tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195294942024-03-21T07:08:51.238-07:00In Our Hearts: A Family Tribute & ScrapbookTopics Include: Stories, Genealogy, History, Current Events.
In Our Hearts is a Tribute to our Family: Martin, Ford, Morton, Green(e) and Related Branches. Feel free to contribute to this page, drop me an e-mail so I can post your story!Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-42525216771686921882008-03-07T21:48:00.000-08:002008-12-11T15:50:02.644-08:00From Which All Circles (Poetry)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0m8bJVWZvAw6aIKLo0zTIUQSMEhXVVLtZyMVctVQt-BM3snj7ouEnLbtZRKfUaAiuhFkQlmDuLUETdbxZWWkB852OL-e5wnT_lA1A-5FbjQCTslfSttP5_Xrh_hNV_aK0o1mhQ/s1600-h/NASA-15.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0m8bJVWZvAw6aIKLo0zTIUQSMEhXVVLtZyMVctVQt-BM3snj7ouEnLbtZRKfUaAiuhFkQlmDuLUETdbxZWWkB852OL-e5wnT_lA1A-5FbjQCTslfSttP5_Xrh_hNV_aK0o1mhQ/s320/NASA-15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175245200955124546" /></a><br /><br /><br />Love is impartial, like the nurturing earth, showing tenderness to both the hardened rock and the diamond…<br />Love is unselfish, as brilliant as a galaxy of stars, shining unto itself but never once seeing its own radiance…<br />Love is honest, both the language of ancient truth and infant curiosity, speaking in simple yet profound discovery…<br />Love is God, whose very act of loving is the force from which all of life circles,<br />orbiting the reflection of the Beloved and the Beloved.<br /><br /><br />Lynn Mari, ©2006Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-78395305153149958222008-02-24T23:33:00.000-08:002008-02-24T23:35:51.060-08:00Mc Ilwan/Mc Clwain Family (Dallas Co, AL)<strong>I really need help researching this family line, if you are kin or have any additional information please leave a comment or e-mail me. Thanks!<br /> I also want to acknowledge my cousin for sharing family stories, and extending the warmth of your memories to me. I am left with a feeling of warmth from the pride and love evident in every word you speak about your children. God Bless! </strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Family of Henry and Alice (“Allie”) Mc Clwain: 1900<br />Valley Creek, Alabama</strong><br /><br /><br />Henry Mc Clwain, 35<br />Alice Mc Clwain, 34<br />Pink “, 14<br />Alberta “, 15<br />Delhi “, 8<br />Mattie “, 5<br />Mary “, 4<br />Ada “, 3<br />Narca “, 2<br />Babe “, 1<br />Mealy Mc Clwain, 60<br />Lucy Morre, 50<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Family of Henry and Alice (“Allie) McIlwan: 1910<br />Selma, Alabama<br /><br /><br />Henry McIlwan, 47<br />Alice “, 46<br />Delhi “, 19<br />Elline “, 15<br />Isabel “, 13<br />Geneva “, 11<br />Arnette “, 10<br />Elinera “, 6<br />Mrs. (Should be “Mr.”) Wess Martin, son-on-law, 29 *close cousin or ??<br />Alberta Martin, 20, daughter *cousin by marriage<br />Mary Gasdner, 27 (widow, boarder)<br />Lucy McIlwan (aunt, widow), 58<br /><br />Family of Mat and Alberta Marter (Martin): 1920<br />Selma, Alabama<br /><br /><br /><br />Union Street<br /><br />Mat Marter, 28 * close cousin or??<br />Alberta “, 27 *cousin by marriage<br />Malachi “, 10<br />Rosa M. “, 7<br />Sanlphus (Adolphus?) “, 5<br />CD “, 4<br />Adabel “, 2<br />Clarene “, 3 months<br />Allie (Alice) Mc Ilwan, mother, 47<br />Elvin Gelbert, 21, sister<br />Robert Gelbert, 50, son-in-law<br />Deli Mc Thwan (Mc Ilwan), son, 20<br />Stan Icy Tout, nephew, 18<br /><br /><br /><em>Note: I have found census records, in two different databases, for both Mat Marter (Martin) and West/Wes Martin. Family knowledge records the correct name of Aunt Alberta’s husband as being Wes. I am looking for more information on Wes’ line of the Martins. I will update as I know more. I do know these are my cousins, and that the Martin family lived in close proximity to extended relatives in Selma.</em>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-60579860057401306772007-09-13T01:31:00.000-07:002007-09-13T01:33:35.793-07:001880 Census Perryville, AL: Caroline Ford Family<strong>Name:</strong> Caroline Ford <br /><strong>Home in 1880:</strong> Perryville, Perry, Alabama <br /><strong>Age:</strong> 60 <br /><strong>Estimated birth year:</strong> about 1820 <br /><strong>Birthplace:</strong> Georgia <br /><strong>Relation to head-of-household:</strong> Self (Head) <br /><strong>Father's birthplace</strong>: Georgia <br /><strong>Mother's birthplace</strong>: Georgia <br /><strong>Occupation: </strong>Keeping House <br /><strong>Marital Status:</strong> Widowed <br /><strong>Race:</strong> Black <br /><strong>Gender</strong>: Female<br />Caroline Ford 60 <br />Young Ford 19 <br />Allice Ford 17 <br />Ephraim Heard 3 (a grandson)Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-86923251703765045152007-05-22T12:08:00.000-07:002007-05-22T12:09:39.737-07:001917- 1918 Draft Registration Card No. #41, Columbus FordName: Columbus Ford<br />Age: 23<br />Place Address: Felix, Alabama<br />Date of Birth: February 2, 1895<br />Citizenship: Natural Born<br />Place of Birth: Perry, Alabama<br />Occupation: Farming<br />Employer: Ed Curb<br />Where Employed: Perry County<br />Family: Wife and Two Children<br />Married or Single: Married<br />Race: African<br />Prior Military Service: None<br />Build: Medium Height, Medium Build<br />Eyes: BrownFire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-63804731630971531112007-05-22T12:05:00.000-07:002008-02-24T23:50:58.358-08:00Marriage: Paul & Laura Ford<strong>Perry County, Alabama Marriage Records (1820-1894)</strong><br /><br /><br />Radford, Laura married Ford, Paul on 8-Feb-1878 (recorded on page)A p.132 <br /><br />Paul and Laura Ford resided in Perryville, Alabama. Paul Ford was a farmer.<br /><br />"For Africa to me... is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place." -- Maya AngelouFire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-12844244660129892392007-03-18T21:22:00.000-07:002008-02-24T23:51:47.089-08:00Welcome to In Our Hearts<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/angel.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/320/angel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Zechariah 10: 8-9,” <em>I will call My people and gather them together. I will rescue them and make them as numerous as they used to be. Though I have scattered them among the nations, yet in far-off places they will remember Me. They and their children will survive and return home together</em>.”<br />(Good News Bible: American Bible Society, 1976).<br /><br />Welcome Family and Friends,<br /><br />Through this page, I will show how the invisible connections between the past and the present shape our world, and our place (as individuals) in it.<br /><br />Within each one of us is a legacy of memories, lessons, values and history passed down from those who walked before us. No matter how far you have traveled, or what separates you—the ties of family are intricately connected through the guiding hands of our ancestors watching over us. Sometimes the hands are gentle, other times the pull is strong. We are called to remember. We are called to teach our children from the lessons and experiences of family. We are called to question. We are called to open doors to healing. We are called to give voice to a forgotten past. We are all called by name, to return to the faded footsteps from which our very first steps began.<br /><br />This web page is a tribute to the branches of my family tree(s): the Fords, Martins, Mortons, Green(e)s and all branches I have yet to discover. Through this page, I will share my own journey of how I was led to discover my past and reconnect with family. I also invite my family to contribute to this page, so that all our journeys can be shared. <strong>Please feel free to include anything you think is relevant—stories, pictures, recipes, genealogy, current events, etc. My vision is to create a family scrapbook, and have it printed. This page will be a foundation for what is put into the scrapbook. I need your input to make this possible!</strong> Feel free to e-mail me at any time with your contributions. I am flexible—and if you would rather not have your entry posted online that is fine, I will save the information for the scrapbook only. I look forward to hearing from you :)<br /><br />My sincere gratitude goes out to my family. I thank all of you taking the time and effort to share with me. I thank my grandparents and ancestors for their efforts, dreams, and sacrifices. I wake up each morning with appreciation, and awe of how your work and love created such a life, such opportunities. I know we, as a family, have endured many hardships but faith, determination and love has seen us through. I have faith that God is working a special purpose through every experience, or as Mick says (grin), “We are built Ford tough!” I look forward to seeing this page grow.<br /><br />The connection of one life to another brings the closeness of family into our relationships with others. As part of a greater purpose, what is learned within the family is to be shared; everything that is experienced in the family offers a lesson or insight. It is God’s design to open our hearts, to open our homes, and to open the circle of family (Hebrews 10:24), “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another, to show love and do good.” <strong>My sincere gratitude goes out to my friends, thank you for your support and encouragement. We are not connected through blood but through spirit. I thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me. You are also welcome to contribute to this page—and be part of its growth.<br /></strong><br />In Joy & Peace, Lynn<br /><br />©2007<br /><br />E-Mail: <a href="mailto:Lyrek1@aol.com">Lyrek1@aol.com</a>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-89032046516699390472007-03-18T21:01:00.000-07:002007-03-18T21:02:22.381-07:00Valley Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery- Crawford, Morgan, Kenan<strong>The Green, Martin, and Ford family lived throughout Dallas County in Valley Creek, Woodlawn, Summerfield and Selma.</strong> The history of my family begins in slavery, and has developed along farming, and the families whose land my ancestors worked<strong>.<br /><br /></strong>Family stories say that my great-grandmother worked the Crawford Place.<strong> </strong>I have heard many of the Martins worked the Crawford Place. <strong>I found record that my great-grandmother worked as a cook, and lived close to the Crawfords on Rangeline Road in Valley Creek.<br /><br /></strong>Family stories say the Green(e)s worked the Morgan Place in Valley Creek. <strong>I found record that my Green(e) relatives lived next to John and Vesta Morgan on Summerfield Road in Valley Creek.<br /><br />The Martins are said to have worked in Kenan's Mill, grinding corn. The Green(e) lived in Summerfield near Kenan's Mill, on a farm.<br /><br />This cemetary record of Valley Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery includes plots from the Crawford, Morgan and Kenan families of Valley Creek. </strong>These are the places my family would have worked and lived, along the gravel background leading into an isolated, wooded hamlet of farms. Other families in this cemetary include Waugh, Bondurant, Callen, Gilmer and others.<br /><strong><br />Special Thanks to Kay Pomeroy and Jean Pickering :)<br /><br /><br /></strong><strong>This file was contributed and copyrighted by:</strong><br /><strong>Kay Pomeroy </strong><br /><strong></strong><a href="mailto:jpandk@bellsouth.net"><strong>jpandk@bellsouth.net</strong></a><br /><strong><br />Jean Pickering</strong><br /><a href="mailto:pdirtdobber@aol.com"><strong>pdirtdobber@aol.com</strong></a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>==================================================================== </strong><strong>June 2003</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Valley Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery Dallas County, Alabama. </strong><br />On Valley Creek Church Road, off State Hwy 22 North. When you come out of Selma on State Hwy 22 North right outside the city limits to the left is Valley Creek Church Road. Turn left on that road and go about four miles, The cemetery is on the right on a hill and you really have to watch for it or you will pass it.