What's In A Name?!

To understand us you have to know us and to know us is to know our names! In our family names are very important and have made a world of difference in our lives.

Most people struggle with their given names at one point or another. Some struggle for their entire lives.

I was born Jamie Ann Taylor. I later became a Johnson. Even later I became a Bartlett. (There is a story there which will come later). I grew up with a variety of nicknames some I loved and some I hated. I was James, James and the Giant Peach, Peaches, Dandy-long-legs, Sadie (All of the females on my Taylor side were Sadie to my Grandpa Vern! Those are the nicknames I loved. I was also called many names during my elementary years which I generally disliked due to bullying I went through.

I struggled a little with my name growing up, not because I didn't like the name Jamie, but because I wanted everyone to call me Jamie Ann. I did have occasions (these were rare) when I disliked Jamie but only when my name was used in bullying or when I had the short phase where I found out Jamie was more popular as a boys name....however, I was something of a tomboy so eventually I came to really love my name.

My husband is Shawn Joseph Bartlett. Lucky guy never had to worry about changing his name...hahaha. He was called Bubba, Shawny, Shawnathon. He never struggled with his name like most do..instead he simply corrected people on the spelling much as a Troll corrects people on their grammar or spelling. He always has to let people know its S-H-A-W-N. Another point to this post is the association of his last name - Bartlett. Bartlett, as most know, is a type of Pear.

Herein comes the significance of names that ties us together. I grew up with the nickname Peaches and Shawn as a Bartlett was a Pear. So right from the start of our relationship we had this saying: "She is My Peach!" - "He is My Pear!"

I grew up as Peaches due to my extreme fondness for canned peaches. My mom often lamented the lack of canned peaches when she needed them for a fruit salad. Peaches were not my only go to. I honestly love all canned fruit but peaches were by far my favorite. So my sister, Sara, bless her heart decided one day to give me a new nickname, 'James and the Giant Peach'. I am pretty sure this name came about shortly after the movie of the same name was released. I honestly loved it (don't tell her I said so!).

So many names and so many stories behind the names. The question we then ask ourselves...'What's In A Name?!'

Shawn was given his middle name for Joseph Smith, the first Prophet of the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was given my middle name to carry on a traditional name in my mother's family. Ann - I am Jamie Ann. My mother is Sue Ann. Her mother was Margaret Ann. There are many instances when this name either as Ann or as Anne has been passed down through many generations on both sides of my family. I too will have a daughter with the middle name of Ann.

A name can mean so many things and come from a random source, from deep within a family line, from a favorite character - author - movie star - etc, or many other places. Everyone is given a name at birth, whether it is on record or not. I mention names of record or not because I have found in recent years during research or Indexing for The Church that in generations past if a child was stillborn or similar they were not given a name of record. Mostly I believe this was due to not having rites performed before their death. It was a sad truth that I faced and the reason I mention names without record is because I have Angel Babies myself whom I have carried, lost, and named but there is no record of their life on this earth. I struggle with fertility issues (keep checking back for future post about this struggle). Infertility is never fun, it can shatter hearts, but the healing that come with naming a lost child is beyond imagination.

But, as always there is so much more rattling around in my brain just waiting for the moment it gets to be shared. This is it for now though.

~*~ Adventure Like There Is No Tomorrow! Family Is The Key To Happiness So Tell Them You Love Them, Hug and Kiss Them, and Hold Your Kids A Little Closer!~*~ As Always, The Bartlett Family