X -"Xtraordinary" Experience

Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 writing challenge. It has been an amazing experience participating in this challenge these past months. I can't believe we're up to X already. 

 My husband and I just celebrated our thirty- fourth wedding anniversary this past Sunday, the 17^th of June. And being the romantic that he is, Bob, made reservations for us to spend that weekend at Temple Hill Bed and Breakfast in Geneseo, New York. My first response was, “it’s going to cost how much?” My next response upon seeing Temple Hill’s website, and the photos of what can only be called a mansion was, “oh my, do we have to dress up?” You have to understand; I am a born and bred country girl. We live on a farm and have never stayed in a bed and breakfast, let alone one, which looked like a butler, would be greeting us at the door. We did not pack tuxedos and ball gowns however.

Temple Hill Bed and Breakfast

  As soon as we entered the Grand Foyer and were greeted by the owner, my fears of being under dressed were put at ease. Gail, the owner was friendly, gracious, and as down home as my husband and myself. They in fact, are also farmers.

 We felt as if we had stepped back in time, as we were given a tour of the glorious home, which had been Temple Hill University in the 1800’s, and has had only four owners in over 100 years. I had no problem imagining the lady of the house gliding down the spectacular stair case in her floor length gown, or the sound of horses hooves click-clacking up the drive. I could easily imagine neatly dressed servants, scurrying about doing the many chores needed to keep this mansion in pristine condition. And I marveled that we would spend the weekend in this extraordinary home.

One of the 3 friendly cats who welcomed us

 My husband and I spent the weekend being pampered and made to feel like part of the family – family members who did not have to do any chores however. We enjoyed scrumptious home cooked breakfasts complete with homemade strawberry muffins, with fresh strawberries, served on exquisite English china. We sat on the veranda with our morning tea and coffee listening to the birds serenading us. We strolled the grounds and enjoyed the pool. We meandered through the cemetery directly across the road (I love cemeteries) and discovered the Wadsworth Family plot – a prestigious military family who served as far back as the Revolutionary War. We wandered through town and had a picnic by the lake. And when our feet needed a break, we rested in our lovely room. What could be better?

Our lovely room

 My husband and I both agree after our extraordinary experience that we would like to visit more Bed and Breakfasts in the future. We also agreed, and told Gail as much, that our time spent at Temple Hill set the bar very high for other B&B’s, which we may visit in the future. I cannot imagine a better way to have spent our thirty- fourth wedding anniversary.

V - Vignette lives

I have had the incredible opportunity to participate in Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 writing challenge these past months. I hope you will check out the other writers as well, simply click on the icon on my sidebar.

I am a self taught, fair to middling artist. I dreamed of, and finally succeeded in learning how to paint sceneries the way the late, Bob Ross, did. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent glued to the television watching this kind, gentle man create mountains, trees, waterfalls, incredible sunsets, shimmering lakes and billowing clouds, all with tools  which looked like something you would paint and spackle a house with . I however cannot complete a painting in an hour like this sweet man, mine take three to four days – depending on how many mistakes I make.

One of my favorite paintings was a winter vignette scene. The entire painting was done in varying shades of blues and soft whites, creating a winter wonderland, complete with a rustic shed, partially frozen pond, and lacy ice tipped trees. What I loved most about this painting was how the scene flowed from center into soft, diffused edges, creating a lovely oval. The diffused edges drew the attention into the center of the painting. The snow, water, rocks and trees came into focus and jumped off the canvas, while the edges of the painting faded, causing an ethereal effect.

Bob Ross' vignette, I gave mine away

 As I began thinking about this form of painting, it brought to mind our lives. We often want people to see clearly the positive aspects of our life. Our accomplishments, our “perfect” families, our lofty goals, our faith. But the less than perfect parts of our lives, those things that do not bring us pride, our mistakes, our “imperfect” families, our secrets, our imperfections, we want to fade into the background. We want them shrouded behind a lovely gauzy veil casting them into an ethereal haze while drawing the positive to the foreground. Our life becomes a vignette.

In some sad cases, with a person with low self-esteem, or a person quick to point fingers, the vignette becomes reversed. All the negatives, all the mistakes, all the imperfections and secrets become central. All attention is on them. While the positives are pushed into the diffused back ground, barely visible even to the person who accomplished them. 

