Reading my friend's Genealogy Blog reminded me that a new "cousin" found me a couple of weeks ago.
The phone rang and the caller said "Are you (so-in-so) from Barber County, Kansas.?" Uh, well no, not really. I don't live there. "I found your name on a genealogy post regarding NG." Oh - yes, well, he's my husband's grandfather... BB, the caller did find who he was looking for. As it turned out he tried an old email address of mine that I don't have any more, so he went Internet searching and found my phone number.
It turns out we are not really related at all. He's not even related to my husband. Not technically, but he is connected. I hope you can follow this: Norman was married three times. His second wife is my husband's great-grandmother. Norman's first wife was Alice. Alice later married a Hart. Hart's grandfather had a brother, who was the ancestor (great-grandfather?) to my caller. Did you get that? Basically, the tree forked; went up and came back down again on the other side and rooted. Turns out he had information I didn't and vice versa. I also put him in touch with a half cousin of our's who would be connected to my caller, because she connects to Norman through the first wife, Alice.
I haven't heard from BB now for a week or more. We were emailing and mailing there quite heavy for a couple of weeks, but life has calmed back down to normal. It showed me, though, that I need to get my home computer situation turned around and upgraded. But I won't have time for that till later this summer. (See: "Announcement," my last post.) Boy - I miss doing my genealogy!!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Announcement
At our last Faculty meeting, which was February 12th, Dr. J. C. (academic dean) read my resignation to the faculty. This is about a month earlier than when these are usually done, but it was prompted by a pre-mature announcement from another organization about my husband being called as pastor to a church in Arkansas. Well obviously it would be next to impossible (on this salary anyway) to live in Arkansas and work in Kansas City, MO. So I will be leaving the end of the school year, probably around the end of May to mid-June. My last working day will probably be the last Friday of the month, then I'll have tacked on what vacation days are left.
We are both looking forward to this move, but it will be an emotional departure to leave CBCTS. It's been a good 7 years for me, and hopefully for them as well. I have probably learned more than I have given. At least I feel like I have. But I hope I have helped this institution in some small way to further the education of students and therefore their future ministry.
Already we are spending every other weekend in Arkansas at the church where he has been called to pastor. I am even writing this tonight from the hotel where we are staying. We came down early Saturday to look at houses. So the transition is already in the works.
I know the Lord already has in place who is going to follow in my footsteps. He also already knows where He will lead me next in looking for employment in our new area of residence and ministry.
What will be the future of this blog? I haven't decided as it is named after the mascot of CBCTS. I may see if I can successfully change the name, or continue under the same, or leave it and start another. Time WILL tell! Stay tuned.
We are both looking forward to this move, but it will be an emotional departure to leave CBCTS. It's been a good 7 years for me, and hopefully for them as well. I have probably learned more than I have given. At least I feel like I have. But I hope I have helped this institution in some small way to further the education of students and therefore their future ministry.
Already we are spending every other weekend in Arkansas at the church where he has been called to pastor. I am even writing this tonight from the hotel where we are staying. We came down early Saturday to look at houses. So the transition is already in the works.
I know the Lord already has in place who is going to follow in my footsteps. He also already knows where He will lead me next in looking for employment in our new area of residence and ministry.
What will be the future of this blog? I haven't decided as it is named after the mascot of CBCTS. I may see if I can successfully change the name, or continue under the same, or leave it and start another. Time WILL tell! Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
New website for christian devotions
Christianity.com has a neat website for studying the bible online. I just came across this today on Facebook.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Loren Jewitt Adams
It is a fact of life that everyone at some point and time will leave this earth for eternity. It’s the nature of life as we move through it to make friends and as events come and go, lose touch with those same friends.
This is the case with our friend, Loren. Once I left for graduate school 8 years ago we did not keep in contact with him like we once had. I was thinking of him again recently off and on and decided to see if I could track down his phone number. I once had it memorized but I’ve not only “slept since then” – I’ve had long nights of doing homework when I didn’t sleep. So that bit of information escaped. I could find nothing.
I finally contacted the local library in the town where he lived and where I also worked before going to grad school. On Valentine’s Day I had a response. Loren had passed away a year and a half ago. This has really hit me rather hard. I was sad to hear of his passing but probably just as sad for not knowing about it at the time.
