September 15 - The Name

Jacqueline Rosemary XueLan Choate is the name we have selected for our little girl from China.  

You would think that after four years, we would have come up with her name before now.  But, you'd be wrong.  We instead adopted a placeholder - The Little Girl from China.  We have boxes of clothes stacked to the garage ceiling with the words "Little Girl from China" on them.  The only name that was actively considered by any member of the family was "Bina," a name that a Mahlon came up with when she was in kindergarten.  

Bina's proximity to "China" is likely not a coincidence.

When we were placed with Xue Lan, we knew it would be at least 10 weeks before we would leave for China.  So, I imagined that we would have that long to figure out a real name - likely not Bina.  But, a couple weeks later, Lyn was demanding a name for some form she was filling out.  Suddenly, we needed a name and we needed it in 24 hours, and it was up to me to figure it out. 

My Dad with Katie in 2003.

I had a cousin named Katherine.  She was the daughter of my mother's sister, Jeannie.  My mother and Jeannie are about as close as sisters can be, and I remember feeling like Katie was the sister that I never had.  My happiest moments as a child were with my parents, Jeannie, Allen, and little Katie.  



When Katie died of leukemia at 18 months of age, I quietly promised myself that I would someday have a daughter that I would name Katherine Rosemary after my mother and the little girl who never had her chance at life.  A couple of years later, Jeannie had another little girl, named Lorrie, who was as beautiful and fun as her sister. Apparently, Lorrie made the same promise that I made because when her little girl was born a couple of years ago, Lorrie named her Katherine.  

So, Katherine was off the table.  



My Dad and me in 1970. 



I was born to Jerry Ronald Choate and Rosemary Fidelis Choate.  My parents named me Judd Randolph, which made me a "J.R. Choate" just like my Dad.  Thus, when I was a kid my Dad would hand me all the junk mail that came for J.R. Choate so I would get mail just like he did.  

Well, Dad died last December.  So, as a final gift to him, I am giving my daughter a name that celebrates his life.  Further, because "J.R. Choate" requires an "R," I was able to keep the Rosemary. 

I had a nearly perfect childhood, with wonderful parents.  Now our child has a small but tangible connection to the two people who made me who I am. 



Jacqueline Rosemary XueLan Choate



Jackie.