her name

When Jon and I showed up to the hospital in the early morning of July 14th, we still weren't quite sure what we were going to name our baby girl. We had gone back and forth on so many names, but being the big "Gone With the Wind" fan that I am, in the end it came down to Vivien or Scarlett.  I remember a couple hours after we had arrived at the hospital, the nurse asked us what we were going to name our baby. I said we weren't sure, but maybe Scarlett (because that was the name we were more leaning towards) and saying that name just seemed to roll really well off my tongue. And so, from that point on, we called our little bundle of joy, Scarlett. Well, Scarlett June to be more precise- June is after my grandma Holmgren who passed away over 6 years ago, and who was one of the most gracious and most wonderful woman I've known. I like to think that Scarlett has talked with and hugged her many times by now.  

The name Scarlett means a "vivid red color" and I don't think it is by accident that we named her that. On the drive home from PCMC after Scarlett had passed away, our hearts were filled with sorrow, but way off in the horizon, the sun was setting in the most beautiful vivid red color. Granted it was pollution that was causing the sun to be so red, but Jon and I took it as a sign that it was for us to remember Scarlett by, and while driving down the freeway towards home we looked towards the east and noticed that the trees on the mountainside had seemed to change overnight into a vivid red color as well. Our little Scarlett had passed on, but these were signs that we would be able to remember her by every year for the rest of our lives.

When we arrived home that night, there was a card on our doorstep. It was from our neighbors. They had given us a Scarlet Hawthorne tree for us to plant so we could always remember Scarlett by. Tears welled in my eyes at how beautiful the tree was and how thoughtful our neighbors are. In the spring it will produce the most beautiful bright reddish-pink blossoms. 

And when I think of Scarlett's name, I think of the scripture referring to repentance and forgiveness:

"though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" 

Isn't it ironic that her name gives mention to sin, but she was as perfect and innocent as they come? I know this scripture is not for her, but for me. And how grateful I am that I can repent of my short comings and imperfections and my Savior makes it possible for me to be forgiven so that I can be with Scarlett again one day.

I love my Scarlett. Her name has become somewhat sacred to me and I am thankful we did name her what we did so we may have so many ways to remember her by.