Struggles from the Past

Strange title, I know, but it got you here right?  :)

I've been tracing my genealogy for several years, though not all at once. I get frustrated when I come to a long lost ancestor and there's NO information that the person ever existed, except that he or she was someone's father or mother.

Last night, however, I made an awesome discovery.

My husband's family name is Solomon, but they knew that at some time in the not-so-distant past it had been changed  from Tillman. No one knew when or why. So I've been working off and on for a few weeks trying to piece together people to find more information. Turns out Mr. Tillman married Miss Solomon, but, for reasons unknown to me, all of their children retained the surname Solomon. When I went further back, Tillman had been changed from Tilghman and they immigrated from England in 1638. And I found a copy of a document proving it. :) I wish it were always so simple.

So far between my husband and myself, we come from Ireland, England, and the Netherlands. Mostly we're Irish and English, go figure. I'm pretty sure I have Italian in me, but I'm stuck on the Mozingo side of my mother's family. I'll go back to it sooner or later and look some more.

The picture to the right is of my grandfather, Charles Guy. He was born in 1875 and died in 1961 (before I was born). He was one of twenty-something children. I'm still trying to figure out which ones might be duplicates. My ancestors had the nasty habit of naming their children the same first name, especially if one of them died in infancy or childhood. I traced the Guys back to England, though I had thought it might be a German name. I found they had also changed the spelling of the name. It was originally spelled Guye.

Okay, I'm sure that's more than you wanted to know about my ancestors. LOL

Is genealogy something you're interested in? If so, what have you found interesting in your past? If not, do you have an interesting story passed down from your parents or grandparents that you'd be willing to share? I LOVE to read about interesting people.

Blessings,
Ginger

Spring Has Sprung

I don't know about you, but I love spring. Cute chicks - new ones arriving soon, I hope - trees, and flowers blooming, the promise of fresh from the garden produce, no more cold weather (at least that's true if you're in the south).

As of this moment, it's 80 degrees outside. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 83, but then a cold front comes through and the temps drop to the low to mid 60s. I am not looking forward to that!

Anyway, last evening I went out and took some pictures of spring at my house. Enjoy.  :)

lilac bush

close up of lilac - they smell so good

I think these are apple blossoms

cherry blossoms?

cherry tree

If spring is not your favorite time of year, what is and why?

Blessings,

Ginger

Guest Post: True Confession by June Foster

Today I'm welcoming my new friend, June Foster. I met her for the first time when she moved to AL a few months ago. She's such a sweet lady, and has a new book out called Deliver Us. There's more information about it at the end of her post.


June Foster is a retired school teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She writes and travels in her RV with her husband Joe. June has contracts for four novels with Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day – February 1, 2012, As We Forgive – September 1, 2012, and
Deliver Us – April 1, 2013, and Hometown Fourth of July – July 1, 2012. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the issues in their lives by the power of God. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find the freedom to live godly lives.

True Confessions

by June Foster

I don't know about anyone else, but I generally feel insecure about writing fiction. For one thing, a little over three years ago, I had never heard of plotting a novel, writing compelling dialogue, keeping a scene in one character's POV, or critique partners. I didn't pen my first fictional word until three years ago, and I am going to be a great grandmother. That gives you an idea of my age.

So many questions challenge me. Am I progressing in learning the craft? Is my WIP(work in progress) as lousy as it sounds to me? My critique partners are giving me fits, but I know they're right about the many errors they find in my writing. How can I write a book that would appeal to a publisher? And more importantly, would a reader ever benefit from the words I've penned. You get the idea.

Now, it's true confession time. In the midst of my insecurities, I think of the awesome authors out there with those solid careers in the inspirational market. I could never write like them or even compete. I might as well give up. Honestly, these are some of the thoughts that overwhelmed me the other day. Now you see why this post is entitled true confession.

But thankfully, whenever I'm weighed down, I can take my concerns to the Lord. As I called out to Jesus, a verse came to mind—one I hadn't expected to hear. I was so sure the Lord would remind me of Matthew 6: 25-34 not to worry. But instead I received a clear picture of Jesus after the resurrection telling Peter to feed His sheep. Let me give you the context from John 21.

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (John) When Peter saw him he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that is you? You must follow me."

That simple question ministered to me. "What is that to you?" Other people's careers and writing abilities have nothing to do with me. I'm only to be concerned with what the Lord instructs me to do. God will use me as He sees fit. I don't need to compare myself to others, but I should keep my heart centered on the Lord who called me to write in the first place. What a freeing thought.

More about Deliver Us.

Synopsis:

The young fraternity man who coaxed Jillian Coleman upstairs that night is only a blur in her memory. Now she lives with the unrelenting guilt that she aborted her baby. God might forgive her, but she can't forgive herself. As Bellewood's premier gynecologist, she hopes to open the Jeremiah House to offer teen girls an abortion alternative. Though the handsome and successful Dr. Jett Camp wants to marry Jillian, he believes her plan is a waste of her skills.

Riley Mathis spent ten years in jail for dealing drugs. Now as a Christian, he's trying to put his life back together. Working as a janitor at night, he attends college by day. When he meets Dr. Coleman, he recognizes her from the sapphire necklace she wore the night he stole something precious from her. When she confesses the choice she made to abort her baby, Riley can't tell her he's the father of her child.

Trailer  (Ginger here: I tried to get this to load the video, but it wouldn't. You'll be blessed by watching, just click and enjoy.)

Buy Sites

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Desert Breeze

Thank you, June, for joining us today. I enjoyed your post and I hope my readers do too.

Blessings, 

Ginger