16. Today I am grateful for Family Stories

Being Sunday, I went to church today in the Dumbarton ward. I knew a few people from previous trips and some I met at my Grandma's birthday party. Everyone I talked to were very friendly and welcoming. The Relief Society lesson that was given was the third time I had heard the lesson, it also happens to be a lesson on eternal marriage. The first time I taught this lesson in my ward, a couple of weeks later someone else taught this lesson (not knowing that it was already taught) and now again in the Dumbarton ward. It is a good lesson though. J

My Grandma recently received a birthday card from her sister in Germany, which was all in German and everyone that stopped to talk to her or walked by she would ask them if they could read the card. Hahaha. There were some people who knew a little bit of German but no one could read the whole card. It was entertaining to watch my Grandma give it to these people and see each one attempt to read the card. After church we all (meaning my mom, brother, grandma and my uncles family and cousin's fiancé’s family) along with some friends went back to My uncle’s house. By the end of dinner time there must have been at least 30 people over.

 It was pretty stormy outside so it was a nice afternoon and evening to spend inside with the family. I spent most of the time talking with my Grandma. My Grandma has a few stories that she will share several times. What I enjoyed the most was when she would talk about her family (parents and siblings) and a little bit about her experiences growing up. One of the things she spoke of was how her father always said that “Hitler was no good for us (meaning their country, Germany)”. She also spoke of her three young brothers who died in a barn fire 6 months before she was born. She said her mother mourned for the loss of her sons until World War II broke out and then her feelings turned to gratitude that those boys would not have to be forced to fight in the war. My grandma also talked about a boyfriend she had who said that he would rather take his life than fight in the war, he did fight in the war and was killed.

I am grateful for family stories such as these because it helps me to know the connections my family has to history and to know who my ancestors where. I am exactly half British (with a Scottish Grandfather and an English Grandfather) and German (my other Grandmother was of German-Russian descent and grew up in a German-Russian community in southern Manitoba). I am grateful for my heritage and for the sacrifices of my ancestors. From the stories my Grandma shared this evening, I am grateful for her father who showed sorrow in what Hitler had done to the Country and its people and the devastating effects on the world and the loss of many lives. I am also grateful for her mother who out of great tragedy was able to recognize the hand of God.