<br />Surveyed and recorded by Kay Pomeroy & Jean Pickering<br /><br /><strong><br />ROW 5</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Ada Melton wife of James Ellis Crawford </strong>Sept. 20, 1866 August 24, 1954. At rest Ada Melton Crawford.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>James Ellis Crawford Nov. 26, 1859 Oct. 17, 1916. </strong>Dearest PAP thou hastleft us here thy loss we deeply feel but tis GOD who hath bereft us, He can allour sorrows heal.<br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Roy R. Morgan Pfc.</strong> US Army World War II May 15, 1916 Dec. 1, 1988.<br /><br /><br />Daddy<br /><strong>John Lewis Morgan</strong> October 19, 1885 July 14, 1969<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Mama<br /><strong>Vesta Crawford Morgan</strong> October 5, 1889 September 1, 1985<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Infant son of John & Vesta Morgan</strong> Aug. 18, 1910<br /><strong><br /><br />Row 6<br /><br />James Kenan,</strong> born 1808 in N.C. died 1874 in Ala.<strong> </strong><br /><br /><br />Erected by his wife in memory of<strong> William K. Kenan, youngest son of Tho & Mary R. Kenan who was born in Duplin County North Carolina 27th of September 1819 died in Dallas County Alabama July 31st 1858.</strong> There is a voice which sorrow hears. When heaviest weighs life galling chains, tis heaven that whispers "dry your tears the pure in heart shall meet again" (on back) Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.<br /><br /><br /><strong>D.L. Kenan, 1816 1910 Son of Mary Rand and Col. Thomas Kenan. </strong><br />(Mary Rand Kenan)<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Victoria Corr, wife of Danial Love Kenan</strong> May 5, 1843 May 1, 1935<br />(Victoria Kenan)<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>William Owen Kenan,</strong> Feb. 9, 1869 Dec. 16, 1923<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Thom- AN 1812 </strong><br />(This stone is broken next to the Kenan's)<br /><br /><strong>Sarah L. Smith daughter of Col. Thomas and Sarah L. Kenan,</strong> who died the 20th of Nov. 1845 and composed firmly in the righteousness of Christ.<br /><strong><br /></strong>Sacred to the memory of our father <strong>Col. Thomas Kenan and our mother Mary Rand Kenan.</strong> Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. <strong>Col. Kenan was the son of Genl. James Kenan of Duplin County North Carolina.</strong> He was born on the 26th of Feb. 1771 and died on the 22nd of Oct. 1843 in the 73 year of his age. He frequently represented his native County in the Legislature and the Wilmington District in Congress. In Jan. 1833 He removed with his family to Dallas County Ala. where he resided at the time of his death. <strong> Mrs. Kenan was the daughter of John Rand and Elizabeth Hinton,</strong> she was born in Wake County North Carolina on the 17th of Jan. 1781 and died in Dallas County Ala. on the 21st of Sept. 1856 in the 76th year of her age.<br /><br /><strong> <br />J.S. Kenan F</strong>eb. 25, 1806 May 11, 1898<strong><br /><br /></strong>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1162632453027236112006-11-04T01:23:00.000-08:002008-02-24T23:52:18.853-08:00Happy Birthday Lisa<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/butterfly.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/320/butterfly.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lisa! ()-:)<br /><br />Celebrating the special person you are to our family...<br />And your gift of humor, that keeps us all laughing<br />Since I can't make you a cake, I thought I would<br />leave with you with something that is<br />TaTa Licious...hehe.<br /><br />Love, LynnFire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1162632191864925022006-11-04T01:16:00.000-08:002006-11-10T23:08:14.993-08:00TaTa Licious, 10 Year Struggle, Who IS the Father?<div align="left">Note: In the first edition, TaTa Licious appeared on a talk show fighting over the father of her baby. After 10 years, will she finally discover who he is? An in-depth investigation by <em>Ford News, Selasota</em>. </div><div align="left"><br /><br />TaTa Licious made one last appearance on the Jherri Po'lich show, it had taken ten years, and almost every last drop of blood in her body but she was finally going to discover the father of her child. It wasn't her fault TaTa didn't know...the lighting at the strip bar was dark, and when she slung her leg across that pole, she knocked her head pretty good...thankfully her kinky curls caught most of the fall but still she did see stars...<br /><br />TaTa Licious squeezed into her smallest daisy dukes with the matching "I'm In LUV Wid a Stripper" halter. TaTa wore best weave--hot pink, she liked to think she looked like 'Lil Kim in it. And of course--the fuschia lipstick, couldn't forget that, had to wear at least six layers (her lips were a bit crusty but deep fried gator guts does that!). Baby was no longer a "baby"--but technically that didn't matter. Baby was 10 years old, juvenile deliquent, who was sick of being told "Not the Father!" whenever he wanted to hit someone up for some money. He was starting to believe his father was Santa Claus...<br /><br />TaTa teetered onto the stage in her six inch high platform boots, her head of weave equally as high. She held out one skinny arm, dug in with needlemarks from all the DNA poking.<br />"No, No, No! That is not gonna work!", Jherri said, "There is no blood left in that chicken bone<br />arm of yours. I'm afraid we're gonna have to poke your butt."<br />The crowd gasped then screamed as TaTa dropped her drawers right then and there--they had seen plenty of skin on the show, but a woman with a tail..a TAIL! That was scandalous. Baby was so embarassed, he was about to run off to the North Pole. Jherri reeled back in disgust just then, Artay the bouncer hops on stage yelling... "I know that tail! I would remember that tail anywhere!"<br /><br />See, back in the 80's, Artay thought he was the pimp. He wore silky suits, and fake purple leather shoes and listened to Public Enemy on his boom box. Problem was--Artay was not fooling anyone. He was a seasonal mall Santa...eating so many Twinkies and chocolate cups during the year that he was fat enough to be Santa. Then when he lost his job at the mall, he lost the weight while he starved, living under a bridge... TaTa didn't think Artay was her type (she has high standards!) but something went horribly wrong--TaTa would claim the triple splitz she did that night so long ago tore a ligament right through her brain. Artay would claim his pimpin suit was not strong enough to "Fight the Power"... In any case, after a really wild night, and 10 years of DNA testing the truth was about to be revealed...<br /><br /><em>ARTAY YOU ARE THE FATHER!!<br /></em><br />Baby was right, his father IS Santa. TaTa Licious finally had found her man... And Artay found a woman who could cook for him during the year. For once the Jherri Po'lich Show had a happy ending...well at least for 30 seconds...but that's another story.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">________________________________</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://freewebsubmission.com/">FreeWebSubmission.com</a> </div>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1162395887273592262006-11-01T07:43:00.000-08:002006-11-15T23:53:58.003-08:00Records of Freed Slaves Go Online-APThanks to Lynne and my Friends at Generation Mixed for posting this article!<br /><br />________<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a title="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/technology/15861977.htm" href="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/technology/15861977.htm">http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/technology/15861977.htm</a><br /><br />In Richmond, Virginia records from the Freedmen's Bureau will be put online to help African-Americans retrace their family history, more than 20,000 images will be digitized.Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1149411209422214092006-06-04T01:51:00.000-07:002006-06-04T01:53:29.423-07:00My Dear Friend, BerylMy dear friend, and Grandmother to many, Beryl Farland passed from this Earth on March 15, 2006 of a heart attack. The first memory of Beryl I have is how she looked me right in the eye, and said something to the effect of: I Love You. You are a Wonderful Creation of God. Beryl was very passionate about bringing joy and love to others, especially to children. Beryl was not only a Grandmother to me but took Davin and Jaelynn under the warmth of her wing as well. Beryl loved to go rock hunting, to write poetry and to work in her garden. Beryl was a very graceful woman, whose words were as refined as classical poetry. I miss her so much. I know Beryl is happy, and exploring majestic crystal caverns or tending a magnificent garden in a peaceful place. Beryl's son sent me a letter to tell me of her death in May 2006. He was very nice, and I appreciate his note. My prayers go out to all the friends and family of Beryl Farland, We are one family in our memories and appreciation of her.<br /><br />To honor Beryl, I have taken a letter she wrote and turned it into a found poem.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>My Dear Friend, Beryl<br />A Found Poem</strong><br /><br /><br />I was born in Winnebago County, IA.<br />Played in the "woods"<br />many happy hours. <br />Picked wildflowers,<br />named the trees,<br />had my "playhouse" there. <br />Roped my "house" with twine.<br /><br />Had a pond there<br />by digging a hole<br />and putting a large old can in it<br />and going to the real pond<br />to fish out tadpoles and<br />get them in my pond. <br />They were my children! <br /><br /><br />Blessings to you and yours this wonderful season.<br />Love, B.<br /><br /><br />PS Don't know if I ever mentioned it before, but....<br /><br />The Native Americans<br />lived on the grounds<br />before my father<br />purchased the land<br />and he and his brother<br />cleared the land<br />for their fields. <br /><br />He found many artifacts -<br />no wonder I have had such lovely<br />enchanted days there, <br />wading in the creek,<br />picking the dog-toothed violets,<br />(or shooting stars as I called them)<br />cow-slips in the marshy areas,<br />honeysuckle,<br />and various other "treasures". <br /><br />Early in the Spring<br />I would watch<br />for the first Dog-toothed violets. <br />They were always first<br />and covered the floor of the woods. <br />What a great, grand sight. <br />Pick fist fulls of them<br />and take them into the house.<br />where my mother<br />would find a jar<br />to put them in. <br />Then she would<br />set them in the kitchen window. <br />Lovely memory. <br /><br />Good Night and Pleasant Dreams.<br /><br /><br /><br />12/19/2005, Beryl Farland ©2006, Lynn MariFire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1146896246235695572006-05-05T22:41:00.000-07:002008-02-24T23:30:17.187-08:00Insights on: ANGER<em>Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness</em> by Gary Zukav and Linda Francis is a book that I highly recommend. The chapter on <strong>Anger </strong>(p. 129-139) provided me with some new insights that I would like to share...<br /><br />*(p. 130) <em>Anger lashes out at a target. The target is another person, group of people or the Universe. Anger is righteous and self important, Anger does not listen to, respect, or care about other people. It makes others wrong, to blame, inferior, or inadequate. It cares only about itself.