Tag Archives: ancestry

Legacy of Words

My great-great-grandfather Cornelis deBruyn wrote a summary about his family’s dangerous crossing from the Netherlands to America in 1889. My grandpa John Volkema compiled a journal during his military service in WWI. We have an auditory account of my uncle … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, Bible, faith, Family, God, God's faithfulness, God's Holy Word, Holy Spirit, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ten Thousand Days

My dad left a cedar chest on my mom’s front porch on Christmas Eve, 1941. A few weeks before, he asked her if she would like to have one. Nothing else was mentioned. When my mom arrived home on Christmas … Continue reading

Posted in Ancestry, Family, love, Memories, Mom, Mom's legacy/diaries | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

My Uncle–A Memorial Day Story

We could never repay you… I posted this story last year, and am posting it again this Memorial Day, with a few edits. Thank you to all those who have served our country like my Uncle Art. Out of respect, … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, Family, God's faithfulness, Memorial Day, Memories | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hearts Knitted Together

It’s the instant bond we have from the moment we know we’re pregnant. Our heart is no longer our own. It is instantly and forever shared. It’s a heart tie that is very strong, a cord no one can sever. … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, beauty of nature, Family, God's omniscience, God's protection, healing, Mom, mother-child connections, Mothers and daughters, nature's beauty, Science and the bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

My Uncle–A Memorial Day Story

We could never repay you… I posted this story last year, and am posting it again this Memorial Day, with a few edits. Thank you to all those who have served our country like my Uncle Art. Out of respect, … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, Family, God's faithfulness, Memorial Day, Memories | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Gerrit Kleinheksel and his wife Bertha set their minds to building a big sturdy farmhouse in 1905. The deep dark pine was abundant and the fresh scent of sawdust filled the air as the handsaws sliced back and forth. The … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, Childhood, Dad, faith, Family, Farming, Father loss, God's faithfulness, Grief and loss, Memories, mother loss, piano playing, trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The “1912” Model was a great Model of Life for Us

It was my husband’s Grandpa Folkert’s birthday today. If he would have lived a few more years, he would have been 103. Grandpa Julius was always a jolly hard-working man. He knew the secret of contentment. He lived to be … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, faithful members of our community, Family, integrity, listen, Memories | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

My Uncle–A Memorial Day Story

We could never repay you… I posted this story last year, and am posting it again this Memorial Day, with a few edits. Thank you to all those who have served our country like my Uncle Art. Out of respect, … Continue reading

Posted in ancestors, Ancestry, Family, God's faithfulness, Memorial Day, Memories | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Every Summer Has A Story…

This summer has been such a whirlwind. As I was sitting for a short break on a street in Chicago back in June, a saying on a shop window was suddenly staring right back at me. Thinking it was so … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments