…Let me count the ways.”

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At 8:00 AM, I was within four numbers of reaching 34,000. But the next family member had ten children and (obviously) the children had wives and children to document. The “34,000” image was captured at 1:00 PM. These families are so interwoven there is seldom a stopping point. I’m in the process of documenting the ancestry of a “cousin” who passed away at age 97. “Yes,” I have most of the family members (surnames) but there are dates to enter, and “sources” to attach. (Children and grandchildren who are “too young” to appear in Ancestry.) And (my pet peeve), there are so many careless mistakes in Ancestry Member Trees. My goal: My information 200% accurate!!

It is with a heavy heart that I display the images of careless information displayed in Ancestry Member Trees. When I lived in Paris, France, I would hear the expression “tête d bois” which means “wooden head.” Perhaps a kinder expression than “stupid”? We were also exposed to the term “mox-nix“ which is a corrupted expression for German “makes no difference.” Evidenced by all my complaining, accurate information makes a difference to me!!

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Enough for one day!!

Meteorologist said “feels like” temp at 5:30 was one-hundred-twelve degrees.

Yesterday (and many days prior) I did not have a teaspoon of energy. Today I feel “miraculously fine.” I owe a BIG “THANK YOU” to the friend who petitioned my Heavenly Father. It feels so good to “feel human” again!! (My prayer is “today, tomorrow, and for months to come.” )

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Here’s the confirmation that I have more energy and I’m “feeling human.” In other years, I’ve filed as early as February (as soon as I received the proper form from L.A. County Retirement and Social Security). The move from Livingston to Waco (first of the year) was stressful followed by two nasty weather months. Then the Coronavirus pandemic. My life has been upside down!! TurboTax (on-line) is so simple; I can “do” in my sleep (almost). Pray with me that my life will be right-side-up from now on.

Here is another “story” from your blogger-storyteller friend: Years ago, in Lancaster, California, I belonged to a chapter of International Toastmistress organization (since merged with Toastmaster). Believe it or not, I was shy and had difficulty talking in public. The ladies were respected and allowed to “ease into” public speaking. My “icebreaker speech” was about the desert tortoise (because my sons and I had a backyard full of desert tortoise). I made all kinds of comparisons about myself and the turtle (because the objective of our first speech was to introduce ourselves). The “punch line” of the speech: “Turtle or Toastmistress, we don’t get anywhere unless we stick out our neck.”

“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage- to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness.”

This quotation (above) came to my attention while watching Jeopardy. With the (over)emphasis on “Black Lives Matter” perhaps Alex Haley‘s book about “Roots“  may get censored like “Gone With the Wind” —and patriotic monuments. (I should keep my mouth shut?! Quotation is OK but opinion better left unsaid.)

“Air-conditioners”–I hate air-conditioners. It seems (to me) they create a “draft.” Perhaps I should say “I hate drafts.”  I’m forced to use an air-conditioner here in Waco, Texas. Our weather is so-o-o-o HOT and the weatherman says “for the next two months.”

Does it ever happen to you? Do you catch yourself remembering a misspelled word? At 3:50 this morning I answered an email message. After I hit the “send” button (but continued to reflect on the message), I realized I misspelled “lapse.” I said “laps” and the spellchecker didn’t catch my mistake. OMG, “spellchecker” is always identifying a grammar error or misspelled word!! Maybe “spellchecker” was asleep?? Lorraine wishes she was “asleep” at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 in the morning!!

This image captured with my Canon camera. I do “creative things” on my blog but I would be unable to replicate the design of that message. This “thought” in the most recent issue of Mennonite Family History. Honestly, I haven’t thought of “a hundred years from now” but I’ve prayerfully considered ten, fifteen, twenty years from now. In my Ancestry.com database, I’d like to leave an accurate record of my Quaker, Mennonite and Old German Baptist Brethren ancestors.

God, my Heavenly Father, gave me the precious gift of ancestors who lived their Christian faith. “He”  inspires me to live my Christian faith and share with folks who may read my documented information “a hundred years from now.”