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!