Monday, January 24, 2011

Celebrating Life

 Life's Celebration's

 How do we Celebrate Life?  Do we do it daily, hourly or by the minute.
I thank God every morning for being able to get up and function and for the family to be safe.

Family, what is a family?  Is it just your husband and children?  Can it be your siblings?  Is it the all encompassed members close and extended that affect your ability to function and survive?

Can Family be a non genetic member?  Genetics is YDna and MTdna it is a study of body for the future preservation of not having a disease passed on or go unnoticed, in my mind.

Family is my sister in laws, past and present, my son in law and any one, whom is very special to me.
A divorce only brings the separation of the spouses some times friendly sometimes not, sometimes later mended.  They are still family to me.

Family is: my husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and all the grands included.
Family is my Aunt's and Uncle's and Great Aunt's and cousins, close or far in relationship or distance.
Family as  I see it is by: bond, blood or marriage. We are all children of God and we are in this family all together.

 Maybe I care to much but I do care. I so wanted to visit with a family member this last week but it was not made to be.

I am so grateful for all those whom I was able to share words with, and hugs and laughter and sometimes even tears.

Life marches on so fast, it is gone before we hardly get started.

Can your mind wrap around and grasp the potential of living 200 years? Can you perceive the
relationships that would be created and enjoyed?

As a genealogy person, it would sure slow the charts down a bit.

I have met much family that has lived either a century or near century in time mark. As my deceased Uncle said, he went from no planes to a man on the moon and beyond.  Do you think those elders in
1910 would have dreamt this could happen?

So Celebrating Life is living it to the best you can as you go and remember to help carry someone who was special to you into the future to share their tidbits of thoughts to the future generations.

Celebrate Life Daily and Love with your Heart and Soul.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

48 Hours until the time has Arrived

In approximately 48 hours we will hold a Celebration of Life of Life in honor of Mom (Dorothy Inez Hoffman JONES) daughter of Cecil Lee and Inez Mae Scott Hoffman.  She was born in Wyoming, her older siblings were born in Iowa, her younger, born in Wyoming like herself.

Granddad had breathing troubles in Iowa and Duvall cousins on his Mom's side offered for him to go to Wyoming in a different climate for his health. About a year of going back and forth he was able to move the family to the Wheatland, Slater Flats, Little Bear, Goshen etc area.  I gather they moved a bit until he
started to homestead.

Mom told us many many tales, over a period of time I will attempt to share some of them with you.
I always loved the one where Aunt Marie splashed into the dishpan of dishes when Grandma was giving birth to a little brother. I think you will love that one.

I have one that shows how she got her get up and go from a sister taunting her when she fell off a wagon tongue.  Another of my favorites.

I am as ready as I can get, I feel right now except a good nights sleep may be nice. That I have not done but once since the end came.

For a woman whom was told in 1980 she had approximately five years to live I think she did very well.
She made almost 30 more years and all of them active but the last thirty days, her knees hurt bad and they put her to bed.  But she could lift her self up clean off the bed with her arms and the trapeze the nurses said she was one resilient lady.

She joked and quipped all the way up to the end.

I gave her permission to do what she always said she was going to do to Dad when she caught up to him.

I wonder if that will ever really happen.  That is another story.

So a little prayer for strength and guidance at this time for us all would be awesomely appreciated.

To all those who sent condolences via email and Facebook. We thank you.

Patty thanks for the visit today, now that was a really nice surprise.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

One Day Closer - One Day At A Time

 Tuesday has arrived with sun and clear skies after a Full Moon night. It was weird the bedroom was finally dark at 4:45 this morning.  What a night to see the stars, constellations and the sky, it was.

Everything is wilting in the heat, so will need to find a water can soon.  The hummingbirds flit around and the crazy little birds we feed are having a feast. It is so neat to see a Finch,  a Bluejay, and all those other little ones that chase each other, startle each other and eat together. I think there is much to be learned from watching nature.

A dear friend sent me a beautiful plant, not sure I ever told her that was one I really like. I have some that are more favorites than others.  This is so stately and blooming white and green blooms.  I thank her very, very much.

As of right now all our children are back on California soil.  Wish all the family was too.

Therapy really helped my neck and back and shoulder this morning.  I will be glad when it back to where we had it before injury. Suspecting entire family will be happier and I can go back to normal doing with out questions then.

Found another cousin yesterday, entered census data into data base. Located information that we can all use for the Eastman line. Seems a cousin sent me data that is not same as mine way back and now to go back and reverify data to see why.

My heart goes to my cousin who is about to bury his wife.  It has been a long month it seems starting in December with the loss of cousin (James) then. Then Mom went to stay with Dad, nah she told me she was going to go kick his but for leaving her behind.  Her wit never left her. Now Don has become a widow and that is no fun, though her suffering is done.

I never realized my Great Grandmother was the only girl in her family.  It may somehow explain some things that came about during her life.

I have added many names to the EASTMAN file.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dorothy Inez Hoffman Jones is Remembered

Our mother, Dorothy Inez Hoffman Jones left this world to join her husband Ray Dee Jones Sr., Monday morning just before dawn. 10 January 2011 Sonoma County, California.

She has fought a long battle with her body and her wishes.  She wanted her knees to work better and also wanted to go be with Dad.  She kept her witt about her to the last. When I shared with her that we are going to be Great grandparents in the spring she said, "I beat you I already am one."  Her smile was big and her eyes were dancing then she asked for the particulars.,

Mom was born 29 June 1920 at Little Bear,Wyoming  the daughter of Cecil Lee Hoffman and Inez Mae Scott. She was the 4th born in the family. Her family came from Appanoose, Iowa and before that from Aleppo, Greene Co. Pennsylvania; Berkeley, Va and from Maryland on her father's side. Her mother's side was from Appanoose, Iowa from Illinois (briefly) and from Cumberland Co. Ky from Pittsylvania Co., Virginia and previously Halifax Co.,Virginia. 

Mom met Dad when she was not quite 16, processing tomatoes from the garden by the bushels to can for the family. Dad had been helping her father work the water ditches (canals) for the farms crops. Over a period of time they started dating, later down the years they married. 


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