Teaching History

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to the local national cemetery to take pictures of the graves of the loved ones of those who requested it.  I was excited to go, but I didn't think it would touch and move me as much as it did.  To make it even more special, I took my two girls (and my mom) with me and was able to give them a little history lesson.  They got involved with helping me find the graves and felt like they were doing the biggest service helping someone else.  Words cannot describe all the feelings that were going through me that day.  To make it even more heartfelt, I come from a strong military family and I was surrounded by those who fought and and many who died for our wonderful country. I felt blessed to have had the honor to take pictures of the graves that I did and I look forward to taking my children on the next adventure there.


I encourage you all to check out www.findagrave.com if you are interested in doing the same thing.  It means a lot to many people and you will take something away with you in return.

Find-A-Grave

I know that some of you won't understand, but I am excited to share that I accepted my first "mission" to find the grave of someone's family member.  I signed up a few days ago after coming across the website findagrave.com during my ancestry research.  This website is awesome as it allows you to find photos of the headstones of your ancestors based on burial/cemetery records.  Now, if your ancestor's photo cannot be found, you can submit a request for a photo to be added.  That request is then sent on to members of the website in the area that have signed up to receive requests to go to their local cemeteries and take photos.  You may think this is morbid, but as someone who has family members who are buried out of state, or some who you never met but feel a kind of connection to, this is important information to have.  Sometimes, the photo of an ancestors headstone is the only photo that you will ever have.  


I will tell you, when I saw that someone had taken a photo of my dads headstone and I found it on that website, I almost cried.  Even though it is within driving distance and I do go there from time to time, the fact that someone took the time to take a photo of my loved-ones headstone is beyond measurable.


So, this weekend I will be heading to Tahoma National Cemetary to take some headstone pictures.  I will do so with pride, knowing that I will be making a difference in someones life.


I encourage you all to do something for someone else.  It eases the heart :)

James Mecham and the Civil War

As some of you already know, I have gotten into researching my family on Ancestry.com.  It has become somewhat of an addiction of mine as I feel like I really get to know some of my ancestors through the information that I find during my research.  This research has led me into a new direction.  I am writing a book.  That's right...you did hear me correctly.  I am writing a book.  The basis of the book will be the letters that my 4x great grandfather, James, wrote to his future wife ,Amanda, (my 4x great grandmother) while he fought in the Civil War.  We have the original letters as well as a lot of other personal items that belonged to them, and they make you feel like you really get to know him. We also have some letters written by 2 of Amanda's brothers, Charles and George.  I have been able to get their military records and do some extensive research on them.  What I am working on now is the specific battles and officers that James, George, and Charles mention in their letters.  James also explains that his brother, Sylvester, was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga and is buried in a mass grave on the battlefield.  I believe that this book will give a lot to people that they may not have had before, including a first hand account from a soldier laying on the battlefield while the bullets fly overhead.

                                           James Mecham

My hope is to have this done within the next 1-2 years.  Hopefully closer to one.  I will be traveling next year to the various battlefields and locations that James mentions in his letters so that I can get pictures.

I will be updating about this progress as I go along.  I hope you enjoy.

I know I say it all the time, but to say that life is hectic is an understatement.  I recently had surgery and am still recovering from that....it's a longer road than I thought it would be. School is coming to an end (for my children, not me).  And life is just barreling on as I stand there and watch.  


I don't remember if I've mentioned this yet, and I honestly don't feel like checking at the moment, but back in February I was diagnosed with Celiac.  That has also added to making life crazy.  TALK ABOUT A LIFE CHANGER!  Everything seems to have been turned upside-down!!!  With a diagnosis like this, you have to change your eating habits, read every single label, buy new kitchen utensils and cookware, be careful when you eat out and watch where you go, explain to all your friends why you suddenly can't eat all the things that you have been for years....I know it may not sound like all that much...but it can get overwhelming sometimes.  Not to mention that my doc officially took me off caffeine, so I can't even have it every now and then.  Do you know how hard it is to get up at 5am to get ready to sub at a middle school without a cup of coffee?!?  


Fortunately I have been able to fill  my time with my love of crochet.  I've finally done what I've been talking about doing and opened my etsy shop.  No sales yet, but I am confident that I will get one soon.


Well, it's time for me to wake up my children so they can get ready for school.  


Ta-ta for now!