| I'll start January by reflecting on
December and November. Family events first: December we had our traditional
family Caroling. It was anything but traditional. We didn't Carol. Go
figure. But I do have photos of being together (of course).
November
{{Whuup. Whuup}}.That's the sound of me backing up. A Saturday phone
call announced company was coming! We got a long awaited, surprise
Thanksgiving visit from cousin
Jimmy. Wow! What a trip! I'm sure it
was even more of a surprise for him when he walked into our raucous
family. He really got the whole enchilada. Two turkeys, our favorite
Spikey Cheese Soup, an impromptu bread-baking lesson at 9 pm day.
While he was here he "jammed"
with new cousins. Let me be more accurate: he "jammed" with
his first cousins once removed. He went with the whole bunch of us
on our traditional Thanksgiving "turkey
walk".
Larry Rhonda Caleb Vanessa and Katie came over to visit. AND .. he sent
us some of his recorded music for our holidays. Family Heritage Event:
We got a Sauna.
It's an infrared .. not the authentic Finnish Steam Sauna but it will
do until the real one comes along. It sits proudly in our living room.
(but of course). Over Christmas everyone .. Jerren, Brent, Maggie, Colin;
Toby, Denice, Taylor, Zach, Aleks, Jaynie; Adam, Gina; Aaron, Marilyn;
Sara, Magic Grandpa and a few friends all had turns. Jerry and I haven't
missed many days. We are so happy to have it. Boy do we feel healthy.
Over the last year we have added Saunas, Moomintrolls and have begun
getting of feel for SISU. I'm sure it starts with the ice-water one
pours over his/her hot, sweaty body that just sat in a box that registers
130 degrees
Christmas.
As I said earlier our family
holidays started on Dec. 22. For one thing it is the sad 2nd anniversary
of Grandma Maxine's death: Jim's wife Jerry's Mom. And then of course
the 24th is the 4th anniversary of my dad's death. May I say it again?
We made it to a New Year. Three of the last 7 Decembers we've grieved.
My Mom died in 2000. I would say that the best "cure" however
is that we have been able to be surrounded by family as we remember
and miss them.
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Many Family Connections in 2007
First of all Aunt Hazel and I went to Piedmont. We took the Amtrak
train from Chicago to Poplar Bluff. Slide show coming up :-)
Got some authentic family info.
Thanks to cousin Jim, we have filled in some blanks on the
Pontinen side. He/we are on a hunt for the Jokinen's now.
Found some interesting Family Links.
With a little research on NYE I very quickly made contact with
two people from the (Grandmother)
Stowers side of the family ... (more details about who that
is later.) John Stowers and I talked at length but wihout making
a family connection. He was a great resource though and with just
a few clicks I found a page with family names from 1539 to the
present. Wahoo!
Now, we have plans to attend a Stowers Family reunion this summer.
More about that later as well..
More >>
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