 Our life is not a vignette. Either all good or all negative with the rest hidden behind a delicate haze. Oh, we would love to have a life filled with good times and all positive, no negatives allowed. But just as in nature, one lends life to the other. A majestic mountain cannot achieve such beauty and grandeur without sharp cliffs, craggy rocks, and harsh conditions.
A shimmering lake also has a shoreline of mud and unruly vegetation. The most glorious sunset often lives after the worst storms. The bare branches of a dying tree add a dignified sense of age past to the vibrant green of trees full of youth.

 God’s creation, whether in nature or human lives, is a magnificent masterpiece. We need not shamefully force our negatives behind a shrouded veil, hiding them from sight. We are the person that we are, because of  the less than perfect aspects of our lives. Strength comes through adversity, compassion through pain, faith through times of questioning, and wisdom through mistakes.

In the form of painting, which I have done, the beauty is appreciated only by standing back and seeing the entire scene from a distance. When you stand nose to canvas, inspecting each and every brushstroke or highlight, the eyes see what appear to be flaws.The temptation arises to scrape hours of work from the canvas and start again. It’s usually after working on a particularly difficult painting, that I am able to step back, take my nose away from the canvas, sit peacefully with God, and appreciate the beauty. Flaws and all.

My full canvas painting - flaws and all

 God’s masterpieces are full canvas creations. 

Let’s live full canvas lives.

U - Unknown Worlds

So, how many of you are Trekkies? I’m not a Trekky, I however, grew up on Star-Trek and the Star Ship Enterprise. Well, let me rephrase that.  I grew up watching Star-Trek and the adventures of the Star Ship Enterprise. Captain James T. Kirk sitting in his captain’s chair, surround by his unique and varied crew, including the always logical, pointy eared Vulcan, Spock - all wearing skin tight shirts, and pants that look like they are expecting the next great inner-galactic flood - setting out on yet another mission – “ To go where no man has gone before.”

They never knew what awaited them just past the second star to the right, or on the surface of a planet from which a distress call has signaled. Will they encounter friend or foe? Will the distress call be valid, or a diabolical scheme to ensnare the Enterprise and all on board? 

 Each week, each 

forty minute episode, (commercials you know), found our crew traveling at warp speed into distant galaxies, exploring unknown worlds, fighting unknown enemies, and at the end of the forty minutes, the Enterprise may be banged up, the crew battered, but they lived to take us with them next week, into even more unknown worlds.

Well, we don’t live on the Star-Ship Enterprise and Captain Kirk, or any of the many other captains, isn’t directing our way. But we travel into unknown worlds on a daily basis. First day of school, entering High School, graduating High School, 

College, First job, Marriage, Pregnancy, Giving Birth, Raising Children, Buying a home, Moving away from home, Watching our children move away, Retirement, Illness, Impending death – Seeking God’s plan in our lives.

God’s Plan? For many of us that is an absurd unknown. After all, we know what our future holds, what our plans are.  We will graduate High School, go on to college and get our degree, while leading an outrageous social life. (Or perhaps the military and serve our country)    

Our Incredible Son

 First day after graduation we land the career of our dreams. We will then meet the perfect person, marry and have 2.3 children. We will live in the perfect neighborhood, and have two cars in the garage. All this leading up to our retirement with a hefty retirement package, which will allow us to travel the world. Sounds like a plan – right? What’s God got to do with it?

 

 Oh, how God must laugh as He hears us spout our plans. And how disappointed and sad he must be when we completely leave Him out of our life’s plans. Seeking God’s plan in our life may possibly be one of the most mysterious, and confusing unknowns out there. It involves placing our faith in someone other than ourselves, or our degrees, or our work- all tangible, visible things. Seeking God’s plan means placing our faith in what is unseen, and unknown. It involves prayer, patience, faith, wisdom, more patience, trust, and a complete belief in a being we cannot see with our human eyes.

God’s ultimate plan, His big plan is not unknown. He loves us and wants us to have a relationship with Him, to love Him, and to be with Him for eternity in His Kingdom. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son that we can live. He gave us His word so we can grow closer to Him, read His word, and know His love. His big plan, for those who seek Him is absolutely known.

