Wordless Wednesday

5 Countries

 Here are 5 areas (plus 1 extra) my DNA test showed I am from

• Scotland 
• Belgium
• England & Northwestern Europe
• Ireland
• Denmark 
• Sweden

Ancestry DNA

We recently took advantage of an Ancestry site DNA sale.  We have eagerly awaited our results.  Last Saturday late morning/early afternoon John received his results.  Having sent our samples off at the same time, I thought mine would be along shortly.  I stayed up until 10 that night waiting to see if mine would come.  Finally I decided I needed to give up waiting and go to bed.  I did not want to fall asleep in church the next day.  I woke up Sunday morning and checked my email before getting ready.  My results were available and I also had a message from someone who our DNA showed we were 3rd cousins on our paternal side.

I quickly looked at the results and replied to this cousin who lives in England.  We continue to correspond although we do not yet know how we are cousins - we have not found the common surname.  I looked forward to diving into my results after church.

We got home from church, ate lunch and before settling down for a Sunday afternoon nap, I reviewed my results.  What did I want to look at first?  Did I want to see where my family had come from?  Did I want to see potential relatives?  Did I want to see which traits I had inherited from which parent?

I first looked at my family’s history.  Having heard from where family had come to the United States, that was really not a surprise.  The exciting thing was seeing which countries made up my DNA and from which parent those had come.

Then there were the potential relatives - 50,000 on both sides.  20,000+ on each side.  An aunt was listed.  Then a first cousin from each side.  The potential relatives are listed on a card.  Name is on the first line, relation on second line (the aunt was listed as close family), whether Parent 1 or Parent 2’s side, if that person has a tree in the ancestry site, how many people are on the tree and who manages the tree.  

Next I looked at the traits.  This was interesting.  From what I understand Ancestry has given out surveys regarding the traits.  Somehow they put the traits with the DNA.  Most were spot on.  This was the most freeing part of the test for me.  I was not wrong.  I did belong.  Growing up (and still to this day) I have felt like I did not belong.  And being a people pleaser that is hard.  As I was talking to my sister I was in tears as I said, “you don’t know how freeing this is for me.  We do belong.  We are not wrong.”  We both commented we have felt like square pegs being pounded into round holes.  

This was a great experience.  We took advantage of a Father’s Day sale so got the test for a discounted price.  If you would like to do this I would suggest looking at the Ancestry site and waiting for a sale.  You may be able to purchase them from amazon and other shopping sites as well.  There is a 6-8 week waiting period from the time you send off your sample until you get the results, but it’s well worth it.  I think you will enjoy seeing where you are from and how many cousins you may have.

Who am I? A look into my family heritage

If the 4th of July falls on a Thursday we get both Thursday and Friday off work.  We forego getting Good Friday as a holiday so the time between New Year's and Memorial Day seems so long but when July 4&5 finally arrive it feels worth it.

We had a good fourth.  John's parents and a brother came.  John grilled hamburgers.  His mother brought German potato salad and we had ice cream bars for dessert.  Food City had the ice cream bars on sale - buy one (box of 6) get one (box of 6) free.  We bought a selection so we had a good variety to offer.

A few years ago (maybe 5) I received a box in the mail.  It contained the book "15 Main Street" which a cousin had put together.  15 Main Street is the street on which our grandparents lived.  This cousin had created the book for her mother and aunts (known as the Perry Girls).  Our Aunt JoNette had sent her book to me.  She had asked a sister what she should do with it and the sister had suggested sending it to me.  The notebook was full to overflowing.  Some sheets were not in sheet protectors.  Some pages in sheet protectors were not secured in the 3 ring binder but just placed in the notebook.  Some of those sheets had a sticky note with another aunt's handwriting stating where that page fit in the notebook.  For some time I have wanted to compare it with Mother's to see if all were in order.   Yesterday I sat down and went through both notebooks two times.  I hope to go through them at least one more time - just to make sure.

