Re-Beginnings

Written by Ruby A. Iadeluca

It's been a lovely Easter. Not much sunshine, but we've had temps today in the low 60's, which is something I think we've all needed for a very long time. Winter seemed far, far too long.

It's now 6:30 in the evening. Nothing spectacular happened. In fact, other than the mad rush this morning to get the church on time, the day has been quiet and full of loved ones and good memories.

We were slightly late to church. I was worried because I thought I had heard that the services would only be about 15 minutes long due to the extra services being squeezed in this morning. So I figured that 5 minutes late meant that we would miss almost half of the sermon. Thank goodness it was just a misunderstanding on my part! It was a full length sermon and I needed every bit of it. I always feel physically and emotionally better when I walk out of the church.

After the service we were basically told that we didn't have to go home, but we couldn't stay there. Seriously though, we were invited to mingle in the tent that was set up outside. There were heaters, coffee and lots of sweet treats. So while the first congregation gathered in the tent, the second sermon was underway inside the Tabernacle.

We stopped in at Mom and Dad's and visited before we made our way to my In-laws home for Easter dinner. One huge, delicious meal and one Turkey hunting license later, we were home. Some of us fell asleep, while others of us puttered around the house, reading and starting a movie. It was a quiet day, albeit for the snoring.

I'm grateful that we have this time with family. It's doesn't seem often enough and I realize that it's one of those things - Important things - that simply get pushed to the background as we all try to live our lives in the foreground. I can't even begin to analyze why we allow this to happen. I've written before about excuses and life getting in the way, but I don't know how it happens time and again.

On a slightly different note, I was handed a piece of paper today while visiting my parents. It contained several names. Names of some of my ancestors. Several of the names I recognize, some I don't. It could very well be that I have seen all of the names before, but just simply don't remember them.

You see, many years ago, I became interested in genealogy.

It started with taking over planning the annual family reunion. Along with that job came the funds from the year prior, the address list, attendee list and the secretary notes. The secretary notes dated all the way back to the first Youker reunion. Yellowed though they were, they described events, places, family members, etc. It was overwhelming to me that these were family members I had never met mingling with my grandparents and great-grandparents.

Who were these people?

I was lucky, in that a lady, Dorothy Sonntag, had begun the research many, many years ago. Rudolph Juker and his wife Anna Windlorin had come to America around 1750, with four sons. Ms. Sonntag had researched each line of descendants as far as she could and had copied and sold the books. I was lucky indeed, in that I had a copy of our Juker/Youker ancestral heritage. I could trace back nearly 250 years ago, over 10 generations and see exactly where I came from.

Okay. Maybe not exactly. But pretty close!

While my husband and I were both self employed with our restaurant, I was able to spend a lot of time doing a lot of research. Some of it online, most of it in libraries, county records, historians, the local LDS. Visiting area cemeteries quickly became one of my favorite past-times.

I now have four children and a full-time job; and since I work outside the home, my research has been put away for more than 7 years. I've missed it and I have thought about it occasionally, but know that in reality, I simply do not have the time it would take to commit to any real research.

However, these past few months have found me going through my basement office. It's an annual task for me: picking up, dusting and going through the mounds of statements and receipts that have accumulated over the prior year and getting them ready for figuring out taxes. And I am always looking for things to throw out and get rid of in order to consolidate boxes and file cabinets. Down-sizing, simplifying is a good thing. This year, I re-opened the three drawer filing cabinet that held all of the research and reunion supplies that I had accumulated in previous years.

I began throwing out the Family Tree magazines, as any info in those would surely be outdated and also now easily accessible via internet. I boxed up files and files and booklets and references and notes and photos and maps, etc. My heart sunk a little more each time something was taken from a drawer and placed in a box.

After emptying the cabinet, I texted my sister to see if she had any interest and/or room to take on what I had abandoned. She did not want it. Which made me feel guilty for boxing it up. I felt like I had just boxed up puppies that nobody wanted.....

But it's Spring! It's a time for new beginnings and re-beginnings. You all know that I have four kids and a full-time job. I've told my sister that I finally have a pair of walking shoes, which means that I have committed to meeting her for walks two or three times a week. I've also taken on a new Mary Kay business.

Needless to say, I'm a little bit busy. But I've always believed (though I haven't always exhibited this belief) that you have the time for the things you want to do; and when you say "No, I just don't have time because....." that you're really just offering yourself excuses. Now remember: I said I believe that, though I don't always act on it. I think you'll agree: it's easier said than done.

So I'm willing to give it all a fair shot. Giving up some of my crutches and adding in a few of those things that "I've been meaning to do", should prove to be a positive experience.

At least in theory.

Right?