Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Matthews/Lefor Photo Collage


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I have this framed collage in my little room where I moodle . The spell checker keeps changing this to noodle, but I do mean moodle. (It did it again!) I have a Victorian twin bed, my desks for study, computing, doing art, reading, hanging out and thinking. You know - muddling....(See it makes up its own spell check auto correct words.) I did mean moodling.  Wherever my mood takes me. So this little framed family photo is part of the landscape in here. I see it so often that I probably don't really see it half the time, but I know I would miss it if it were removed.

The left side is the Lefor side, the right side is the Matthews. Grampa Sigl is holding me on the left, Grama Sally on the right. I had that rocking chair for many years but we left it in Idaho when we moved to Canada. I have a photo of Sara as a newborn posed in it.  I enjoy the four generations picture on the bottom left. It looks like Grama For is 'moodling' at the bottom middle...Hanging out on her front porch...My kind of woman. 

Grama Laura is in the famous 'dress'. If you happen to have a picture of yourself in this dress would you please email it to me? I want to make up a little art memory book called, "The Dress". If you don't have one, the last I heard Becky has the dress. Girls, please do it. Andrea, don't leave town without one! It's a unique photo op.

Off to moodle.....
Linda


Monday, October 8, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from Canada


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Sandy, Larry, Linda and Jeff
On Grama Laura's Front Steps
Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. Sara made a beautiful turkey dinner yesterday. Laura and I provided the side dishes and we had a feast! I know you are celebrating Columbus Day and more importantly Andrea's bridal shower. Yay, Andrea, the wedding is one day closer, honey!

I am posting this picture simply because it is yummy cuteness at its best.

Most of you will remember the endless hours of play we had on those front porch steps. It was the best place in the world to play, play, play.

I realize that my own home has become an extension of some of the favourite things from my own grandmother's homes. Their homes have had a huge influence upon me and you know it wasn't just the structures themselves but the heart of hospitality that the Grandmothers had. If my own grandchildren can experience even half of what I had I will be pleased.


Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Matthews Family


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Bottom: Troy, Eileen, Geraldine, Robert aka: Gerry and Bob
Top: Janet, Alfred, Laura aka: PaPete and Grama Laura

I am  having a really fun time going through pictures to post. It makes me so happy to find one like this where everyone is together. Part of what makes this family so unique is the fact that two brothers married two sisters. It really, truly made us what we are....cousin/brothers/sisters. And since the original family wasn't so big we were able to collaborate as Matthews/Lefor and we all shared the grandparents and aunties and uncles on holidays and family get togethers. Double your pleasure, double your fun...


Friday, October 5, 2012

Happy Birthday, Melanie


matthewskids
Jeff, Linda, Melanie, Sandra, Lori
Happy Birthday to our dear little sister Melanie. Look how happy you made all of us when you came into our lives. Sandy got the honour of holding you in this picture.

Soon you will be the one holding your third grandchild in your arms. You have been an awesome daughter, sister, mother and now grandmother...not to mention wife to Skip and friend to many.

One of my sweetest memories of you as a little girl is how you walked on your toes. I'm surprised you didn't become a ballerina.

And now the sweetest memory I will have of you as an adult is meeting with you in Germany for Nate and Lea's wedding. That is something right out of a story book! We got to the Rathaus just in time. Tears of joy!!

Thank you for making us quilts when we turned 50 and thank you for letting us help you make a wonky star quilt for yours.

I hope your day is filled with delight.
Linda

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Grama and Her Sisters


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A Chorus Line of Beautiful Sisters
Kate, Marie, Flo, Jean, Barbara
Now this is what I'm talkin' about, girls.  Don't you just love this? The Sigl Sisters! Grama For was the eldest, Flo the youngest. FYI: I'm pretty sure she was called Grama For by a certain first granddaughter who left off the Le in Lefor. Do you see any family resemblance that may have passed down to us? It looks like there was a party going on because of the paper bells. Love the belted waists.

I don't think I ever realized that there were five girls, just like what Eileen had! More boys though. Big family!

Grama was always close to her sisters. I recall many times how she would be on the phone to one of them or would have just talked to them with something newsy to share with Eileen. A great lesson in life. Stay close to your sisters. They will always contain a part of your mother.

