Isn't it ironic!?!

We had a water damage in our bathroom/bedroom which meant that I needed to take the many things we store in our bedroom to a different location. I was taking some tall skinny evergreen trees to the little house out back and when I opened the door to go out I saw that it was snowing. It seemed a bit odd that I was carrying a kind of Christmas tree out to the house and it was snowing for me to feel the Christmas spirit. I really should even though it might not be the Christmas holiday. The flakes were not too big, but it continued for a few hours, and for a short time the flakes became big and beautiful. I took a photo from the front door to prove to myself (and whoever else might need it) that I wasn't just crazy.
We did get moisture that we needed, and it was beautiful for a while.
As for the water damage - we are trying hard to dry it and it seems to be successful, but will still take a few days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

SPECIAL DELIVERY TODAY
As we celebrate two birthdays.

Gregory, born in 1982;
Happy 26th Birthday to you !




Brandon, born in 1984;
Happy 24th Birthday to you !



These photos are of their first birthday.
They were not too sure of what this cake was all about.
Surely they like their birthday cakes better now.
They were such cute little guys, and have grown to be such handsome men.
We are so proud of them and their families.

Keep it up boys!
You're wonderful, and we love you!
Have a great day!

Temple Ready!

I have been a few days without doing all day genealogy work. I am sleeping better (my mind doesn't continue working the computer while I'm sleeping). We went to Tri Cities Saturday and I got to go to the temple to get the names I had found put onto the cards, ready for the work to be done. We end up with 38 female and 47 male and 2 couples to seal. I am really feeling the joy that comes from this work. My constant effort has paid off, and though I have stopped for a while (so I can accomplish other tasks at hand) I will be back to that great and rewarding work. Until then, I'm sure the joy will last for awhile after having accomplished what I have already. So, if any of you would like to do any of this temple work I will share. Let me know.

Things Are Happening!

It's a good day for a blogspot. We have some things going on all around us - things we can write about.
Anthony participated in his second Cub Scout pinewood derby race. He is shown here with his awesome yellow car and his drivers license he got that night.



Spring has sprung, and the work has begun. Thomas is happy to be working and earning some money. Terry is glad to have his help. Here they are in the field. They were stopped when I got there, so it couldn't be a close-up photo, but if you look really close (I did try to enlarge it a little) you will see Terry (kneeling) and Thomas (standing) out at the disk behind the tractor.



As for me - I'm still at the computer most of the day and I have a couple dozen names to get temple ready - Reason for celebration is if it works.

The rest of the family is busy too -
Michael and Chase are taking tennis, Connor is working in the weight room until track starts in a week or so, and BrittanyJo is doing Hot Shots (girls basketball).
Skyler says he will send photos, so when he does, we will get one up for all to see. Don't hold your breath, cause missionaries have too many other things to do - more important than sending their mom a photo. (Is that really true? Moms are important too, right? :)

Genealogy, I Am Doing It!

I, Elaine, have spent most of 3 1/2 days working on genealogy. It has been quite exciting, to say the least. Our Stake President has asked that the members of our stake find at least 15 names to do all the work for. This is a long process for those of us who have families that are members for many generations. It is even harder for those of us who have family members that have been working on this genealogy for a long time. It is difficult, but it will be done, and that means work, work, work, tired and sore muscles (including the eyes), and a mind that thinks it has written that name a dozen times already. (These repeated names and places really play games in my head.)

The Story books/History books that I've been working on are an exciting thing too, and we have one in the making that tells the history of Terry's ancestors. (with plans to make one for my ancestors after this one is complete). Those books and genealogy seem to be addicting activities that keep calling me back to work on them, and I have found some interesting and exciting information. Here is only a small peak into what I have learned:

We have Kings and Queens, Prince and Princesses, Earls, Dukes, Counts and Countesses, etc. that never end - well it seems that way, but surely they do end somewhere. And these people come from all parts of the world.

I've been back to the year 0009.

One man, Edmond Fitzalan who died in 1326 was beheaded.

Another ancestor - Duncan I King of Scotland was killed by Macbeth in 1040.

Friedrich I "Barbarossa" Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, born 1122 of Swaben, Bavaria died in 1190 In The Holy Land. Great place huh!

That name in parenthesis is a common sight with kings as they were given some title such as "The Great" (King Alfred), "The Peacable" (King Edgar), "The Magnificent" (King Edmund), "The Elder" (King Edward), and even "The Unready" (King Ethelred II), and "The Bald" (he was Baudouin II, Count of Flanders and also the same title for Charles II, Emperor of The Holy Roman Empire). All of these, and more are on our line.

Remember Old King Cole? Well, he is on our line - Coel (Coilus) "Old King Coel" King of Britain.



You've seen the movie Jungle Book - remember King Louis?
Well, we are related!
Okay not to the orangutan, but the human -
Kings Louis II, IV, VI, of France; and
King Louis I "The Pious" Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire;
and surely more when it's all said and done.
Fun Huh?


And closer to the present is Thomas White McBride (who's daughter's name is still visible on our pedigree) died 30 October 1838. Does that date ring a bell? If I add where he was killed it should - Haun's Mill, Shoal Creek Township, Missouri. This really was exciting to me to think that he was there during the massacre, so Thomas got out our history books, and as he read through those pages he even found a bit of info that included this man's name.

There is so much to learn that I haven't even figured out who has their temple work done. I'll get on that right away. There is so much still to do, and I haven't even started on my line (Rodeback) yet.

I am learning a little more about how to do genealogy and how to find if the ordinances have been done, and I'm mostly feeling my heart drawn to my ancestors and I really love that feeling.
I just wanted to share a bit of that with you! Hope you enjoyed this little bit of info. (which really seems like a lot.)