Drawn to the Story Without Knowing We Were Cousins

Last year Anne Bradshaw published "True Miracles with Genealogy", a compilation of short stories that share happenings of "serendipity" as we research our family history. I submitted a story that was published on page 47 of Volume 1. A few weeks ago Anne's Volume 2 of "True Miracles with Genealogy" was published. I couldn't wait to read the stories in it. 
And what great timing! For my birthday earlier this month my husband gave me a Toshiba netbook, on which I installed the Kindle app. And "True Miracles" is available as an ebook! (You can find it here). It's the first book I added to the Kindle library in my netbook.
After entertaining our family on Thanksgiving Day, I finally had time to dive into my new digital book yesterday. I only got half-way through it before a nap was calling, but I found the 4th story in the book so compelling it brought me to tears. Rebecca Parker Cressman, on-air host at KSFI FM100, shares her story titled "My Mother--Lost and Found". Rebecca tells of the very difficult childhood of her mother Martha Helen Brown in El Paso, Texas. My husband and I just visited El Paso in October as we spent a few days with my twin brother. Rebecca relates events that led to her mother becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which I'm also a member. As her story develops, more family members are introduced to the reader, many of whom are quite engaging because of mysteries involved in their pasts. Her story takes such a surprising twist that I find myself STILL astounded--24 hours after reading it. I went to bed last night thinking about it and woke up this morning with the same story on my mind. 
I felt so drawn to this story that I read it to my husband, I found Rebecca Cressman on Facebook and have become her "friend", and have spent the past few hours researching more of her ancestry, as laid out in her story in this book. From this web site I learned enough about Rebecca's  great-grandfather's ancestry that I was able to draw this relationship chart. It shows that Rebecca Cressman and I are 10th cousins. We share  our 9th great-grandparents, William Chandler and his wife Annis Agnes Bayford. 

The descendancy of William Chandler to me, M. Rebecca Margheim Jamison and to my 10th cousin, Rebecca Parker Cressman.

I wasn't really surprised to discover this connection to Rebecca and her family members in this story. I think it's all part of the "true miracle of genealogy"....I was drawn to her story and to these characters because they are part of my very extended family too. So far I think it's the best story in the book, but as I said, I'm only half-way through the book. It's a hard one to beat, tho! I encourage you all to read Volume 2 of "True Miracles with Genealogy. The ebook version in only $2.99!!
I hope Anne publishes a Volume 3....I'm already thinking about a story that I can submit.

It All Started with this Postcard

This photo is blurry because it’s a copy of an image from eBay. It’s a picture of little Thelma Steele on a postcard that was offered for sale. I only have a copy because at $40, the postcard was out of my budget. But what I learned about Thelma and the story that developed when I was notified of the availability of the postcard is written up as my contribution to this book that Anne Bradshaw has recently compiled:
 
This is what Anne says about the book on it’s Facebook page: “The book, "True Miracles with Genealogy" by Anne Bradshaw, is a collection of family history research stories written by ordinary people with extraordinary experiences. These events are part of the reward that comes from doing genealogy. They are the fathers turning their hearts to their children—the spiritual moments as help comes from beyond the veil.
Each account is unique. Each is a miracle. Each will inspire readers as they come to the heady realization that family history work is of great consequence, it is powerful, and there really is a world of spirits.”
My copy just came in the mail today. After I read my own story on page 47, I’m going to read the rest of the book this evening. To get your copy from Amazon, you can go here: http://amzn.to/dfLVx3.
Thank you, Anne, for putting together this interesting and amazing collection of miracle stories in genealogy.

A Winning Wednesday

Please check out Anne Bradshaw's blog and offer this week. I'd love to have a winning Wednesday and be the recipient of the $50 LDSWA gift certificate.