 

  It’s the intricate, everyday life plans that become complicated. Oft times possibly causing us to butt heads with Him, or scratch our heads in confusion as we await clarity as to His plan in our lives. His plans can sometimes come through our most difficult times of pain and healing – times when our questions out number the answers - times of great loss and sorrow. It can also shine through the pure gentle smile of a child.

 

 His plans often take us out of our comfort zones, and into the unknown zone. His plans can give us butterflies in our stomach and a sense of anticipation like never before, and when we get done butting heads, a joy and peace beyond compare. Okay, there may also a little trepidation as well. After all we are stepping by faith into an unknown world. But we do not step into this world alone.

T - Trust The Pilot

Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 writer's challenge. Click on the icon on my side bar to read other articles by fantastic writers.

 

If you have read my last few posts, you have likely deduced that this past month or so has been a difficult journey for my family. We have experienced the pain of a loved one. We have watched him grow in faith through his arduous walk. We have encouraged, uplifted and prayed during his times of weakness, confusion, healing, and even anger. We know that God has a plan, and that we must continue in faith. 

We have placed our faith in a God we cannot see, and a plan which shows itself in bits and pieces.With the human eye it would appear as if door after door is slamming shut, God's plan seems questionable at best. Yet with every closed door, a window has opened. Our 20/20 eye sight has leaped to the foreground as time continues, and we and our loved one continue the twisting road he is traveling, placing our faith in the one who holds our lives in the palm of His hand.

Our loved one this past month or so has, as he says, spent more time in the air than with his feet on the ground, due to job related traveling. It was on one particular flight that the thoughts of trusting an unseen pilot and trusting God began playing out in his mind. I am sharing the words of our loved one, as he wrote them. I’m honoring his wishes however in allowing him to remain anonymous to all but us. Here are his thoughts.

As we took off for our flight to Las Vegas I have a thought about our assent and all the past flights I have been on in my life

Many times when we board an aircraft we never see the pilot, the person who we will entrust our lives for the upcoming journey. We have never met, nor seen him, but he will speak to the passengers throughout the flight.

As the plane takes off the speed can be felt. It’s bumpy and for some people scary. The plane then becomes airborne and you can see the ground rushing away from you, and all the hustle below. Soon the plane will enter the clouds, which is like a fog, you can’t see anything so you have to trust the pilot. Sometimes the clouds are dark, sometimes not, but almost always there is some light in the fog.

Finally, in the right time, the plane emerges from the clouds into the vast, clear and beautiful sky. No more fog. No more hustle. No more confusion. Just peace. Yet, many times we still can’t see the ground.

 Now various times you’ll hit turbulent weather, or more clouds, and it’s time to again trust the unseen pilot and that he will do everything to get the flight through safely.

 Sometimes on the journey, when you glance out the window you can see through the clouds a little; and other times the clouds disappear and the ground is revealed. And in these times, from that height, the point of view is much different than what we are used to. You won’t see people, cars, or anything specific.

In the end all the passengers make it safely to their destination, because they trusted someone they never met; and even though some of the flight was in blindness or turbulent, the trip was worth it to reach your goal.

Trust Our Pilot

 The flight path is much like life and the Christian walk. Many times we get so caught up in the hustle, it’s hard to see God’s plan. Then as we go through life we encounter fog and turbulent times. But if we can trust God, He will get us through and many times His plan will be revealed. But if not, in the end we make it.

 Our loved one is still placing his trust in our Lord and our pilot. Even through turbulence and times of fog. 

R - Random Events

Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 challenge, letter R. This has been a fun challenge and I can't believe we're nearing the end. Click on the icon on my sidebar to check out other writers works.

 I have discovered these past few weeks that God lives in the random acts, or random events. Or should I say, seemingly random. It could be a song on the radio, a bumper sticker on the car in front of you, a TV show, a wrong turn down the right street, a scripture, or even words from a complete stranger.  In our times of confusion or pain, God uses anything and everything, events that appear to be random, to get our attention or answer questions.

 I was speaking to someone about a week ago, and he told me about three specific, random events that occurred to him during one particularly stressful day. Many people may have dismissed these random events, but he did not. Each event, each random act, answered a question or addressed an anxiety he had experienced that day. I could hear the quiet awe in his voice as he related these events to me, and I could only praise our incredible God for speaking to this young man in this way.

