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September 10, 2026
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Salvaged Faith

tr.v. sal·vaged 1) To save from loss or destruction. 2) To save (discarded or damaged material) for further use. Welcome to the blog of Rev. Katie Z. Dawson.

Ministry in Heels

Anne (with an ‘e’) #reverb10

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One of my favorite television series/movies of all time is Anne of Green Gables.  I must admit, rather sheepishly, that I have NOT read the books.  I need to.  I know I do.  They will be my first purchase when I get an e-reader. I promise. (I actually began typing this post before Christmas… got busy and never finished it.  I am pleased to report that not only do I now have a kindle… but I also was able to get the Anne of Green Gables books for free!!!!  I’m 73% of the way through the first book!)

A scene that always captures my attention is when Anne stands before Marilla Cuthburt for the first time and introduces herself.

“Would you please call me Cordelia?”

“Call you Cordelia? Is that your name?”

“No, but please call me that. Cordelia is such a romantic name.”

December 23 – New Name Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

I am absolutely stumped for a response.
I have never thought about what my name would be if it was not Katie.
I have always been a Katie.  It was the name given to me at my birth. I will always be a Katie.
Not a Katherine, not a Kathleen, not a Katarina…
I am Katie.
Well, that’s not entirely true.  In the first grade, we had three “Katie”s in my class.  And so we became Katie M., Katie W., and Katie Z.
Since then I have always been Katie Z. No one could pronounce my last name anyway, so Katie Z. stuck.
Even in marriage, I couldn’t let go of the Z. For so long in my life it has been who I am. It is a part of me, too.  I couldn’t decide if I should do two last names, or change my middle name, but I liked my family middle name of “Marie” – so now I have two middle names – and since I never signed with my middle name anways, I sign all of my checks “Katie Z. Dawson”
I am Katie Z.
And now that I am in the ministry, I have to say that my name has evolved again.
Pastor Katie is what everyone calls me.  It is how I answer the phone when a call comes in to the office.  Sometimes I even catch myself answering my cell phone that way – even if it is a friend or a family member calling.
So Pastor Katie is who I am now also.
I really cannot imagine myself with another name.  One thing that I have thought of is whether “Katie” is a little juvenille sounding… it has that “ee” sound at the end, like “billy” or “susie” might.  So, without having much scope for the imagination myself (sorry Anne, that’s why I have to read your books, instead of just imagining things up myself), I think that the first “new name” I would like to try would simply be “Kate.”   So boring.
So then I googled “top 100 names”  – I’m not having a really creative sort of day today, am I?!  And I found this “renamer” based on characteristics about yourself.  I hated every single name that came up on the first round.  Every single one.  I got only slightly better luck on the second round… but then saw one of my names was “Bernice” and that is what we named my best friend’s extensions last night.  Doh.
I give up.  What do you think is a better name for me?
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2 Responses to “Anne (with an ‘e’) #reverb10”

  1. Like a Child

    I love the movies. I purchased the set at Costco and have the books downloaded (for free too!) on my husband's ipad, and i tried to start reading them to my 6 year old over the summer, but she is too young (not exciting enough for her). Perhaps I should try again! After all, her middle name is Anne with an E! (Although she was named for the pattern of my sheets…long story!)

  2. Katie Z.

    haha – I can imagine where that story might end up! I'm glad to meet another kindred spirit and "anne-girl" lover =)

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