The Case of a Missing Husband!

Christmas was spectacular!!! It was so fun to talk of Christ and giving with family- and see Abby!

But a big part of the fun came from an idea Luke had- working on family history. I finally found a name for the missing husband!

It all started back this summer when my dad gave me some family group sheets. I discovered that my great, great grandfather had married a gal who had been previously married and had had children. The family sheets showed a son and a daughter. Well, after some digging, I came across my great, great's obituary only to discover that he had had a step-son and TWO step-daughters! I found Carrie H. and her husband, Ralph R... but this is where it became perplexing. You see, Carrie was listed as MRS. Carrie H. when she married Ralph. Why would 2 different marriage records record her as a MRS. previous to her marriage- and with her maiden name. Hmmm. Then I discovered a census record that listed a son for Carrie (a step-son for Ralph)- William H. That's right, this son had Carrie's maiden name.

Why? 

It seemed that there must be a missing husband, but why would Carrie not use his last name for their son?

I found all of this many, many months ago and have spent many, many hours trying to sort this out every way I know how... no luck.

Then, Christmas day, I found a clue- and some more questions.

Carrie H. had 2 other children, Lillian and Hazel- but both had Carrie's maiden name! No amount of searching had the answer.

UNTIL I came across a census record that listed Carrie H as being adopted by Anthony R and wife, Anna, Carrie's parents former neighbors- Ah ha!

Now I could search for Carrie R. instead of Carrie H. and with SO MUCH help form the Lord, I was able to find a name for the missing husband... drumroll...

Sam H- Carrie's exact same last name! Hence the children have that surname as well!

My very own Christmas miracle!! It is very humbling to know that I only made these discoveries thanks to inspiration- for me, it would have been very easy to just give up or make incorrect assumptions rather than to keep pursuing an apparent dead end.

And I know I am not finished here- I feel very compelled to keep going, to find out more... 

So I will- and it's fun too!

Wise Men Still Seek Him!

And I hope and pray I am counted among the wise!

Our Nativity:

Mary and Joseph

The Shepards

Wise Men

Celebrating All that is Good!

Holidays- and every day really- should be about celebrating all that is good!

So happy 12/13/14 (yesterday)- I was fortunate to celebrate with a kiss from the man of my dreams- as he wished me a happy day on 12/13/14 at exactly 15:16 o'clock! Luke definitely knows how to help life be fun in all the right ways!

Last Sunday, we celebrated Ashtyn, as her father gave her a special blessing!

What is not to celebrate with these two around?!

And I am still trying to get Christmas projects finished... but they are so fun!

little sneak preview:

So much in life that is good!

What Christmas is all about....

I am so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! And I am so much more blessed to know that My Father in Heaven is real, that He sent His Son to earth because of His great love for each one of us, to know that Christ atoned for me (and for you), for my sins, for my trials, for my sorrows, and to know that because of Jesus Christ I can live with my family, most especially with my dear husband, for all of eternity!

Several years ago, I decided to switch my Christmas decor to match what the season truly signifies. Thus began my 'Christ'-mas tree. Everything on this little tree points to Christ. I love to just sit and ponder all that Christ means in my life. This is what makes Christmas such a beautiful time of the year!

I also had the special privilege this week of tending one of our granddaughters for the night!

Who wouldn't like to wake up to this face?! even when it's 2 in the morning... But she was so very well behaved for most of the time. As Luke says, "What a doll!"

I am so blessed to have this little visitor come to play!

Where's My Little Jonathan?!

My "baby" boy is no longer a baby!

Where's my little Jonathan?

He is all grown up!

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Happy birthday to my baby boy! I am proud of the man you are becoming!

Blessed to have Someone Who Cares!

Luke and I have discovered the best place to eat!

The food is delicious- but what makes this place the best is the quiet... Soft music and many places away from others... Guess Luke and I look for quiet in going out these days.

On the way home, we drove past someone on the corner with a cardboard sign... Now it was getting dark and I was driving, so I didn't even really look at this person. However, Luke looked and really noticed. Three times in the next few minutes, as I continued to drive home, Luke mentioned the woman on the side of the road, asking me if I thought we should go back.

The first time, I thought about how 'late' it was given Luke's CFS, how if he didn't get to bed soon, he wouldn't be able to function the next day & then we wouldn't go out again for a long time (yeah, selfish, I know). 

The second time, I thought about how much this woman's situation must be bothering Luke for him to mention it again, but I was still worried about how 'late' it was for Luke. Then I considered how difficult it would be to turn around and fight Friday night traffic to get back to the corner where the woman was standing (again, a very selfish thought...).

The third time, I FINALLY listened to Luke. And I listened for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost confirming what Luke knew all along. We needed to go back. So I turned around, 

We had to park a bit away from the busy corner, so Luke asked me to come with him to talk with the woman. He was so very kind to this woman whom he did not know!

He offered to buy her some food, inquired about if she had a place to stay, and then gently proceeded to tell her how to get the help she needed. He explained how there is a priesthood holder called a bishop who is assigned to each neighborhood, how this man would listen to all the woman wanted to talk about, and how the bishop would work with this woman to help her in the very best way possible. Luke was also upfront with the woman about how he could not promise what the bishop would consider to be help, as that is something determined individually.

The woman sincerely thanked Luke, and we headed back home.

I do not know if Luke's talk with  this woman had any result at all in this woman's life. (I hope she took at least part of his advice.) But I do know that Luke's talk with this woman showed me once again how blessed I am to be married to him! He truly cares about people, and he truly cares about me!

And here are some Halloween shots of the Grands!

Adoring Ashtyn!

Luke and I are grandparents again! My baby girl now has this baby girl!

So adorable! As Luke said, "All babies are great, but a grandchild is... wow!"

Proud parents!

Favorite Uncle Jon!

We have the two most adorable granddaughters ever! We are so blessed!!! I mean, just look at these smiles!