</em><br /><br />I believe that people who are used as the target of anger, continually and over long periods of time begin to internalize the anger, fear, frustration and rage directed on them. Behind every word and action is an energy. That energy creates an emotional impact that is felt in the body, and lived in our thoughts. If not dealt with or resolved, negative emotions such as anger and fear become real. Real in the sense that the anger, fear and frustration overwhelm the person so that they are no longer able to grow or express themselves. They are then controlled, and acting from a place of anger, fear, rage, frustration--or a combination of these. When energy creates an impact on the body, it is experienced in our mental and physical health. When the body is hit with negative energy such as anger or fear, those emotions create trauma. Anger will affect the thought process, will affect the way emotions are dealt with and will create stress or tension in the body. If the trauma is not resolved or healed, the body can become sick, the quality of life will decline. Mentally, a person will also suffer and may experience symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, rage attacks, addictive behavior and depression. A person may ultimately decline to the point that they risk or loose their life. Often families are negatively affected by unresolved anger and become targets within its range. <br /><br /><strong>When you are made the "target" of anger or abuse, you loose your identity and sense of self.</strong> If a person is exposed to abuse continually, they will eventually adopt the identity of being a “target”. They will change their behavior to suit the needs of the abuser, or suppress their identity as a result of the trauma they have experienced. When you have adopted the identity of a “target” you will make excuses for abuse, or ignore the dysfunction you are living in. Your new identity as “target” exists only to be victimized, so it will seek validation through abusive situations. You may not even realize you are in an abusive situation when the dysfunction becomes normalized. As a result, your identity no longer reflects the person God made you to be, but instead is controlled by what the abuser wants you to be. For the abuser, the "target" is a reflection of their own inner struggles. The target is dumped on because the abuser is avoiding their own problems, avoiding resolution. <strong>In relationships based on fear, intimidation and anger, true love is never experienced. The target is only needed, only has an intimate connection with the abuser when he/she is wrong, inferior, inadequate and a source of blame.</strong> <strong>Until the abuser has sought help, and really worked through their issues, they are not capable of honesty, love or reciprocation.</strong> <strong>The “target” also has to seek help in order to end a cycle of hurting and dysfunctional relationships</strong>. Breaking the cycle requires doing the hard work of seeking resolution (getting help ), and breaking free from the identity a “target” in order to be your true, authentic self.<br /><br />In the book "Heart of the Soul", Gary Zukav and Linda Francis explore the different dimensions of anger and how anger can be healed. I thought these passages were particularily insightful: <br /><br />*(p. 130-131) <em>Discovering anger in yourself, or experiencing it in yourself, is like finding ancient pottery in the desert, or the tops of temples that were built millennia ago and now are buried beneath a surface of sand... Anger is the pottery on the desert floor. It is the trace of a buried building. It points to much greater discoveries waiting to be revealed. Anger is a minor discovery compared with the larger treasures that lie beneath it, waiting to be unearthed.<br /></em><br />Beneath the layers of pain and tragedy, are positive attributes that can be used to rise above challenges or find healing. The legacy of an abusive relationship in a family leaves a lasting impression, that often is felt to the next generations. That impression can be resolved by taking steps to heal the root causes of anger and to find positive ways to cope with challenges. <br /> <br />*<em>Beneath anger lies pain and fear. An individual who is continually angry is in continual pain.</em> The chapter goes on to describe anger rooted in trying to control the world, and make it the way you want it to be (going back to fear--so you feel safe). Talks about rage being rooted in the sense of being powerless. Talks about anger being a sign that you have no self-worth. And talks about identifying issues, to heal the pain and heal yourself.<br /><br />*(p. 137-138) <em>When you feel you are worthless, you are terrified by your life and when you are terrified by your life, you are continually in the pain of trying to shape your life as you think it needs to be. When that pain is acute, you cover it with anger. You strike out at friends and perceived adversaries. You mistake kindness as weakness. You cannot imagine that others care for you because you do not care for yourself. You imprison yourself in a cell that you have created. You blame everyone else for being there.<br /></em><br />In the book "<em>Ordered to Return: My Life After Dying</em>", George G. Ritchie Jr., MD discusses "hell" as being a reality that is self-created. When people remain fixed in anger, resentment, bitterness, and chaos they are creating "Hell". They are living in hell by holding onto negative emotions, thoughts, and energies then acting on them. Hell is the absence of love, having no respect for life or for God. Love is the opposite--life affirming, a connection to God, a sense of joy and happiness. I believe the greatest damage caused by anger is that it creates a divide in which you loose the sense of connection that is your Spirit grounding to life in your physical body, in this physical world. You can be empowered and assertive in constructive ways, without being angry. The difference lies in the foundation you create--whether it is hurtful or respectful.<br /><br />*The chapter on anger ends with facing your lack of self worth. Using anger in constructive ways to confront problems, clearing the way for love to enter your life.<br /><em>(p. 139) Your anger guides you into ever more effective ways of understanding, communicating, and caring. You become a gift to yourself and others. You step into your role as a soul on Earth, awake and aware, joyful and grateful, powerful and creative, compassionate and caring.<br /></em><br />What else can I say..grin..ditto!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Links:</strong><br /><br /><p>Ritchie, George G. Jr, M.D. <em>Ordered to Return: My Life After Dying</em>. Charlottesville, Virginia: Hampton Roads Publishing, 1998. </p><p><strong>Websites About George Ritchie Jr. MD:</strong> <a href="http://www.near-death.com/ritch.html">George Ritchie - near-death experiences</a><br /><br /><strong>Dr. George Ritchie's Near Death Experiences</strong><br /><a href="http://tanaya.net/frpeter/grnde.html">http://tanaya.net/frpeter/grnde.html</a> </p><p></p><p>Zukav, Gary and Francis, Linda. <em>The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness</em>. New York, New York: FIRESIDE, 2002.<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Website: </strong><a title="http://zukav.com/_.aspx" href="http://zukav.com/_.aspx">Seat of the Soul</a><br /><a title="http://zukav.com/" href="http://zukav.com">http://zukav.com</a></p><br /><strong>One of my favorite CDs</strong>-- Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson: 2004. Kelly Clarkson is a pop musician who launched her career on American Idol. The songs on Breakaway deal with love, inner strength and healing from being hurt in relationships. The song “Because of You” has an excellent video about a little girl who grows up in an abusive home, and as a woman is seeking healing so she does not repeat the cycle of abuse with her own daughter. The song “Since You’ve Been Gone” has a funny, sarcastic video about a woman who gets revenge on her ex by breaking into the apartment he shares with his new girlfriend and trashing it (I love the part where Kelly is on stage wearing the ex’s hat and tie as a costume!). Songs on this CD also include: Breakaway, Behind These Hazel Eyes, and Beautiful Disaster (live).<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Website: </strong><a href="http://www.kellyclarkson.com/index.php?">Kelly Clarkson - Official personal website with Kelly Clarkson lyrics, tickets, video, photos, music and more</a>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1145603719055412292006-04-21T00:12:00.000-07:002008-02-24T23:31:56.030-08:00Be Strong * Rise Above<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/ly2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/320/ly2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/photo.1.jpg"></a><br /><br />Some Insights...<br /><br /><br /><em>Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers</em>. ~ Tecumseh, Shawnee, 1808<br /><br />Be strong. Scripture tells us John 14:27,"<em>Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful."</em> Challenges are momentary, passing. To rise above is to keep your focus on God, to turn inward and pray. Prayer doesn't mean that you are passive, and a doormat. Rather, you are aware of your situation but choose to put your energy and focus into God so that you are not just reacting, or responding to emotion but relying on the wisdom and counsel of God for assistance, and working towards your own empowerment.<br /><br /><br />Another thought that has stuck in my mind is that the Chinese character for crisis means "danger" and "opportunity". One interpretation of the Chinese character for crisis is,"<em>Crises bring out both the best and the worst in human beings. During life and death crises, peoples' "personas," the masks they wear during everyday life, fall away and their true faces are exposed for all the world to see.</em> " (Bevin Chu, 10/1/99, <a href="http://thechinadesk.tripod.com/taiwans_great_earthquake.htm">The China Desk - Taiwan's Great Earthquake and the Mandate of Heaven</a>). To rise above is also to see the blessing in life despite the hardship and pain. Those who are truly strong are able to take a negative situation and reshape it into an opportunity for growth, or to be angel to someone in need. I am working to do both.<br /><br /><br />My family is strong! Our faith, our family unity and our smarts have seen us through it all. And I have so many shining examples in my family to get me through any struggle as well.<br /><br />Love & Prayers, LynnFire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1140930457552648132006-02-25T21:02:00.000-08:002006-03-07T12:22:35.686-08:00Martin Families in the 1900 Census-- Summerfield, AlabamaAlso residing in Summerfield were the <strong>Callens </strong>family. Lucy Callens married Sol Green(e). The Green(e) family is cousins to the Martins. Other surnames related to both Martins and Green(e)s are: Ford, King and Phillips.<br /><br /><br /><em>Isaiah 43:5-7 (Good New Bible), "..From the distant east and the farthest west I will bring your people home. I will tell the north to let them go and the south not to hold them back. Let my people return from distant lands, from every part of the world. They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory."<br /></em><br /><br /><strong>Martin Families in the 1900 Census—Summerfield, Alabama<br /></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jim Martin</strong> b. July 1872, farmer<br />married<br /><strong>Lucy Martin</strong> b. May 1880<br />children:<br /><strong>Frank</strong> b. Nov(?) 1896<br /><strong>Hubbard</strong> b. August 1898<br /><strong>Jordan</strong> b. July 1889<br /><br />Next to<br /><br /><strong>Julia Martin</strong> b. May 1882<br /><br />Note: I also have an aunt named Julia Martin (born between 1881-1890). Julia Martin later married <strong>William Phillips</strong> and had a daughter named <strong>Sarah</strong>. Julia had a sister named <strong>Bama</strong> (I have not been able to find Bama in any of the records…it is possible that Bama is a nickname, and the name she was born with is Agnes?). Bama married a man with the last name of <strong>Dock</strong> and had a daughter named <strong>Jane</strong>. I am also related to a <strong>Luke Martin</strong> and a <strong>Jim (Martin or Greene).