Amanuensis Monday - Voice From the Past Part 5

Grandma Helen's stories, still are bringing me so much joy.  Here is another one for you!

"Life in the U.S. Editor

Miracle in a Sand Storm

     We lived in a small mining town in Nevada.  About one hundred miles from Reno.  We had been to Reno to do our shopping.  On the way home I could see a sandstorm ahead of us.  Cars were coming out of it, so I thought it couldn't be to bad.  We had one hill that had a drop off close to the highway.  And that's were the sand storm was.  We got almost to the top when it hit us.  The wind was blowing so hard that it was blowing sand in thru the rubber of the closed wing window, right into my left eye.  I couldn't see out of it.  Then it was like some one had painted the windows black.  We couldn't see anything.  I couldn't stop, there were cars behind us.  But I was more afraid of going on.  I heard myself saying (Oh God help us).  All at once it was like a great hand scooped out the sand around us.  If I had gone about a foot more, we would have gone over.  It was like we were in a pocket.  I got the car turned and got going.  The pocket stayed with us till we were out of the storm.  All the way out we could see the sand fill in behind us.  I drove about ten miles before I pulled over and stopped, and just sat there.  One of the kid's said "Mom your hair is white! dad won't know you.)  I looked in the mirror and it was white.  But it was from the sand that came through the wing window.  Everyone had come up with a reason for the pocket.  But no one will ever make me believe it was anything but a miracle!

March 19, 1979"

Another year...Just getting better!

Another  year has come and gone, Theron & I are still kicking it! Today, we have been married for 11 years and later this year we will have been together for 14....14 YEARS!! Holy Crow but that makes me feel old. ;)  It's ok because there is no one else that I would want to get old with. 

I am so grateful for every second with my wonderful husband....even the bad ones.  And trust me with two, very opinionated people like us there have been some shaky ones.  But they just make the good ones all the more sweeter.

Next year (2015), my parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  And Theron's are celebrating their 43 this year! What mentor's we have before us!!  I am looking forward to the next 40+ years with my guy!

Happy Anniversary Babe! I love you!

The blessings from the plunge I took 11 years ago!

Pretty Orchids my main squeeze brought home today for me :D

Christmas Break!!

Whew!! Christmas break is over but I am still trying to catch up on everything that I fell behind in.  Which was pretty much...Everything!!

December started off like any other month but I was soon emerged in candy making and present wrapping and getting a few last craft projects done and mailed off.  It was GREAT!!

Downside is that my genealogy got put on the back burner... :(

Then it was Christmas break and Theron & the kids were home for a full week with me!! It was wonderful...we went to my parents for Christmas and I can't tell you how happy I was to be with all of my most favorite people.  So lots of memories made!! Then on the 26th we had to come home so Theron could go back to work.  :( Sad, but we knew we couldn't stay there forever. 

The kids and I had a wonderful weekend after that.  Then Theron had New Year's off, and we brought it in in high fashion....at home in our pajama's... :) Just the way I liked it!

The kids and I spent the rest of vacation just hanging out, working on crafts, watching T.V.   Really whatever we wanted to do.  I put all my orders on hold and my genealogy and just spent some good ol' fashion quality time with them.  :D

But here we are the first week back and I have been exhausted! I am trying to catch up and so far I haven't made it there yet.... I will make it there though...just give me another week. ;)

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and was able to make some beautiful memories!  And I hope this new year brings you such blessings...and new family members (they can be dead ones too)!

A small token of appreciation!!

I have talked about the very helpful lady from New York that has been helping me with my Adamson-Yost family.  Because of all her wonderful help and the fact that it's Christmas (the season of giving) I thought I might do something for her.  I always love getting homemade gifts better than store bought and I have been working on new craft project in my spare (eyes roll in the back of my head lol) time soooo I decided to make some special for my friend. 

These are bottle cap magnets for the refrigerator! I just love these! And am having so much fun making them :) I hope she loves them...

What are you doing to say Thank You to someone that has been helping you?!?!

No seriously, I would love to know! I would like to hear if you have done something special or been the recipient. :)

Merry Christmas!!!!

Amanuensis Monday - A Voice From the Past Part 4

Here is another of my Grandma Helen's stories...hope you enjoy this one!

"Special Day
Life in the U.S. Editor

     I woke knowing my dad was telling me to get dressed in a hurry, and to be quiet.  It was still dark and not a sound, except for my dad going back down stairs.  I had waited so long for this day, I couldn't believe it was here.  I was dressed and downstairs in record time.
     Dad and I set out hand in hand.  And in my heart I was sure he was the best dad in the world.  We were on our way to the railroad yards.  Because today the circus was coming to town.  Going to the circus or seeing the parade, was great fun.  But to see them unload and set up the circus, was without a doubt the best thing, that could happen to a nine year old.
     By the time we got there, the train was already coming in.  If you have never been around when the circus comes in and sets up, you have missed something special.  It's like the whole world has come to life at the same time.  Everyone has a job, and gets right to it.
     The elphants do most of the hard work.  But it didn't seem that hard to them.
     While I was watching the elphants, my dad was talking to one of the men.  And the next thing I knew, we were in the cook tent having breakfast.
     I went home with the memory of the warmest people I can remember.  And in my pocket, four tickets to the circus.  One for dad, mom, my sister, and myself.
     If you remember the year 1936, you can understand what a great gift the four tickets were.
March 12, 1979"

