My Grandmother, Lucy Alice Neves, loves to learn about everything- math, animals, airplanes…. But most of all she loves to learn about her roots. Grandma actively researched her family for many reasons: her love of history, the opportunity to solve an intriguing mystery, but most of all for the love of her ancestors. Grandma introduced me to so many wonderful people that neither of us have ever met! Some she did know and I love to sit and listen to Grandma tell the stories of her childhood and her Grandparents.
As I research my family I become closer to those that have passed on. Now I’m trying to pass on that same love to my children. As we make these family bonds now we look forward to days of reunion, both here and in the hereafter.
Grandma is no longer able to do the work and so my Mother and I are trying to piece together all of the letters, pictures, cards, videos, tapes, slides, filmstrips, blessings, life histories, memories……… There’s so much it’s overwhelming! As I wade through the mountains of artifacts I’m concerned that all three of our lifetimes won’t be enough. And now there’s a whole new generation of Great-Great Grand kids to catch up on!
My mother and I have been working on compiling a book about Grandma’s life in honor of her 100th birthday. The book is now at the publisher and we will distribute them at the family reunion July 18th. If you have not ordered a book and would like to do so please email me at heidijo_bingham@yahoo.com.
The purpose of this blog is to make available to you the family history Grandma spent a lifetime collecting. From here you are welcome to print, copy, do with what you like the documents and stories. If you would like copies of any audio or video files contact me and I’ll get it to you.
Thank you for visiting.
“I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who are to come. I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front, to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond. And their eyes were my eyes. As I felt, so they had felt, and were to feel, as then, so now, as tomorrow and forever. Then I was not afraid, for I was in a long line that had no beginning, and no end. And the hand of his father grasped my father’s hand, and his hand was in mine, and my unborn son took my right hand, and all, up and down the line that stretched from Time That Was, to Time That Is, and Is Not Yet, raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one, born of Woman, Son of Man, made in the Image, fashioned in the Womb by the Will of God, the Eternal Father.” Extracted from the work of Richard Llewellyn “How Green Was My Valley”
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family:
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
-Jane Howard
