Our Princess Pearl's namesake (a long overdue post)

Aisley Pearl is named after her great, great, great Grandmother Pearl Mcdonald Zinie. Pearl is my Grandpa Craythorne's grandmother. She was born on October 13, 1897 and died on August 9, 1920. She was 22 years old when she died. I really don't know much about her (I wish I knew more) but, once Justin and I found out we would be having a baby girl I felt strongly that I wanted her to be named after grandma Pearl. And, from the moment Aisley was born I knew she was just that- our precious Pearl. 

When Aisley was just 6 weeks old my Grandma and Grandpa Craythorne, along with my great aunt and uncle- Ann and Jon Little (Ann is my Grandpa's sister) came out to Baltimore for a visit. (Grandma came early and spent a whole week with us!) The night Grandpa, Ann, and Jon flew in Ann brought Miss Aisley and I a very special surprise. -It is a moment that I will never forget, a memory I will always hold dear- Ann had a little gift in a bag all wrapped in tissue paper- at first I wasn't sure what it was- a little glass case with a hook, but nothing was inside... after waiting to see the puzzled look on my face Ann pulled a small pocket watch out of her own pocket... once I began to realize the significance of her gift, and she began explaining, I broke into tears, and so did she. I was so completely touched by her thoughtfulness and love.

Ann gave Aisley and I this antique pocket watch, beautifully engraved with her name, that belonged to Grandma Pearl. She told me that they found it amidst her things many years ago and that since then she had kept it displayed in her home. I could tell that it was very special to her and while trying to talk through my emotions I thanked her again and again and tried to let her know how much I loved it and how I would always, always take very good care of it.

Truly, no words can express how much this small gift means to me and will always mean to me. It is a reminder of not only our Princess Pearl's namesake, but also it is a wonderful reminder of Ann's love for us, and in the larger scheme of things- the love we can feel both from our family we share our lives with here on the earth today, and those who have passed before us.

A couple of months later, while we were in Utah for Christmas, Ann gave me an envelope with pictures and such of Grandma Pearl. I was again so grateful! Like I said before, I don't know much about Grandma Pearl, but it is through little things like this that I am able to feel closer to her, and hopefully one day Aisley will feel the same.

It really is true, although Pearl is gone she is surely not forgotten.

Saying goodbye to Cockeysville!

June 6th- My Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon was spent cleaning up our apartment for our move-out inspection and prepping all our stuff (and myself!) for the big move to Utah! By the time Justin got off work on Friday afternoon we were pretty much all packed up and ready to make the week long trek across the United States from Maryland to Utah.

It was a lot harder to say goodbye to our little apartment in Cockeysville than I had anticipated it to be. I didn't ever particularly love anything about living in Briarcliff Apartments throughout our year there, but when it was all said and done I realized that what I would miss the most about our tiny little apartment would be all the amazing memories we made there- first as a family of 3 and then as a family of 4. (Good thing I can pack up all those memories and take them with me to Utah! But, it was still hard to say our final goodbye- at least for me- I don't think Justin had the same attachment issues!)

Keaton with his first road trip present from Sister Walk!

Aisley- all ready for the LONG drive ahead of us! (At least we hope she is ready!)

"Mom, these sunglasses make me look girly!"

My view from here- Sunday morning.

May 4th-

This morning I not only took a quick picture with my phone, but I also took a quick snap shot with my heart.

This day was a day I always want to remember. (So many of my days feel like this, but this one in particular stood out... not because it was different or extraordinary, but just because. I am so blessed and I never want to forget that.)

This morning...
I can see my sweet Aisley Pearl anxiously waiting for her breakfast.
I can smell the remaining scent of Keaton's blueberry oatmeal. (Which he devoured.)
I can hear my boys singing primary songs while in the shower.
I can feel the sweetness of the spirit surrounding me and my small family as we prepare ourselves for church.

Oh, how I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh, how I am grateful for the love and mercy I feel from my Savior. I know He lives. I know He is aware of me and my family. I know He loves us! I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever. I know all that I have comes from God and I am extremely grateful for the many and wonderful blessings that I experience in my life each and everyday.