I was “there” when his mother died; we were “there” when he had to go to a VA hospital and home again; I was “there” when he remarried his 2d wife, and divorced her again. I saw him go through struggles with his boys and his step daughter and grandchildren. But we weren’t “there” when he died. My heart ached for him as I knew his burdens and heartache could be carried by our Lord, but yet he was “too educated” to need a saviour. He could not accept things by faith, he had to have an explanation for everything. I couldn’t outwit his academia.
He was a widower and a divorcee; retired military; and lived alone. He had two errant sons and a brother who didn’t know me. So I figured the only way I would hear about his passing would be if anyone at the library would think of me at the time. Understandably, they didn’t. I mused more than once whether or not I would ever hear about his passing whenever he would die. I was afraid I wouldn’t. I didn’t.
Loren had a huge wealth of knowledge when it came to genealogy and computers – both of which were a big help to me. He was influential in my getting our first computer. It took me 3 mos. to get my genealogy on. There were many a call to Loren for help – both over the phone and hands-on as well.
He was very involved in the genealogy community. He volunteered at the LDS church; he was a member of the local genealogy society as well as our state organization. He sponsored the local county website for the USGenWeb project. He taught classes both locally and statewide as well. He qualified and joined many other genealogical organizations as well. He was proud of his contribution in the military and witnessed some significant history during the 50’s and 60’s. But I think he was most proud of his Kentucky Colonel certificate he received as he used that in his email address: "kycollja".
The saddest part of this story is that he has probably passed into eternity without knowing the Lord Jesus as his saviour. And, I don’t think I was a very good witness in sharing with him the Good News he needed to hear.
Loren Jewitt Adams, born 5 September 1936, died 4 July 2006.
This is the case with our friend, Loren. Once I left for graduate school 8 years ago we did not keep in contact with him like we once had. I was thinking of him again recently off and on and decided to see if I could track down his phone number. I once had it memorized but I’ve not only “slept since then” – I’ve had long nights of doing homework when I didn’t sleep. So that bit of information escaped. I could find nothing.
I finally contacted the local library in the town where he lived and where I also worked before going to grad school. On Valentine’s Day I had a response. Loren had passed away a year and a half ago. This has really hit me rather hard. I was sad to hear of his passing but probably just as sad for not knowing about it at the time.
I was “there” when his mother died; we were “there” when he had to go to a VA hospital and home again; I was “there” when he remarried his 2d wife, and divorced her again. I saw him go through struggles with his boys and his step daughter and grandchildren. But we weren’t “there” when he died. My heart ached for him as I knew his burdens and heartache could be carried by our Lord, but yet he was “too educated” to need a saviour. He could not accept things by faith, he had to have an explanation for everything. I couldn’t outwit his academia.
He was a widower and a divorcee; retired military; and lived alone. He had two errant sons and a brother who didn’t know me. So I figured the only way I would hear about his passing would be if anyone at the library would think of me at the time. Understandably, they didn’t. I mused more than once whether or not I would ever hear about his passing whenever he would die. I was afraid I wouldn’t. I didn’t.
Loren had a huge wealth of knowledge when it came to genealogy and computers – both of which were a big help to me. He was influential in my getting our first computer. It took me 3 mos. to get my genealogy on. There were many a call to Loren for help – both over the phone and hands-on as well.
He was very involved in the genealogy community. He volunteered at the LDS church; he was a member of the local genealogy society as well as our state organization. He sponsored the local county website for the USGenWeb project. He taught classes both locally and statewide as well. He qualified and joined many other genealogical organizations as well. He was proud of his contribution in the military and witnessed some significant history during the 50’s and 60’s. But I think he was most proud of his Kentucky Colonel certificate he received as he used that in his email address: "kycollja".
The saddest part of this story is that he has probably passed into eternity without knowing the Lord Jesus as his saviour. And, I don’t think I was a very good witness in sharing with him the Good News he needed to hear.
