Merry Christmas

Memories of Christmas bring recollections of family, gifts, and service. They stem from the real reason for Christmas, that transcendent gift from our Heavenly Father. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

We bear witness of the living reality of Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace and Light of the World. Joy can come to all who choose to follow Him.

This Christmas, may we reflect on the life and Atonement of Jesus Christ. May we feel kinship to those who suffer and see one another as sons and daughters of God. May we gratefully acknowledge the Father’s incomparable gift to us—His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (First Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Christmas Time in Kirkland

Kirkland's downtown is nicely lit up for Christmas

The city's Christmas tree is at Marina Park on Lake Washington

 mid-December blossoms

these flowers had a wonderful fragrance

Cow & Coyote

Maja Sereda - Artist

Maja Sereda recently opened a display at the Kirkland Library, Kirkland, Washington. 

 "Home Reimagined" - "Her current body of work is a reflection of her personal relationship with nature, her creative process and her philosophy. Her drawings are "collectives" of eyes, plants, animals, bugs and more, living individually as well as together, creating a tightly knit fabric of our environment/our home. Home Reimagined looks closely at Pacific Northwest birds and their homes, and how humans are making an impact on that delicate structure."

PNW Bird Collective; "drawn together on a single branch to reinforce the notion of community. Each living individually but at the same time together within one larger environmental setting, our PNW home."

 Parliament of Owls & Warren of Rabbits; "A visual exploration of connectedness of birds and animals. The eyes being one of the most recognizable features on a face bound by blades of grasses and twigs with fir needles to give an impression of a nest. Everything woven together to make a whole." 

 "Marymoor Herony; Each year the tall poplar trees, which grow along the banks of the Sammamish River, are home to a thriving Great Blue Heronry, right in the middle of one of the most popular dog parks on the eastside - the Marymoor Off-Leash Park. The drawn collar at the bottom of the heron "nest" shows the extreme proximity to humans and their pets - a working co-habitat." 

 More about Maja and her work here and here  

Connections On Both Sides Of The Veil

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our family who have gone before us are aware of us. Some are more "vocal" about wanting to be found and remembered than others. 

These quotes resonate with me as I seek to discover them and help others get to know family on both sides of the veil. 

"I believe the veil thins as we reach across it to know our family, and they likewise reach across it to bless us and our families. Expect miracles as you do family history work; I testify that they will come. Our ancestors want to be found; they want to be remembered, and they will assist you in this great work, for it is Christ's work, and He has not left us alone to do it." Valerie Elkins 

If I want my children and grandchildren to know those who still live in my memory, then I must build the bridge between them. I alone am the link to the generations that stand on either side of me. Dennis B. Neuwnschwander

As I learn the stories of my ancestors, it gives me peace and inspiration to better live my life. Doing family history has connected my heart to my family and strengthened those relationships, both here on earth and beyond the grave. I can say with clarity that our ancestors love us and greatly care about our work here. If we choose to work with them, doing family history work, we will be blessed with personal power and strength to achieve our mission and bind our families together. We will come to know Jesus Christ and His eternal strength in a new and tender way that will bless our lives forevermore. Melanie Burke

Stories of our ancestors can bind hearts between generations, increase love and appreciation for those who paved the way, and build our faith.  Tad R. Callister 

Family history has changed the way I see my life story. It is now enriched and deepened.  Elizabeth Miller

images - Ray Pepper's family - I think. Most of them are without identification

Putting Pieces Together

There are thousands of pieces of paper in the family archives. I know I should to discard some of them. Not everything needs to kept and/or digitized. I was working with a pile of Pepper papers, family of Joe's step-father Ray Pepper. 

 Above - these pieces were thrown away. Below - this newspaper article seemed to be about a random person without a connection to family. I thought it should go to the discard pile too. E.G. Rarey was in charge of the IRS office in Cleveland, Ohio. I couldn't find the article in online newspaper databases so I could date it. 

Then, when going through the Pepper papers, I found the documents below all related to E.G. Rarey and Ray's father, William Otterbein Pepper. After reading the letters, my guess is William and E.G. were in the same Masonic Lodge in Cleveland. E.G. might have been helping William with a business deal that went bad - just my guess. I'm glad I didn't toss that article. 

After some searching, I was able to date the newspaper by looking at the article on the back of newspaper clipping. It was about a meeting between England, Japan, and the United States in Geneva in 1927. 

All the papers related to William Otterbein Pepper

No names are on this picture but I'm 99% certain it's Ray's parents, William Otterbein Pepper and Florence Norcross Pepper. It might be their wedding picture from about 1914.

Ray Emerson Pepper, Mary Elizabeth (Maude, Betty) Neely Todd Pepper & Joe

about 1954

Acts of Light

Thank you for all the Acts of Light which beautified a Summer now passed to its sweet reward.

Emily Dickinson wrote this to Nellie Sweetser in 1884. They express my sentiments about 2019. I am thankful for the many acts of light that beautified the year for me. 

THANK YOU.

Exuberance

 When I looked at these blooms on the Christmas cactus, I thought of the word exuberance - a love of life and an excitement about the past, the present, and the future

Nativities

Bellevue Festival of The Nativity

hundreds of Nativities from all over the world

Poland

Kenya

Haiti - made from an oil drum

Amazonia 

Kyrgyzstan

Cambodia

in a matchbox

Nigeria

Malawi

Kyrzbekistan

New Mexico

Russia & Bulgaria

corn cob Nativity

Peru

Check out more posts from the end of December 2018. Click the tab to the right under Blog Archive.