amazing way to give the 'gift of grandson' to my father. Though I tried to be the "son he never had" in my early teenage years, the tomboy thing doesn't quite cut it for a dad, a son is a son. And I am so grateful for this opportunity to honor my dad with one in his name.
"Engelhart"
As you know, married people share a last name. And though this name has brought many depths, stories and insights to my life, it goes without saying much more, that our child will take on the Engelhart name with dignity and without question.
Engelhart Men:
So Danforth William Engelhart, we welcome you to our life. Symbolic of three roads converging.
Danforth, with the stories of C&M's travels and journeys as two sharing a young love upon many forms of seas and waters,
William, with Meg's family honor, memory and character to bestow, and
Engelhart, with Corey's families dignified title to conclude.
We are excited for this journey, yet with all it's meaning and symmetry, there remains a simple sort of child like faith between us as we look forward to the most un-expect-able journey of a lifetime.
Stay Tuned,
M&C
Comments
You've both done so well. Now, keep growing him healthy!
Love you both,
MomD