sandraleecleary

Christmas is here, well only two days away. Every year it seems to some earlier for some reason. The frenzy of buying gifts, baking, and so on. But let us not forget the reason we celebrate Christmas. Our Savior was born. Our King.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL.

The holidays are upon us. They approach us faster each year. Oh wait, I’m getting older and time slips by me faster. That’s it, I’m sure it is.

I’ve been blessed with two new great grandsons this year. Ten great grandchildren in total. Only two girls.Can’t wait to get my hands on them. Cuddle and plant big kisses all over them!!

I made a bucket list the first of the year and I think I’ve about hit it all. At least I’ve gotten my hubby away from his job for short breaks to help with the stress of everyday happenings. I think, or rather I hope, it has helped him. Not so sure about next year, but never say never.

Hubby put the Christmas lights up yesterday. Now I need to get the tree up and decorated. And put the extra touches on the trimmings. Such a beautiful time of the year, without snow. I had all the snow I wanted while growing up in upstate New York. I remember tunneling our way out on one occasion. It’s pretty to look at but not to shovel.

Anyway, got to get with it and place my calendar in front of me (so I don’t forget my appointments) and check it daily. Writing is top of the list. Hubby and family is next. I missed my Black Friday this year because I woke up with upset stomach, headache, and feeling dizzy. The daughter went with her mother in law, and by the looks of the bags they left at my house they hit all the stores in the Forum!

So until then………………………

Usually I don’t read any of the obits as I enter them on my blog as I do not have time. I will scan to see where they were born so that can be added. I do the obits because of other genealogists who are trying to find something about one of their ancestors.

These obituaries are important as most will give the parents names, next of kin, and some will even throw in extra tidbits to round out that person’s life. Some only give the date of birth and date of death, just mere statements of an individual. They lived, they died.

While adding the obits for this Sunday I was struck by one in particular. It was more than the standard telling of one’s life, it was a tribute to the wife written by her husband. You can go to http://www.mysa.com/lifetributes and read Donna Berez’s tribute. Have a Kleenex handy.

I’ve often wondered who would write my obit. I’ve even put one together for myself and put it in my Bible. It just says “I lived, I died.” Who’s life did I touch? What did I do that was so important that I had to put it in my obituary? I have a beautiful family, a fantastic loving, husband, and more friends that I could ever imagine. They have touched my life and made me the person I am. Whoa, I’m getting too carried away here. Getting too sappy.

So guess I’d better get caught up on all the things I’ve got stacked on my desk. Hubby put up the Christmas lights yesterday. I’ve cleaned up some of my desk but have a LOT to go. I’m trying to finish the rest of the book since I got the last few pages back from my editor. So, got to get with it.

Until then………………………………………

To my wonderful followers—-well I’ve been in Branson enjoying time with my hubby at Veteran’s week. Branson goes all out for our vets with free meals, parades, parties, and you name it. It’s nice to visit friends made over the years and to make new friends.

I was able to finally meet Mickey Gilley. I had no idea how bad he had hurt himself helping a friend move. It has taken him quite a while to get back on his feet and he is still not able to play the piano. But he still can sing!

Cheek to cheek!!

I apologize for no obits last Sunday. Looks like my newspaper wasn’t saved for me. I will be posting this weeks shortly.

Again, had a wonderful time in Branson. Also had time to check out the Military Museum in Jefferson City, MO. They’ve just moved into a new building with so much more space. I highly recommend it.

Now it’s catch up time so until then………………………..

I’d like to say I’ve been too busy to post anything, well, actually I have been busy. That’s no excuse, I know. I’m trying to justify my laziness here. I’m no more busier than anyone else, I just need to look at my priorities and put first things first.

Enough of that.

Growing up I was never allowed to spend the night at a girlfriend’s house. Mom said it just wasn’t done. No option, the answer was no. And, you never argued with Mom. It was “because she said so!”

Not until I was in my sixties did I ever go on week end with the girls. I had so much fun that first time I came home I told my hubby I had to go again. I laughed until I cried. I played games, crafted, and just plain had a good time for three days. It was a chance to form a bond with another girl. That was something I never did growing up. Now I see what they were talking about in the teenage movies I loved to go see.

I’m so glad I gave my girls a chance to do that. I’ve seen their friendships last for a long time.

Our small group of ladies shop, cook, and craft. We teach each other new techniques in painting, sewing, and stamping.  And making decorations! Good job Cathey.

We’ve found the perfect place to chill out. Peacefull, quiet, and serene.

So excuse me while I put my brain back in the serene mode and try to play catch up on my computer.

Until then………………………………..

Hubby and I just returned from a four day mini vacation to Oklahoma. I must say it was a very nice relaxing (a lot of driving) four days. Visited friends we hadn’t seen in close to ten years and spent a couple of hours with granddaughter and children. One stop after another, but worth the trip.