From going through the 2 books this weekend, I have realized each aunt has personalized their notebook.  Aunt JoNette had pictures of my 3rd great-grandparents (pictured below) and letters she received after placing 3rd in a school speech contest.  She also included 2 different school projects - one was a speech in which she received 1st place.  Mother had Grandmother's obituary which was in our area newspaper.  Mother also had  Grandma and Grandpa's marriage certificate (a copy) in hers and a few things related to Uncle Martin.  I have copied the marriage certificate to place in my "15 Main Street" and plan on looking closely at what she has related to Uncle Martin.  I may copy & include those also.

In going through the book this weekend I have been reminded of the Godly heritage we cousins have been given.  The aunts shared about growing up - quoting Scripture before eating a meal, trying to stump their father by reading a verse and then he would have to give them the Scripture reference from memory, one sister would start tapping a hymn on the headboard of her bed and the others would have to guess which hymn was being tapped.  We cousins also shared the memories we had of visiting 15 Main Street.  We each knew we were loved by our grandparents.  

Fond memories are not created by how much we spend on others but by the simple acts showing we love them.  

 

Isaac Voorhees VanLiew  

 August 11, 1811 - April 18, 1887

married January 8, 1834

 Catharine Lamoreaux VanLiew

June 14, 1816 -  April 16, 1886

Daylily Trip

Today found us going on a road trip to Blue Ridge Daylilies over in Asheville, NC.  They were hosting a multi-club day in the garden.  Several different daylily clubs attended the event.  There were about 13 from our club in attendance.  

We parked the car across the road from the garden.  As we crossed the little footbridge into the garden, these ducks greeted us on the right side.  They were fun to watch.  As we were winding down our time at the garden, I spent a bit of time with my eyes glued on the ducks.

The garden's layout was pleasing to the eyes.  The daylilies were in the center with large plants around the edges.  The large plants made it easy to forget that you were right on the side of a road.  The fragrance from the daylilies was intoxicating.  With it being morning when we arrived the ground was still wet.  So grass, mud and other debris was easily collected on one's shoes.

Every hour a drawing was held for a 2017 daylily introduction.  They were worth at least $100.  Neither John nor I won a daylily.  A lunch of pork barbecue, hamburger and hot dogs was provided.  One's stomach appreciated the refreshment after working up an appetite wandering around the gardens.

One of the things I enjoyed was the garden art. Here are two samples of the many works of art seen throughout the garden.

                                                     

The TN welcome center provided a rest stop on the way back home.  These are 2 quilts that were on display in the welcome center.  I always think it feels good to see the sign that says Welcome to Tennessee.

Bridal Shower

After I graduated college, I went to FL for a possible job.  The job did not work out but I had some neat experiences during that process.  I was able to spend a little time with a former counselor from the camp which I attended during my childhood and teen years.  I do not remember this counselor but my great-uncle, Martin Perry, told me I needed to get in touch with her.  He may have even called her to tell her to take care of me.

For a few weeks during my stay in FL, I stayed with this former camp counselor and her family.  She and her husband had been married ten years at that point.  One afternoon she told me that at the ten year marriage celebration, a bride should be thrown another bridal shower.  By that time most of the things received at your shower were on their last leg if not already disposed.  I remember thinking that was kind of silly.  But....

When we had been married ten years I thought back to that stay thought yes I understood.  My kitchen and bath towels are looking very used.  Move forward another nine years...it will be twenty years next April.  Some of those very used kitchen and bath towels have been disposed of.  Some are saved for emergencies.  There are other things I think I'd like to get another one of that or some more of those.

One item that has disappeared is the lid to our blender.  

We spent out twelfth year of marriage living in an apartment.  While there I sent the insert to our blender lid down the food disposal.  I love my glass blender (a gift from a brother and sister in law) so I improvise.  I place a salad plate face down on top of the lid before I hit the start button.

 

Another item I would like to replace is a nesting bowl.

Another brother gave us a set of four nesting bowls.  They have been well used.  The large bowl broke several years ago as we were mixing up some Christmas presents.  It was used for mixing cakes, cookies, salads, etc. and also storing food items in the fridge.  It is missed. 

 Some other items I'd like are more small glass lidded bowls in which to store small amounts of leftovers (or my next day lunch), another food processor, some new spatulas, etc.