</strong><br />----------------------------<br /><br /><strong>Emanuel Martin</strong> (African-American family, father is from Alabama, farmer)<br />married<br /><strong>Laura Martin</strong> (father is from North Carolina)<br />children:<br /><strong>George Ann</strong> b. 1873<br /><strong>Mary<br />Mack</strong> b. 1874<br /><strong>Nannie</strong> b. 1876<br /><strong>Robert Lee</strong> b. 1878<br /><br /><br />Next to:<br /><br /><strong>Jordan Martin</strong> b. 1846 (African-American family, father is from North Carolina, mother is from Virginia, farmer)<br />married<br /><strong>Jane</strong> (affectionately named “Judge”) Martin b. 1850 (both parents born in Virginia)<br />children:<br /><strong>Willie</strong> b. 1868<br /><strong>Sarah Jane</strong> b. 1871<br /><strong>James</strong> b. 1873<br /><strong>Agnes</strong> b. 1875<br /><br />Note: Sarah Jane is the mother of my great-grandmother. She married <strong>Simon Robbins</strong>, a neighbor, and had a daughter named <strong>Mary Ella (also called “Mel”).</strong> My Martin relatives are buried at <strong>Wayman’s Chapel (near Four Mile Branch) and Elmwood Cemetery (Selma).</strong> Jordan Martin’s family and Emanuel Martin’s family are recorded as living close to each other in the 1880 census as well.<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br /><br /><strong>Henry Martin</strong> b. 1797 (Euro-American family, father born in North Carolina, farmer)<br />married<br /><strong>Amanda Martin</strong> b. 1832 (father from Alabama, father is from Kentucky)<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br /><strong><br />William Martin</strong> b. 1843 (African-American family, father born in South Carolina, farmer)<br />married<br /><strong>Dosia Martin</strong> b. 1850<br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bob Martin</strong> b. 1825 (African-American family, father from Virginia)<br />married<br /><strong>Rachel Martin</strong> b. 1835 (father from Virginia)<br />children:<br /><strong>Archie</strong> b. 1862<br /><strong>Mary</strong> b. 1866<br /><strong>Jimmie</strong> b. 1869<br /><strong>Bella</strong> b. 1874<br /><br />------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>Joe Martin</strong> b. 1835 (African-American family, father from South Carolina)<br />married:<br /><strong>Caroline Eaves Martin</strong> b. 1835 (both parents from South Carolina)<br />Mother of Caroline Martin is <strong>Lucy Eaves</strong> (both parents from South Carolina)Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1140675131060659932006-02-22T22:07:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:18:45.713-07:00Alabama Church Fires-- A Letter to the ArsonistsFor those setting fire to Alabama churches…<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Faith is forged by fire. One day you will be called to the very flames you have set. On that day of judgment smoke will fill your lungs until you speak the truth, and are held accountable for what you have done.</em></strong> Until that day, you will carry a legacy of pain and ruin. Your conscious is scorched by your acts of arson. The only way to be free of this legacy is to turn yourself in. For every church you have set fire to, for every tear that has been shed, turn to God and beg for forgiveness. No person is beyond redemption. Then turn to the police, and confess your crimes. <strong><em>You will never be free from the horror of what you have done until you take responsibility for your actions, and seek to heal the hurt you have caused.</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em>The churches you have set fire to are more than buildings, they are places where the community has come together to find support in God and in each other.</em></strong> Our ancestors have built these churches as a reminder for the values we believe in, and as a visible way we can connect to our heritage. These churches represent our devotion; as places where were shared sacred experiences with God—in prayer, in confession, in worship, in celebrations that marked our lives with a marriage, a Baptism or a funeral. For a time we will grieve. For a time we will be devastated. But our faith is strong, and cannot be kicked in. We now stand as pillars amid the ruins. We will rebuild. <strong><em>But understand we are much more than the church. As Christians, our work, our spirituality goes beyond the walls of the church. As Christians, we believe in hard work, charity and sacrifice. Our faith is a blazing flame that will kindle the world with the hope and redemption of God’s love.<br /></em></strong><br /><br />At times faith is tested so that we may grow and mature. Remember the lesson of King Nebuchadnezzar who tried to get the people of Babylon to worship an empty statue made of gold. When Shadrach, Mesach and Abendago refused to bow down to the statue, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be thrown into a fiery furnace. These three brave men so believed that God would protect them that they did not fight, did not flee. King Nebuchadnezzar thought he would show God his might, and threw more kindling into the furnace so it burned seven times hotter. Then Shadrach, Mesach and Abendago where thrown into the furnace while still alive. The flames were so hot that they burned up the guards who threw them in, and their bodies writhed and turned to ash. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendago fell into the heart of the fire unharmed. They did not burn or even smell of smoke. God had sent an angel to protect them. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendago walked out of that furnace even stronger, filled with the fire of faith. King Nebuchadnezzar tore down all the idols and ordered that all the people of Babylon worship the one, true God. <strong><em>Many people have been hurt by the fires you have set. Many communities were devastated by the loss. What remains, untouched and pure, is our faith. With faith working through us, we will overcome this challenge. I believe that God will transform the hurt, anger and grief to serve a greater purpose. </em></strong><br /><br /><br />The fires you set will not redeem you or ease your pain. Faith cannot be forced by kicking open doors or setting fire to churches. Faith is a choice, and the dedication to stick with that choice even when you are challenged. <strong><em>You are hiding now but God knows what you have done, and one day you will be held accountable. On that day of judgment you have two choices: to stand in fear or to stand strong, knowing that you have committed a terrible wrong but have taken responsibility for your actions, and worked to heal the hurts you have caused.</em></strong> You can spend the rest of your life lying and hiding. I guarantee that choice will not make you happy, and you will carry a terrible weight in your conscious. You will forever be alone because you will be hiding a secret that will keep you from getting close to anyone—not your family, not your spouse, not your children. Or you can make a change—starting now. <strong><em>Walk into a police station and confess your crimes. If you take responsibility for setting the churches on fire, and work towards justice, your life will be transformed. To take that step, you must confess your crimes—every fire that you have set. Turn away from darkness, from hurting others.</em></strong> Let the fire of faith light your life.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Thoughts on Fire & Faith:<br /></strong><br />“Let your fire feed on all my disbelief. Cause you are all I need. You’re contagious, like a blaze I can’t contain. It never fades away; it’s sunshine through the rain. That’s what your love is. “<br />– Krystal Meyers, <em>Fire</em>. <a href="http://www.krystalmeyers.com">www.krystalmeyers.com</a><br /><br /><br />Psalm 146:5-9 (Good News Bible),” Happy is the man who has the God of Jacob to help him and who depends on the Lord his God, the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them. He always keeps his promises; he judges in favor of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind. He lifts those who have fallen and loves his righteous people. He protects the strangers who live in our land; he helps the widows and orphans, but ruins the plans of the wicked.”<br /><br /><br />“If you are a friend of God, fire is your water. You should wish to have a hundred thousand sets of mothwings, so you could burn them away, one set a night. The moth sees the light and goes into the fire. You should see fire and go toward the light. Fire is what of God is world-consuming. Water, world-protecting.” –Rumi, <em>The Question</em>.<br /><br />1 Peter, Chapter 1:6-8 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials that the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."<br /><br /><br />Lynn Mari, ©2006<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Matthew Cloyd, Russel DeBusk Jr and Benjamin Mosely have been charged with setting fire to several churches in Bibb County, Green County, Pickens County and Sumter County, Alabama. Charge two of the indictment deals with the arson of Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield. Five of the churches that were burned were destroyed, four were damaged. All the churches had similiar patterns in how the fires were set around the alter. The three friends said they began to set fires as a "joke". When the arson investigation began to intensify Cloyd, Mosely and DeBusk set fires in other counties to divert attention, in an attempt to throw the investigation off their trail. Despite the attempt at creating a diversion, forensic evidence led ATF investigators to the culprits. Tire tracks from Cloyd's Toyota were found at the scene of six church fires.<br /><br />Thank you to the ATF, police fire investigators and prosecutors who are working on this case! Also want to extend my thanks to those offering their prayers, and those who assisted this investigation with leads or information.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060308101409990024&ncid=NWS00010000000001">AOL News - Three Students Arrested in Alabama Church Fires</a><a href="http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/arson/uscloyd30806cmp.html"> </a><br /><br />FindLaw: Federal Arson Charges Against 3 Suspects Accused of Setting Fire to Alabama Churches<br /><a href="http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/arson/uscloyd30806cmp.html">http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/arson/uscloyd30806cmp.html</a>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1139969287844741452006-02-14T18:04:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:16:18.770-07:00First Love, First Valentine by CiBelle<div align="right"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/Mariposa.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/320/Mariposa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>First Love, First Valentine<br /></strong><br />February is here and love is in the air.<br />Red and pink hearts showing up everywhere.<br /><br />As I ponder on this coming valentine Day,<br />There are some things I just have to say.<br /><br />You, Mama, were my very first love,<br />I was your daughter sent from God above.<br /><br />It is important that I express my heart,<br />For that’s where you have been<br />right from the start.<br /><br />I have spent sixty-one Valentines here on Earth.<br />The first was three months before my birth.<br /><br />There was no pretty heart-shaped balloon,<br />For I was snuggled safe within your womb.<br /><br />Our two hearts beat as one,<br />Your gift of love I had become.