I didn't see it at first...

My grandparents, Edwin and Lela, with my uncles, Les and Ted,
and my mother and sister.  WWII.

12 March 2015

     I'm slowly scanning old photos in and doing what I can via Photoshop Elements to clean them up. The above photo was part of a four tiny (about 1"x1.5") photos all in one little strip.  Scanned, cropped, repaired.

     I didn't see it until I was working to get rid of the spots, stains and scratches.  My two uncles were home on furlough and I'm assuming they were on their way back out.  This was at the height of WWII. The love and concern among them is palpable. 

     And there it is. My grandfather, Pop, is holding my uncle's hand.  I wept.  

     My uncles, Les in the middle of the shot and Ted on the right, were both in the Army Air Corps during WWII.  They both saw "lots of action." Ted was a pilot.  I have a great picture of him in his leather jacket and pilot's helmet.  Les was a corporal and trained as a ball turret gunner on a B24 heavy bombardment crew.  Both of these good men were forever changed by the experiences they endured.  Neither of them ever spoke of their experiences and it was only after Les passed away that his only child, a daughter, was told of his mind-bending experiences.

     I love this picture. My brave, wonderful family.  We cannot conceive the sacrifice and courage of our families during this time.  Years apart. Rationing. Little or no communication. My family was so very blessed as we didn't lose any of our men to war at that time.  All "came marching home" to start and rebuild lives, raise families, and live long lives further leaving their legacy of honor, courage and strength.

     I'm so grateful to know that we will be reunited.  That I will be with these people, whom I love so much, again.  I'm so grateful for their example, their grace, their courage.  I'm so grateful that someone captured this moment in time where the deep love of family is so evident.

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER

Family!

(seated) William F. (Bud), Sarah Ann (Chance)
(standing from left) Verda, Glenn, Lorn, Arthur, Maude

7 March 2015

This is my great-grandfather's, William's, family. My grandfather, (Arthur) is the taller one standing in the back.  I now know where I got my curly hair.  And my height.  William's nickname was Bud, which is what we have always called my older brother, too.  Before working on family history I didn't know that.

Having photos from my family is so amazing to me.  How grateful I am that we have these few photos, and now I can scan them in and save them (hopefully) forever, PLUS share them with all my family.  

My grandfather was born in 1883 in Coffeeville, Kansas.  William was there when the Dalton gang was killed.  Isn't that amazing? My younger brother looks a whole lot like William, although I understand William was only about 5'8" and my brother is 6'5".  

This family settled in the Oklahoma Territory.  I have the wheel hubs of the wagon they drove. 

If I can encourage you to do anything, please preserve your life through photos AND the written word.  Keep a small journal.  Doesn't have to be elaborate.  Make it a habit.  Even writing an email to yourself and printing it out. A dearest friend and I exchange daily emails and I use it as a good portion of my journal.  How hard is that?  Letters, emails, pictures.  All good.

I recently watched an episode of "The Generations Project" on BYUTV.  A young man was trying to make a decision about his path in life.  He was able to access the journals of a family member from very early 1900's, from the mid-1800's, and found information written about a relative from the 1600's-1700's.  If someone hadn't taken the time to write, he wouldn't have found clues as to who he was and why he had such diverse interests.  It was an awesome story

So please write.  For yourself, for your children's-children's-children.  For those who will come after us.  It is so very important to them.  History preserves the important and famous, you need to preserve a record of you and your family.  

You ARE important.  

You are a Child of God.

Cheers!