Old People

Well, I have been working on our family tree for years now. I have some stumbling blocks that are just killing me.
1) George Vandre, allegedly born Beaver/Biever/Boever...... so much misinformation and so many possibilities that I'm kicking myself for not paying better attention to my grandmother.

2) Laverne Forrest Jauktis mother to twins Jack and Joyce. I have learned the twins went to school in Wheaton and that Jack changed his name to Eric/k Fleming when he exited the closet and became openly homosexual.

3) Emil Erdmann from Prussia. There must be several hundred Emil Erdmann's all born the same year, from the same area.......... makes my head hurt!

On an upside, my last grandchild is about to be born. This makes a total of eight counting Yumi's little ones. Man they are prolific!!

My little/big cousin Stosh.

Last week my family lost someone dear to us. My cousin Stosh (Kris) took his own life by hanging himself in a tree behind the garage. He'd been trying to handle depression for some time and we believe he was also bi-polar making life very difficult for him. He also battled some serious demons with substance abuse the past few years. He fought them on his own battlefield and I believe that is the reason he chose to leave this life. But we will never know.
He was the youngest of "the cousins" and a favorite. He was boisterous, in your face, loved to laugh, and to make us all laugh. He was a gentle giant at 6'7" and had the soul of an angel. He loved his family without reservation,even tho at times we may not have deserved it. He understood unconditional love and taught me more about it. Loving without judgment is no easy task, yet he accomplished it with ease and grace. He was like my own son in so many ways early on. I remember watching him try to kick his way out of Aunt's stomach, watching him learn to walk with his shoes bolted to a bar that was to correct the turn of his feet, the way he'd laugh and run away only to turn around and stick out his tongue.......... all the way up to those styling big glasses of his, the braces that made his smile all the brighter........ and those HUUUUGE shoes size 16 right?
Mostly what I will remember how many times he'd say I love you cuz.......... and the big bear hugs that just melted me because I could feel that love in those muscley arms of his.
Tofor, Stosh, Kris - I'll miss you no matter what they call you. Tell your dad hello for me and I'll see you again.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

The quiet life

So, since September not much has happened that I can think of. Just working and keeping up with the kids.
Gary's dad has lung cancer, and we found out yesterday that their friend Ron's dad was just diagnosed with it as well. What a sad sad thing.
I have been working on the family trees for both of my parents' sides and have been really frustrated at the lack of available accurate information on my fathers' fathers' side. But I did make progress in documenting alot of people we didn't know and found a couple no one even remembered so its really been a cool learning experience and I've had great fun bonding with family I don't hear from very often. Its amazing to me the amount of changes in a family, hte births, marraiges, deaths that I know nothing about.
Heck, even my own father didn't tell me he was having surgery to replace BOTH of his hips!
Whats the deal with that?? I move away and I don't count anymore is that it?
Anyway, I got to see my godmother and my dad's baby sister while I was up, and I got to hang out with Dave & Missy and their little girl Jenna who is growing so fast its astounding!
Spent some time with mother and got the LD on her "dying wishes" that I could have lived without.
I mean, why do we have to talk about it? Write it all down in detail and tell us all where the details are and we'll handle it, eh?
So, that's all for now. Still waiting to see the new contract with the new income level so keep your fingers crossed so we can stay solvent. After all, my incomeis the only income Joe's leech of an ex can't get to!
Love to all,
K

Update

Well, not too much to tell since June actually. Kids are busy doing all that summer stuff, traveling weddings all that.
We had a great time at Blair's wedding in IL, Dylan got to meet the fam damily and was even blessed enough to be included in the obligatory Black Sheep photo!
We're working, Joe is not going back into the service and the chickens now live here with us.
My non-singing canary died
The female dogs scared Allie's bunny to death
Bear (the 80 lb puppy) tried to each his chickens before they were plucked.

We looked at property up in Tennessee, tho we haven't decided if its for retirement or for next year.......hehehehe.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Graduation 2007

Well, Joe can't believe it, but his first born just graduated from high school this weekend. He was bursting with pride and joy. There was alot of hugging and pictures.

JJ plans to attent the community college nearby this fall and works at the Lowes home improvement store a few miles away.

Check out the pics!

Jonathan's visit

Had Jonathan (aka schmoopie) for a few weeks, check out the pictures of my handsome grandson that I miss so much!

Howdy Doody

Missy gave me the idea of starting a blog, I guess its a good way for anyone who cares to check up on us and the goings on in NC.

I miss alot of people "back home", but am happier here with Joe than I've ever been in my whole life. He's a wonderful intelligent man who shares my passion for reading, history and animals (kids too, but as we all know they qualify as animals at times too!)

I have wonderful in-laws that I adore, a sister in law I need to hang out with more. Nancy stood up for me when Joe and I got hitched and she's definately a kindred spirit with attitude!

Speaking of our getting hitched, not many people know that the timing of it was inspired by the retirement of Joe from the military. If we got married after he was officially retired, I'd not be entitled to certain benefits later on, so it only made sense to marry then to have those benefits as we will all need all the medical benefits we can get when we are older.

We thought about having a "wedding" and I guess I'm the one who put the damper on that, tho I would still like to have our civil union blessed in church, just having the government consider us married doesn't seem "official" without the blessings of the church.

Speaking of church, my husband is Methodist, and we got to his mom's church wehn we go, which is a great church with a wonderful pastor, but I still very much miss Immanuel "back home". It has always felt like my spiritual home, and I miss Pastor Joe & Debbie, Dave Corlew, Bonnie, Belisa, "Chester" and the music......... the music is phenomenal. It reaches right inside of you and fills your heart to bursting!

Well, I suppose I've rambled on enough for now.