50 years

This past weekend we took a one day trip to Georgia for a very special occasion. It was for Mr. and Mrs. Claude O'Neals 50th Wedding Anniversary. Fifty years of being in love with the same person. Sharing every....well, everything with that person. Uncle Claude and Aunt Myrtle (Sorry for the informality but that is what I call them!) have four very special kids who have wonderful spouses who would not let this very special occasion go by without some kind of celebration. All had a hand in the celebration just like they all have each others hands in their own. I was first introduced to this family over 25 years ago. From the first day that I walked into the O'Neal home in Dale City Virginia, I felt like I was family. My first impression was one of peace, love and family. Even though all the "kids" were going off in different directions, they at one time or another during the day would come together to talk about their day, what was happening in their lives, and what was going on. And then they were off. Off to work, school or to "play". Aunt Myrtle and I would talk about being a wife and later mother. She took my kids in like they were her own Grand kids. I guess after four what is a couple more? She and Claude whether they knew it or not, guided Lee and I in our own lives. We couldn't go to Michigan from Virginia without stopping in Dale City to see them. As we all "grew up" and moved in separate directions, we wouldn't get to see each other as often, but when we do, it is twice as special. Only last year, we introduced them to our next generation of family. Ms. Ellie. And like all the other babies before her, Aunt Myrtle took her under her wing too. Thank you Uncle Claude and Aunt Myrtle. We love you very much.

Moja Rodzina (My Family)

For the past ten months I have been researching my family. It all started when we went to Lee's family reunion this summer and he was given a packet of papers that was his complete family history from the first Touchton to come to the United States in 1657. Both of us were so interested in the story of his family and it made me realize how much I was missing out on mine. I started talking to my Aunt about it and she was able to give me some information. It was a start. I talked to a friend and she was able to tell me how she started tracing her family. I started by googling names. Looking up names on the Ellis Island website and any other genealogy website I could find. Including a Polish one. I found Michael Juda, my great Grandfather. Walter Juda my Grandfather. These are their pictures along with my dad. Michael was the first to come to the United States in 1906 from Wola Poland. Our history is small so far but it is a start. I have discovered who my Great Grandparents were, who my Grandparents were and where they all came from. I know there is more to discover and I will keep looking because I now have a sense of who I am.