<br /><br />Your eyes were the first I looked into,<br />As your arms held me close to you.<br /><br />From the moment your eyes met mine,<br />Our hearts were forever intertwined.<br /><br />Soul to soul our love did grow,<br />Beyond the depth either of us were to know.<br /><br />They say wisdom comes with age,<br />As shown from the words upon this page.<br /><br />Mama, my love for you will forever shine,<br />For you will always be my first Valentine.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />Happy Valentines 2006<br />All My Love Now & Forever, Your “Sweet Glad”<br />GlaDienne “CiBelle of the One Heart” ©2006</div>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1139211105499916602006-02-05T23:30:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:18:07.890-07:00My First Christmas Without MommaAs the tears fell down<br />Like snow upon my face<br />No marker on your grave<br />As I stood in this empty place<br /><br />Momma, if I could hold you now<br />As you once held me<br />A broken heart, a name up in lights<br />for the entire town to see<br /><br />So alone, not invited to your memorial<br />By my supposed family<br />Momma if I could hold you now…<br />But am only comforted by memory<br /><br />In your final days<br />There was so much pain<br />No food, no water<br />I begged for just a drop of rain<br /><br />Momma, a dream has haunted me<br />Please help me understand<br />The images calling out to me--<br />My small hand held by a much larger hand<br /><br />When the hand let go<br />I began to pray<br />I never have felt so alone<br />Two days later you slipped away<br /><br />Momma, I searched for you<br />An unmarked grave buried in snow<br />Please help me forgive<br />So in spring my heart will grow.<br /><br /><br />Lynn Mari, ©2006Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1138148762266257192006-01-24T16:16:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:19:35.126-07:00Children and God<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/baby.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/320/baby.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do you know that?"<br /><em>"Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Priest said, 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."</em><br /><span style="color:#993399;">?°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°</span><br /><br /><br />After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, "Mom, I've decided to become a minister when I grow up."<br />"That's okay with us, but what made you decide that?"<br />"Well," said the little boy, "I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell, than to sit and listen."<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><br />A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service: "And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us."<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><br /><br />A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon. "<br />How do you know what to say?" he asked.<br />"Why, God tells me." the father replied.<br />"Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><br /><br />After the Christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong.Finally, Johnny replied, "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys!"<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??</span><br /><br /><br />Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent.<br />"The Flight to Egypt," was his reply.<br />Pointing at each figure, Ms. Terri said, "That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. But who's the fourth person?"<br />"Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot."<br /><span style="color:#993399;">? ?°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°?</span><br /><br /><br />The Sunday School Teacher asks, "Now, Lisa, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating?"<br />"No sir," little Lisa replies, I don't have to. My mom is a good cook."<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><br /><br />A college drama group presented a play in which one character would stand on a trap door and announce, "I descend into hell!"A stagehand below would then pull a rope, the trapdoor would spring, and the actor would drop from view.The play was well received. When the actor playing the part became ill, another actor who was quite overweight took his place. When the new actor announced, "I descend into hell!" the stagehand pulled the rope, and the actor began his plunge, but became hopelessly stuck. No amount of tuggingon the rope could make him descend.One student in the balcony jumped up and yelled: "Hallelujah! Hell is full!"<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><br /><br />A little girl was sitting on her grandfather's lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again.<br />Finally she spoke up, "Grandpa, did God make you?"<br />"Yes, sweetheart," he answered, "God made me a long time ago."<br />"Oh," she paused, "Grandpa, did God make me too?"<br />"Yes, indeed, honey," he said, "God made you just a little while ago."<br />Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, "God's getting better at it, isn't he?"<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o?</span><br /><br /><br />Davin asked me why it seems like God doesn't answer all of his prayers. I explained to Davin that God does answer his prayers but that God also gives us room to make choices in life, and gives us room to do the work needed to make our lives better. I then asked Davin to imagine would happen if God answered everyone's prayers so well that no one would ever have to work. What would it be like if Bob the Builder (one of his favorite cartoons) said a prayer to help get a house built and then God came down and built the whole house for Bob. What would happen then, would Bob be a builder anymore? Davin thinks for just a second then replies,"<em>Bob would sit in his underwear all day and watch TV!</em>".<br /><span style="color:#993399;">??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o??°'°??o,,,,o??°'°??o? </span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><p><br /></span></p>Jaelynn's favorite bedtime prayer: <em>I love you from the top of your head...to the tips of your toes...to inside your heart and into the light of your soul. </em><p>I always touch the top of her head, and then her toes. By the time I get to Jaelynn's heart, she is laughing and wriggling all over! </p><p><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Special thanks to my dear friend, and adopted grandmother, Beryl, for passing this on. Sending LOTS of love your way! </span></em></strong></p>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1138147154928105322006-01-24T15:55:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:20:04.463-07:00Stolen Moment of FaithI grew up in the Midwest, in a small town clustered on the bend of a river. I grew up with traditions that emphasized the importance of conformity. Within the church, it is believed that you were born a sinner and could only be saved with repentance, giving your life to the established doctrine, to become a "good Christian". Within the family, church values continue with an emphasis on showing a good face to the outside world. To avoid bringing shame on the family, you hide the <em>sinful</em> nature of your <em>true self</em>. Any difference of family or church values is dealt with in strict silence. Silence is used to smother the problem. Without oxygen the problem will slowly shrivel until it is forgotten. Without the energy of expression, the problem will atrophy like a useless limb, dejectedly hanging off the psyche. Traditions demand projecting a "good face" rather than admitting a weakness. Weakness will divide the family, bringing sin into its protective circle. Silence is a resilient buffer that serves to exile those who stray. Silence kept the outside world from penetrating the community circle. In this way, what is not acknowledged does not exist. Life is carefully constructed around an ideal that has been carefully maintained for generations.<br /><br />From the time I was a young girl, I was very independant. Left on my own, I liked to venture in the woods or could be found with my nose in a book. The neighbors were wary of my family, we were poor and living in public housing: a sure sign of "trouble". I did not like their prissy daughters who kissed trees as their "boyfriends" and played with expensive dolls with fish eyes. My clothes were hand-me-downs. With a mighty exhale I could pop the button of my too-tight jeans. My scrawny arms stuck out of the scant sleeves of my shirt like a palm tree reaching for the sun. My hair defied bows and barrettes by sticking up; I am "different". My childhood memories are conflicting images: of my inner world and the façade I was expected to show.<br /><br />I was so proud to receive my First Communion, yet had many questions as to who this All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Seeing-God-guy was. Bible school was interesting, but I wasn’t satisfied with what I was learning. I vividly recall walking to the front of the church, where the pews and somber stained glass windows were clouded by spicy scented smoke rising from censers. Under the flickering candles, I knelt before a priest who whispered words in Latin; words I did not understand but I felt a sacred rhythm spiral around my body. I tilted my head to receive the Communion wafer, a dry circle upon my tongue. I was careful not to bite into the wafer, not to swallow. Instead I carried the wafer on my tongue, back to the hard seat of the pew, and spat it into my upturned palm.<br /><br />As my finger traced the lines of the delicate cross cut into the wafer, Reba Jeanne hissed at me, <em>"You're not supposed to take that! I'll tell!"</em> Reba Jeanne was named after a Country music star and a Saint, as a result she prayed in a nasally twang, and her conscious two-stepped between purity and rancor.<br />Reba Jeanne became my enemy when she kicked my brother between the legs with the pointed, metal toe of her Patsy Cline-wanna-be boots. My brother did not fall to pieces. Instead, he became a man in the eyes of schoolyard boys because he withstood the lethal blow without shedding one tear.<br /><em>" What's the use in telling? ", I taunted, "God already knows what I've done!"</em>I saved the wafer until after mass. I then took the wafer outside church, holding it up to the sky, in all of its paper-thin glory. I wondered if God would strike me down, or if He would send Reba Jeanne to finish me off. When nothing happened, I was convinced that God was not sitting on a throne in Heaven judging people, and weighing sins on a gilt scale. As I closed my fingers over the wafer, warmth filled my palm.<br /><br />From that moment on, I began to trust in my spiritual sense. The warmth of the wafer in my palm was so reassuring. Instead of damnation I was met with a sense of peace. The turmoil I felt was lifted away. As a child, I reasoned that God gave people a spiritual sense (or intuition) to reward faith, to reward the hard work of going beyond fixed traditions. Intuition provides a connection to what is not readily seen. I wondered if people were not meant to see everything. With sight comes the impulse to judge, to measure, to sell a new product displayed by a bony model in a string bikini. <strong><em>By not seeing, we question, search, and are led into vast horizons.</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br /><em>Lynn Mari, ©2006</em>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1137029475692933202006-01-11T17:21:00.000-08:002008-02-24T23:33:04.804-08:00Follow Our Hearts: The Spiritual Legacy of Family Bonds<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/JH2.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/200/JH2.