Now that I’m putting the finishing touches on the book I thought it was about time I visited the Sac Fox Nation in Oklahoma. Well, it was Saturday, raining, cold, and nobody home! Bummer, and I’m going back. I do have a few unanswered questions and I want to make sure what I have written is correct.

I’m giddy with excitement being this close to publishing. Have to print out again and read once more to catch any mistakes.

Then call the Sac Fox Library and see if I would be able to present the book to them along with a book signing.

So my friends…………until then…………………….

My brain in on overload looking at all the ATTCCAT on Family Tree DNA and the many matches on Ancestry. I’m so confused! Now I have 23 and Me to figure out!

What a puzzle—–trying to figure out who my biological father is. Just when I figure I have it narrowed down—-something else pops up and I’m off in another direction again.

You would be amazed at how many people you can be related to without even knowing it. I am now, not only married to my husband, we are very distant cousins. Thank goodness, it’s very distant, but we are related. AND it all starts in New England. Even those folks married close relatives! Can you believe it!

I’m rambling. It’s all a big giant puzzle—-even if you do know who your parents are to begin with. Try it sometime. Start out with a short genealogy chart.

What I do know (sometimes isn’t much) but I am confident I have my mother’s side figured out back to 1615 on the Barnes side when they came to America and settled in New York branching out from there. The Green side, well I have them back to 1820 in Washington County, New York. Thanks to Ancestry I’m pretty sure I finally found my Wood line back to the early 1700’s in New Jersey. Thank you goes out to whoever my kin is that posted a lot of information on that family on Ancestry. I will follow up on my paper trail.

So you know what I’m working on today besides doing finishing touches to the BOOK!!! Yea the book. So close…….stay tuned to hear more about Katie.

Until then………………………………..

I ran across this short story while cleaning out some things. I’d like to share it with you.

The year was 1955 when Mom packed our 1948 Olds and headed west. Dad was stationed in Japan, so we packed our belongings, left Carthage, New York and moved to Los Angeles, California to wait for his return.

Mom loaded the trunk with bedding, clothing, and anything else she needed for her brood of five, the youngest one year and the oldest twelve. I was the oldest.

She braved the elements as she drove old Route “66” across the states. The trunk of the car caught on fire in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The straps holding our trunk on top of the car came loose and I had to keep holding the flapping strap. Our funds ran low and we had to sleep in the car. Mom bought bread, peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches. I still like pb and j.

We stopped just short of the bridge crossing the Colorado River  at a place called Jack’s. She went inside to get us some water. When she returned her face looked like she was going to cry. She handed me a single glass of water and said. “Only a sip and pass it around. I had to pay a nickel for it.” That was the beginning of my understanding how valuable water was to desert living.

Little did I know, but when we came to the tiny spot in the road called Topok, Arizona, that in 1964 I would be living in the trailer park below the restaurant and store called “Jack’s”. My husband would work on the new bridge spanning the river and we lived at Shorty’s Trailer Park and Marina.

Life is strange.

Until then.

Now is this a working girl’s desk or what! I used to get upset with my hubby’s stacks of work on his desk. Now—-well now, look at mine. Genealogy, DNA sheets, and writing. All stacks.

Two years ago I put together the first “Green” family reunion. I had stacks and stacks of printed pages that I put into books for everyone. I wanted to share pictures, documents, and the genealogy register for everyone. Now I’m putting one together for a cousin (I think it’s probably a 5th to 8th) that wasn’t able to make the reunion. He gave me quite a bit of information about his side of the family, of which, I didn’t have. So, it’s only right to share the information I have on the rest of the family.  I’m not one for hoarding it all to myself.

Now I’m deeply engrossed in DNA. I’m close, maybe I’m close, to finding out who my biological father is. It’s really entailing, but I’m committed. By golly, by gum, I will find out who he is, how he met my mother, and all those other things about him.

Last, but really not least, I am on the last leg of rewrites of my novella. Almost six years in writing this. You’re probably asking yourself six years for a novella. Well, yes, but, family, and so on has encroached on some of that time. Plus, it’s a historical fiction and I really want to make sure I have my facts pretty accurate. I have to keep checking to make sure I have it right. One thing about family, I would not take back any of the time I’ve spent with them. They are first and foremost in my life!

So with all of that said, I guess I’d better get with it and get to finishing my rewriting.

Until then……………………………..

As you know I just came back from a short vacation. Upon our return we discovered my sweet hubby had lost his set of keys to my suburban. He was feeling pretty low.

We searched both suitcases and carry on baggage to no avail. We retraced our tracks. Nothing. So, I called our daughter to bring my set of keys to the airport so we could get the suburban home.

With all that said, I must thank the TSA for finding them. We hear horror stories of what they make people do while screening them, but there is another side here. I found out they have to catalogue everything that gets left behind, date, where it’s found, etc. They were able to locate his keys and returned.

Yea!

But I still don’t like taking my shoes off to go through the screening!

Until then…………………