I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe in God’s plan. I know that God hears our every thought, He knows our every need, and He listens to our cries and our praises. Absolutely nothing is impossible with God. Even when we can see no way out, God has a plan, and He talks to us in so many creative ways. Yes, even through seemingly random acts and events.

What have been some seemingly random events in your life that have spoken to you?

Or has there been a time when you feel you may have been someone’s random event?

Q - Questions?

Patty Wysong’s – A2Z Take 2. It has been fun and challenging taking part in this challenge with other writers. Check them out by clicking on the icon on my side-bar.

Asking questions, seeking answers, has been a part of our lives since toddler-hood on up. Why is the sky blue? Why do I have freckles and Johnny doesn’t? Where do babies come from? That’s a biggie.

  As we grow from a young child to pre-teen and teenage years, we begin questioning everyone and everything. Our looks, our parents, authority.  The world screams around us, peer-pressure consumes us, wanting to be liked, to be one of the crowd confuses us. 

All bringing more and more questions, and sometimes very few answers.

 Then we reach adulthood, the time we all craved when we were kids. A time when we would be able to stay up as late as we want, watch whatever we want on TV, and in general do whatever we want. No more school. No more tough questions. Only it doesn’t work that way.

 

 The questions become all the more confusing and serious. Lives, careers, marriages, our children’s welfare and our eternal welfare begin to be questioned. We seek sound advice, and many times the answer we hear is deafening silence. Our questions may lead us toward truth and God’s wisdom or down a different road all together.

 These past few weeks have been a time of intense questioning for a loved one of ours, and our entire family. With the questions have come anger, confusion, discouragement, and grief - as well as growth, learning, wisdom, and a sense of unconditional love. Our minds and hearts have been opened to the big picture, which hovers beyond the pain of the possible smaller picture. And our loved one has grown so much closer to the Lord through his questions and is honestly teaching me a thing or two.

It’s during our most difficult times that we question the most. Why? – Being a question most asked.

  During these past few weeks, during the days gut-wrenching grief God’s very existence was questioned. “If there’s a God why did he allow this to happen?  Why can’t I hear His voice? What’s going to happen?” Over the weeks, God in His infinite wisdom has been slowly answering these questions and more, and ultimately renewing our loved one’s faith.

When we are children we ask our parents the tough questions, trusting that they will have all the answers. Then comes the time we question the very parents we once trusted, knowing somehow that they will love us in spite of our defiance. As we continue our journey we question ourselves, our actions, our motives, the world, and God.  During our times of questioning, it is vital to take time to listen for the answer. 

The world, as my loved one reminded me, is loud, it screams in your face. God’s voice is whisper soft – we need to focus on it to hear it.

  God speaks to us and answers our questions in so many ways. It may be kind words from a friend, a pastor’s message, a song on the radio, a movie, or a book. God is creative in how He chooses to speak to us. And when we turn our hearts and ears to Him answers will come. Sometimes the answer is no, sometimes be patient, sometimes His answer is to tell you how much you’re loved. So ask your questions. Scream your questions if you need, that’s okay He has big shoulders.

 And then – listen.

O - Ownership

Ownership. Not always an easy thing to do. When things are going well, when we have accomplished great, or even semi-good things, we willingly take ownership. Perhaps humbly, with a quiet smile and heartfelt thanks, or maybe jubilantly doing the happy dance. But what about those things in our lives that aren’t so great? What about our mistakes, serious or not? Do we take ownership of them?

 These past few days have been an emotional roller coaster not only for myself, but someone who I love with all my heart. There has been joy and excitement, and grief and despair. Through these days I have been faced with the mistakes of another person, which are drastically affecting lives. I have also had to come face to face with my own mistakes, and I mean whoppers, from my past that caused pain to those I love the most.

 When our failures are brought to our attention quite often we want to brush them away. Make excuses. Even blame the other person. But I could not do that. My past mistakes, still have serious consequences to this day. Lives have been and are still being affected. Lives of people I love beyond words. My very children. I can’t brush my past errors under the carpet. I can try to understand and help my loved ones to understand the roots of my actions, but I can’t lay blame. I need to take ownership. No matter how difficult it is.

