Ha! I found you. Here is what I know: In the 1930 census he was a plow repairman in a small farming community in Fulton County, Illinois. This was during the Great Depression. He had 5 children - and one baby boy died. His Beloved, Alton, passed away in 1931 due to tuberculosis. He left the kids with Grandma (I think, HER mom.) and then disappeared. The older boys were sent to the St. Charles Reformatory. (EW). Ralph had foster parents who were good to him. Robert Jay (my dad) and his younger brother (Russell) escaped together, and lied about their ages to join the military. Grandma raised Harriet Jean.
I wonder about Jake, he wasn't that far away.... in southwestern corner of Missouri. Did he ever wonder about his kids? Did he remarry? He died in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri in March of 1986, so he lived awhile after Alton passed away.
Dang, my tibia hurts. YIKES. Hope that ibuprofen kicks in SOON.
Anyway - it was crazy how he turned up. I had seen Lauderback's in the Social Security Death Index before, but found it unlikely because the birthdates didn't coincide. This time I went through all the J. Lauderback's and found him by matching birth dates. I am going to order a death certificate and see what else I can find out. I have done obit searches, but have found nothing. Maybe there will be a name on there. It would be great to find out that maybe he found some happiness....it was a hard time. I worried that he wouldn't want to be found - changed his name or died unknown...but there he is...only about 300 miles from his kids. Aunt Jean is still alive, I'd call her and tell her, but gosh - she would have to be nearing 90 - would she care?
Spectacular church day. Jade Bischoff taught in RS today about being prepared: financially, spiritually, education wise, physically, etc. I missed the first part of her lesson. She is a good teacher - she doesn't pretend to know it all, she did not "should" on anyone and got some great discussion. She didn't let anyone run over the lesson. I am so proud of her. I know how scary it is to get up in front of a group of women.
During Sacrament Meeting I had to eat a little. I sat in the hall and got to play with Anni Williams. She is so cute and can blow bubbles =O). Little Mike went to sleep in Big Mike's arms. Whew. He cried all through his baby blessing. But he is growing, I think about 2 inches since I had seen him last.
Oh - the cutest thing. Savannah Neville came and sat with me while she waited for her dad to come out. I call her my Savannah Banana and she doesn't seem to mind. I always keep a jolly rancher for her in my bag (she likes the watermelon ones!) I gave her a small tanagram puzzle to play with during the meeting. (It has magnetic pieces.) (I have 7 puzzles and 2 books in my church bag - so when I sit by wiggly children....I can share them!) Maybe some parents don't appreciate it....but 3 hours of church is a LONG day for a little person. Anyway - I told Steve about our baby bunnies and he is going to bring Savannah over on Friday so she can hold one. She is excited about it all. I just love her. She has this amazing spirit and when I talk to her I can see in her eyes that she is really thinking about everything. I got hugs from Brockston, Avrie, and Paige. All so sweet....oh and a hug from Jess Peterson, who is just the coolest. I feel richly blessed to be on the fringes of these peoples' lives. Just being a Grandma and giving hugs and encouragement (Oooh Savannah--you got new shoes and they are SO cute!) Just to see their eyes light up - it's fun and amazing.
Maybe my purpose in life is just to encourage little sprouts.
Katie Bowden, I think is about 14. She is adopted. She went through 10 foster homes in 3 years? YIKES. I look at her ---- and I see ME. But she was adopted by folks who love her so much and I think that she will be okay, in spite of the many challenges. She came to show me her hair cut and I admired it and told her how proud I am of her. She "bounced" off--I went in---- smiling for a bit.
Growing up, I was never treated as a person with feelings and thoughts. I don't have any illusions of being special. But I know other people have gone through bad times too - I am not the only person to be physically and sexually abused. I feel like this time I take with little people - enriches my life so much and may help them in some small way in their future.
I want my life to have purpose and I have always wanted to matter. I think I matter more when I care less about what I want. Yes- music is still there, always waiting and hoped for. But these few minutes I take out of my life for someone else - really don't seem to take away from that.
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I thought that teaching family history would be scary. But I don't "teach" it as a lecture. We sit in a circle, and I sort of lead the discussion. First we begin with progress reports and everyone takes a turn telling about their research, if and where they are stuck, and then we all brainstorm ways to overcome the block. Then I "share" a new principle. This week was the importance of accuracy. Boy - there are a lot of mistakes in New Family Search....and one has to be careful to not take what is out there as true. This afternoon, I put notes in with sources - validating what I found, so that people would realize that I had actual birth certificates in possession, so I KNEW the spelling was correct.
Taler and Ryan came to visit Graydon. They played a board game, Guitar Hero, and had dinner - watched Transformers. Graydon was really exhausted when they left. Today I will take him to physical therapy to get his bandages changed.
It is a busy week coming up. I think I will go and practice some, because I need to play....not because I need to practice (which I do) but because I need to play.
Thursday is canning assignment in Ogden -- green beans! Wonder if I can fit that in. (I SERIOUSLY doubt it =O)
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