) ( ) Good Morning Family! .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . \| |// ...and we even have decaf, | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! \ / ------ Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. Does your family history have "bones" in it? If you've been with the family for at least three weeks, you'll probably want to skip the following paragraph… TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Bower[s]/Bauer or Baur lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Bower[s]/Bauer or Baur ancestors or any of the 81+ variant spellings we research that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. If you haven't visited the homesite of this list yet, you are encouraged to do so. Our home is Bower Community, located at <http://bowercommunity.com>. There, we currently have two sites: The Bower Family Homestead [a.k.a., the Homestead] is our primary homesite and the gathering place for much of our information. It waits to join us all in welcoming you into the family at <http://bowercommunity.com/homestead>. Smaller is our sister site, the Bower Cottage, houses most of our projects including an online GEDCOM fed by quite a few cousins from our lists. The Cottage is still small as far as material goes, however give us time and we'll have it filled really soon. The Cottage is at <http://bowercommunity.com/cottage>. DOES YOUR FAMILY HISTORY HAVE "BONES" IN IT? I read an interesting story sometime ago, and would like to relate it to you today. The story's intention was meant to make another point completely, but it actually parallels the reason why family historians shouldn't simply relate names, dates and facts in our genealogical searches, and why we search so hard for the stories that add flesh to our ancestors. Whether we're speaking of "flesh" or "bones," we all know what we're actually doing is bringing our ancestors "back to life" again. A little boy was very afraid of storms. Every night that one occurred, he would go to his parents' bedside, wanting a little comfort, a little assurance and protection... and to climb into bed with them. One night a storm was particularly bad with crashes of thunder resonating through the house. Dad wasn't surprised when he woke up to see his son with a pale face beside the bed, eyes anxious and wide with pleading. Dad finally got the boy to go back to bed, telling him everything would be okay, his folks were in the next room, and if the boy held his teddy bear very tightly it would be morning before he knew it and the sun would be shining. The next morning at breakfast, dad leaned over to his son seated at the table beside him. "How did the teddy bear work?" he asked. "Well," replied the boy, his small face very serious, "It worked ok... but it really would feel better if I could hold onto something with bones in it!" Teddy bears are wonderful items ~ comforting and warm, and nice to have in one's possession. A documented family tree is also a fine thing ~ secure and interesting, and generating a sense of pride. But names, dates, facts are simply that. If that is all our research is about, we really have "left the bones out of it". To create a genealogy with "bones," it is necessary to understand that events and personalities of another age have influenced our own, and reflects some of what we are today. Once we do understand, history can suddenly jump out from the pages of a book and impact on us with all its significance, from a family's personal insight, why and how the piece of history actually evolved. Without "bones" our research isn't much more than a laundry list of itemized facts that mean little to anyone except the person who compiled it ~ a list devoid of anything richly layered and textured with all the lessons and nuances of appreciation a family history can unfold. The "bones" of a family tree are not always found in any document. They are found by looking at a curiosity in a family while stepping into the time period in which the curiosity happened. They are found by paying attention to times and places and legends passed among people. The "bones" of a family can't be disinterred until the reason for digging up those bones is recognized. Only by giving substance can we give "life" back to those ancestors who blazed the path for us today. Family... it's what we're all about. To those of you with March birthdays, the family and I all wish you very happy and special day. You are loved!! I really enjoyed this time with you. It was so nice. I hope you all have a fantastic upcoming week. I wish you all a week filled with health, fun, productivity, and above all, filled with love. ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'