A Meeting Hundreds Of Years ...

... in the making!

Since I began dabbling in genealogy,  I have been surprised recently to find that I have distant cousins all over the place ... including my own relative 'backyard' (speaking in terms of the size of the world;).  Last night was worth waiting many generations to meet up with my newly discovered cousin, Egon, from Denmark.  He and his beautiful wife, Debbie, live on the west coast of Washington state .. a mere six hour drive from my home .,.. and stopped by last night for our first visit.  We are connected through my grandmother Esther's father that emigrated from Denmark in the 1880's.  Egon is the family historian and is quite involved the region's Danish community.

I encourage you to write down your family's history.  Talk with the elders of your family and record their stories, family heritage, recipes, etc.  Often, we wait until our family members are long gone to think about the importance of such records.
Photos:  Top .. Grandma Esther, about 1918, bottom .. Egon, Mrs. Mac, Debbie 5/21/2010

Today ...

... Nathan was home, once again, from school.  Seems he has a mystery disease that only strikes at school (uh-hum ... how convenient;).  Rain washed the land and watered the gardens.  The weeds have grown wild and need to be mowed once more.  A nap was in order this afternoon and was taken.  Dinner was an easy fix of leftover homemade lasagna from last night.  A quick salad with homemade ranch dressing rounded out the meal.  Today I vacuumed, mopped floors, washed laundry (always), made homemade mayo and ranch dressing ... and baked a rosemary-lemon pound cake.  Little Jake blessed my day by being such a good boy.  Now the day is over ... time to make sure Nathan is 'unplugged' and sleeping. 

I leave you with a picture of my great grandmother, Elizabeth Groden Melcher ... a regular teenage hippy from the 1800's ... my spitting image, eh?:)

Mother's Day Memories

Though Many A Mile

We Distant Be,

Together Forever Our

Hearts Shall Be

Happy Mother's Day

Mom

Photos from Mrs. Mac's family collection:

Top .. Mrs. Mac and Mom about 1966

Bottom ... Mrs. Mac with her mother and brothers about 1967

Picture Memories - Part II

I present my great grandparents, Oscar and Elizabeth (Groden) Melcher.  Both first generation Americans born to immigrant parents from Germany and Ireland.  I'd like to step back in time to visit with them.  She passed away when I was only two;  I have a very vague recollection of visiting her in Salt Lake City, Utah ... I remember a beautiful decorative floral tin with a little knob on top that she let me play with ... my mother said this grandmother enjoyed watching boxing fights on TV (LOL).

They were married on March 21, 1903 in Madison, Nebraska ... residing the early years of their marriage in Osmond, Nebraska.

Picture Memories - Part 1

... are currently scattered on top of my desk.  I have been blessed with an abundance of faded, time worn heirloom family photos ... handed down by my mother, via her parents, via their parents ...

These memories are my connection to a different era.  The past that steps so close to .. but is no longer touching ... the present.  Some memories are stored in my mind from stories told by my dearly departed relatives about their youth; though most of said memories are of when my ancestors were my age and older that I remember from years ago.  To see them as youngsters full of mischief in a different era makes me want to step through the boundaries of time ...

To possess my grandparent's wedding announcement and marriage certificate makes me long to see them again.  Time is passing all too quickly.  In the blink of an eye ... so many changes ... inventions ... modes of transportation have come and gone ... and yet, we are still connected by heart strings and family genes.  How will I be remembered by my descendants?   I hope to one day print out my blog journals and bind them with a pretty cover.  Then little Jacob's grandchildren can read about their great grandma's family and remember from whence they came.

... to be continued

Mrs. Mac's family photos:         Click on photos to enlarge

Top, L-R Maternal Great Aunt Theresa & Grandma Donna taken on their First Holy Communion day.  According to a story told to me by Grandma Donna ... Auntie was mad at her for getting to wear the pretty gold locket ... and she had to wear the old pearl necklace;) ... you can almost imagine that just before the picture was taken, they were in a tiff with each other as is evident on their pretty sad little faces.

Center photo:  Mrs Mac's Great Grandmother Myra's beautiful Victorian farmhouse parlor.  She was well off with house servants and fringe lined buggies to drive.  Great Grandma Myra had the latest modern furnishings for her era (according to my mother) ... including an electric stove before most anyone else.

