Jeremy's Birthday

Today Robyn and I went to Jeremy's grave and took flowers and a balloon along with Jared, Emily and Amberly. Later in the evening Ryan, Erin and Quentin took Dave and I out to dinner and to Jeremy's grave. Looks like Robyn went back and left roses in the vase and of course Ryan put down a guitar pick which is a tradition with him. I love that. Jeremy would be 36 years old today. He is very missed but I have know doubt that he is doing a great work.

When Jeremy had his mind set on something there was no stopping him. He wanted to be a senior in a High School and graduate which he did after going to 7 periods a day plus night school and BYU correspondence. He did it all and graduated with the Class of 1992 from Bingham High School. I remember sitting in the bleachers with Dave with a prayer in my heart the whole time thanking Heavenly Father for helping him with his goal. The following year he passed away. I'm so thankful knowing that we'll be with him again someday, if I pass the test in this school.

News

I couldn't find Mama's sister, Lena. Her information was nowhere listed in the "new.familyresearch.org". I was really sad about that so I asked Hildi, Gitti and then finally Ingrid. Ingrid has some of Mama's papers and Lena's information was in it. I guess Lena's real name is Helene ANNA Drews. Mama's is Margareta ANNA Drews, and her youngest sisters name is Dorothea ANNA Drews. Funny, huh that they all have the same middle name. Anyway, I wrote Lena's son, Ingo, and am hoping to get information from him about when she died. I don't think she ever married but she does have 3 sons. I am so anxious to find her death date so I can be baptized for her and have her work done. She was baptized but then was excommunicated because she had sons but was never married. I wish I knew how to do more in Family History but I'm still learning. It's fun to see my family in a new way. I just pray I can find this information about Lena or she'll be waiting a long time and I don't want her to wait any longer than she has to. This picture is of Mama on the right and Lena on the left. Such cute sisters. What would we do without family?

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.

Christmas

Christmas was wonderful having all our children and grandchildren around us. Dave had put out a wonderful spread of good things to eat. The little ones were so excited to open their gifts but since our house is so small we had the boys open their gifts first and then the girls. Dave and I were showered with wonderful presents from all of our children. Thank you to all of you for sacrificing what you could have given to your children or each other and shared with us instead. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Next Christmas Eve will be when we have dinner together and open gifts. Someone has already volunteered their home but I will leave it at that until further notice, like say...November!!!

Also, another birthday has come and gone and I'm a year older. Thank you for all your birthday wishes. They meant the world. I love you all. I'm sorry there are no pictures but what can I say, at least I FINALLY blogged.

Tradition

My Nephew, Brian, sent everyone pictures of his family. Among those were pictures of their Oregon trip with Ryan, Erin and Quentin. Such a darling picture, I just had to post it. They have this wonderful tradition of going to a cottage by the beach and spending several days just having fun together as family. I love that. Thank you for sharing the pictures Brian!

Family

Dinner out with family. Hildi, Don, Ingrid, Dave and me. We went to Chuck-O-Rama and had a really nice time. Wish Gitti could have been here too. I miss her!