Ruby Jensen's Art Blog

I asked my children to write somethings they remembered from their childhood for a Mother's Day gift this year. I got some wonderful and funny stories. I wanted to write something to each of them in return.

The Importance of Your Name
Your father and I put a lot of thought into each of your names.
Heather is a plant native to the British Isles. When your father was on a church mission to England, he heard and really liked the name. So after we had been married a year and I was expecting our first baby , we choose Heather as the girl ’s name. Lynn would be her middle name after your father’s middle name. Shawn Nephi would be the boy’s name. Your father was hoping for a baby girl first . He got his wish and it was decided, Heather Lynn, we loved the name. A beautiful and content baby born April 4, 1972 in Provo, Utah, while your dad was attending B.Y.U.

Our second child would be Shawn Nephi, if a boy . I really loved the name Fawn for a daughter.. After joining the church, I had become friends with Sherry Stewart. She had a sister named Fawn. I asked her if she liked her name ? She said she did like it and didn’t get teased much (little deer). So it was decided, Fawn Mary . Mary after your dad’s mom, Mary Helen, and my mom , Rosemary . The name fit her perfectly and she was born just 15 ½ months after Heather , July 28,1973 in Castro Valley , California. Another beautiful and loving baby girl ! Your father was in Missile Launch School at Vandenberg Air Force Base for 6 weeks, so we were living with Grandma Rose and Grandpa Herb. Your dad’s mom , Mary Helen, past away just a few days before you were born. We were so sorry she didn’t get to see you before she passed on.
Our third child would be Shawn Nephi. We had just moved from Minot,
North Dakota, after serving in the Air Force for two years. Your father was able to get an early out because of too many officers after the Vietnam war . So , to the farm we went and I was very pregnant . If a girl , our baby’s name would be , Kristie Rose. Your father was very specific about how it was to be spelled. A daughter of one of our Home Teaching families was named Kristie. Rose was chosen after my mom’s name and Dad’s sister. Kerstin was almost chosen, but we thought it might be too unusual. We were living in a tiny house we lovingly call “little house on the prairie”, on the Idaho farm . It was decided, Kristie Rose, a beautiful name for a beautiful baby , born June 6, 1975 in Caldwell, Idaho.

As we were expecting our fourth child, Shawn Nephi, would be his name. If a baby girl, her name would be Cassandra Marie. Cassandra, because I had taught a girl in Young Women named Cassie, and really liked her name. And Marie for her middle name because Marie Osmond was popular and we thought it was pretty . We almost used Ann, after Grandma Teresa Ann, your dad’s step mother. But Cassandra seems to already have an ann sound in it and we thought Marie sounded better . We also loved the shortened version , Cassie. So it was decided and Cassandra Marie was born , March 5, 1978, Caldwell, Idaho. She was a little bit blue after a difficult birth, but a dimpled beauty !
We finally tired of the name Shawn Nephi, so if a boy , it would be Dustin Nephi . Dustin Hoffman was popular and we liked how it sounded with the name Nephi. Of course by then, we were expecting a girl, who we may have named Autumn. When a boy was born, we where all
very surprised and excited! So it was decided, Dusty was the perfect name for a boy who loved to play in the dirt as a child. Our fifth and last child, born Sept.13, 1979 in Caldwell, Idaho , just two days before my birthday , a beautiful birthday gift.
We love all our children very much and are proud of the great people they have become. Thank you so much for the memories you have all given to us. And the meaning you have given to our life. We give gratitude to Heavenly Father every day for the blessing you all are to us. Thank you for your love and support for the things we do. And for the wonderful grand children you have blessed us with!