baby rigney is born!

Dear Friends and Family,

We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our son…

Samuel Jonathan Rigney

Samuel was born at 10:05AM on June 24, 2009 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.  He weighs 7  lbs. 13 oz. and measures 20 inches long.  The labor lasted about 39 hours, and the Lord blessed us with an amazing team of nurses and doctors and an unbelievable doula. Jen and Sam are doing fantastic. Joe is thrilled that his little boy is finally here! He has lots of dark brown hair (with hints of red in his eyebrows). He is, of course, the most beautiful baby we’ve ever seen!

If you live in the Twin Cities and would like to visit us at the hospital, we’ll post an update about visiting hours once we’ve been moved into our post-partum room.  Please give either Joe or Jen a call on their cell phone before you arrive!  We are looking forward to introducing you to our sweet Sam, he can’t wait to meet you!

When we thought about choosing a name for our son, we knew that we wanted his name to mean two things.  We wanted his first name to remind us of the years that we spent praying, crying, and asking God for a child.

We desperately wanted our son.  We wanted him long before God gave him to us.  In the past few years, there were many days when we struggled to believe that God heard our cries for a child…which was often times more painful than being childless.

But He did hear us.

And He answered.

Samuel means, “God has Heard”.

We love the name ‘Samuel’ for many reasons.  One reason that is especially near to my heart is the story of Samuel’s life in Scripture.

Hannah became a dear friend of mine these past few years.  I thank God for her.  There were days when I lived off of Hannah’s faith.  She cried out for God to remember her and He did.  Her story helped me believe that He wouldn’t forget me either.

We chose “Jonathan” for Samuel’s middle name.  One reason we chose this name is because we wanted his middle name to reflect that it was God’s power and faithfulness alone that answered our prayers for a child.

Jonathan means, “God has Given”.

A few months ago, Joe wrote a beautiful poem to our son explaining the story behind his name…

God has Heard and God has Given

For three long painful years we sat

In dry and barren darkness that

Like Hannah, left us vexed in soul

By circumstance beyond control

Of us or any mortal man.

We’d cry, “A child is better than

All other earthly gifts that God

Could ever give. This painful rod

Of childlessness makes sick our hearts

With grief that by its fits and starts

Did bring us to our knees in prayer.

O LORD who made the earth and air,

Why have you closed this mother’s womb?

For in our heart and home there’s room

For ten children. And yet right now

We ask for only one and bow

The knee in humble hope and trust

That you will never forget us.

And lest our desire grows too strong

And in sorrow we charge with wrong

The God who holds us day by day

In everlasting arms, we say:

The greatest gift that you could give

Is naught compared to Christ who lives

To intercede for sinners poor

And needy. In him we find sure

joy, the likes of which any child

Is but a faint echo.” Beguiled

And wearied by this burden, we

Let loose our strong and silent plea

And, like sweet incense, it arose

To the Father of Lights who knows

Exactly what his children need.

And from his throne with swiftest speed

Goes forth a sure and sovereign word,

“Make no mistake, your God has heard.

And so, rejoice, O barren one,

For I will give to you a son.

Upon his life you’ll have no claim,

But to you it will fall to name

This little boy, so choose thee well,

A name to shake the gates of hell,

A name that calls to mind the One

Who heard your cries and gave His Son

To die upon that judgment tree

To give you life and make you free,

Not only from your barrenness,

But from your sin, so you could bless

His holy name for all your days,

And render him all thanks and praise

For giving you ev’ry good thing

That makes you glad and makes you sing,

And even those that made you weep

And plead with God that he would keep

And hold you up in darkest night,

Yes, even those in Him are light.”

Is there a name that says all this,

A name that calls to mind the bliss

And joy that fills our hearts these days

Without neglecting all the ways

That we have grieved for three long years,

That will remind of all the tears

And prayers we offered to the Lord?

Is there a name to strike this chord?

So, my son, that’s how we thought

About the name that is your lot.

We chose it to remind of both

The sorrow and the blood-sealed oath

Of God to ne’er forsake his own

In painful trials and griefs unknown.

Your name displays God’s faithfulness,

For we asked for you, and he said, “Yes.”

Your name is Samuel Jonathan

For God has Heard and God has Giv’n.

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Thank you for all of your prayers and support throughout the past nine months!  We are so excited about being Sam’s parents and we ask you for your continued prayers on our behalf as we navigate our way through the joys of parenting!  This should be one exciting ride!

We love you all,

joe + jen + sam rigney