A Journal Entry: Genealogy... Do it... now!

2 Mar 2002

Genealogy... Do it... now!
About 1 1/2 years ago, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I have since learned that heart disease is pretty rampant on my father's side of the family. Something I would not have learned without the records of my ancestors. My father, at 81, has been such a strong inspiration and driving force for me to live and do better. He loves that I am a member of "my church" and admires what he has seen the church do for me in my life. 


This past year, time has started to take a toll on his vigor and vitality and I see him rely on others more and more for answers and direction. No longer can he remember his great-grandparent's names. Him and my mother, who passed away in 1988 of cancer, while living in Nauvoo, IL, always shared stories of their growing up years with us children. 


My oldest recently said, "genealogy is fine, but I want to hear the stories." So, now as I research and fill in the boxes I make sure that I add the stories I have heard or experienced first hand. Then, the names and dates come alive and become our family; not just a name and a date, but people that we love or learn to love. 

Genealogy! I'm Doing It! 

Paula TOMEY Allen 

My Dad's family: Tomey (IN), Whitacre (MO) 

My Mom's family: Hall (KY), Warren (KY)

Max Howry Tomey 

18 Jun 1920 - 25 Feb 2007

Journal Entry: Poignant Childhood Memories

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

I was looking up the word "poignant" for spelling and noticed one of the definitions referred to "profoundly moving; touching". It moved me to thinking about childhood memories and which ones I would call "poignant"?

One that comes to mind is how my siblings and I witnessed the love between our father and mother in one way that we share often.

When our father would want to speak to our mother in a hushed, private tone, he would kneel down beside her as she sat in her "Queen Anne" chair reading the paper and whisper in her listening ear of his desires or thoughts. It was a very private moment, but shared with us to learn that he thought of her as his queen and he was not beneath kneeling at her humble throne.

Our mother passed in 1988, and our father nursed by her bedside and continued to whisper to her waiting ears sweet, humble, poignant thoughts. He has since moved away from Nauvoo, Illinois where they had lived, but in a recent year, he came back to visit and went to the quiet and pristine cemetery where she lay in rest.

There, he once again, on older and weaker, bent knees, knelt at her grave and spoke to her in hushed tones that only the two of them could hear. And once again, we learned about the love that is eternal between a husband and a wife and not only until "death do us part". 

On a personal note: Writing our family history should include treasured memories and inspiring moments. It should be more than a tree and a list of ancestors. It should tell of fathers and mothers teaching by example and children who carried on the lessons to future generations.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers... Malachi 4:5-6

 

1959, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio