The Tale of Two Brigittas

One year ago today, I was in the hospital giving birth to a baby that I thought was six days late. Come to find out, she was right on time.

When we discovered that we were expecting another girl, I knew instantly what I wanted to name her. It was the same name I had wanted to give our second daughter, Felicity, but my husband had said, "Brigitta just doesn't sound right with LeBlanc." Although I was disappointed, the subject was dropped and I didn't mention it again; not even two years later when the ultrasound revealed daughter number three.

After discussing various other names, and settling on none, one of the young ladies from church asked me if we had picked a name yet. Of course, I said, "no." Then she asked a strange question: "What would you name her if it was just up to you?"

Seriously doubting that my husband would hear of our conversation, I replied honestly, "I would name her Brigitta," and then I proceeded to tell this young lady and her mother all about a precious friend of mine, Brigitta Poldemaa Barker...

 "Gita" was born in the tiny country of Estonia in 1921, during its brief period of independence before WWII. Escaping the day Estonia fell, the Lord miraculously preserved her after the Russians torpedoed her ship in the Baltic Sea. When she arrived in Germany, grief-stricken, He again rescued her from a slave-labor camp, and a prison camp. Then, through a series of incredible events that I will not divulge here, (you have to read the book) Gita came to America and finally settled in the tiny town of Williston, FL, where I spent my teen years.

My aunt was already writing her biography when my family moved to Williston, and some of my fondest memories are sitting in the cozy living room of my Estonian "grandma" listening to my Auntie Sheri read portions of the story aloud.

So, when asked what I would name our baby girl, I replied without hesitation; and then explained why. After hearing Thom's objection, my audience decided they could come up with a middle name to make it fit.

Venturing upon us at that moment, my beloved overheard our conversation and, after renewed contemplation, decided that we could indeed name our little one after Mrs Barker, (whom he also adores)  provided we found a French middle name. Two weeks later, we heard the sad news that Mrs. Loraine Shelton, a dear friend of my husband's, had passed away. During our time of grief, I quietly reminded him, "Loraine, is a French name..."

And so our third baby girl found her name: Brigitta Loraine LeBlanc. But little Gita was not like her sisters. She didn't come on her due date! Six agonizing days later, I finally gave birth to the poky one! Then, from the hospital, I spontaneously called my Auntie Sheri. She was fairly bursting! After almost two decades of working on The Long Walk Home, it finally went to publication the very day our Brigitta was born! Both of us ecstatically rejoiced in the Lord's timing; and a wonderful day turned into a glorious one!

A few months later, while doing some research on the Country of Estonia, Mrs. Barker's homeland, I discovered that the little nation celebrates it's Independence Day, it's "Fourth of July" on February 24: Baby Brigitta's birthday!

This may seem insignificant to some of you, but to me it is just another one of those little details that reminds us of God's absolute and infinite plan. Regardless of where you are right now, take comfort that the Lord directs your steps. When things take longer than you had anticipated, or don't turn out as they "should," consider that God has His own timetable. He is never late. And He never forsakes His own.

"A man's heart deviseth his way:

but the LORD directeth his steps."

(Proverbs 16:9)

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(Top Right Photo: Two Gitas)

For more info on the remarkable history of Estonia,

please check out my recently updated Squidoo page:

Estonia and the Singing Revolution