24 May 2010

I will be on vacation starting tomorrow - through the 5th of June. Nice long break. I may or may not blog during this time - just wanted to let you know where I was.

19 May 2010

What do you pray for when you don't know what to pray for? Most recently for me it's been peace and wisdom. I have been and continue to be blessed with peace - other than those times I let the chaos in. The house sale continues to be a roller-coaster. I don't know the next step. So many possiblities - and so few. Anyway - just had to come and blog. Still working on my project. This is the report that never ends! Well, I imagine it will someday - just not anytime in the next couple of weeks. I'm limiting my computer time as my injury is still quite painful.

Got me thinking again about why I blog. 1- To keep a journal/record of sorts for myself. 2- To keep those who want to be informed, informed. 3- To help me look on the positive side (who would want to read something truly negative?). 4- To make some kind of sense out of the endless stream of days and nights that feels all too often like the movie Groundhog day. There are probably other reasons - but these are the main ones coming to mind right now. I took some time earlier this week to catch up on my google reader blogs - well, the family ones anyway. It got me thinking of all my family out there. There's quite a few of you to think about. I hope thoughts count for something - because I didn't get any comments made. I do wish the best for each and every one of you.

I had an interesting dream last night. I think at the core it was about how I never liked change (especially when I was young). And yet - I find myself at a point in my life where I have very little control. I'm starting to think that the sense of control I had before was simply an illusion. I do have choices to make, yes. But, I also have lessons to learn and there are only certain ways you can learn those lessons. Sorry I'm so philosophical today - I don't think I even spelled that word right. Just feeling down. Wishing I had the power to make situations better - but realizing I don't. And having wanting to be OK with that.

14 May 2010

Seems like just yesterday I blogged. Oh well! I finally went in to the doctor and got some pain meds for the tailbone. We'll get an X-Ray in a couple of weeks if it still is hurting. Such fun!

I had to blog today - found something really interesting to share with you all! I'm working like a crazy woman (wait, I am a crazy woman!) on my descendancy report. I found a gal who is 99 years old still living somewhere in Kansas. Her husband passed away in 1994. She's the last of her family - no children listed in his obit. I pulled a People Search Report on her and found her last record seen was in 2005 - so I imagine she's been in a care center since then. What a find! Not many make it to 99 years old. She had her birthday in February. Anyway - I'm not sure about tracking her down further - memories fail, etc. Still seems like a wonderful gift to find her. What do you all think?

BTW - my report is coming along wonderfully. I've really buckled down and focused on what I'm doing. I've finished the first 20 pages of the report - with 7 existing pages that may expand a bit yet. Progress! Some of these names I've found are very interesting. Beanblossom (as a last name) and how about Snodgrass?

Anyway - that's all I've been up to here. Such a fun life to be living! Have a great day all!

8 May 2010

Sorry for the bad blogging. I have a good excuse. I fell down the stairs on Thursday and bruised my tailbone (I hope that's all). Pulled muscles and wincing sitting have been the majority of my time. I even had to limit my computer time as the chair isn't comfy in that area. :( I am healing, though. It's amazing how you don't appreciate something until it goes bad, or until you lose it.

We watched The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Kimball last night (part of our sharing movies with her as she gets older). Captian Nemo said something that really resonated with me. I don't remember the exact wording and don't have time to rewatch it to get it. The jist of it was that he chooses to live in the present rather than with the ghosts of his past. What a great thing! It reminds me of something else I heard once - the only place you can feel the spirit is in the present. You can remember experiences in the past or anticipate the future but you can only feel the spirit when you are focused on the present. Love that idea! Who doesn't need more peace in their life?

Had to look back and see if I had written about last Sunday - and I didn't! I took Mimi's old wig and my cane and a shawl and Kimball's little girl glasses to Primary. One quick change later I was granny! Granny even had a Kansas accent (I think I was channeling an old neighbor lady from Kansas). It was so much fun! I tottered around and had trouble hearing (so they had to sing louder). We didn't get a picture (sorry!) - but Granny will probably visit again sometime. It was so fun to see how differently the kids interacted with me - they really didn't know what to make of me. Let me tell you - you never look younger than when you put on an old grey wig. My skin looked so radiant - and I even tried to gray it up a bit. The junior kids didn't really know who I was - the senior had it figured out. I'll get a picture next time....

Well, I got the girls hair washed and they're almost ready for bed. YEAH! Then I can go to bed too. Becky - have you listed to the last message from Stacy Julian yet? My question was the first one! Made me smile!
I'll have to take a picture of all my albums I've started (after I get labels on them). I'm about ready to do another page in my life lessons album (inspired by you, Becky). It's going to be about how I'm not holding on to the steering wheel of my life - the road is too bumpy and my arms are hurting. I'm letting the Lord take the wheel and trying to just enjoy the ride. I'm not sure that explanation even does the idea justice. Anyway - life is good and I'm feeling upbeat!

Hope you are all well. I think of you often even if I don't call. More later!

5 May 2010

So I finished tonight with the microfilm. I'll probably send off for some more :) It was a productive find! I figured out really quickly that the best way to attack years of newspapers is with dates. I made a list of people and dates and events - such as Hannah died in Smith Center on (specific date if I have it) 1884. It really helped focus my search. It's been a rough day - thoughts swimming around my head constantly. Hope it clears soon.

Looking forward to hearing about the arrival of a new niece in the upcoming week!

3 May 2010

OK - just got the call - they have my microfilm at the FHL! So - life other than that is on hold. I only have until the 14th to get through it. That might also include return time. So I'm booked! Hoping to find great things! Don't expect any blogging, though. Probably won't happen. Just wanted to let you know!