My own yearning for family history.

One day I'd like to read "Roots" by Alex Hailey. It's about his African slave ancestry pulling together family verbal history, slave shipping records, and personal spiritual experiences that ignited an interest in family research before unheard of. When addressed about his book, Alex Hailey mentions being drawn to, a deep yearning, etc. ("Celestial Pursuit", BYU - Idaho Devotional, September 23, 2003.)

I have felt those deep soul feelings teaching me, reaching and pleading for me to carry through with the family history work which I began so many years ago at age 17 or 18. Little did I know when I was impressed to buy the famous "red books" from Encyclopedie Drouin that this would become a life "passion" for me. A very special purchase which was the very beginning of a lifelong pursuit.  Since that time, I have purchased a few books which relate to the times and places where some of our ancestors have lived or even the biography of one of Tom's great-grandfather.

I remember well feeling somewhat discouraged in my research when I could get no where with my mom's side of the family. I thought and prayed that there might be some way to have a breakthrough. The Lord provides answers when we are giving our best efforts. I have had the privilege of receiving hundreds, then thousands of names from very distant cousins (Ron May and Ginette Lacelle) which have shared information from both my maternal as well as paternal ancestors.

First, I remembered that we had a cousin, which was related to my mom, living on our street when we were growing up. I looked to see if the Driscoll family still lived there, which they did:) I sent a letter to Ed Driscoll, who in turn spoke to Ron May's parents one day at the grocery store. He let them know that I was looking for information on my grandmother's family. His mom was my Aunt Elsie, my grandmother Lillian's older sister. Ron's parents then told him about the encounter and the letter. Ron contacted me October 26, 1995. How exciting it was to receive a small envelope with the name "May" on the outside!! I can assure you I was beside myself. Ron was gracious enough to share with me what information he had accumulated thus far on my grandmother's side of the family. He also shares quite a lot of details under his notes.

During a visit with my dad, he told me that someone had called him about family history on the Lacelle family. This was Ginette Lacelle. He told her he was not so interested but he knew of one of his daughters who really was. He took her telephone number so I could contact her. There is a significant story behind Ginette. Her aunt had been accumulating thousands of names and with her advancing age wanted someone to pursue the work she had begun. Ginette told her that she would be pleased to carry on the task at hand. She then began calling as many Lacelle as she could find across Canada and created this generous gift which we now have a copy in our possession. Indeed, we have been so richly blessed. Thank goodness my dad did not brush her off:) I think someone else was in control of this special encounter, don't you?

I have truly felt the joy of loved ones as one name at a time has been discovered during my searches on <www.ancestry.com> or on <www.familysearch.org>. At times, I could not help but yell in excitement "here's another name!"

I have a beautiful puzzle which was given to me by Marc. It has such meaning for me. It is of a beautiful angel showing a young girl something below. I will try to add a picture of it, once someone teaches me how to do this:) I like to think of it as being encouraged to find my ancestors.

 I have purchased a few story books which I believe the grandchildren might love to have me or grandpa read to them. I cannot wait for the grandchildren to turn 12 and be prepared to do baptisms and the adults in the family to tenderly be sealed on behalf of our dearly beloved ancestors!

The books which I've referred to are:

"Une Ville en flammes" or A City in flames by Raymond Ouimet. It is of my hometown Hull, Quebec and the numerous lives which were affected by the tragic fires that city has experienced. It shared my grandfather Seraphin Cabana's tragic death. He was an oilman for machines which produced paper. It was named J.R.Booth (now E.B. Eddy). In the year 1889, he worked very early in the morning before sunrise it was 4:00 a.m. He was carrying a torch to help him as it was still quite dark, no city lights back then! He was found unconscious on the floor at the mill. It appeared that he tripped and was engulfed in flames. He was brought home. I cannot imagine the horror his wife and children would have had to deal with at that time. He never regained consciousness. He died a few days later. He had been a volunteer fireman with the Jacques-Cartier brigade.

"Joseph Harker Family History".  Grandpa Varge has a copy of this same book in his study in Ottawa. While Marc was studying at BYU, a student who was a distant relative told him that he would probably be able to get a copy for him, unfortunately this did not happen. Nonetheless, resourceful Marc was able to find a copy in one of the Salt Lake City libraries. While visiting in Utah, Marc and I were able to physically go pick up our very own copy. What a special blessing this is, as it relates to Joseph Harker from the moment his brother encounters missionaries in England and Joseph's family coming to Zion. Because the book was published by his descendants in 1949 some of dad's siblings are included among them. Dad was not born yet. An added note, both Pam Stovel and Lois Leonard are also included.

"The King's England SURREY" by Arthur Mee. This books refers to the towns and villages where the May family ancestors would have lived. It describes in detail the areas, the land, etc. I should get back into it, particularly as we discover more and more small towns where they were born or married. This is a great adventure.

"The Princes of Ireland" - The Dublin Saga by Edward Rutherfurd. This book I purchased simply because it is of Ireland, Nana's parents' homeland. A country which she has been able to discover with her siblings Aunt Gladys, Uncle Larry and Aunt Sheila. She has loved it so much, that she is encouraging all of her children to go and visit it.  A wish that someday will become a reality for us.


My work now is to:

1) Get both my grandmother's sisters, who died in infancy, sealed to their parents. Can you imagine how exciting this will be for them? Both of these sisters died in the late 1890's and early 1900's, they have been waiting for such a long time! They have been found at last:) It pains me so much that not only did my grandmothers had to go through these difficult times, but both Nana and Memere have had their own sad experiences with their own little ones being called to heaven much too early.

2) Separating the binders among our sons who are interested and verifying that the information is on <www.familysearch.org>. If it's incomplete, then add what we have found. Binder by binder. The family search website is gathering information to create this world wide family. This is amazing!

3) There are thousands and thousands more to be researched from the immense undertaking by Ginette and her aunt.

I encourage all of us to become involved with the gift which we have received from above and is in our care. Miracles have been happening in my lifetime in regards to family history. It is a divine blessing brought through the hands of others who have also found this yearning for their loved ones.