Reflections

This is a picture of us in Germany in 1949

Our Papa and Mama in America. I don't know the year but I'm guessing right around 1960 because it looks like we are still in our home on 10th West and 4th North in Salt Lake City.

This is my Papa's Mama. Ida Elisabeta Becker. This is our Oma Becker. I remember her bringing us candy wrapped in white paper which had a picture of the fruit that it tasted like on the wrapper. I remember dusting the benches at the church we were living in while in West Berlin before our departure to America. Oma Becker came and we took our last pictures with her.

This is Mama and her Mama in 1910, Anna Emma Wilhelmina Bruckner

This is Mama's father, Johann Friedrich Drews.

Mama's parents. Probably their wedding picture. Her mother was 18 and I believe her father was 26. They were married on September 26, 1909. Well I just got surprised.....as I am counting months, I do believe Mama was born 3 1/2 months early OR...YUP! Don't you just love surprises? I asked Hildi about this and she already knew. She said that it was common for young men to go on a "Wanderlust" for 2 years and just sew their oats and become a man so he was going to leave even though he got young Anna pregnant. He told his mother he was leaving and she said to him "if you leave after what you have done, you are no son of mine." Hildi said the children back then had great respect for their parents and so Johann listened and married Anna.

Family Research

This is totally ridiculous. I haven't blogged forever. Well, I have some exciting news. I signed up for a Family Research class during Sunday School and it is SOOOO exciting that I can't even put it in words. I did not know where to start so I just got registered and then started looking around in my families records to see what has been done and what needs to be done. Mama did quite a bit, Papa did some on his side and other people I didn't know did some work also SO I e-mailed a man who has Mama's maiden name who had done a lot of work and asked him some questions. I e-mailed him on March 9th. Yesterday I received a letter from someone who is related to my great-great grandmother on her mothers side. The letter is dated the 8th of March. I have no idea how she found me especially since my name changed from Becker to Ottley to Grangroth.

I just keep getting chills and feel so blessed and also that I finally get to have grandparents even though everyone is in heaven. Dave said he can't imagine life without grandparents. I'd never really thought about it until now. I knew my dad's mom but we came to America when I was four so I didn't know her very long. Anyway, if you ever have a chance to take a Family Research class I know you'd love it. I sure do.