What's in a name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

-Shakespeare

Kirsten, Sebastian & Tim

J 0 h n s e n M a r t i n

This is our first series of family pictures officially all sharing the same last name! Tim & I have finally changed our last names to match that of our son's and to represent the union of our marriage and our families... as we approach our two year anniversary in just about two weeks!

So what's in a name, anyways? Before we were married (and for the past two years), we entertained a variety of options for our surnames: both keep our own names, both change to Tim's last name, both change to the same, joint last name, or come up with a whole new surname altogether (how about johntin or martinsen?!?). We planned to change our names since we were married, but never "got around to it..." Then we had a baby! And we felt it was important to: a. make a final decision about the name change thing, and b. all share the same last name. Thus, Sebastian was a little bit ahead of the game... he's had our last name since he was born - now over 7 weeks. But now we all have the same last name, according to the Social Security office - it's official and legal and all that other good stuff.

And it feels good. Really good. We're excited to be united in this way! We both loved the names that our parents chose for us - first, middle and last - they have significant meaning for us. And now we love each other and our baby boy, and we still love both of our families. We desired to share both of "us" in our new family name. We didn't get married fresh out of college; instead we had years of experiences, training, careers - all of which continued to define us for many years until we became one. We are excited about combining both of our names to change the definition from the two of us to one...and to now share that with our son as our family grows.

The tasks that lie ahead include changing our licenses (both to drive and to practice medicine ;)), bank accounts, credit cards, passports, and everything else that has our names attached to it! It seems a bit daunting, but so very worth it - to make the change complete once and for all. I'm sure we'll still get all variety of combinations and titles in the mail, as we have since we were first married, but now at least Uncle Sam knows what to call us!

So, what's in a name? A whole lot of love, family, history...and a whole lot of future and great stuff to come!

The week in review...

So I realized that it's been a very long time since I've done much posting - almost a month, as a matter of fact! Except for the pictures of my jewelry that I posted yesterday before the power outage (lasting 4 hours) and the -even worse- cable outage, lasting almost 24 hours. I'm as happy as a clam to have internet back, and figured it was time to do some blogging. It's crazy to realize how dependent we are on the internet, at least in this household, in 2008. We don't have TV, so this is our source for all things informative, not to mention how I check on the jewelry business, communicate with friends and family and follow things at the hospital while I'm on call (like right now!). Anyways, the internet is back, and so am I!

Since it's been so long, I just thought I'd post some updates...

First, we have a wonderful new outdoors patio set, which we just assembled last night. Check out the picture (a view from above on our balcony) - it was made from tropical woods (maybe acacia?!?) in Indonesia, and we were ever-so-pleased to purchase it, knowing that it was Forest Stewardship Council certified, which means sustainable and responsible methods of forestry were used to get the wood to make our super sweet table. The best news is that I ordered the table, chairs and benches on clearance, and when I ordered them, it said that there were only three chairs left, so, I ordered three chairs and two benches to have seating the whole way around our 7 foot table. When they arrived, the cartons for the chairs said "two chairs per carton." What a surprise! No where did it say that on the website nor the order form... so it seems like we got 2 for the price of 1! And we thought they were a bargain when they were the price for just one! So now we have a table, six chairs and two benches. We put the extra bench on the front porch for now, to create a sitting area out there to watch the cars and people go by on our quiet city street. Isn't our furniture lovely?!? Now you'll all have to come over and have dinner with us! We're starting with my parents tonight to break in the new table and chairs.

While having new patio furniture is exciting, it was a bit of a sad week, because I went to my third-ever funeral of a patient. This funeral was particularly sad, because it was a baby that I had delivered the week before, that was born still-born. Everything seemed fine up until the day the baby was born, when the teenage mom developed belly pain and all of a sudden didn't feel the baby move anymore. We still don't know what happened, and likely never will. My patient is doing as well as can be expected, but this is incredibly difficult for her and her family. Some things are so hard to understand no matter how old you are, but especially when you've just finished 9th grade. I was glad to be able to get coverage during my office hours to make it to the funeral - my patient and her family were all very appreciative.

