What's in a name?

Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

How do you spell it? K-A-T-Y-L-Y-N-N
How do you pronounce it? Kay - tee - lin

And most significantly... Where did you get that name?

When you've been trying to have a child for nearly 6 years, you tend to talk a lot about what would happen when he/she comes. A common Derry/Janelle discussion has been the name...

Do we name the baby after family?
Do we go biblical?
What's the boy name?
What's the girl name?

Oddly enough we could never come to a conclusion on a boy name (side note to DC Cramer, I like Davis Cravis Prenkert for a boy, I just can't get Janelle to bite). When it came to a girl name, it was around 2004 (I think) that we came to a conclusion on a girl name.

It was on a drive together that we began to talk about how many gals with the same name (or variations of this name) we had in our life that were very special to us. We were in full agreement that our first daughter would have the name Katy.

The name would be in honor of 5 ladies who have been very special to us:

1. Katie Weiss - Katie Malkowicz became a best friend of Janelle at Bethel College in their Junior year. I actually got to know Katie before Janelle did. It was through this guy she was dating named Dan Weiss, who happened to be my good friend and roommate. Dan and Katie both ended up being in our wedding party, and we in theirs. Both Katie and Dan have been there through this entire journey... crying, hoping and praying as much as anyone. Katie is an incredible woman of God. She is an awesome mother and wife. She is the type of friend to Janelle that we all dream we could have.
   
   
2. Katy Sonner - Katy was a part of NMC Student Ministries in the late 90s. As an intern and then rookie Youth pastor, I traveled with Katy on teams to SEMP Chicago and IMPACT Peru. Katy was the first gal at NMC that Janelle mentored. Janelle would credit Katy Sonner as the individual that God used to confirm his calling for her in Youth Ministry. Ironically, we had lost touch with Katy. In the past month, we have been able to reconnect with her.
   
   
3. Katie Carl - I can still remember the Wednesday Night where I had a conversation with Katie Carl about her spiritual life. After the conversation, I had a thought, "If I could have a daughter with that kind of personality, heart, and character, I would consider myself a very blessed person."
   As a Senior, Katie helped Janelle lead a Small Group of Freshmen. We deeply love Katie as a little sister/ daughter (except we would have had to give birth to her as 8 year olds). I stand by what I say, if Katylynn grows up with the kind of personality, heart, and character that Katie Carl possesses, I would consider myself blessed.
   
   
4. Katelynn Miller - I remember the Summer Camp where I met this sweet, insecure little Freshman from Fairfield High School named Katelynn. Immediately, she captured Janelle's heart. Janelle wanted to invest in her. Like Katie Carl, Katelynn's Senior year involved helping Janelle lead a Freshman Small Group.
   Our experiences with Katelynn are many and unique, with the ultimate being a trip to the emergency room in the jungles of Peru due to Katelynn's extreme dehydration.
   This Summer at Junior High Camp, both Janelle and my hearts were warmed as Katelynn, now a Junior High Small Group leader, was diving into the lives of some of the toughest girls at the camp. That sweet Freshman gal we met is still there, but the insecurity is long gone!
   
   
5. Kalyn Lantz - I first met Kyle. Then I met Kory. Then I met Mark and Cindi. Then I met Kalyn. The Lantz family is all very special to us. The type of family that Janelle and I would love to emulate. Kalyn is the youngest of three, currently a Senior. She is a sweetheart. She is a leader. She is one of the deepest students we have ever encountered. As we prepared for the arrival of this baby, Kalyn came to our house for the day. She mowed our lawn, vacuumed, and did whatever else she could to help. This is just a snapshot of the caring and servant's heart Kalyn has.
   Currently, Janelle is working with Kalyn in a Small Group where they meet every other week. In the off week, Kalyn meets with a Small Group of her own.
   I am convinced that the World will be changed through the life lived by Kalyn Lantz.
   

The adoption threw in a little twist. We wanted to honor Emily, the birth mother, by including the name she had selected for this baby... Ivy. As we looked at the name Katy Ivy Prenkert, we just weren't too sure about the sound of it. Plus with Katelynn and Kalyn being later additions to the name choice, we wanted a way to incorporate their names as well.
Both issues were solved with the name Katylynn.

Some added and unique parts to the name...

• Janelle's Great Grandma was named Ivy.
• Katylynn Ivy Prenkert has the exact same initials as her grandpa, Kelvin I. Prenkert.
• Ivy means Faithfulness... I think that's rather fitting.

So Katie Weiss, Katy Sonner, Katie Carl, Katelynn Miller, Kalyn Lantz... thank you for being a part of our lives. Know that every time somebody says Katylynn's name, you're character, heart, and lives are being honored by us! We love you all!