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />“<em>The knowledge of what has always been remains in us, as part of his (God’s) plan for us. Sometimes we call it intuition, at other times we call it inspiration. When we follow our hearts, when we are in tune and balanced, and when we listen to the still inner voice within us…we ‘know’. These gifts and abilities are stored in our cells—our cellular memory—and they include the experiences and lessons learned by our ancestors, which are also imprinted in every cell of our body. We pass those memories to our children and then to later generations; these include both genetic and spiritual memories...”</em> Betty J. Eadie, The Awakening Heart (p. 53).<br /><br /><br />In researching my family history, and collecting these stories, I often felt that I was guided to learn something. Sometimes I received a message from a dream. Sometimes an unusual “coincidence” revealed something, or led me to a place important for to my work. Sometimes, through extraordinary events people were brought into my life to provide help, an insight or an answer. <em>This could all be just chance or perhaps there is something more…a spiritual purpose unfolding?</em><br /><br />In The Awakened Heart, Betty J. Eadie (who writes about what she learned from a near death experience, and how it changed her life) theorizes that all people are spiritual beings living a physical life on Earth. As part of the human experience, a person has a “veil” placed between the spiritual and earthly worlds so that person is able to experience free will, and other lessons presented in the earthly world. These lessons are provided so that the spirit will mature and fulfill a special purpose here on Earth. Though the “veil” exists, if a person freely and consciously chooses they can tap into their spiritual gifts and abilities. I believe that just as you can choose to tap into your spiritual gifts, and inner power, you can open the “veil” to connect to your ancestry. The experiences and connections of family leave a lasting imprint on our identity, even if we are not aware of this imprint. When you choose to connect to your family (by conducting family research, practicing family traditions, or passing down a family legacy, etc.) or your heritage, a part of the “veil” is lifted. A part you is brought closer to the distant past, and the people whose lives shaped your own.<br /><br /><strong>These are a few stories of interesting events that brought me closer to my family, not only in a physical reunion but also by revealing a more significant message.<br /></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>My Guardian Angel</strong><br /><br />As a little girl, I knew I had a special guardian angel watching over me. I didn’t know her name but I felt her presence from time to time—gentle, reassuring. She saw beyond my rough exterior—buckteeth protruding from a belligerent smile, wild hair curling in all directions, faded jeans splotched with mud. I really think if she could get hold of me I would be tied to a chair and scrubbed clean. I would imagine the sharp bristles of her brush tearing through my hair then the steady tug and pull of my hair being smoothed into braids. I imagined being dunked into a tub of hot, foamy water as she scowled over the state of my clothing. She would know how to sew the hand-me-downs into new condition. I might even be scolded for the way I presented myself. She saw the best of me—the little girl I was afraid to be. Throughout my life I would feel her presence or have dreams of her, my guardian angel.<br /><br />Who was this guardian angel? She was revealed to me as a real person when I was six years old. In one of the most vivid memories from childhood, I remember visiting with my father (who was separated from my mom) and showing him a flyer printed on purple paper from the YMCA. The flyer announced a father-daughter event, which had a Native American theme. People of color were definitely a minority in the town I grew up in; I was probably one of the first racially mixed children born in this town. I don’t recall any Native American families living in this town. The only time I would see Native American people come to town would be once a year, when a pow-wow was held at the campground, which used to be a Dakota settlement. So, of course, this event hosted by the YMCA symbolized a stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans—a romanticized version where little girls could be Indian princesses and their fathers, brave warrior chiefs. At the time I didn’t care about anything of that, I just wanted to hang out with my father.<br /><br />My father almost never spoke about his family or what his life was like growing up. I can only remember two or three occasions that my father ever mentioned anything to do with family. On this special occasion, my father looks at the flyer and says to me, “I have a picture of my <em>mother</em> and father that I am going to show to you.” I felt a tingly feeling—a really strong feeling. Something inside of me just connected with the word “<em>mother</em>”. I knew then that my guardian angel was my grandmother, though I didn’t know her name. My father never did show me that picture, never did take me to the father-daughter day at the YMCA. What he gave me was unintentional, yet profound—I knew who my angel was.<br /><br /><strong><br />Nile: Sista Gal & the Sight</strong><br /><br />My cousin Nile is like a sister to me. We have been separated all of our lives because we live so far apart, and a series of events kept our two families separated. Nile’s father, Uncle Roo is my father’s oldest brother. Uncle Roo was raised in Alabama while my father was raised in Indiana with his other seven siblings. My aunts and uncles in Indiana made an effort to reach out to Nile and I, to include us in the family circle (thank-you so much…my life is truly blessed!). After an uncle told Nile about me, and gave her my<br />e-mail address, we connected over the internet and our bond began from there. Eventually I was able to visit Nile in Alabama, but that’s another story…<br /><br />Nile grew up hearing old gospel songs sung to her by Big Momma (our great-grandmother), Aunt Julia and other older relatives. Nile told me that these songs were passed down from generations of our family, that they were sung as our ancestors picked cotton in the fields. Nile has a strong sense of faith; it has been the one constant in her life. Nile also believes in what she calls “the sight”—intuition. Nile experiences “the sight” as a strong feeling, sometimes a dream or brief vision, sometimes a voice talking to her. Since I also believe in intuition, its one of the things that has brought us closer together as sisters.<br /><br />Nile and I would often practice using our intuition. One of us would ask the other a question and we would answer—using only what intuition provided us with. When I visited Nile in Alabama, we were sitting on her coach, asking questions in this way. Nile asked me if I believed that spirits of loved ones who passed away would watch over us. I replied “yes”. Then Nile asked who her spirit guides were. I settled myself and focused on her question. What came to me was the name “Jane” then I saw a big, white house that looked worn down. Wood was exposed in some places. I saw a gathering of all these people coming forward—and I knew these people were our ancestors. Nile said she never heard of a “Jane” and didn’t like the idea of people coming to her! Through a remarkable “coincidence”, Nile and I would later connect with an older cousin who told us about our family history. I then began to search for the names he mentioned by using the Ancestry census. I was able to trace our family tree to 1870, to the grandparents whose roots we all sprung from: Jordan and Jane Martin. In our family, my grandmother Jane was never called by her birth name, instead a nickname—“Judge” was used. We also found the white house at a site where our family worked as croppers. I can’t say for sure if our ancestors are guiding our genealogy work, and giving us help when we need but I would like to believe this is true.<br /><br />About a year later—in 2002—I was talking with Nile on the phone. We were giggling like girls, and rolling our eyes at the latest antics of our children. Out of nowhere, Nile shouts, “I smell a baby!” I had no idea what she was talking about. My first thought was to make sure my son was not getting into trouble. Looking all over the house, I saw nothing amiss. Nile was so insistent, “I smell a baby!” I just couldn’t convince her that what she was saying didn’t make any sense. It would be another year before I would understand what Nile was telling me…<br /><br /><br /><strong>Coming Home: Uncle Lee<br /></strong><br />When I visited Alabama for the first time, in May 2001 I really felt “at home”. As I drove away from the Atlanta airport, and headed into the countryside, a part of me felt so excited and yet so at peace. There was so much I wanted to see and do to catch up on the all years I had been away. My family was gathering for the annual Ford-Morton reunion and I looked forward to getting to know my relatives. The heart of the reunion was Uncle Lee, who had a gift for bringing people together. Uncle Lee helped reconnect Nile and I, and when I would have questions he was the once I would call first.<br /><br />Uncle Lee is a tall man, who wears a jaunty driving cap. He has a smile that lights up his whole face and a deep, rumbling laugh. He likes to golf and though competition can get feisty, the game is always played in a fun spirit. Uncle Lee’s wife is my Aunt Rae. This year, Aunt Rae did not attend the reunion due to illness so Uncle Lee would not be staying in Alabama for very long, he wanted to get back home to her. Uncle Lee is the second oldest of the Ford children, he knew where the places important to our family are located. There was a small farm near Brent where my grandparents lived for a time; my grandfather kept hogs and cattle there. Uncle Lee, my father and some of their siblings also lived on this farm for a time. I think the farm was near a railroad tracks. The farm is gone now but the brick chimney and part of the foundation is said to remain. There is the Cooper cemetery outside of Centreville where my grandmother is buried. And, of course, all the stories Uncle Lee would tell on the way… I told Uncle Lee that I was having dreams about my grandmother and he replied that Aunt Rae was too. Uncle Lee told me how to get to the Cooper cemetery and said he was sorry that he could not travel with me this year because he had to get back home. Next year, Uncle Lee promised, we will go to all of those places.<br /><br />Next year I was in Indiana attending the funeral of Uncle Lee—who died suddenly of a heart attack. Uncle Lee died in Centreville, not too far from all the places we were to visit. He died on July 7th, one day after his birthday (Uncle Lee was born in the home of his maternal grandfather, Big Poppa, who worked for the Coopers). The farm he lived on, as a boy was not too far away. The cemetery his mother is buried in is also not too far away. And ironically, Uncle Lee was attending a family reunion for his mother’s side of the family when he died so suddenly. Family had been so important to Uncle Lee; I couldn’t help but to think that he had come home.<br /><br />In Indiana, the funeral for Uncle Lee was festive, a celebration of his life and all the gifts he had passed on. I was raised Catholic and never seen such a warm, joyous funeral. I had never seen all-out singing and dancing in a church. I had never seen the preacher leave the pulpit to shout his praise to the crowd. To be honest, I was ready for a change—the service was deeply moving. Family gathered at Aunt Rae’s house, her kitchen was stacked floor to ceiling with food. The neighbors were so sweet to do the cooking. The funeral brought us together as a family, and many memories were shared. It truly was an honor to Uncle Lee to celebrate his life in this way.