Family history and good times

Family! Wow. I really never realized how many people are in my extended family until yesterday.

We had our Ward reunion yesterday and seeing people I haven't seen in years makes me very happy and excited about the future.

Let me explain about my family and how I'm a Ward. My mom was a Ward before she married the first time. She married a Loften and then after he passed away, she married my father. My mom, Edna Earl Taylor nee Ward, was the youngest of three children born to Barnett Seth and Esther Vivian Ward. My grandfather, Barnett was the oldest of 10 children born to William Elias and Hattie Mae Ward. My great grandfather was a preacher and a very good man. I really wish I could have known him.

Those who gathered at the reunion are descendants of William Elias and Hattie Mae Ward nee Knowles. The ten children they had are as follows: Barnett Seth, James Worth, Lucy Elizabeth, William Elias Jr., Mildred, Myrtle Mae, Bessie, Richard Jackson, Wyley Donald, and Doyle Omega. My great grandfather was the son of John "Jack" and Lucy (Godwin) Ward. He was the fourth from the oldest of eleven children. All of this information can be found in my Uncle Donald Ward's book "The Folks from Pea Ridge."

Many of the family got together and made leaves for their families so we can put together a family tree. The kids colored them and several people filled out the information on the leaves. It was a great project that we will get to see flourish as the years go by. Many of the older children will get married and have their own leaves and own families added later on.

There were about 145 people at the old home place today. It's amazing to see the family's roots and hear stories about things that happened in days gone by. My great grandfather ran a farm, raised 10 children and preached the word through the Great Depression. From my Uncle Donald's pamphlet "Uncle Bill as I Knew Him," I've learned my great grandfather was a very giving man and also very intelligent. He was very open minded about religion and often spoke or sang in other churches.

There were 14 of us there from my granddaddy's side of the family. My granddady's children, Gloria, Clyde and Edna are all deceased now, but my Aunt Gloria's children are pictured here with her husband, Robert Gafford. From the back row are Angie Wright, Jason Wright and Ramona Wright. Second row from the left are Raleigh Gafford, Kelsey Bates, Robert Gafford, Regina Bates and Amber Wright. Third row from the left are Randi Sadler, Tyler Nellums, and Savannah (Jason's wife's daughter). Bottom row from left are Kaitlyn Bates and Lyndee Sadler. I'm hoping I have all of these last names right, but I'm going to double check later and make corrections as needed. I am the only one not in the picture and am the only child from my mom's branch of the family.

I have watched all of the kids grow up and I am starting to feel rather old now that they are almost grown. Kelsey is the oldest of the kids - she just turned 18 last month. Tyler is the second oldest and will be 16 in February. Kaitlyn is 13 and the twins, Randi and Lyndee just turned 12 this month.


Kelsey, me and Kaitlyn on the back porch at the old home place.


Tyler and me sitting in the kitchen at the old home place.

As I'm growing older, I've come to realize the importance of family history. You have to know your roots and where you've come from. My family has a lot of amazing history even if we aren't all famous or have life changing jobs. We have touched lives through the branches that spread out far and wide over the southern states. We've lost several great people in the past few years and though we might miss them, we carry on. We think of them and remember them when we gather together as a family and we share our memories of them and hold them dear in our hearts.

Moving on

Sometimes you have to take a giant leap. It doesn't really matter what it's for - love, a new job, mankind, etc. If it's something worth the risk, you'll land on your feet.

My life has always felt like a whirlwind - being tossed around full of emotions I've bottled up and tried to hide. It's been one trial after another and here I am, still standing on my own two feet. Sure, there have been times when I've had to lean on someone for support. And of course, there are the times when God and my faith in Him have carried me through the rough spots. But through it all, I've been strong.

Life is about changes, whether they be good or bad. And my life is about to take another turn as I start to work at the Opp News on November 30th.

As most of you know, I've wanted to get back into reporting for a while. I've always thought about being Lois Lane at some newspaper somewhere. I know I'll never win a Pulitzer for anything I write, but writing about people who change lives makes it worth the effort. No matter if only 10 people read this blog or if it's 100, I know my words stand for something.

This decision to get back into writing for a newspaper has been weighing on me for some time. Now, I have the opportunity to do it and it's a little scary. I have faith in my abilities as a wordsmith, but I'm also a worrier. But I prayed about putting in my resume and portfolio and asked God to take care of the situation. It's amazing how God works. He helps us when we need it the most and this job is something I've needed for a while now.

I will be working for a once a week publication and getting 40 hours maximum a week. Benefits, which I've wanted and needed for a while now, will be available in 90 days as well as a 401K plan. I'm looking at being able to have a normal 8-5 job that will let me have more time with my friends and family. And with this schedule, I'll be able to attend church on Wednesday nights and take more trips to Pensacola and other places.

I'm excited and nervous about this big change in my life, but with the support of my wonderful friends and family, I know I'm going to make it. I don't want my life to be full of what ifs. And I want to finish my novels and short stories in the next few months.

I know this next journey in my life is going to leave me with more memories than I can count. I only hope happiness comes with this journey and that my writer's muse continues to give me inspiration through this transition.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I know I have several of you in my prayers and always in my thoughts. I want to ask all of you to pray for Carrie Smith Fore's baby girl, Ella Charles. Visit her blog here to find out the story and how they are doing along the road God has led them. Also, I ask you to pray for my cousins, Mary Ann Knox and her brother Jonathan Grimes. As some of you know, Mary Ann is my best friend as well as my cousin. She's going through a pretty nasty divorce right now, but is making it through with the support of her family and some friends she's made in Lakeland, Florida. She has an almost two-year-old daughter, Ally and Ally is going through not having a father figure in her life. Pray all of this ends well for them and that they can move closer to home when it's over. Jonathan lives in Pensacola and we are just as close as I am with his sister. He's one of my best friends even though he's always been like a little brother to me. He's having thyroid problems, which result in migraines, so we are praying that the doctors can get that under control soon. He's had several other health issues, so we are praying that this won't develop into something more serious.

I love and cherish all of you and each uplifting comment that you make on this blog. I hope all of you are doing well. Take care and I hope to keep this blog more updated in the days and weeks ahead.