When Anna and I were alone for our bedtime prayers, I read from the Bible, we prayed, and sang a couple of songs. Then we did something we hadn't done before. We tried to name off things we forget to thank the Lord for. Of course we thanked the Lord for our new house, the people that built it, but did we thanked the Lord for providing us with materials to built it. We thanked the Lord for the new towels and wash clothes for the bathroom. For the new sheets for our bed. For the groceries we buy and more. It turned out to be fun as we sort of tried to top each either with the small things to thank the Lord for. We always remember to thank Him for the big things, but not the little ones.
In telling about the weddings in our family, we told you of my son and myself both being Elmer. Thought you might like to hear of our unusual or funny nicknames. In the post Anna used Junior and Senior. Amish do not usually use that way. Amish use different names to identify one from another. Sometimes I am Shorty Elmer and my son is Big Elmer. This sometimes confuses people because, not knowing us, think that Big Elmer is the father and Shorty Elmer is the son.
Amish nicknames can be from stature, occupation, personalities, and more. Our son Nathan lives in an area where people have our common last name along with a couple men named Nathan. So our son is called Woody Nathan because he makes wood furniture. I am sometimes called Carp Elmer because I do carpenter work. My latest nickname is Butcher Elmer because I go to David and Jean's and help them butcher animals. Really my most common name is Shorty Elmer.
Now this leads to Anna. In an Amish group, Anna is known as Shorty Elmer's Anna. My oldest son's wife is Big Elmer's Mary. Nathan's wife is also named Mary, so she is Woody Nathan's Mary. With the two Mary's, we have to use the husband's first name so they know who we are talking to or about.
Even though John and Sarah recently married, they have a nickname, too. Because John is a rather common Amish name - he was called Shorty Elmer's John, which people still call him now and again. It seems that, locally anyway. there are no other Sarah's married to a John - so now John is Sar's John. Sarah is called Sar's John's Sarah. Sar is short for Sarah. I have a feeling that nickname may change with time. Again, maybe it won't.
When we were younger, my friend Eli, was called Biggest Eli as he is over six foot three inches tall. As time past, he became Big Eli. For some reason those names bothered him. When he became Bishop that ended all the big names. Of course, now he is Bishop Eli.
So I thought you might find some of our Amish nicknames interesting.
Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer
13 comments:
I was always "Little Tom" and my father was "Big Tom" until I became bigger than my father. Then we had "Young Tom" and "Old Tom." I have an Amish friend, Levi D. Miller (his father is David). There were so many Levi D. Millers in his community that he became Levi D. L. Miller (his grandfather was Levi). Have a great day. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Good Morning Tom,
Thank you. Yours is funny too. My Dad and eldest brother were both George. They called my Dad "Old George" and my brother "Young George". I like Levi's, too.
Hope you have a great day, too,
Marilyn
I truly enjoyed this post Marilyn. :)
Good Morning Vickie,
Glad you did. Will give Elmer your message.
Hugs to Mabel and Henry,
Marilyn and Pierre
I loved this post. I had an uncle Dale and he had a son and named him Dale. So, they became Big Dale and Little Dale. Wouldn't you know Little Dale grew up and had a son, named him Dale and dad graduated to Big Dale. His son became Little Dale. I have to say, at my age of 65, it is still in my head that my first cousin Dale is still Little Dale. So, I am always thinking of my cousin when I hear other family members talk about Little Dale. But they are talking about our second cousin now.
Hi Marilyn, In some places of the country, Moms+ daughters who have the same first name use Sr.+Jr. as Dads+sons.
45 degrees here+the snow is gone. It's really not good to have this back+forth stuff. There tends to be more sickness when there isn't consistently cold temps+snow on the ground. Whether people want to believe it or not, God is to be trusted and He knows what He's doing. Winter's here and we must work with it as we do any other season of the year. Blessings, Carol
Thanks Elmer! Enjoyed this very much.
Mary
Once again.... I thank all of you! Elmer's column was wonderful.
Carol Edwards in SC.
Hi Everyone,
I will see that Elmer gets your message. Have to call Anna right now as I need her post for tomorrow. I know all their comments are appreciated.
Marilyn
I really enjoyed Elmer telling about him and Anna recounting the many items for which they are thankful. I live in the mountains of southern West Virginia and almost every night I thank the Lord for my electric blanket. God does give us everything and we need to be thankful for the small things as well as the big.
We have a son named Stephen and also his son who is a Junior. When my son became an adult, he became Steve and my grandson remains Stephen.
I so enjoy Elmer and Jean's postings. I am very thankful that they are willing to share their way of life with the rest of us. Thank you, Marilyn, for being the one who so willingly lets us know.
Hi Wilma,
I will see that Elmer gets your message. I thank the Lord for my electric blanket, too.
Like your Stephen and Steve.
Glad you enjoy the postings. Thank you for the compliments.
Marilyn
What a great post. I love hearing about the nick names, and I really like to hear about the loving relationship Elmer and Anna have. How special to pray and sing in the evening before going to bed.
Doreen
Hi Doreen,
I really enjoyed hearing about the nick names, too and of course Elmer and Anna's relationship together. They, at least pray, every night before they go to bed. No matter how tired they are.
I will see them get your message.
Marilyn
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