What’s in a Name?

Last week I was going to write my newsletter. After four nights spent on a hospital couch, there was no newsletter, but instead a healthy baby boy. Now that is an amazing trade! So, let me introduce to you my firstborn.

Alfred Wessex Derr

Born: June 19th, 2023 at 5:30pm

8 lbs. 2 oz and 21 inches

As we’ve revealed his name over the months of pregnancy many have understandably asked why Alfred? We decided to save back his middle name until he was born, and the reveal of Wessex has sparked even more raised eyebrows. Let me briefly explain his name.

It is not a family name, at least not to our knowledge when we picked it. Alfred gets his name from our love of history and my specific love for 9th-century England. In the time of Viking raids and the collapse of other English kingdoms King Alfred was able to beat back the Viking invaders. It was his vision to unite the whole of England under one King. It was his work that propelled his descendants, The house of Wessex, to be England’s first King. King Alfred is remembered in history as one of two English monarchs to be given the title The Great. Wessex was the Kingdom he ruled in England before consolidating power and influence. King Alfred is considered The Great due to the many reforms he instituted that aided in stabilizing England and pushing back the Viking invasion. He reformed the military, legal code, education, and church. I could go on forever but let me just share one last story.

Alfred’s mother, Osburh set up a competition for her sons to win an ornate book of poetry. The first son to memorize the book would win. Alfred just a small boy at the time had someone read the poems to him. Alfred won the book of English poetry over his three older brothers. Alfred’s mother died when he was just six years old, and he couldn’t read. It is believed that his love for his mother and the book of poetry that he won sparked his desire to learn how to read. Reading and writing became very important to King Alfred, and he instituted many education reforms to increase literacy in England. We know so much about this period in history as a direct result of his desire to read the book of poetry he won from his mother.

Anyway, I will stop boring you with my historical curiosities. Victoria and I couldn’t be happier to have our very own Alfred Wessex. We pray that he will find his own way to greatness, however he may define it.

Thank you for your many prayers and meals.