Just like Christmas!!! Kate Adamson

Maybe for the run of the mill genealogist receiving an important document in the mail, is exciting and brings a smile to their face.  But for someone like me (a bit obsessive), who has anxiously been waiting for something that can confirm or deny  a long held theory, it can be downright exhilarating.  I have been watching the mail every day with that child like hunger before Christmas.  And yesterday Christmas morning arrived in the middle of the afternoon in November.

As soon as I opened the mailbox and seen my very carefully prepared self addressed stamped envelop, gleaming from inside, a smile came through my soul.  I knew just what it contained.  But because it annoys me so much when people sit in front of the mailboxes, inside their cars, reading their mail...I knew I couldn't now do what I so desperately wanted to do...which was rip that bad boy open.  I got in my car and very cautiously (because by now I wanted to drive a 100 mph the 1 mile to my house) just the sooner to open my precious package.

I ran in the house and literally was jumping up and down with excitement...I think I might have scared my husband a little ;)  I made quick work of opening up my envelop to see that YES! I finally had proof!!

My 2x Great Grandmother Katherine (sometimes spelled Catherine) Adamson has been a bit of a hard case for me.  I wouldn't go so far as to say she was a "brick wall" because I had a pretty good theory on who she was and who her parents were.  After finding out that Katherine, also known as Kate, was my Great Grandfather Ralph Henry Adamson's  Mother, I started trying to find her maiden name and her family.  I went looking for all the Kate's or Catherine's located in or around Rathbone, Steuben, New York.  I found a couple that could be my Kate.  But I was able to trace all of them but one, Catherine Yost.  I had a pretty good feeling that this was my lady, but I still was seeking proof.

A couple years ago I found Kate Adamson's obituary in the Dunkirk Evening Observer dated 2 Apr 1917.

Shortly after I found this beautiful gem, I stopped working on this family.  Who knows why...I get easily distracted.  I know that I was spending every waking moment at the time, on Ralph (Kate's son) and trying to find him.  And I had her obit, which clearly states that Ralph (as far as his family back east knew) was still alive and living in North Dakota, at the time of her death in April of 1917.  I am sure that is why I never followed back up with this beautiful lead.

 Last year, I got in contact with someone that was willing to help me with some research in Steuben County, New York.  I mentioned this wonderful lady, when writing about John & Minerva's headstones a couple weeks ago, you can see that post here.  She said she would look into how I would get birth, marriage and death certificates.  This lady that helps me is very busy, as she has a full time job, so I haven't asked again about getting the records.  In Steuben County, you have to know exactly what town the record is held in to find it.

But the other day, I went poking around this part of my family tree and realized that I had this great lead and never followed up with it.  All this time, I could have finished making the link that I had started oh so long ago.  This my friends is one of the draw backs to working on so many lines at a time. I currently am working on all four of my lines plus Theron's 4 lines as well.  Which means I skip around a lot.  I don't get bored working with one family for too long but I do get distracted.  I also don't follow up or finish work that clearly could have been done before.

Well, so as I realized the other day I could have asked for the death certificate for my Kate at any time because I had a date and place of death. :)  I called the Schenectady City Clerk to make sure they carried death certificates for 1917 and with confirmation, I sent off for my document.

When it came in the mail yesterday, I was so happy.  With hopeful thoughts that birth parents were listed and a birth place, I opened up and found to my astonishment that Kate's father was listed.  Yay!! Happy Dance! (No literally...I was dancing in the kitchen)  So her mother was listed as unknown but her father's name was clear as could be "Henry Yost".  My theory had turned out to be correct.

 While some people will label me as being "weird" or "strange", I find this totally acceptable.  Because to me opening a whole new line to research and find and get to know, is a lot like Christmas morning to children all across the world.  I am so excited to find a whole new line to research.  My 3x Great Grandfather's name is Henry P. Yost, my 3x Great Grandmother is Mary A. (maiden name soon to be found).  I have also found Henry's mother, my 4x Great Grandmother Catherine Yost (this is another post all together).  I have found aunt's and uncle's and cousin's galore!! I can't wait to get to know this family and see where they take me.  So for me....Christmas came early!

Wordless Wednesday - The Twins

I have spent countless hours going through my parents house, trying to find any little family gem I might have missed.  I really thought I had found everything in their home, that I could add to my "collection".  But somehow, I came across a treasure trove of stuff I had previously missed, on my last trip out.  My Mother is notorious for putting stuff away and forgetting about it.  I found a old Walmart bag behind her closet with tons of pictures. And this time, I went through her file cabinet and found in the file with my Dad's name on it, this beautiful (and for me unseen) picture! So excited!!

Robert B & Richard D Adamson Are they the cutest little stinkers ever?!?!