If you could have another bridal shower what are some things you'd like to replace, replenish, restock? 

What to do on a Snow Day

Even though we celebrated our family Christmas before Christmas because one sister was in town, there were still a few things under Mom & Dad's tree on Christmas day.  That was nice because John is working out of town and had not been in for the family Christmas.  This green bowl was the gift for me.  I came very close to crying.  You see this bowl holds many memories from my pre-teen to teen years when I was learning how to bake.  I always hoped I would inherit this bowl.  

 

 

 

35-40 years ago we girls were each given a book titles "How to _________".  The book I received was How To Bake Bread or something very similar.  I was just getting interested in baking or had reached the age that Mother felt safe letting me learn.  I read the book which was a bread recipe with pictures of each step.  When I would make the bread, I needed a large bowl in which to let the bread rise until doubled in size.  The green bowl was the go-to bowl for the bread rising.  

 

So because of the snow and staying in the house today I decided to use the green bowl and make the bread.  Now I have 3 loaves of bread and I'm the only one here.  I may share some...but first I'll have to eat some hot bread.  There is nothing like homemade bread fresh out of the oven. 

 

Here are some pictures of the bread during the process.

 

after the bread was kneaded

 

rising in the bowl

after rise

 

after being punched down (this helps take your frustrations out...such as hubby being gone for extended periods of time)

 

 

pans greased

 

bread in pans (I never get my bread exactly even so I always end up with different sized loaves).

fresh out of the oven

 

cooling on the racks

 

Yummmm!  I think I'll go have a slice of bread now.

 

 

My Best Friend

I was 13.  He was 15.  We were 2 of the non-athletic campers seated underneath the large shade tree (I don't know what kind it was.  Only that it was welcome relief from the hot sun during summer afternoon days.)  This was my first weekend at Teen Retreat.  My first time to be a camper the same time there were boys as campers.  I had been looking forward to attending Teen activities at camp for about 2 years.  One reason was that I could get away from my younger sisters.  The other reason was that there would be boys.

As we sat under that tree, we shared our backgrounds with each other.  He was in 8 grade.  I was in 7 grade.  He had visited family who lived in east Germany.  I had visited family who lived in northern parts of the US.  We shared our mutual dislike for gym class at school because it was not an encouragement to those of us who were athletically-challenged. 

I left Bible camp that weekend excited about a new friend I had made.  I couldn't wait until the summer camp week.  I looked forward to becoming reacquainted with this boy.  Unbeknownst to me we were going to visit Grandma during the teen week.  It would be alright for me to attend a junior week (with just girls...and with my sisters).  So I missed him that summer.  The next summer arrived and he was in east Germany visiting his family.  I'm sure we must have attended spring and fall teen retreats together but I was looking forward to spending a whole week with him as campers.  2 years later we finally were together at teen week.  But by that time I had become very shy around boys & had difficulty talking with them...unless they were someone whom I had known for several years on a somewhat consistent basis. 

I observed him from a distance though.  And slowly realized over time that he might be a potential lifelong mate.  He was sensitive to other's feelings, a good listener, would go out of his way to make the load a little easier, to name a few.  One big plus was that he was willing to help the older staff members in whatever way they needed help.  But the most important quality was that he loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him in whatever way He directed.

We went our separate ways but stayed in touch through camp.  I started teaching school and one year decided to counsel at camp that summer.  He ended up counseling also.  Sitting in counselor training week, I remember thinking (it was like I was hit over the head with this thought), "if you're going to marry this boy, you'll have to be able to talk with him".  I remember making it a point to seek him out to talk with him.  And would you believe our conversations were just as easy flowing as they had been that very first spring retreat under that shade tree.  

One August day I had taken a lady from church to an appointment.  Upon arriving home there was a message on my answering machine that this boy had been in an accident.  He had been almost to his job site when the accident occurred.  I arranged to go to the hospital the next day.  I would ride over with the ministry director (from the camp we attended).  I didn't know this boy's parents so wasn't sure how they would respond to my being there.  We stayed only a short time.  I chose to go back 2-3 days later.  Every 2-3 days I would make a trek to the hospital.  But not before much time in prayer making sure this was what I should do.  My one fear was that I would ruin the friendship we had.

