I said in the previous post I'd shoot some pictures of Halston and Hannah this past weekend...and I did. We went to the park around the corner before dinner last night...
The Flickr set is here. It includes a few photos of them opening some baby gifts that J and I gave Hannah to take home with her to Portland. (I got some great stuff on sale--we were able to put together a nice big gift bag of goodies.) Hannah and her stepdad head back to Portland this morning. I'm sure Halston is sad to see her go. (I'm using a sick leave day today so I can be home. Just don't want him moping around the house alone while J and I are both at work. I won't be paid for my stockpile of sick days, so might as well use a few.)
I tweeted a link to the Flickr set on Twitter last night, and several Twitter pals sent sweet replies. As I said in some of my replies back, all I can really do right now is just offer love and understanding--that I'm simply trying to surround them with non-judgmental care. Because, truly, what purpose would it serve anyone to welcome that little girl into the world in a cloud of anger or judgment? (Which, sadly, is how some are choosing to view the situation.) It was lovely to meet Hannah's stepdad (very nice guy) and hear that we're all on the same page about this.
This morning I read a passage in Patti's book (bottom of page 46) that seemed so appropriate:
How do we hold presence for others? How do we hold love for others, with no agenda? (emphasis hers) Who was able to hold presence for us as children, without asking us to perform to their standards?
Late last night, Halston and Hannah asked J and I if we have any suggestions for baby names. :) They have a couple they're tossing around. If you have any girl names you'd like to suggest, leave them in the comments and I'll pass them along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Patti pointed me to this yesterday: someone quoted one of my poems in Patti's book in a post about what she'd read there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need some inspiration to kick-start your week? How about a 93-year-old actress and model (who didn't start acting until she was 65!) who does Pilates? Oh yeah, she's gorgeous, too. Meet Mimi Weddell and prepare to be knocked out... :)
The kids are darling! I wish all the best for them during the life-changing events coming their way! :)
Girl's names...hmmm...always been partial to ELIZABETH. Ha!
Posted by: lizardek | August 18, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Beautiful pics, they look so happy. I think people are tempted to judge because there are so many teenage pregnancies that result in kids growing up amongst crime and poverty, with parents who are children themselves and who have no resources - mentally, emotionally, financially - to ever provide a nurturing environment for their babies. Halston and Hannah are very lucky to have the support of their family, and this will make such a difference in their lives and that of their little girl. You are absolutely right, nothing is gained from judgment while everything is to be gained from love and genuine support.
And as for names, mmm ... these days there seem to be so many fancy ones about ... I love the names Halston and Hannah, I think Hailey would go well with that and it's a name I associate with a lovely and very special person :)
Posted by: Kerstin | August 18, 2008 at 01:14 PM
First of all, what a cute couple. How lucky they are to have you and J to support them. I'm sure it has to be scary for them too. I'm glad you shared their pictures. Now I can smile when I read about them in your blog :)
We have no kids, but my husband is always trying to get naming rights for our friends' and families' kids. If it's a boy, he always asked for Pierpont, and for a girl, Guinevere.
Anything else we come up with sounds like dog names :)
Posted by: Marilyn (@marlinex) | August 18, 2008 at 08:58 PM
they look so happy and honestly how can you not support them and love them, life is full of joy and unpredictable and not at all what we expect and they are bringing a beautiful life into this world :) what a couple of cuties!!
smooches to you all,
oh and i like the name harley :) it was one of the names we chose before we knew we were having boys
Posted by: darlene | August 19, 2008 at 10:25 AM
I can't wait to read Patti's book! I think I really need her wisdom right now.
BABY NAMES! Since I know Beaux will never ever agree to it, I offer my favorite girl name: Sidda. I just love it. I also like Hayley, it would go well with Hannah and Halston. (But see I like it NOT spelled with IE, but like Hayley Mills.) And I adore the name Elizabeth.
If you think the kids would be interested, you could send a link to the Baby Name Wizard website - http://www.babynamewizard.com/blog.
Your mindset is just so beautiful and loving and exactly what it should be in this situation. Of course there will be challenges but with love and support? The battle is already won, in my opinion. :)
Posted by: Sam | August 20, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I can't wait to read Patti's book! I think I really need her wisdom right now.
BABY NAMES! Since I know Beaux will never ever agree to it, I offer my favorite girl name: Sidda. I just love it. I also like Hayley, it would go well with Hannah and Halston. (But see I like it NOT spelled with IE, but like Hayley Mills.) And I adore the name Elizabeth.
If you think the kids would be interested, you could send a link to the Baby Name Wizard website - http://www.babynamewizard.com/blog.
Your mindset is just so beautiful and loving and exactly what it should be in this situation. Of course there will be challenges but with love and support? The battle is already won, in my opinion. :)
Posted by: Sam | August 20, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Hi Marilyn, I am one of your lurkers! I just wanted to say how lovely it is to see such compassion and caring for these kids. What a beautiful baby they will have. I don't have a suggestion for a name but I did write a post on what not to name a kid that might entertain you all. http://leauaphillips.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
What ever they decide, as long as it is said with love, will be the perfect name.
Thanks for sharing the way you do! Leau in the Land of Enchantment
Posted by: Leau | August 20, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Hi Marilyn, I am one of your lurkers! I just wanted to say how lovely it is to see such compassion and caring for these kids. What a beautiful baby they will have. I don't have a suggestion for a name but I did write a post on what not to name a kid that might entertain you all. http://leauaphillips.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
What ever they decide, as long as it is said with love, will be the perfect name.
Thanks for sharing the way you do! Leau in the Land of Enchantment
Posted by: Leau | August 20, 2008 at 09:32 PM
This was a lovely post and the two young people look so beautiful. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers, send them good voodoo, whatever, to try to do something to help them with this difficult path that they are on. I am sure that with loving folks like you surrounding them that they will do just fine.
Posted by: violetismycolor | August 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM
oh, and how about the name Hallee?
Posted by: violetismycolor | August 23, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Here's another vote for "Elizabeth"; I can vouch for it being a good name.
Best of luck to Halston and Hannah. It's great that they have so much positive support.
Mimi Weddell is AMAZING. She looks about 60. I'll have to keep my eye out for that documentary about her.
Posted by: Rozanne | August 27, 2008 at 04:52 PM