Loren Jewitt Adams, born 5 September 1936, died 4 July 2006.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Leadership Now Website
Found another website from a friend's blog. (Thanks, JR.) Good Stuff! I also added it to my misc. links.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Unshelved - 100th Posting
I have heard of this a long time ago, but once again came across the webpage for it. So here it is. I have also added it to my misc. links.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Information Responsibility
In a world of high tech, librarians today have an even heavier responsibility in carrying out their duties. Besides providing unimpeded, uncensored information, we need to be accurate as well. It was once said ‘the pen is mightier than the sword.’ When we read something in print we tend to believe it as being true. There is a proverb that says something to the effect of, whoever tells the story first tends to be believed as telling the truth – whether they are or not. Wars and historical events have risen and fallen based on what someone has written.
In teaching college students, I have included how one can determine if a webpage is accurate in making them internet-savvy. A good example of this is the IRS refund emails that are circulating, with website attached. The real IRS symbols are used as well as legitimate words that should take you to government links. But in just a few short minutes of investigation one can tell this is not a true government site. “…be wise as serpents, harmless as doves.”
All this to say: – last week I posted the article on Starbucks. Well, I found out that at least two people read my blog. Maybe you are one of the two. If you’re not, did you believe what was posted? Did you forward it on to someone else without verifying it? Do you know if it is true or not? Two people commented on the story as being false, as substantiated by Snopes.com. No one else commented one way or the other. This story is being circulated by email forwards by well meaning citizens who themselves took what they read as gospel. “Why would someone write something like that if it weren’t true,” you might think. That’s a very good question. And as librarians it behooves us to make sure that we not only provided uncensored, timely information but also accurate information.
This little experiment proves that we all sometimes fall down on the job one time or another. If it’s not this situation, it may be another. Some were on top of their game and checked things out for themselves. But others I suspect either believed it or at least don't bother to see what was true and what wasn't. Beware, Be Accurate, Be Professional.
In teaching college students, I have included how one can determine if a webpage is accurate in making them internet-savvy. A good example of this is the IRS refund emails that are circulating, with website attached. The real IRS symbols are used as well as legitimate words that should take you to government links. But in just a few short minutes of investigation one can tell this is not a true government site. “…be wise as serpents, harmless as doves.”
All this to say: – last week I posted the article on Starbucks. Well, I found out that at least two people read my blog. Maybe you are one of the two. If you’re not, did you believe what was posted? Did you forward it on to someone else without verifying it? Do you know if it is true or not? Two people commented on the story as being false, as substantiated by Snopes.com. No one else commented one way or the other. This story is being circulated by email forwards by well meaning citizens who themselves took what they read as gospel. “Why would someone write something like that if it weren’t true,” you might think. That’s a very good question. And as librarians it behooves us to make sure that we not only provided uncensored, timely information but also accurate information.
This little experiment proves that we all sometimes fall down on the job one time or another. If it’s not this situation, it may be another. Some were on top of their game and checked things out for themselves. But others I suspect either believed it or at least don't bother to see what was true and what wasn't. Beware, Be Accurate, Be Professional.
Monday, February 04, 2008
The ever popular Starbucks did this?
*Recently, Marines in Iraq wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to let them know how much they liked their coffees and to request that they send some of it to the troops there. Starbucks replied, telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee.
So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should not support them by buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting street-to-street and house-to-house.
And if that isn’t bad enough, when the Twin Trade Towers were hit, the firefighters and rescue workers went to Starbucks because it was close by, for water for the survivors and workers, and Starbucks charged them! ! !
*(from the Kansas City Star)
My opinion: example of capitalism taking advantage of the hand that feeds it, the shooting it. If it weren't for those boys "over there" and all the ones before, Starbucks wouldn't have the privilege it has to operate in this country with all its freedoms.
So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should not support them by buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting street-to-street and house-to-house.
And if that isn’t bad enough, when the Twin Trade Towers were hit, the firefighters and rescue workers went to Starbucks because it was close by, for water for the survivors and workers, and Starbucks charged them! ! !
*(from the Kansas City Star)
My opinion: example of capitalism taking advantage of the hand that feeds it, the shooting it. If it weren't for those boys "over there" and all the ones before, Starbucks wouldn't have the privilege it has to operate in this country with all its freedoms.
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