<br /><br /><strong>A year later, our family would be blessed with the birth of my second child. My daughter, Jaelynn was born on July 7th</strong>—the anniversary of Uncle Lee’s death and later, I found out, also to be the birthday of a very special uncle. I had reconnected with this uncle through the efforts of Uncle Lee, who, before his death, made sure that I would know the elders of the family. I can only hope to carry on the legacy he started with my research and this web page. <strong>And Nile—I believe you now—grin.<br /></strong><br /><p><strong></strong></p><p><em>Lynn Mari, ©2006</em></p><br /><br /><br /><strong><em>More on Betty J. Eadie:</em> <a href="http://embracedbythelight.com/index.htm">Embraced By The Light: The Official Betty J. Eadie Web Site</a> </strong><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://embracedbythelight.com/index.htm">http://embracedbythelight.com/index.htm</a></strong></p>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1137009063607142332006-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:21:30.003-07:00The Family Quilt- Ford, Martin and Green(e)<strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Welcome to Alabama!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br />Spanish moss offers momentary shade from the relentless heat, the red earth is warmed by the blazing arrows of the sun. I am invited into my cousin, Nile's kitchen, we are wild and sassy together causing much embarassment to our children. The kitchen is heavy with the aroma of macaroni baking in the oven, a layer of cheese bubbling on top. Ribs sizzle in rich BBQ sauce. Nile and I playfully argue about the secret to good BBQ (I use vanilla in mine). Having been separated for so long, Nile and I have much to discuss.<br /><br />Eventually our talks lead us outside to the rugged backroads, overgrown cememtaries and ghostly auction block of Cahaba. We find relatives who are generous with stories, talking until our voices are but a whisper. We search the internet and historical records, the connection to family guides our every step. Too late we realize the food has been left behind, the kids are throwing a house party, and in the middle of nowhere is not the place to be when the needle is on empty. If you have ever felt the connection to family you will understand the pull of blood and spirit is powerful. We moved on currents to find each other, and in our reunion is the greater purpose to honor our kin--to record their lives and stories. There are still unanswered questions, and relatives lost to time and distance. When Nile and I find our way back to the table, I hope to see many faces. I hope the warmth in the room is more than the food baking in the oven but the warmth of pride from our ancestors watching over us.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FORDS IN PERRYVILLE:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br /><strong>There are three main groups of Fords in the area of Perryville and Sprott, this is my line-</strong><br />Caroline Ford b. 1825, both parents from Georgia. Had 15-18 children, and began a line of Fords living in Perryville. Was widowed.<br /><br />Her son, Paul Ford m. Laura Radford on Feb. 8, 1878. When Laura died, Paul Ford married a woman named Lucretia.<br /><br />Children of Paul Ford and Spouses: Johnie D, Allie D, Arthur, Genie, Willie, Bettie, Joe, Columbus, Jesse, Millie.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FORDS IN DALLAS COUNTY:</span></em></strong><br /><br />Several Fords moved to Dallas County (Summerfield, Valley Creek, Selma, Pleasant Hill)including Willie and John Ford. Much later, some of these Fords from Perryville and Dallas county moved to Indiana. Many Ford are buried in College Hill in Summerfield.<br /><br />Of my Ford relatives in Dallas County are Pettus Ford, a farmer. Pettus Ford married Mary Ella Martin and in Jan. 1910, my grandfather Robert "Bud" Ford was born. Other children of Pettus Ford are Herman and Annie (Jug) and possibly a daughter named Sylvester who worked at Sears. Herman disappeared, and may have moved to the Birmingham area. I have many Ford relatives who live in Birmingham.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">THE MYSTERY OF CALLIE MARTIN</span></em></strong>:<br /><br />I have found a 1910 Census record for Selma that lists a Callie Martin as living with Mary Ella, Robert, Herman and a Hubbard and Earnest...all her children. The coincedences between these names is strong but who is Callie Martin? The Martin clan is large, is she kin? Mary Ella was orphaned as a child, did Callie take her in? What happened to Hubbard and Earnest? My great-grandmother Mary Ella also worked as cook. She was very young when she gave birth to my grandfather, Robert. Was she taken in with her baby by a relative?:<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FORDS, MARTINS AND GREEN(E)S:</span></em></strong><br /><br />An older relative told me that the brother of Pettus Ford married into the Green(e) family. The Greens are also cousins to the Martins. John Ford married a woman named Ola and had several children who lived on a farm in Valley Creek. One of his sons married into the family of Sol and Lucy Green. The children of Sol and Lucy Green are also first cousins to Mary Ella Martin. One of their children, Ms. Hollis helped with this research, and to her I will be forever grateful.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">IMPORTANT PLACES</span></em></strong><br /><br />*Slave auctions were held in Cahaba, once the capitol of AL.<br />*The largest Martin plantation I have found is the estate of AJ Martin, a resident of Orrville. He held 79 slaves. There were an estimated 15 Black families living on the plantation of AJ Martin.<br />*The Martin family lived in Woodlawn and Summerfield. The grandparents of Mary Ella Martin were Jordan and Jane (Judge) Martin. They had many children including Sarah Jane, Willie, James, Agnes, Bama, Luke and Julia.<br />*Some of the Martins ground corn, as slaves, in Keenan's Mill.<br />*Some of the Martins are buried in Wayman's Chapel near Four Mile Branch or in Elmwood Cemetary in Selma.<br />*Mary Ella Martin worked as a cook for the James Crawford family, living on Rangeline Road in Valley Creek. As a child, Robert was called "Spicey" or "Bud/Buddy".<br />*Later Mary Ella worked the Stringer Place in Pleasant Hill.<br />*The Greens worked the land of the John and Vesta Morgan family. They lived on Summerfield Road in Valley Creek.<br /><br />Lynn Mari, ©2005<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?Drop me a line! I am still doing research, and look forward to hearing from you. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY</span></em></strong>!<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">My Geocities Page: <a title="http://www.geocities.com/graceofwynn/ALgenealogy.html" href="http://www.geocities.com/graceofwynn/ALgenealogy.html">http://www.geocities.com/graceofwynn/ALgenealogy.html</a> </span></em></strong><br /><br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Special Thanks to Tom Blake, your Slaveholder & African-American surname page is a treasure: </span><a href="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ajac/">Slaveholders and African Americans 1860-1870</a></p><a href="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ajac/">http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ajac/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></em></strong>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1135020996817614092005-12-19T11:28:00.000-08:002006-01-11T17:21:10.563-08:00Inspirational Quotes, Compiled by CiBelle<strong>Self Reflection</strong><br /><br />1. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi<br /><br />2. As the plant springs from and could not be without<br />the seed, so every act of a man springs from the<br />hidden thoughts and could not have appeared<br />without them. James Allen<br /><br />3. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7<br /><br />4. A man can be either a Buddha or a beast within<br />his own mind. The Book of Buddha<br /><br />5. I’ve known countless people who were reservoirs<br />of learning yet never had a thought. Wilson Mizner<br /><br />6. But the counselor, the Holy Spirits, whom the father<br />will send in my name he will teach all things. John 14:26<br /><br />7. Liberty of thought is the life of the soul. Voltaire<br /><br />8. A man who reforms himself has contributed his<br />full share towards the reformation<br />of his neighbor. Norman Douglas<br /><br />9. The only conquest which are permanent and leave<br />no regrets are our conquests over ourselves. Napolean Bonoparte<br /><br />10. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds. Ephesians 4:23<br /><br />11. Our opinion of people depends less upon what we<br />see in them than upon what they make us see in<br />ourselves. Sara Grand<br /><br />12. I shall understand fully even as I have been fully<br />understood. 1 Corinthians 13:12<br /><br />13. Do not be conformed to this world but be<br />Transformed by the renewal of your mind… Romans 12:2<br /><br />14. The door to the human heart can be opened only<br />from the inside. Author Unknown<br /><br />15. Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness<br />anger concealed often hardens into revenge.<br />Edward G. Buliver Lipton<br /><br />16. Hearing is one of the body’s fine senses, but<br />listening is an art. Frank Tyger<br /><br />17. I have never met an aggressive person who wasn’t<br />a fearful person. John Bradshaw<br /><br />18. A gentle tongue is a tree of life… Proverbs 15:4<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>“Oneness” The Human Race</strong><br /><br />1. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither<br />slave nor free, there is neither male nor female,<br />for you are all one in Christ.<br /><br />This is the way Christ and God sees all of his<br />children, not just Christians. Galatians 3:28<br /><br />2. Are you looking for the Holy One? I am in the<br />Next seat. My shoulder is against yours. Kafir<br /><br />3. If God is thy father, man is thy brother. Lamertine<br /><br />4. Maturing is the process by which the individual<br />is conscious of the equal importance of each of<br />his fellow men. Alvin Goeser<br /><br />5. … All of you are children of the most High. Psalms 82:6<br /><br />6. The law says “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God<br />with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with<br />all thy strength and with all thy mind… and<br />thy neighbor as thy self." Luke 10:27<br /><br /><br /><strong>Compassion Loving Kindness<br /></strong><br />1. Loving kindness gives birth to a natural compassion.<br />The compassionate heart holds the pain and the<br />sorrow of our life and of all beings with mercy and<br />tenderness. It is the tender heart that has the<br />power to transform the world. Chögyam Trungpa<br /><br />2. Embracing both joy and sorrow, our heart can<br />remain tender and wise.<br /><br />We can walk through the darkest night with<br />the radiant conviction that all things work<br />together for the good. Martin Luther King Jr.<br /><br />3. I always felt sorry for people afraid of feeling,<br />of sentimentality, who are unable to weep with<br />their whole heart. Because those who do not<br />know how to weep do not know how to laugh<br />either. Golda Meir<br /><br />4. The meeting of two personalities is like the<br />contact of two chemical substances: if there<br />is any reaction, both are transformed. Carl Jung<br /><br />5. ….Comfort one another… 1 Thessalonians 4:18<br /><br />6. We are all so much together but we are dying<br />of loneliness. Albert Schweitzer<br /><br />7. You give but little when you give of your<br />passions. It is when you give of yourself that<br />you truly give. Kahlil Gibran<br /><br />8. The point is this: He who sows sparingly will<br />also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully<br />will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6<br /><br />9. … Having compassion one for another… 1 Peter 3:8<br /><br />10. