Names

A picture of Anne ("Nenette") de Guinge

I should probably explain why I chose the name "Nevdroonia" for my blog and "Nenette" as my username.
Nevdroonia is the name of the story that I am writing. I will not say much about it at the moment; only that it is a fairy tale fantasy and quite long by this time. I might actually finish it, which is something that I have never done to any of my other stories. However, I will disclose how I came up with the name, and one of the things that Nevdroonia is.
When I first began homeschooling, I would tell stories to my little brother, who was in school half-days at the time. At first, I would simply retell "Peter Pan" and other well-known classics. After a while, we decided to make up our own story, which we would then act out. I named our game "Nevdroonia" after Never-Neverland (Peter Pan), Droon (a fantasy series I used to read) and Narnia (my all-time, all-around favorite except for Lord of the Rings). Soon I was playing Nevdroonia as an imaginary game with some of my friends. At some point last year, I decided to write a story loosely-based on the adventures we came up with. It has evolved into the novel-length tale that is taking me months to type. (It doesn't help that I am a very mediocre typer!)

Nenette is the nickname of Venerable Anne de Guinge* (1911-1922). Her example is incredibly inspiring. Anne was a stubborn, difficult little girl, but a profound change took place in her when her father died when she was four. Through great effort, Anne turned the resources of her heart and will to the practice of perfect obedience. Anne found numerous ways to practice self-denial in her family's French chateau. She would do simple things, like skipping desert or playing a game that she did nor really enjoy- all for love of Christ. One of her friends once remarked how remarkable it was the Nenette managed to get the worst of everything for herself. She would offer up the difficulties she had doing these things for the souls of her "great sinners". Her ideas about following Our Lord were as simple as His command: "If you love Me, keep my commandments" Very few people have the strength to be really simple, and it is an ongoing challenge for everyone. "I am inclined to be proud and lazy," she once wrote when she was nine, "so a daily struggle is necessary for me." Anne had a great love of Jesus in the Eucharist, and would often visit Him in church. Nenette was always concerned about others, and would never hurt their feelings, even if it was very difficult for her. She would never complain about any aches or pains, but always made sure that everyone else was comfortable. Nenette died of an illness when she was 10.
* pronounced Geen-yay

Here is a link to a website about Anne.

http://www.catholictradition.org/Children/anne-guigne.htm