What We Leave Behind

It seems like we've done a million things since our last post, but have somehow not found the time to write about them. So I will begin with the very thing that has taken our time away from posting on the blog, our new hobby of genealogy research.

Last September we decided to join Ancestry.com to put together our Family Tree. They allow you to search Census Records dating back to the early 1800's, Military Draft records, Obituaries, Wills, the resources are endless! Some weeks we would spend 3-4 evenings researching our families, Kenny working on his and I working on mine. It feels very rewarding when you finally get back far enough to find the ancestor who made the great move to America. We traced some branches back to Ireland, Germany, and England.

There have been some funny discoveries, especially in names, such as Kenny's great grandmother "Izilla" and my great, great, great grandmother "Isaphenid." Also, in the large amounts of kids they had, over 12 most of the time, and how quickly the men remarried once their wife died! One of Kenny's relatives waited less than 2 months! Times were definitely different back then! We have also had somewhat exciting discoveries, like the fact that the Rea's are very distantly related to former Presidential contender John Edwards.

Some might say, what's so fun about learning who your great, great, great, great grandfather is? They lived hundreds of years ago, they never had a thought about you. They lived on a goat farm with a two room house, they weren't anybody famous. So why does it mean so much to us today?

Last Sunday in Bible Class the teacher asked who there new the names of their great grandparents. Kenny and I, along with one other man raised our hands. Out of 15-20 people in our class, we were the only ones! That makes me so sad! I realize that not everyone was raised to take pride in their heritage like I was, but this generation doesn't even know the names of their great grandparents? How sad to think that in only 100 years, no one will remember our names!

The teacher had a very good point. What do we leave behind that is left to those after us? So I thought about this, I have Ma Ma Faye's trunk, Grandma Rea's old mixer, Kenny has his great grandfather's pocket watch and his Grandpa's pair of dress slacks, along with a few other things I could think of. But what do I have from Great Grandma Duppe or Great Grandma Esta? I never knew them, I hardly know what they looked like. I don't know if they were quiet, funny, if they liked to sing.

But what I do have and can pass down to my great grandchildren is the gift that my Great Grandpa, Pa Pa Audis's brother, Frank, gave to us. If he hadn't studied the Bible as a boy and taught his brothers, who taught their sons, wives, children, and grandchildren, I may not have the gift of the hope of heaven someday, nor would my children.

I also have the gift my Great Grandma Rauda gave when she raised a wonderful lady, my Grandma Rea, who was a good Christian, who always did what was right, was loved by everyone, and set a wonderful example to me and everyone else who knew her.

Those are the things that last for generations to come, even after our names are forgotten, after our pictures fade away. Genealogy isn't all about the names and the dates, but it's about the hundreds of people who lived their lives, hopefully doing and teaching what they believed in and working hard for the generations to come. All of those lives coming together to you, and your life being a tiny piece of a giant puzzle, leading to someone else after we're gone. Have you ever thought about what your will leave behind?