During his stay in the hospital there was a news report that a set of parents had died and the children ages 5 and 3 years were in that same hospital.  That brought back too many memories of many years earlier when I was the 5 year old in a different hospital with my 3 year old sister.  All sorts of emotions rushed through my head.  What if I saw those children (I knew I probably wouldn't but what if)?  Would I be able to handle it?  Would it be like seeing myself 21 years earlier?  So I stayed home.  I couldn't force myself to go to the hospital.

Very shortly I received a call from his mother.  Would I please come visit him?  So I took a deep breath and drove myself over there.  Praying the whole time that I would not see those children.  I also prayed that if I should see those children that the Lord would give me the stamina I needed to get my visiting done and get myself home.  I did not see those children and had a wonderful time visiting him.

He was released from the hospital and we started doing a few things together just as friends.  A Thursday evening might find us grocery shopping together.  Saturday might find us at a local warehouse club with his parents.  Sunday we might decide to combine our lunches so as not to eat alone. 

Two years later he placed a ring on my finger and then five months later, he gave me his last name.  This adventure has lasted for 18 years already and I'm looking forward to many, many more.  I never knew that my love for him would continue to grow.  He is truly my best friend and I am thankful we are traveling this road together.   

Easter 1974

I don't remember the planning that went into that trip.  I don't remember the 800 miles from Pitcairn, NY, to Kingsport.  I don't remember if we brought Grandma & Grandpa or if they came another way.

My first memory of that trip is pulling into the camp driveway after dark.  Someone was in front of us to show us the way.  Was it the farmhouse uncle or was it the great-uncle who was the director of the ministry?  We were led into an apartment and shown around.  The little kitchenette had a small fridge.  I remember the fridge being opened to show us the milk.  There was cereal also.  Had the farmhouse aunt and uncle provided that for us?  Had the ministry director great-uncle bought milk & cereal for the little great-nieces in case they needed a bed time snack?

During daylight hours, I remember following the farmhouse aunt up the stairs to where the youngest cousin slept.  She was wide awake & ready to join the festivities.  As the farmhouse aunt took her out of the crib, I remember thinking she was the cutest thing I had ever seen.  All I wanted to do was hold & squeeze her.

Easter Sunday arrived.  We cousins were gathered in the kitchen.  There was much excitement among us younger cousins.  You see the farmhouse aunt had all the adults outside hiding the Easter eggs.  The older cousins were beginning their teenage years so I'm sure an Easter egg hunt was not the most exciting thing.  The third oldest cousin said something which made us all laugh.

We finally were released from the kitchen.  I have heard the cousins were paired up for the egg hunt...oldest with youngest, next to oldest with next to youngest, etc...I don't remember.  I do remember being near the sidewalk at the farmhouse.  I looked up at the front porch and saw all the aunts enjoying visiting with each other.  I remember hearing them laugh and being amazed that they all laughed alike.  Then the farmhouse aunt said something.  She had the most beautiful sounding voice.  She still had some of that normal sounding (NY state) voice but every once in a while, the Southern drawl would show up.  I couldn't hunt eggs...I was mesmerized.  A thought popped into my head, "if I ever have to live with anyone besides my mommy, I'd like it to be the farmhouse aunt."  Then I felt funny - why would I live with anyone besides my mommy.  I would live with my mommy for a long time.

I don't remember anymore of that Easter.  We went back to Pitcairn, NY, with hearts full of wonderful farmhouse memories.

Who Am I? A Look Into My Family Heritage

Martin James Perry, the last born child of Josiah & Emily Perry, entered the world November 1897.    He attended a one room school in Hawley, Pennsylvania.  At the age of 11, he finished fifth grade.  In 1910 he took and passed the Common School Examination.  He and a classmate entered Hawley High School that fall.  Upon encouragement from his high school principal, Martin enrolled in Penn State College in 1914.  Having to spend some semesters working to help pay his college tuition, he graduated in 1921 with a degree in Agriculture (specializing in Dairy Husbandry).