  Our actions have consequences. Some good, some harmful. Hearts can be uplifted and encouraged, or beaten down and broken. Sadly some of my past issues hurt others deeply. Also sadly they may still be living with the after effects of this hurt. I know that my Lord has forgiven me, and for that I am so very thankful. But, I still need to take ownership, and acknowledge my deeds when my children need to talk about them. It’s hard, but vital.

I love to take ownership for my accomplishments. I am the kind who smiles humbly and says thank-you. Then when I’m alone the happy dance comes out. Taking ownership for my failures, my mistakes, the things that caused others pain, is not something I enjoy. There is no happy dance involved. But hopefully there will be healing for the one who brought them to my attention. It’s only with honesty that healing can come. Honesty and our precious Lord.

This has been a very personal post, and a very heavy one. I apologize for that. But whenever I tried to think of an "O" word, this was forefront in my mind. For my Faithwriter friends, if you go to the prayer request forum, you will find a request from me as to this subject. All prayers are appreciated. Thank-you.

N - Nevertheless

During my devotional reading last Monday, the day after Easter, the author of the Guidepost devotional for that day wrote on the one word, which changed history of all mankind for eternity. “Nevertheless.” When Jesus was praying at the Garden of Gethsemane, while his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, He cried out to God. “Father, if it is possible, may this cup be removed from me. ‘Nevertheless’ not my will, but yours be done.” Some versions say “yet”, some say “but”. I really like Nevertheless.

Jesus said that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Most paintings, or even movies show a calm, peaceful Jesus, kneeled serenely before a big rock, praying to His father. Jesus Christ Superstar (one of my favorites) shows an anguished, even angry Jesus, crying out to God as he climbs boulders and rocks traveling higher and higher.

  What began as a quiet prayer from Jesus to His father, escalated into a battle between human and deity – Satan’s evil desires and God’s desires to save each and every one of His children.

 My husband and I got brave this year and watched Passion of the Christ. The opening scene showed Jesus alone and lonely, standing in the distant in the Garden of Gethsemane. We watched as torment consumed Him, causing Him to lie upon the ground, crying, begging, and praying to His Father in Heaven for mercy. For some way out. “Father, if there is a way, take this cup from me. Nevertheless – not my will but yours be done.”

If there is a way

 In that moment in the Garden, Jesus could have said “No”. No I will not go through the torture of death on the cross for these people. No I will not allow myself to be captured, beaten, spat upon, dragged through the streets and tortured within an inch of my life for these people. I will not die for these people. They just aren’t worth it. And that would have been that. Jesus didn’t have to die for us. He could have opted out. And we would have continued down the path of sin and death, till each and every one of us was lost for eternity. But Jesus didn’t say no – He said nevertheless.

As we sat watching “Passion of the Christ,” as I watched Jesus tortured in ways unimaginable to most human beings, I found myself asking so many questions. Number one question – how could you love us so much that you would allow yourself to suffer as you did? I found myself crying as I heard (I couldn’t watch)  the disgusting cat of nine tails sink their teeth into His body, ripping flesh and muscle from the very bones.

And I felt unworthy. I watched as He was forced to carry the massive cross upon his back – a back that could bear no more – and yet did. I watched as the guards continued to beat him, as He stumbled and fell, as he grit his teeth against a pain that would cause most of us to shriek for mercy. Nevertheless – He moved on.

I knew that Jesus suffered horribly for us, for me. I had read and learned what this kind of death actually did to the human body. I knew that many people didn’t survive the flogging. Jesus did. Where many men would have succumbed willingly to the welcome escape of death, Jesus did not. The time had not yet come. As I watched, I found myself asking if we were worth it? The answer I felt in my soul was – Yes we were and still are worth it. The question I heard within my soul was, “wouldn’t you do the same for your children?”

Jesus didn’t have to do what He did. He said that He is the Good Shepherd. Man could not take his life; He willingly laid it down – for us – for the very ones who beat him and hated him, for the thief on the cross. Jesus said Nevertheless for saint and sinner alike.

Evil hovering about Jesus, whispering doubt

Evil's scream of defeat

Through the movie we saw the face of evil hovering around Jesus, always whispering, waiting. Evil thought it had won. The loudest scene in the entire movie was of Evil down in a hole, shrieking,  screaming, and wailing in absolute despair and hate. Evil lost. Love reigned victorious.