Bottom photo:  Mrs. Mac's Great Grandparents, Myra Grigsby Hodges, and their family.  My grandfather is the cute little boy; the baby of the family.  He married the little girl with the pretty gold locket.  This is the same family in the new blog header .. years earlier.  It is this grandfather that I led to Christ when he was in his 70's ... (When Grandpa Got Saved)

... to be continued

His Sheep Know His Voice

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28 (NIV)

copyright free image from here

Christmas Menu Traditions

Traditionally for breakfast we have:

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Breakfast Sausage
Ambrosia
Orange Juice
Coffee

I never serve lunch because we eat our dinner early

This year's dinner menu:

Locally Raised & Smoked Ham
Local Natural Turkey
Cranberry Relish
Sean's Potatoes*
Steamed Broccoli
Green Dinner Salad with Homemade Basalmic Vinegar Dressing
Home Baked Dinner Rolls
Sparkling Apple Cider
Birthday Cake**
Coffee

*Sean's Potatoes: This is Sean Patrick's favorite side dish his Grandmother Betty would make for family get-togethers. When he was stationed in the Army for eight years away from home, it was comforting to have a family meal with his favorite dish. In our family, this dish is known only as 'Sean's Potatoes'.

8-10 medium potatoes, boil with skins on until barely tender
2 cups sour cream
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, plus additional for topping
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped green onions
salt and pepper

Chill the boiled potatoes in refrigerator, peel and shred (grate). In a small saucepan, melt butter and cheese. Mix in sour cream. Together in a large bowl, gently mix the shredded potatoes, cheese mix, green onions, and salt and pepper (to taste). Pour into a 9x13 in. pan. Top with grated cheese. Bake 45 minutes at 350F

** In honor of remembering Christ's birth, we are having a birthday cake for dessert.

Family Tapestry

The American melting pot is made up of many nationalities ... blended at times into a homogeneous race of people. I can claim my Irish heritage and look at pictures on line of my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins from the Emerald Isle. However, my tapestry is woven from all European stock from many countries. The traits of each forefather are evident in my likes, dislikes, mannerisms, skin color, hair color (gray that it be), eye color, and religion. Another thread has been found. This time from Denmark. Great Grandfather Charles Calundan was born in 1864 and was a master craftsman in woodworking. He built grand carved staircases and ornate wood carvings on buildings.. He married my grandmother, Laura in Nebraska. I have been to this area years ago and saw some of the buildings he worked on. His house was still standing at the time. Pieces are coming together; just tonight I spoke with my bio dad and he said a cousin of his is looking for information on this same grandfather. A jigsaw puzzle is about to be pieced together. Stay tuned.

The Old Country

Tracing me roots (not those silver ones ;). 'Tis been a long time coming that I find me paternal family in the old country of Ireland. And 'tis not as though I haven't been a trying for years! So just by off chance I googled the 'Cummins family of Ireland', and what do ye think popped up on me screen? I'll be switched ... there was me connection that eluded me for years. Me great grandfather's family of Inch, Ireland. In full view were the names of me long dead/lost relatives. Pictures of the town parish churches and articles about the potato famine that scattered our kin around the globe. Pictures of me kin too. So if ye were thinking I was just a foolin' ye about being a wee bit Irish ... you can lay that fool idea to rest ;).

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

When My Kids Grow Up ...

My motto for years was: "When My Kids Grow Up" ... this meant the time for me to get back in the workforce outside the home. Slowly the years have crept by. One at a time ... adding up to several decades now. Time still spent at home. No longer do I wait for these years to pass by ... there will, most likely, never be an opportunity to work outside the home. Some of my children have left the nest. Another will leave in a few short months after college. Yet another will most likely be my charge for many more years to come. Now I'm cycling in a grandchild to watch a few days a week. He's already stolen my heart and I couldn't possibly send him off to day care (not on my watch). Suddenly, I'm becoming the matriarch of our family. I am starting to like that title. It's a protective, full of wisdom type of title. Not many women can call themselves the Matriarch of their families. I've come full circle ... and I am thankful to be a child of God, sister of many friends, daughter, mother, grandmother, wife, secretary of our HOA ;) ... my job titles are too many to list. I may not get paid monetarily ... but hugs, pats, and oatmeal kisses are not too bad a form of payment.

Photo Art: A Mother's Encouragement, 06/08 by Mrs. Mac

From House to Home

Seldom do I get attached to earthly possessions. However, there are a few items I have hauled around with each move. Items that hold a certain connectivity to my loved ones that are deceased, and memories of young married life. Some are nothing more than stories told over and over that I keep tucked away in my heart. But others are tangible objects that my family once used and now I use. I have painstakingly boxed up my grandparent's dining room lamp numerous times; placing each of a hundred or so prisms in bubble wrap ensuring safe travel. My new dining room was inspired by this one simple item. The wall color and window coverings echo the lamp's style and color. And the dining table and antique English sideboard were figured into the room's proportions when plans were made. The lamp reminds me of my grandparents and the dinners served underneath it. The table and sideboard were purchased when dh and I first were married. Each of our children learned their table manners while sitting in the chairs, and the old wood carries on a rich history in the very scratch and dent marks given to it through the years. The newness of my house is tempered with the old and now it is called home.

" When a man takes a new wife, he is not to go out with the army or be given any business or work duties. He gets one year off simply to be at home making his wife happy."

Deuteronomy 24:5
The Message Bible