By the time Martin was born, his father had asked the Lord to forgive his sins & be the Lord of his life.  So Martin grew up in a Christian home.  Martin accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1922.

After graduating from Penn State, Martin worked for dairies testing the quality of their cows and milk.  While making his rounds from dairy to dairy, he would often stop and visit a young lady named Ruth James.  On May 24, 1924, they were married.  A daughter, Jane, joined their family May 30, 1925.

In 1922, Martin entered Philadelphia School of the Bible evening school.  He completed his work in 1926.  He and Ruth felt called to the mission field.  They applied to serve in Africa and received no replies.  They had heard of a lady in northeast Tennessee named Miss Anna Lewis.  They wrote her a letter asking for info about her work in the southern mountains,.  She replied saying she would be glad to accept them as workers with the Faith Mountain Mission.  December 31, 1927, Martin & girls arrived in northeast Tennessee.  Martin became the director of Bancroft Gospel Ministry which was an extension of Faith Mountain Mission.  Martin passed away in 1994.

My first memory of Uncle Martin was my first time to go to Bancroft Bible Camp.  Since I had just moved to TN (and the trauma associated with that move), it was arranged that I would spend one night at camp.  I was excited to be there.  And then imagine the pure delight when Uncle Martin found it important to sit with me during every meal!  I since learned that not every one found my Uncle Martin as fascinating as I did.  Some were intimidated by him, others thought him stern.  But he was my Uncle Martin.

Grandpa (Uncle Martin's brother) passed away when I was 6 years old.  Uncle Martin filled that spot in my life.  I don't know if he intentionally set out to do that but he did.  My mother and his daughter, Jane, are first cousins.  We called her Aunt Jane & that is what she was an aunt.  Because she was our "aunt" and her children called Uncle Martin "grandfather", I thought I should call him grandfather too.  So for a while he became Grandfather Uncle Martin.

There was always a present under the tree from Uncle Martin.  And he always acknowledged our birthdays with a mailed card and a small something brought by the house either on the day or close to the day.  Shortly before Christmas one year, Uncle Martin arrived with a small doll.  There were four so we each got one.  From my understanding they were received in a missionary barrel (I don't know if that year or several years earlier). 

Occasionally on a Sunday morning during church, we would hear the squeal of a hearing aid.  We all knew that there would be a visitor for lunch that day.  And on many of those Sundays, Mother would make a banana pudding as soon as we arrived home from church.  Banana pudding was one of Uncle Martin's favorite foods.

Before I left for my freshman year at Bryan College, Uncle Martin gave me the book The Gentlewoman's Choice by George MacDonald.  He told me if I read it, I would learn about men.  I remember reading it upon my arrival at Bryan but I cannot tell you what if anything I learned.  

One year in college, I received a letter in the mail from Uncle Martin.  He had included a picture of himself.  He said he had taken the picture so I would know there were those in northeast TN who loved me and prayed for me.

After arriving home one summer, Aunt Jane asked me if I could come sit with Uncle Martin.  The guy who was sitting with Uncle Martin needed to spend time off and Aunt Jane still had a few weeks before her teaching job was over for summer vacation.  Those 4 weeks were some of the best weeks of my life.  Uncle Martin was in his early 90s and even though he was still alert, he needed a companion during the day.  I would fix his lunch, take him to his doctor appointments & to get his hair cut, help him address his Just A Word publications, etc.  Sometimes he would have me go to town to get a treat for us both.  I often wonder if he thought he was "babysitting" me...I was there to just chauffeur him around.  That summer I noticed a change in my relationship with Uncle Martin.  He became "dependent" upon me.  On Sunday afternoons, our family usually would go visit the older people we knew.  It was a long afternoon for us girls and sometimes we would fall asleep on other people's couches as we were supposed to be listening to their stories.  Up to that point whenever we would visit Uncle Martin, he would always look to Mother or Daddy to tell him what we girls had said.  They would have to speak a little slower, louder & enunciate each word a little more.  After those four weeks, Uncle Martin would look to me to tell him what others had said. 

