History will break your heart.

I've committed to getting at least some semblance of a family history ready to be put in book form for one of my family names this year. It is a little overwhelming.

I'm reading and transcribing stories told long ago and becomming connected and acquainted with those long gone. Soon the realization dawns that I actually miss them, long to know them, hear their voices, see their smiles. Their stories will break my heart and make me laugh.

Human history just seems to be the same in all places and all times. Stories of love, loss, triumph, sorrow, struggle. The stories of us. It's comforting, in a way. No matter what I'm going through, I'm certain I'm not the first and won't be the last. Others have survived it before me and will survive it long after I've gone home.

Please.

I hope you will take about 25 minutes to watch this video.

Einstein said,
"It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind. "

God loves us. God loves the animals. Please, let's think.

A couple of weeks ago, my dear uncle went home to be with Jesus. I miss him. The day of his funeral, my husband called home to tell me that his mother had passed away that morning. It was, to say the least, an interesting and challenging couple of weeks.

Strangely, I have felt at peace and have had a lot of joy. The day before my uncle Paul passed away, I was driving home from work and had a lot of those nagging sorts of worries. I was thinking about finances, about what I needed to get done, about how hard my husband and I were working. Then something caught my eye. It was a big pale moon, just peeking out of the still blue sky. Beethoven was playing on the radio. Suddenly I thought, "I own the moon!! I own Beethoven!! I am rich beyond belief!!" I spoke to my aunt and cousin that evening, none of us knowing what the night would bring, and we talked about that very quality of life. How in the midst of our busyness, our struggles, there is amazing, huge beauty all around us, just asking to be noticed. My aunt has told me many times to just "enjoy life."

I think she is very wise.

YOUNG ARTIST TAKES ON THE WEB!!

The artist is April Rose, she is 10 years old. She started drawing when she was 2. She likes to draw people and when she is older, she hopes to be a famous fashion designer and live in Paris, the fashion capital. She likes to design "street style" clothes and "cocktail dresses". She has drawn fashions for many people, and this is her first "premier" on the web! She is very excited.
Enjoy.

Rebel Yell Redux

Here is why I love genealogy. Out of the blue I recieved the gift of a portrait of my great-great grandfather, James Vaughan, and his wife, Elizabeth. Sent from Alice, a cousin I have yet to meet. (Thanks, Alice!)

Alice had clues and stories I had never heard or even suspected about James. She mentioned to me that he had gone to Cuba and brought back some sea shells. Cuba??? In the 1870's? She conjectured that he had gone as a soldier of fortune in the Cuban and Spanish wars. I had to do some research, as I had no recall of learning about such a conflict. I realized that if James had indeed traveled to the Spanish West Indies during this time period, he would have had to apply for a passport. I went to the NARA archives index found on Footnote.com and searched for James. Sure enough, I found his passport application, complete with a description of him and his signature. He was authorized to travel to the "Spanish West Indies", AND this was not his first trip, as the application is for a renewal.

The plot doth thicken.

Mister M

I'm hanging out in Florida again, visiting my sis and her hubby, and missing my mister. So here's a shout out to Mark, my dream come true once in a lifetime love.
It is a very wonderful thing to be married to your best friend, I highly reccomend it.
Mark is unique, reserved yet funny, lighthearted and independent, guileless and capable of surprise. Practical and yet very romantic. I'm a lucky woman indeed.

Tis a gift to be simple

It seems that I have entered a phase of time where I am to be under a certain way of learning, a discipline from Jesus that He has been gently leading me to, now more insistent. I know the time is NOW, because I am gaining clarity, urgency and peace about it. Not that I expect it to be easy. Not at all. But Simple, yes.

I don't want to explain much, because that goes against the very strictures of the discipline. This post is to leave some breadcrumbs on this path. And just to say I am listening.

Peace.