Remembering...

Silence and peace prevail
Where once they fought
On far off battlefields
Giving their last breath
To preserve our freedoms

Now a simple headstone

Testifies to their bravery

WWII, Vietnam war and others

Called to them to service

Challenges and horrors
Too difficult to recall
Plagued the survivor’s
Thoughts and dreams

Many never returned

Gone to a higher place

Of rest as we remember

Their sacrifices for us

New website to me...

Just tried books.google.com and put in an ancestor's name from my Vernon genealogy "Ephraim Green" and found several books where my ancestor is mentioned. Now I'm going to try to get one book by inter-library loan that I haven't seen before: Over the Rim: the Parley P. Pratt's Exploring Expedition to Southern Utah, 1849-1850 written by Wm. B. Smith, published by Utah State University in 1999. It's available at a local University library in Cedar City, Utah nearby.

When you put in a name or word to search in all its books, it brings up the actual sentence where that word/s are found on a page from different books they have digitized in the google collection. In some cases out of print books not copyrighted, they will have the actual book there for you to read or where to buy it or get it from a library. It's an amazing world we live in. Try it, it's an exciting site.

Reunions

Yesterday I went to a DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers) Jubilee celebration (see group photo above that I took) held nearby in Leeds. A very interesting program of songs and skits took place telling the history of their area complete from pioneers to miners. It was so fun to see my friends from the DUP camp I organized 7 years ago in New Harmony. Lots of memories and catching up on life events took place.

It made me think of all the REUNIONS we will have in the next life with family members and friends. I think that's one reason that Facebook and Classmates is so popular-it gives you the opportunity to hook up with old classmates and friends that you have lost contact with. I still keep in touch with my 5th grade girl friend from California although it's just a yearly Christmas card as she's not into computers or the Internet. It's a smaller world nowadays and easier to keep in touch with loved ones online-if they make the effort. Many are too busy or not interested in complicating their lives with computers. Communication is wonderful but there's still no substitute for face to face conversations.

Roots and Branches

Modern families come together in many ways

Few of us have a traditional family nowadays

with just a mom and dad and their own children.

Some couples just live together with no certificates.

There are widows and widowers, adopted kids,

divorced and step families, remarriage and

blended families filled with half siblings and

step siblings. My family seem to have them all.

But the bonding influence is the LOVE that can exist,

the caring and communication even sent to the lost

or rebellious ones who leave home never to return.

Families are the true constant in a world of change.

Even death and separation can not destroy the bonds

and relationships that endure longer than life.

One day we will have a grand reunion in heaven

of our larger extended family and departed loved ones.

Native American collection

I mentioned in an earlier post about my collection of Native American art-baskets, rugs, pots, etc. (See above.) So thought I'd show you some of my decorative shelves around the house. I've been collecting for years-a piece here and there. I've even written a poem about kivas and mesas top ruins. I must be part Native American but can't find any evidence in my genealogy only in my husband's.

A Kachini doll bought from a young Hopi girl in Santa Fe, NM-used to represent deceased ancestors in cermonial dances. The Native American flute I made in a class. The rock art image is from the Lost City Museum in Overton, Nevada-from Anasazis probably. The pot was a retirement gift from Ute Indians when my husband retired after working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Ft. Duschesne, Utah.

A Kumeyaay (from Baja California) basket made of willow branches with their leaves still on. They held acorns and were stored high in trees or behind rocks for safe keeping. Later the acorns were ground for flour. The willows contained aspirin in the leaves which was quite pungent and keep boring insects out. A large stone was placed on the lid to secure their food storage.

This small Navaho wall hanging is based on sand paintings used by medicine men for ceremonies to restore health, purchased at Cameron Trading Post in Arizona many years ago-one of my first authentic pieces.

Irish Ancestors?

The closest I can get is Elizabeth Durrah Wilkins who was born in Scotland...but her parents lived in Ireland at times depending on economic conditions. I always have felt a leaning toward celtic music and Irish dancing so Ireland must be in my blood or DNA somewhere. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't forget to wear green today. Tell us about your Irish ancestors...if you have some.

Welcome VISITORS and FRIENDS

Greetings to anyone visiting my blog for the FIRST TIME as well as my regular readers which include family and FRIENDS. Sure would like to have your comments and feedback on my efforts. (Click on the comments link for instructions on how to get registered with Google if you aren't already.) I plan to continue providing tips on doing FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH occasionally but will return to my former FOCUS of including everyday happenings, poetry and personal views. Hope you'll bookmark my blog and become a regular reader who comments.

Well, the FAMILY HISTORY EXPO of the past weekend is now a memory and I have new goals and adventures in mind for the future. I'm reading Julia Cameron's book on The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size. Great ideas...and I am loosing weight about 1 pound a week. Slow and steady. The principles she writes about are so cool. I love the idea of making a TA DAH! list at the end of the day of things you have accomplished that day. It's more motivational than a TO DO list-(although I still use that too). Try writing down your accomplishments daily and you'll be amazed.