Not a Family Knot

I am now one of 'those people'- and very glad to be, I might add! One of those people who really enjoys family history, talks about family history, spends free time on family history, and has a declared hobby of family history.

So- tale of the week:

Once upon a time there lived a father, George Richard who, with his wife, had sons he named Richard and George.

Richard had a son he named George (R.) the same year his brother, George, had a son he also named George (E.).

(Richard also had a son he named Frederick).

Then things became romantically complicated- and thus the knot!

Fast forward to my family history research... I came across three Beadle sisters who all had the same married last name- the records showed that Victoria married Richard' son, Frederick. (not a problem)

However (the knot), ONE AND THE SAME MAN named George, according to the records, had married both Sarah and her sister, Margaret. Then he would have had 22 children altogether- but I know he was NOT a polygamous. This George also had 2 sets of parents. Ummmm.... yeah, obviously there were 2 men named George.

So how to untie the knot if you do not know the background? How do you untie the knot once you realize there are 2 cousins born the same year named George?

It took about 10 hours of searching on familysearch.org and ancestry.com...

I found and traced birth records, marriage records and census records backwards to Grandpa George Richard to show which grandson George belonged to Richard and which belonged to his brother, George. Hooray! One set of parents for each grandson named George.

Then, I found census records to show that both Sarah and Margaret had separate households with separate husbands (although both named George)- sometimes in a different state! So, definitely two different husbands but with the same birth year and the same first and last name. Then, a few census records contained middle initials- hooray! I could finally say that George's son, George E., was married to Sarah Beadle and Richard's son, George R. (Richard), was married to Margaret Beadle!

Knot untied, right? Well, not quite. You see George & Sarah and George & Margaret each had a daughter they named Sarah Jane- the same year! And the records had Sarah Jane as just ONE PERSON with 2 SETS OF PARENTS! Oh boy.... (or I guess, girl).

BIG SIGH HERE...

Only thing that finally untied this knot was the fact that one Sarah Jane was born in Iowa and the other was born in Wisconsin... 

I love finding the sources needed to make the records correct. I love knowing that I am able to make a difference in the eternal scheme of things by putting families back together.

I am very blessed to now be one of these family history people! If you want any help, just ask!

The Blessings of Being a Father

May be a strange title for a post by the most blessed mom on earth, but after being a single mom for many years, I know whereof I speak!

Fathers are one of our greatest blessings! And being the 'father' is also a great blessing! 

I personally have one of the very best fathers ever to live!

Always there when I need him, always loving me no matter what, always ready to offer a hug or whatever else I need-

perfect as a father can be!

In all of the years when I had to be be both mother and father, I had this great example to emulate!

And now, I have a spectacular husband who cares so much for his own children and for mine! He would do anything in his power to help our children come to know the Lord- what more could anyone ever ask for?

I was able to attend church with many in my family today. My nephew, Zac, will be leaving for Indonesia to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints latter this month. He reminded us in his farewell talk of the great love our Father in Heaven has for each of us. In summarizing a wonderful General Conference talk, Zac said: " Heavenly Father loves each of us- (His) love is there for us whether or not we deserve it." So true!

Our Father in Heaven is the perfect example of what all of us, whether father or mother or child, want someday to be. I am so grateful for the love the fathers in my life have for me, especially for the love of my Father in Heaven.

Ten Commandments of a Happy Marriage

as given at Stake Conference today.

(note: these are based on the Proclamation to the World- from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

1) Repent- judge not, that ye be not judged

2) Listen carefully with intent of heart- but especially listen to the Lord

3) live within your means- always including tithes and offerings

4) court each other- do good things together

5) pray together EVERY night

6) meet a need- do something for your spouse every day!

7) speak softly and kindly- always build each other up

8) where possible, brethren, provide for your family

9) do the work of salvation together- temple work, FHE, scriptures, etc.

10) cleave unto each other and none else (except perhaps the Lord)- Nothing is more important than your spouse.

What great advice!!! I am so grateful that my husband already does most, if not all, of these things all of the time! Even when he isn't feeling well....

And I have been very busy filling out my family tree... it is amazing that after all of the years and the many, many people who have worked so hard to account for so many of my family members that there are still so many left to 'find'. I feel so grateful for the Internet and the resources available to look at census, birth, death, and marriage records! 

My family truly can be forever!