As a young girl I had always thought I would get Uncle Martin to officiate at my wedding.  My groom would have to meet Uncle Martin and get his approval.  Uncle Martin passed away 4 years before I married but John did know Uncle Martin and has a few memories of him.

I'm thankful the Lord allowed me to be a part of the Perry family and allowed me to have a Grandfather Uncle Martin.

1000 gifts #21

201.  air conditioning

202.  going out before hubby leaves for work

203.  a doctor who is a family friend

204.  who is compassionate

205.  who is concerned

206.  a gift from a sister

207.  unexpected phone calls

208.  family reunions

209.  beautiful drive to said family reunion

210.  finding a bathroom upon arriving in NC town for reunion

Who Am I? A Look Into My Family Heritage.

I have always been interested in family history...who were my grandparents, who were their parents, etc.  Fortunately I have other family members who know or are working to find out.  When searching through genealogical archives, the name(s) of the previous generations will hopefully be attained.  That tells you by what name that person may have been called but it doesn't tell you who the person was.  Was he a hard worker?  Did she have to wash others' clothes to help make ends meet for the family?  You get the picture.

I can tell you a little about my maternal great-grandfather, Josiah Perry.  He lived from April 17, 1842 - March 1922.  He was a Union soldier in the Civil War (the Battle of Gettysburg).  We have a picture of one of us pointing to his name on the monument there at the Gettysburg battlefield.

You can't see the name very well because of the shadows.  A story that has been told and re-told is that his to-be wife's brother had been shot on the battlefield and as Josiah walked by him, he asked Josiah to loosen his belt buckle.  He knew he would probably not make it off the field.  He also knew there would be some discomfort from bloating as he waited.  After his time in the war, Josiah married Emily Blackmore (b.May 13, 1851-d.December 1918) and they raised 14 children...John born 1868, Eleanor (died as an infant), Mary Ellen 1872, Frank 1874, Charles 1876, Will 1878, Alex 1880, Susie 1883, Cornelius 1885, Wesley 1887, Myron 1888, Florence Tylee (FT) 1891, Elizabeth 1893, Martin 1897 and a grandchild Ed Hawk 1893.  The birth years of each child were given by Uncle Martin at my request.

I was very excited to come across a letter that had been written to a cousin introducing her to our great-grandfather.  Josiah was a small man.  He was much smaller than his wife, but he was a very stern man and ruled his family with a rod of iron.  He was not afraid to physically overhaul his boys when they didn't move at his instant command.  He was a lumberman and eventually became quite deaf.  Most of his sons inherited this characteristic.  Because he lived and worked with a rough crowd, he apparently was a very rough man, unlearned in reading and writing.  But he managed to make a fairly good living considering the size of his family and the type of work in which he was involved. 

Before my grandfather (F.T.) was born, a traveling Methodist minister told Josiah about Jesus Christ and how He wanted to live in Josiah's heart and how He wanted to help him live his life.  Josiah believed.  He learned to read the Bible.  He even told about the Lord at church so that he was called a Methodist lay minister which was quite an honor.  The older children may have resented a little the sudden interest in the Bible, the Lord and the repeating of the Lord's prayer at breakfast on the knees everyday.  They possibly resented the out loud prayers of their mother, Emily, in the evening as she prayed for her rugged sons and their wild lives.  However, when the youngest son, Martin, was born she asked in faith believing that one of her 10 sons would become a minister.  My Grandfather and Uncle Martin never smoked, drank or swore like the others.  Uncle Alex eventually became a Christian and was given the responsibility of being pastor of the Monterey Baptist Church.  Uncle Martin, known as the mountain pastor, stayed in one locality for over 60 years telling the boys and girls (with the help of his wife and various other people) the stories of Jesus, David, Daniel and all the others in the Bible.  My grandfather, F.T., pastored several churches and had some very interesting things happen to him.

When the Lord passes out the rewards in Heaven, probably that traveling minister who took time to tell this rather calloused lumberman about the Lord and probably didn't expect too much in return will receive a great share in the men and women of Monterey, Lake Lamoka, the foothills of Tennessee and the rural regions of Cayuga and Steuben counties of New York State.

