Corrections

After the last post, my mom talked to my grandma and there are some revisions to be made.  I am actually 63% English, 31% Danish, 3% Scottish and 3% Welsh.  My mom is 37.5% Danish, 50% English, 6.25% Scottish and 6.25% Welsh.

Apparently one of the couples in my 64 names came from Scotland and settled in Canada.  

Who Do I Think I Am?

I have been watching Who Do You Think You Are lately and it has reignited my interest in my own family history.  I am fortunate that my family has already filled in most of the names on my family tree, almost to the point that it's overwhelming to look at!  Just for fun, (and after all I'm a math major), I went back 5 generations and looked at the 64 great-great-great-great grandparents of mine.  Can you believe we have most of those names?!!  These individuals were born between the years 1769 and 1826.  24 of them were born in the Eastern USA, 3 were born in Eastern Canada, 15 were born in England, 2 were born in Wales? (maybe), and 20 were born in Denmark.  If we say that those born in Canada and England were of English descent (and they most likely were), then I am 66% English, 31% Danish and 3% Welsh.  In other words...everyone back-off about my pale skin-tone.  As my mom says..I come by it honestly!

These 64 people are actually very near to my heart since my church and family stressed their significance as I grew up.  I feel that if you go back any further, you get lost and the names get so far back and so numerous that they lose their differentiation.  Someday I would like to gather stories/pictures about these 64 individuals + their progeny that is connected to me and my siblings.  So many movers and shakers in that bunch!  Here's another statistic:  Out of the 64 and their 62 children that eventually converged into me, 10 moved across the country either to move out West for religion or opportunity, and 23 emigrated to the US from other countries.  I feel connected to them in a way because I understand the pull to move to a new place.

Also just for fun, my mom is 37.5% Danish, 56.25% English and 6.25% Welsh.  My Dad is exactly 25% Danish and 75% English (his maternal grandmother is Danish).  My mom has Danish ancestors on both her father's and mother's sides.

Mood-Lifter

It is so gross out today and will probably be rainy through the week so I stopped by the farmer's market and picked up some flowers!  I got an enormous bouquet and then shared the love throughout the apartment. :)  Hopefully the sun will make an appearance this weekend.

            

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

A little post about my Mom...

She's fabulous.  My mom has seven children and five grandchildren and loves each one of us so much.  Even if you live as many miles away as I do, her love reaches out to make sure you know it's always there and always growing. 

A few memories...I remember my Mom being pregnant (sorry for this one Mom, it's just one of my most vivid), standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes.  She wore a white and teal (maybe polka-dot print?) outfit and she was so beautiful.  My mom was always the radiant life force that managed to keep our home clean and us active and happy.

I remember she got me into a Barbie-tryout program.  Every month or so I would get a new Barbie to play with and then I would send it back for a new one, sort of like Barbie Netflix, and the last one I got to keep.  That one was always my very favorite Barbie.  I know my Mom couldn't afford to get me all those dolls but she is so creative and finds ways to make things happen.  

My mom is so encouraging.  I wanted to learn so badly from a young age and she made sure my mind could grow.  She encouraged my piano playing, paid for me to take violin lessons and made sure I had books to read and opportunities to learn.  She even asked my kindergarten teacher to give me homework when I was home sick with chicken pox because she knew I would be happiest when doing homework.  I still remember my Dad bringing that homework packet back from school and me running straight to my room to start in on it.

There are many, many more memories that I have about my Mom, and even our phone conversations now are things I hold on to as I go about my week.  I know my nieces and nephews are so lucky to grow up with her as such a presence in their lives.  I love you Mom!  Happy Mother's Day!

Getting Organized...

It's not very interesting but my renewal weekend started off with some organizing.  I bought these two helpers to get my closet and vanity in shape.

Other renewal projects:

 I started using the plates that were a wedding present.  We were holding off until our next apartment, but we really need to feel a little more luxurious right now.  I love them so much.  They are the same plates my Mom used to have.

I also finally hung the painting that Daniel's parents gave us for Christmas (another thing that we were just letting sit in our spare room until a move).  I feel so relieved and a little more settled to get over the 'someday' feeling.

Renewal

I am a big believer in renewal.

The past month has been a time of reflection for me as I get ready to face the unknowable.  My anxiety over a looming upheaval of our lives (with career changes and graduation and a possible move on the ever-changing horizon), has thrown my apartment in disarray.  Daniel and I are finding out that my stress expresses itself outwardly into our living space.  It is a disaster.

I have finished my last midterm (woohoo!) and this weekend is going to be the beginning of piecing my present moment back together.  I am removing myself from those thoughts of the future and focusing in on apartment 9 as though I have no intentions of ever leaving.

This place is going to be renewed and I am going to reintroduce myself.  The places we live are not simply where we crash, but rather the places where our souls live.  My soul obviously connects deeply with my residence so if I have any hope of going about these transitions in a calm and connected way, I have got to re-engage with this apartment.

I am also taking this weekend to redirect my wardrobe.  It is a favorite hobby of mine...to give my appearance a little love and find some renewal that way.  The weather has started to warm and I am also feeling that my 14-year-old looking summer digs are not cutting it for a new graduate. :-)

I hope everyone will enjoy the sunshine this weekend and take a little time to renew!