Kate never moved to California. She remained in North Dakota. She was the first to pass away. Barbara's husband Johnny played the accordion and supplied all the music for dancing the polka at weddings and parties. Remember that Barbara had to have a special shoe made because one leg was shorter than the other? She was a great cook like Grama also.  The sisters all lived in Sacramento nearby each other until Jean moved to Arizona.

I do see where I get my arms.
Linda


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Soul Tells A Story



The soul tells a story 2

You've stepped inside the door. Welcome! It's so good to know that you are here and that we are family together. Beautiful women all. Now that I have you here I must confess. I do not have a master plan but I do have a Master who has a plan. I have felt compelled to gather us together and find a place where we can begin to share our stories. Just by going forward this far and creating a group on Facebook you can see that this is not under my control. We are a living, breathing organism called family. I do believe that within the immediate family there are close to fifty feminine souls. Can you believe it?

Let me tell you my original motivation for all of this. Recently I was going through an old journal shelf. I love little books and I have many journals started for many reasons. I came across one that I had purchased in Costa Rica and it was entitled, "All The Women In My Family." I had made a list of all of you at the time. It was before any of my daughters were married. It was before some of you married into the family. It was before Mama was diagnosed with Alzheimers. It was while Aunt Jinny was still with us.

The reason I had started the list was that my heart was very stirred to gather us all together for a retreat/reunion. I didn't know how I would go about it. It's rather difficult with my living all the way up here in Canada. I just knew it would be an awesome thing to do. We have so much talent amongst us. In my life I have hosted many women's events and I thought it would be amazing to have one with my own family. I never did anything with the idea.

Another example. When Sara was born she had every single grandmother that a girl could have from both sides of the family. We all lived in an 18 mile radius of each other. I wanted to put together a little tea party in their honour. Who knows what happened at the time but I do remember being annoyed with Grama Laura about something or other. I never did it. Ugh!!! Picture this picture that never happened...Little Sara, Her Mom Linda, Grandmothers Eileen and Carmen, Great Grandmothers Laura, Marie, Lena and Lola. What I would give to have that picture today.

Hence, the urgency to obey this prompting at this time. I don't want to regret not attempting to do my utmost to keep the unity of our family through whatever creative means we have.

At the very inmost heart of all of this is Jesus. I have been struck once again at what a tremendous heritage we have.  How many can say that God penetrated hearts to the saving of an entire household? It staggers my imagination. This process started long before I came into existence. There were prayers prayed and lives lived before any of us came to be. Sacrifices were made, spiritual fields were plowed.

I will be ever thankful that one day in February, 1971 God opened my eyes to His Son Jesus and completely altered my heart forever.

I am not a bit good at dates and chronological orders and I certainly don't have many pieces to the overall puzzle of our heritage. I just want to be faithful to the puzzle pieces that I do have. I will never be able to tell the stories of my grandmother's generation except what she told me. As an adult I have many times wondered about things in my search to understand myself better. Often it led to generational ideas and concepts that were handed down to me.  Sandy and I called it "Exploring The Ancient Ruins" based on a Beth Moore Bible study we were doing at the time. We have had many hours of ponderings together.

My thoughts turn now to the upcoming generations. Our stories should be told to the best of our ability just in case they want to do some exploring of their own when the time comes.

I haven't given up on the idea of a retreat together. I trust it will happen in due season. In the meantime we can have reunions here at our computers. I will begin posting random stories and pictures. Trust me, they will be random because like I said, I'm not one for linear thinking. It's like taking a journey together. As we go I certainly hope that some of you will desire to publish some blog posts on this site. I just recently saw Lori and Sara and I learned some really cool things about the piano she has that belonged to Grama Laura.

Oh, yes. There are stories to be told, memories to share, testimonies to give...So be sure to leave comments at the end of the posts. Your voice is important. You alone hold pieces to this puzzle.

I will close this now. I will post as I feel inspired. I am the Queen of Random as you will certainly experience!

Loving you all,
Linda



Thursday, September 27, 2012

You Are Invited

Hello, Dear One...
If you are reading this, it is because you received an invitation to view this blog.
I have an idea.
I have many ideas.
Who doesn't?
I am getting too old to ignore some of my ideas.
Would you care to step inside the green door with me?
I am not exactly sure what we will find but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be good!
Are you in?

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