We had a lovely surprise in our front yard! Which was a wonderful reminder of growth and new life (even when there are sad times and death). My sister-in-law, Lydia, had done landscaping for us in the front yard (which is gorgeous!), and somehow snuck in a surprise. About two weeks ago, I noticed leaves that didn't seem like anything else in our yard, yet strangely familiar to me. Sure enough, out popped my favorite flower, a calla lilly, and then more and more. They keep coming, one at a time! They're beautiful, and in MY yard (as opposed to some garden or alongside the road in Mexico). Thanks, Lydia.

Tim and a friend, Jason, spent the day doing the prep work to re-do the electrical work in our master bedroom. We only have two outlets, as it stands now, but soon we'll have a total of 6, plus lights in the closet, that don't currently exist. One step at a time, the master bedroom will become a wonderful retreat! Can't wait to have lots of zzzz's in that space. :)

Tim and I both must have been distracted this week, because three days in a row, we did a load of laundry and forgot that it was there! Of course, with the dampness and the hot, steamy days of July, by the next day when we remembered, the items were asking to PLEASE be washed again! At least we use eco-friendly laundry detergent, but so much for doing our deed in terms of minimizing our carbon foot print this week!

I guess we didn't do too badly, now that I think about it - we dry all of our clothes on drying racks or on the line (some day I'll have a wonderful pully system to dry our clothes on, but for now it's been added to the "list"), Tim has upped our rain barrel count to 10 (I told him that I bet no one else in Lancaster City owns so many rain barrels), and I ride my bike to work while Tim car pools with two other guys.

We're coming up on our 1st anniversary very, very soon! Just three days away! So hard to believe that we've been married now for one whole year. When I think about what the year has brought, I'm overwhelmed with joy and blessings. I have a wonderful husband, a great house (with lots of projects to keep us all busy for a long time), a fabulous group of partners to work with (go SELHS!), family and friends close by, and wonderful vegetables to eat everynight from our local CSA. Yum!

Speaking of vegetables, it's time to get on with dinner - chard cheese bake (delicious recipe from Simply in Season), grilled corn on the cob, beets, sweet potatoes, and pineapple (not from the CSA, sadly, but every now and then we break down and go with the splurges beyond what our local produce can offer), fresh baked bread from Ric's Bread at Central Market, something to do with cucumbers, and surely blueberries for dessert... all at our new table! Summer is great!

For all those who've been waiting...

People have been asking for ages about pictures from the wedding. Now since we've been married for exactly 5 months and 2 days, and the new year is about to begin, we thought we better get the ball rolling. We'd like to share some photos with you all! They will come soon, but we'll start with just one - it's one of our favorites from the wedding... the happiest day in my life thus far!

Our wedding website will soon be extinct, so we decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon and do this instead.

The past five months have been very full, yet we have enjoyed newlywed bliss and are blessed daily with goodness and happiness. We hope to provide a snapshot of what we've experienced as a newly married couple -- once owning three homes, now down to just one, both with new jobs or job responsibilities, status post two robberies, a wedding, honeymoon, moving about three times, our first Thanksgiving & Christmas as "one" and many other daily ins and outs of life as we know it being hitched. We love married life and highly recommend it (taking that quote from our friends Jonathan & Jennie Groff). We're thankful for each other and thankful for all of you - our family & friends who daily pray for us, encourage us, love us and live life with us!

We have a lot of catching up to do, so we'll likely post several entries from the past several months - they have been eventful, to say the least! and then we'll get started on the present. We look forward to 2008 with much anticipation. We are anxious for some more relaxed, restful times, as well as many new experiences as "partners for life!"

Blessings to all on your new year! May it be one where peace in our world may become more of a reality, and may you experience joy and happiness for you and yours.

Love, Kirsten (for both of us!)