Josiah Perry about 1920

Things Heard in the Driveway

The nieces and nephew walked down to visit this week.  As we were in the yard talking, a green tractor could be seen coming up the road toward the house.

The nephew started jumping up and down, "It's Papa!  It's Papa!"  He and his sisters frantically waved in hopes that Papa would see them and stop to say hi.

My sister knowing that Papa is not able to drive the tractor right now told them that it wasn't Papa but probably the man that he gets to help him.  So still frantically waving & jumping up & down, they started shouting, "It's Mr. Dan!  It's Mr. Dan!"

As the tractor came closer we realized it was the highway department mowing the sides of the road.  But that didn't stop the excitement.  "They're mowing, Aunt K!  They mowed your yard!"  (I secretly wished they had been able to mow the whole yard).  "Let's watch them mow our yard!"  And off they took to see the highway men go past their driveway.

But let me say the men driving the tractor & the truck following had smiles on their faces when they saw how eager the nieces and nephew were greeting them.  They both waved as well they could while operating their respective vehicles.

Family

As I sat in the shelter Saturday and looked around, my heart was full.  I felt at ease.  I knew I was with people who loved me.

It was our turn to host the reunion held every 3 years.  Weeks, months, years had gone into the planning.  The nights leading up to the event had been sleepless ones.  Would everything go as planned?  Would the food arrive as scheduled?  Would...?  Would...?  Would...?  But sitting there that morning, I realized it didn't matter.  If the food didn't arrive and we had to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that would be okay.  If the cake frosting melted that would be okay.  Whatever happened no one would be upset...everything would be okay.

Before I go any further let me say I do so love the aunt and uncle who have been my parents these past 39 years.  Thank you for letting me call you my parents.  I appreciate them blending us (my sister and me) into their family.  I know they love us as their own.

But yet sometimes I miss my Daddy so much.  I've often wondered why I miss him more than Mother.  Is it because I was a Daddy's girl?  Is it because I was raised by Mother's sister so still had the connection to that side of the family?  Is it a little of both?

When this reunion happens, I know I'm going to be with people who grew up knowing my Daddy.  (Daddy was 16 years younger than his brother.  He was 8 years older than his oldest nephew.)  They will be able to share stories of Daddy.  They also can tell me about Grandma and Grandpa.  Grandpa died shortly after I was born.  Grandma died when I was 3 years old.  I only have one memory of Grandma so I love hearing about them.

I love hearing that Grandpa made doughnuts.  I'm glad to find out why Grandma was in a wheelchair.  It's nice to hear Grandpa & Grandma loved their boys and their grandchildren.

This year my cousin had typed a diary that Grandma had written.  In the back she had a name index.  She put every name in the diary with a brief description of them.  If they are family the name and description is in bold print.  This is a treasure I'll enjoy for years to come.

I love all 3 families in which I was raised.  Nothing will change that.  Spending time with my birthfather's family is a special treasure - a brief glimpse into 1/2 of my DNA make-up.  The 1/2 I don't know as well.  

Max & Stasia Rose

F.T. & Neva Perry

Lessley & Theo Newland

I now have the desire to look at pictures from this weekend, read Grandma's diary, talk to my sisters and parents.  So I'll see you in another post.

1000 gifts #18

171.  Hubby getting a job

172.  Hubby getting $2 more an hour than told

173.  Apartment F18

174.  Cousins helping Dad with hay

175.  Cousins & brother-in-law helping us move

176.  14 children in attendance intro night of Precept

177.  Hubby getting overtime work

178.  First cooked meal at F18 - sour cream marinated chicken

179.  Hubby knowing manual when needed

180.  Precept leaders

1000 gifts #17

161.  hubby choosing a product remembering my allergies

162.  boxes being brought home from warehouse

163.  warm house to keep out of the ice

164.  silhouette of a deer in the yard at night

165.  family

166.  church family

167.  sun-kissed sheets

168.  safe trip to a small town in VA for a funeral visitation of a former camper

169.  hubby having a good interview

170.  hubby having a good working interview