 One word. Nevertheless. One life changing, soul saving word. Thank you precious Savior for saying Nevertheless. Thank you for loving us so much. Thank you for saving me - for saving us.

M is for Meander

I’m sitting at my computer, fingers hitting the appropriate keys to form words, and yet I’m still searching for a “M” word. My brain just seems to be in vacation mode, even though I am not on vacation. It just can’t seem to settle down long enough to focus. It’s meandering.

My meandering thoughts

 

I find that I am a meanderer in much of life. When I shop, I meander through the store, just browsing looking at this and that. Not always buying just looking. When my husband and I go for walks in woods, or down trails, he is set on the course. I meander. I stop and look at moss growing on tree sides or gracefully cascading over rocks. If we visit museums, I can be found meandering. Stopping and reading all the plagues to glean every morsel of information, inspecting each item envisioning those who may have used them. I find myself meandering to other places and distant times.

A couple weeks ago my husband and I took our oldest granddaughter, Taylor, for a walk out on the nature reserve. Tay and I   for the most part were far behind my husband. She made sure to keep him in sight for fear that we would get lost. 

We didn’t get lost physically, but we did find ourselves becoming lost in our fascinating meandering. She marveled at a tree laden with woodpecker holes, some fresh others dried from age. We inspected each piece of moss, each unique rock formation, each feathery fern. My husband had to from time to time remind us that if we didn’t get a move on we wouldn’t have Taylor home at the appointed time. Tay and I meandered a little quicker, but we meandered all the same.

I found myself frustrating over an appropriate “M” word for the time that we are in. Easter. Messiah was top on the list. But I just didn’t have the oomph to pull my brain out of vacation mode. I nearly gave up and just plainly didn’t write anything this week. But as my fingers continue clicking the appropriate keys, and continue creating words, I am discovering that meander is a pretty good word and way of life.

 For it’s in our moments of seemingly idle meandering that we are able to discover some of God’s most magnificent creations which we would have missed otherwise. Meandering allows us to slow our pace and our brains, opening us up to the simplest of wonders that normally go unnoticed. It gives a grandmother and granddaughter time to discover nature and build memories. It may allow us time to notice someone else who may be in need of a hug, a smile, or a kind word.

 I’m a meanderer. This annoys some people who are more focused and impatient. But through my meandering I discover, I feel, I imagine and envision. Quite often it is through my seemingly idle meandering that I draw closer to my Lord and discover new and remarkable things, about Him and myself.

 I think I like being a meanderer.

Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 writing challenge. click to read more articles by amazing writers.

L Is For Lineage

Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 Writing challenge. This has been an incredible and fun experience.    Thank you Patty

As I was cleaning my desktop the other day, I discovered a red folder I had placed there for safekeeping. And you guessed it, I forgot all about it.  One the outside of the folder, written in my son’s handwriting was, “Family Tree,” inside were several fragile, onion skin pages filled with my family history, entitled, “Two thousand years of Forsyth history.”  My lineage.

Forsyth Clan Coat of Arms

The first name I read was, “Forsite The Good.” I was very happy he was good and not Forsite the terrible. That would have been a discouraging start of my lineage.  Forsite the Good supposedly lived in what was once Turkistan in the year 70 BC. Yikes! For the next few years there was a lot of moving, conquering, alliance making (with the king of Sweden,) marrying and begetting. From this time until 410 AD, no record can be found of the family line. Probably too busy conquering and begetting to keep track of names and dates.

From 410 AD on however is a very thorough and well-researched document of my lineage. I felt as if I were in history class again, only the history I was reading was my own. I read of kings, barons, lords, and a Scottish Chieftain – travels from Denmark to Rome, on to France, Austria, Scotland and Ireland. I read of wars and battles, one involving half-brother’s that were pitted against each other – Papin and Grippo. Grippo was killed.

Battle of Bannockburn  1514

 I was fascinated reading my history. Nearly two thousand years. Unimaginable. I found myself envisioning their lives, their families, the battles fought. When I told my husband he said it made him think of Mel Gibson’s movie, “Braveheart.” There was a time in history when my family was called de Forsyth's. John Forsyth, was the first to drop the "de", in 1540. Thank you very much John.

