Jewells of Thought

Today starts the September Birthday Season. Uncle Bob, Grandma’s twin brother has been gone now for quite a while. However, to be absent here means he is with his Lord and Savior in heaven.

Great-Grandpa Arla lived into his 90s and we are all grateful for the time we had listening to him as youngsters. I tell you though there is something special about the students and teachers from the Pleasantville School last Century. I have had the blessing to know a handful of people who have certain tendencies that we have decided was in fact a Pleasantville signature of sorts.

My Grandma Betty, my Great-Aunt Margaret who married my Grandpa Freddy’s older brother, Horace Alsman, Irene her sister. These three women have a couple of things in common. First of all they were all intelligent women who could hold conversations with just about anyone. Then secondly, they wrote really little and took lots of notes that were legible for the most part. They were continually reading newspapers and books and keeping clippings.

I do believe Grandma had Arla to thank for some of the examples of doing these because I have noticed some of these notations were older than Grandma and would have been done in Grandpa Arla’s teaching days. As the younger family historian learning from the dozens and dozens of albums from our entire family including Lesters, Harbins and Bishops it has been a wonderful connection to have.

I see myself in my Grandma’s family and my Grandpa’s side so easily and it just excites me even more. Grandpa Arla was keeping his Grandfather’s war story alive as I am trying to do now. Only his Grandfather was in the Civil War. I am stunned at how incredible the story circles around and now I have even more precious photos… I have seen… oh my goodness that would make him my 9th Great-Grandfather I think.

Having such a lineage that comes from Betty Ruth Lester Bishop has been such a blessing for me as I know our entire family feels. The beauty within her shows through and around her. God has given her grace, elegance and the beauty that only He can give to his people.