On this second anniversary of my blog, I’m dedicating my post to my son Matt for two reasons: (1) He’s the greatest blessing of my life and I adore him, and (2) I’m currently researching his ancestry.
I adopted Matt as an infant. We were each blessed last year when Matt was able to locate and meet his birth mother, Karen. Upon their first personal meeting, Matt requested of Karen that she complete a 4 generation pedigree chart, as far as she was able. I think I’ve trained him well! As soon as he received the pedigree chart in his mail, he called me and gave me all the names she’d given him. I got right to work on the research and found that it gave me a totally different feeling than I’ve experienced while researching anyone else’s ancestry. As I learned names and saw faces in the photos I discovered in a tree on Ancestry.com, I felt so grateful to these wonderful people, for it’s their blood that runs through my son’s body. They are HIS people. There’s a very special place in my heart for every individual I’ve met in his ancestry.
At the time I met Karen, she loaned me several pictures of herself as a child, as well as pictures of her parents and siblings. My fellow genealogists will understand and appreciate what a treasure those are to me, and what a wonderful gesture that was for her to make. And in my online hunting I’ve discovered a cousin of hers who has uploaded over 7,000 photos to her Ancestry tree, many of which relate to Matt’s ancestors!
My research has rewarded us with enough pictures that I can share with you a line of 7 generations in my son’s family:
Matt’s great, great, great grandmother Martha Susan Tanner (1834-1905)
(His great, great grandmother Emeline Charlotte Crotchett (1863-1931)
%5B1%5D.jpg "Crotchett, Emeline Charlotte (b1853)")
Matt’s great grandfather was “Emma’s” son, Frank Jefferson Bell (1888-1951)
The son of Frank Bell was Robert Bell, Matt’s grandfather, pictured below at far left, with his family:
In this photo covering 2 generations, are Matt, with his birth mother Karen at right and me, his Mom (adoptive mother) at left:
And here’s our little jewel, Alyssa, Matt’s daughter, when she was 2 years old:%5B8%5D.jpg "scan0037(2)")
How blessed we all are to have pictures of SEVEN generations of family and even more blessed to know them and love them! I’m so happy to dedicate this anniversary post to my wonderful son, his family and his ancestors. They truly manifest God’s Grace and Glory in my life.
19 comments:
Becky, this is a beautiful post with such special meaning to so many people. Happy Blogoversary and thank you for sharing the photos and the story of your son's birth family with us.
Oh Becky, such a wonderful blog post to celebrate your blogversary. Honestly I don't know why it brought a tear to my eye, it just tugged at my heartstrings I guess. You are such a kind giving person how wonderful that you could do this for your son and his birth family.
Becky, you are such a sweet person to do this for your son. Happy blogiversary!!
Happy Blogoversary - you have made such a wise choice in dedicating it to your son - and wishing success to you and Matt in researching his ancestors!
This also brought a tear to my eyes... thank you for sharing such a wonderful and heartfelt post x x
What a wonderful post for your son about his ancestors. How amazing that his birth mother knew so much family history and had photographs! Happy anniversary to your blog - and you.
Becky, what a lovely way to celebrate your blogiversary. Thank you for sharing such a moving story. What an amazing gift you have given your son.
Becky! This is fabulous! How wonderful and heartwarming to find so many more people to love. I can see Matt in so many of his ancestors. The photo of you, Matt and Karen is a beautiful testament to the love that two women share for their son. I love this. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us. Gives me hope in my research! Love you.
This is a wonderful post. It says so much about you and your loving attitude toward your family.
Becky, this is such a beautiful and happy story. Thanks for sharing.
I am so glad that we got to meet and chat a little bit while at NGS last April. I have read your blog from the very first post - it truly is a work of Grace and Glory.
And now I shall sing:
HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY TO YOU, HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY TO YOU, HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY DEAR BECKYYYYYY, HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY TO YOUUUUU!
This is AWESOME! Not all the time that stories like yours have such happy endings! Happy Blogoversary
Happy Blogoversary and may there be many more. You have a beautiful family.
I would like to hear more about how your son feels about genealogy. Does he claim both heritages? I should think he would. My niece is adopted and I often wonder what I should save for her since she is the only grandchild from that side and only great-grandchild on her maternal grandfather's side.
Happy Blogiversary! This post was beautiful.
Becky,
You did a marvelous job on your Blogiversary Post! This is a marvelous story of love and family history all tie up as one. Congratulations on your blog being 2 years old. Yours was one of the first Genealogy Blogs I started to follow. Thanks for keeping up such an uplifting and informative blog.
Beautiful! We have numerous adoptions in our family, and I have researched bloodlines, adoptive family lines, and step-family lines. What a marvelous legacy you have created here, Becky...and Happy Blogiversary!
I would love to be able to do this for my adopted son. maybe one day...
I'm a little late to the party, but HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!
This is such a wonderful tribute. It's you're party, but you've given this wonderful gift and a very touching post to everyone. Thank you!
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