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Ralph Waldo Emerson<br /><br /><br /><strong>Making Judgments</strong><br /><br />1. Judgments are our personal ego reactions to the<br />sights, sounds, feelings, and thoughts within<br />our experiences. W Timothy Gallway<br /><br />2. First take the log out of your eye and you will<br />see clearly to take the speck out of your<br />brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5<br /><br />3. Judgments block learning from and acceptance<br />of what exists and create emotional reaction<br />that have consequences in themselves: guilt,<br />defensiveness, immobility. To become<br />nonjudgmental as I’ve come to understand<br />it, is to see clearly and add nothing to the facts.<br />It does not mean ignoring flaws, errors and<br />mistakes; it simply means not adding<br />anything to them. Bobbi Sims<br /><br />4. Judge not that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1<br /><br />5. Examine the contents, not the bottle. The Talmud<br /><br /><br /><strong>Peace<br /></strong><br />1. God did not play dice with the universe. Albert Einstein<br /><br />2. Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to<br />teach peace, to live peace… Peace will be<br />the last word of history. John Paul II<br /><br /><br /><strong>The True Teacher<br /></strong><br /><br />1. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you to enter<br />the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you<br />to the threshold of your own mind. Kahlil Gibran<br /><br />2. In this passage Christ was speaking metaphorically<br />about meditating on the word that you may come<br />to the fullness of your understanding.<br /><br />3. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to<br />Simon, “put out into the deep and let down<br />Your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1135020416552043652005-12-19T11:19:00.000-08:002005-12-19T11:48:37.133-08:00Holiday Blessing & Prayers from CiBelle<p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/Sunset.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/200/Sunset.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Holiday Blessing</strong><br /><br />Today, is the Day, Now is the time,<br />To live in joy and let your life shine.<br /><br />Open your heart and do your part,<br />Let your compassion flow,<br />Like a love-filled dart,<br />Sent from the Divine archer’s bow.<br /><br />We are all “One,”<br />But humanity has remained undone,<br />Let your being fill with “Light,”<br />As you sing the carol “Oh Holy Night.”<br /><br />In doing this we shall be,<br />The heaven on Earth we wish to see.<br />Our hearts shall sing with love,<br />As we are blessed from above.<br /><br />Gods love-filled “Lights” we shall become,<br />Upon the tree of life as “One,”<br />Peace, Love, & harmony will be the norm.<br />Our Beautiful Planet shall be free from harm.<br /><br />Manifesting, “As above so below,”<br />Holiday Blessings will continue to flow,<br />Long after the ground is free from snow.<br /><br /><br /><br />“CiBelle of the One Heart♥”<br />©2005<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>THE DIVINE PLAN</strong><br /><br /><br />Violet flame burning bright<br />Transmuting all into light.<br />Accepting both the light<br />And the dark, merging<br />Them into the human heart.<br /><br />I walk the middle way. In<br />Gods power day by day.<br />Accepting all that “IS”<br />Being in the present where<br />God lives.<br /><br />All that I have and all that<br />I am are manifestations of<br />God’s divine plan.<br /><br />I am balanced, healthy, wealthy,<br />And whole, manifesting God’s<br />Great promise as Christ foretold.<br /><br />Today, moment by moment<br />I lovingly will, to will, My will<br />To Thy will. Allowing God’s<br />Divine plan to fulfill…. NOW!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Master Kumara & The Brotherhood<br />Channeled by<br />GlaDienne “CiBelle of The One Heart♥”<br />© 2000<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Daily Prayer Know Thy Self Along With the Divine Plan</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />Dear Lord give me your Grace to look within. Help me to<br />watch my thoughts, words, and deeds for they will be my<br />guide within on this journey. All these are but a mirror to the<br />darkness that lives within me. All these things are things that<br />I want to forgive and love. Only then will I be set free to see<br />the light within myself and others. Only then will I have<br />your Joy, Love and Peace. Amen.<br /><br /><br /><br />GlaDienne “CiBelle of the One Heart♥”©2004Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1135019977367543862005-12-19T11:11:00.000-08:002005-12-19T11:19:37.370-08:00One Love in Christmas, from CiBelle(Continued from CiBelle's Christmas letter)<br /><br />As my gift, my love in action, I compiled these “Devotional Quotes” along with wisdom <br />from my reflection on the events of this year. The “Devotional Quotes: have been taken <br />from two of my favorite books.<br /><br /> “Making a Difference In Your World" by Bobbi Sims.<br /><br /> "The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness and Peace" by Jack Kornfield who<br /> authored “A Path with Heart”<br /><br /> All that I create, poems, affirmations and writing are inspired. They come through<br />me but not from me for I am but a part of the “One.” I am a spark of the Divine<br />working moment by moment to manifest The Divine here and now upon Planet Earth.<br /><br /> In sharing with you the poem “Holiday Blessing,” “The Prayer,” or affirmation <br />“The Divine Plan” I invite you, the reader, to draw personal growth from these<br />words as you travel along your own path or journey. Each of us can only be<br />brought to the dawning of our own understanding. Wisdom and enlightenment<br />is a journey not a destination. As a Christian the gift of Christ to me was his<br />manifestation of “The Will of God”, Love, even for those who killed him,<br />his acceptance of everyone, his forgiveness for those who persecuted him,<br />his obedience to the Will of God. All of these gifts were made manifest in<br />his non-judgment.<br /><br /> May the gifts of “The Christ” Light your hearts now in this Blessed Season<br />and in every moment of your lives Now and Forever More.<br /><br />P.S. As most of you know “we teach what we came here to learn.” I have been <br />waiting all this time because I didn’t want to lead someone the wrong way. Every <br />moment I am looking back at what I think, say or do. Then I ask for “Grace” to<br />change-“recalibrate.” If we were perfect, we would not be walking on Earth. <br />We don’t have “Ascension Sandals On.” Being human and knowing keeps our<br />“Ego” in check. But, if we don’t look at ourselves, be honest, and continue to<br />grow, our personality will be in control, not our soul. Until both totally become<br /> one, “As Above, So Below” we will continue to struggle.<br /><br /><br />In The Heart of The One With Love<br />GlaDienne “CiBelle of the One Heart♥”<br />©2005Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19529494.post-1135018829841664852005-12-19T10:52:00.000-08:002006-04-21T02:22:12.020-07:00Merry Christmas 2005!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/1600/Santa05.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7664/1934/200/Santa05.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Merry Christmas to You!<br /><br /><br />Mick and I are happy to have found The Creek Church and made new friends there. During one sermon, a pastor was talking about how Jesus often performed miracles among ordinary events—that people don’t need to look far, or search for thunderbolts crashing in the clouds, because God is with us always. In this way, I look to Jesus during different points in life. Sometimes Jesus is handy with a plunger. Yelling <em>“Stop! Stop!”</em> didn’t do any good because Davin shoved something in the toilet anyways. Sometimes Jesus is the friend, at the other end of the prayer, whose shoulder I can cry on. Sometimes Jesus is the cheerleader (really cool how he can set those pom-poms on fire with just a wiggle of the eyebrow) giving me encouragement or hope. But right now, Jesus is a toddler. Watching Davin and Jaelynn grow so much during the year, literally taking leaps and bounds with each step, has made me wonder what Jesus was like as a child. My thoughts about Jesus as a child are endless… <em>What were the first words Jesus spoke? Did Jesus ever get into trouble, and how do you give the Son of God a spanking? What kind of toys or games kept Jesus entertained? Did Jesus even feel like a child?</em> These questions led me on a journey, both in motherhood and in faith.<br /><br />Quite unexpectedly, I received an insight. One night I put Jaelynn to bed, and cuddled next to her. The winter sky was clear with moonlight shimmering through purple clouds. As I said a “good-night” prayer to Jaelynn, she lifted a small hand and tugged at my hair. The answer seemed so simple—unconditional love. Throughout his adventures, mischief and growth—Jesus was learning. All of these experiences, beginning in childhood, became the foundation for which Jesus would reach out to humanity through his ministry. Unconditional love guided Jesus to walk on this Earth, embody the human experience, and through his death, receive salvation for all. Our children are a blessing, to open our hearts to give and receive unconditional love, and through love gain a deeper connection to God.<br /><br />I wish all of you a Merry Christmas! My gift to you is the following verses, which I found to be very inspiring. May your heart and home shine with love, happiness, and the grace of God.<br /><br /><em>Lynn Mari, ©2005<br /></em>____________<br /><br /><strong>Love With All My Heart: Inspirational Verses About God’s Love<br /></strong><br />John 1:16-18, “Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”<br /><br />Rumi, <em>A Just-Finishing Candle</em>. “ A candle is made to become entirely flame. In that annihilating moment it has no shadow.”<br /><br />Isaiah 40:26,” Look up at the sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great—not one of them is ever missing!”<br /><br />Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, <em>Kitchen Table Wisdom</em>, p. 118. “ Suffering shapes the life force, sometimes into anger, sometimes into blame and self pity. Eventually it may show us the freedom of loving and serving life.”<br /><br />(Psalm 139 was read at Jaelynn’s Dedication in July 2005) Psalm 139: 13-16, “ …You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there—you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.”<br /><br />Khalil Gibran, <em>The Prophet</em>, p. 26. “And all work is empty save when there is love; And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.”<br /><br />Isaiah 66:12-13,” The Lord says,’ I will bring you lasting prosperity; the wealth of the nations will flow to you like a river that never goes dry. You will be like a child that is nursed by its mother, carried in her arms, and treated with love. I will comfort you in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child.”<br /><br />Jewel, <em>Spirit</em>. “We are loved beyond our ability to comprehend.”<br /><br />Colossians 1:20,” Through the Son, then God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s death on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.”<br />_________________________<br />*Bible verses from the Good News Bible, American Bible Society, 1976.<br />______________<br /><br />Visit The Creek:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecreekchurch.com/">The Creek Community Church - Maple Grove, MN</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecreekchurch.com">www.thecreekchurch.com</a>Fire Wingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876351922105762716noreply@blogger.com0