 My lineage travels through centuries and navigates continents - each new generation adding to the last. I found myself doing google searches on names I found. Yearning to learn even more about the people whose blood still flows in my veins. I sat, mesmerized, staring at an etched image of Charles (Charlemagne) who became the King of Franks upon his brother's death. He built a castle for his adopted nephew, and named it Forsyth (his nephew's name) and gave his nephew the title, Vicomte de Fronsac. Wow!

 My ancestors finally immigrated to America, some settling in New Hampshire, later in Virginia, Kentucky,  and my line of the family in New York State.  Some served in the Revolutionary War, some the civil, more battles, more death.

All these names, all the unknown faces, the distant lands, the battles won and lost, are a part of me. A part of my lineage. It honestly blows my mind. My distant ancestors could no more imagine Sandy (Forsyth) Wells, one day living a life, not of royalty, but as proud country folk, then I can imagine those who will follow me, perhaps hundreds of years from now. Through whose veins my blood will flow.

Glasgow UV. Est. by sons of  Robert de Forsyth

 My grandchildren are the newest and youngest links to my amazing lineage. (I don’t mean that as brag, we all have amazing family histories.) One day, my husband and I will be names added to the continuing family scroll. Our faces will be some old couple in a faded photo, never met by our future generations. That is a very strange idea for me to wrap my head around. The day will come when we will be but distant memories as our lineage continues.

 As incredible as it was for me to travel through time, and visit my ancestors, and learn more about my lineage: this all pales compared to my, to our, true lineage. I’m talking even before our first forefather and mother, Adam and Eve, even before dawn of time, as we know it. I believe our true lineage begins with the one who not only created us, but all that we know. Before there was Forsite the Good, before Adam and Eve, there was always Father God.

We truly have and amazing lineage.  

           

K - Family Keepsakes

 Patty Wysong's A2Z Take 2 Writing challenge. Feel free to go to her site and check it out.

My husband and I recently finished the daunting task of repainting three rooms in our house. Our living room, dining room, and entrance way. We worked hard to choose just the right colors, for our home, which is over a hundred years old. We knew we wanted to be able to keep the historical look, and that we wanted yellow. After weeks of planning, and work, (mostly my husband’s) we have success. I love it.

antique stove lifts

Our home is filled with antiques, family heirlooms, family photos, as well as trinkets and other gifts given to us by loved ones. To me, each one of these items are valuable keepsakes. Things which we keep, for the sake of love.  As one travels from one freshly spruced room, to the other, they will see our family keepsakes - our family history - in one form or another.

My mother's hutch

From my mother’s hutch and old teapots adorning my kitchen, to my in-law’s antique secretary desk, and half moon china cabinet in our dining room - which are all filled with charming keepsakes -  and on to our collection of old stove lifts, which remind me of my grandfather - and our ever growing collection of whimsical  refrigerator art - keepsakes are a vital part of our home, and our lives. They are a reminder of parents and grandparents whose faces we can no longer see, voices we no longer hear. They are a tie which binds us to generations long gone, as well as children whose lives have taken them far from home. They are a expressions of love from little ones who hold our hearts.

half moon china cabinet

 To some, keepsakes are merely useless dust collectors. If they don’t have a practical use, then they are worthless clutter. A place for everything, and everything in its place. I have to admit, it would be much easier cleaning their house than mine. Old crocks, vintage washboards, oil lanterns, hand-sewn quilts, and walls filled with family photos, may be dust collectors, but they are also part of who we are as a family.

When I walk through my house, yes, I see dust which needs my attention.  But I also see family. I feel warm, comfortable, secure. When I look at the numerous photos of our children and grandchildren, I feel blessed. When I look at the unique keepsakes our sons have given us as gifts, I feel loved. I guess you could even say that our home is a keepsake. It is the house I grew up in. The house I was a child in. It holds my life memories, both good and bad.  And now it’s the house my grandchildren love to visit. They also love our many keepsakes, as they are a connection to people who they adore, and miss.

grandchildren

Our home is long-standing, and over-flows with keepsakes - both old and new. It’s a grandparent’s home, where kids know they are loved. It’s our sons’ home, where their lives were formed, and will always be a part of them.  It’s comfortable. It’s filled with wonderful memories, and new memories are being created each new day. Our keepsakes are a vital part of who we are as a family. They are the keepers of much love.