FAMILY HISTORY: Traveling Photographers and Photography Studios

 Traveling Photographers and Photography Studios

Cameras help us remember our ancestors and history. To look upon a photograph is to experience the past, whether it was only yesterday or hundreds of years ago. Taking photos today is preserving the past, for tomorrow will come and yesterday will be history.

 In the last half of the nineteenth century, the development and increasing recognition of the art of photography rose to popular demand. As the techniques of photography became less cumbersome, transporting equipment became more practical. Photographers opened their own galleries or studios in towns, while some loaded their horse-drawn wagons and hit the road as traveling photographers.

 In the early days of traveling photographers, they documented scenes of everyday life as well as historical monuments and places. They sold their pictures to tourists who collected them as souvenirs of their travels. Many were photojournalists scouring the nation’s countryside searching for those interesting and important daily life images. Here are photos of my 2nd great-grandparents, David Jefferson and Christina (Hunt) Utter: 

       

Traveling photographers used many modes of transportation to get from one place to another. Some used ponies, horses, and mules to haul the camera and equipment while he walked throughout neighborhoods offering to take pictures of anyone interested. A woman recounts that her mother used a photographer and his pony when he came by their home. The man set up his equipment, sat the little girl atop the pony, and posed the pony in an appealing position, snapping the photo. It was a cherished and prized photograph. These photos are of Elijah Burton and his first wife, Mary Jane and the second is of Elijah with his second wife, Mary Magdalene.  Note the difference in the backgrounds of the photos.  

     

L.E. Deubler used a bicycle to carry his camera and equipment, riding throughout Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas in the early 1900s. Charles Allonby, born in England, came to the United States in 1900. He was one of the early photojournalists who was hired to travel the states finding interesting people to write about and taking photos to accompany the stories. He lived in several states before coming to Neosho, Missouri. Allonby photographed many of my family’s reunions that were held at the Big Spring Park, in Neosho. 

Fields Photography was once a leading photographer who, for many years, traveled the Ozarks taking photos of many places, events, and people. Fred Fields and his wife and son grew their business in Cassville, Missouri. Upon their deaths, the Fields Photo Archives is now housed in the Barry County Museum in Cassville. Visitors to the archives can search the files of negatives, and then order those long-gone photos. Here's one of my family line, taken at Fields Photo Shop: 

Victorian photography studios, or galleries, were a popular place to visit. From my family photo collection, I know there were many such studios in our area. Due to prolonged exposure times, photographers used special props to help keep their subjects still while sitting and waiting. 

         

         

These two photos have the same background images with more or less props. They are of the same family line, Elijah B. Utter. 

Look at your photographs and the background of them, especially those that are vintage. Many times, the backdrop features a painted outdoor scene, draperies with a window, or other interesting backdrop. Some of the Victorian photographs I own are from the Paris Art Studio and H.D. McMahan, a traveling photographer in Cassville, Missouri. Other photos are imprinted with the names of the Sims Art Studio in the Opera House block in Monett, Missouri, and the Fogel Postal Studio of Joplin, Missouri.

 

The above photo has the studio imprint at the bottom of it. It's a gorgeous print! Imprints can be found usually on the front side of photos, but at other times will have it on the back. Sometimes the photo card will have the studio’s advertisement specializing in all kinds of portraiture in crayon, ink, oil, or watercolors.  Here are a few more from my collection: 

 

Today, some photographers travel to schools and organizations. At one of our family reunions, we used a local photographer who took beloved photos of everyone gathered together. Travel photographers enjoy their career scouring the world capturing gorgeous photographs of land, animals, and people, and publishing them in magazines and other media.  

 I am fortunate to own many antique and vintage photos! In many of the pictures, I wonder if a traveling photographer snapped them. Because of the nature of the photo with the people and their location, they may have been used in various magazines and journals across the country. Many of my relatives owned cameras and patronized the local photography studios. Here are a few that show the studio’s information imprinted on the picture. My beautiful families sat for portraits with their children and their beloved pets. I’m forever grateful that they did.

 

 

DEVOTIONAL: Learning Life's Little Lessons

 My One Word for 2024 is Learn. What a solid word to focus on this year.  

2023 was full of ups and downs for me. It was in those ups and downs that I knew God got me through all of it. I have arrived at that glorious point that "it is what it is" and usually I can't do anything about it. The Serenity Prayer comes to mind. If I can change it, then I will, if I can't change it, I'll let it go. And God helps me with it. 

Now in my life, I'm extremely happy. I don't wish to travel, I don't wish for grand things, I have exactly what I need, I'm happy living by myself, and I know and love Jesus Christ the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and my Savior.

I'm blessed. I'm content. I look forward to this New Year and what I will be learning. 2023 my learning time was filled with writing. This year it will be same because there's always something to learn! 

It is reflecting on our day that helps us learn. We renew our spirit, and we rest in that quiet sanctuary where God dwells with us. We must believe, slow down, and listen. And, don't forget to learn those little life lessons that come your way.

BOOK REVIEW: Evening Reflections: Resting In the Treasures of God's Word ~ Merry Christmas!

 It's almost time for my book to be released on Amazon! It's an exciting moment in my life. I've worked hard on it and prayed over it. It's not my book - it's God's book. I asked Him, "Not my words, but yours." Here it is! 

       I love it! The cover portrays resting in the evening and reading about God. I got the idea for REST in February 2023 and from there, I grew it into a 30-day devotional. It has three sections: Believe, Slow Down, and Listen and within those sections are 10 daily focus words. Each evening includes the focus word, a Scripture, a short devotional, and a prayer. Sometimes I offer a quote, a beloved childhood song suggestion, or a suggestion to learn more about a special Bible character.  Readers can decide how long they want to spend each evening: five minutes or thirty minutes, it's up to them. When I discovered that my nightly reading helped me sleep better, that's when I wanted to share what I learned. I practiced turning my thoughts into good ones, not dwelling on the problems of the day, what was going on in life, etc. Sometimes it is still a struggle to wrangle those thoughts back in line, but I focus and it happens!

      God has led me for such a time as this! Since my husband's death, I've come through the fire of grief and deep sorrow to totally depend on God. Jesus wraps His healing arms around me as I step through the day. 

     It is my hope that the book finds its way into all the hands of those who need to discover this routine to help them reflect on their day, renew their spirit, and rest well at night. 

     It's going to be published this coming week...just in time for Christmas 2023! Again, it's God's perfect timing! The book will make a great gift for yourself and for your family and friends who need relief. 

     Merry Christmas from my house to yours and may God bless your New Year! 

     P.S. A New Year, A New You ~ grab the book and start your 2024 reflecting, renewing, and resting! 

   

      

    

HISTORICAL TOPICS: PHOTOGRAPHING THE OZARKS

 PHOTOGRAPHING THE OZARKS 

NOTE: Fields Photography traveled the Ozarks countryside capturing the times of the day before settling down in Cassville, Missouri. I write more about traveling photographers in another blog post, see more...

After I began selling my freelance writing, I decided I wanted to write something for a special magazine dear to the hearts of Ozarkians, "The Ozarks Mountaineer." In my neck of the woods to be published in that magazine meant you were a top-notch writer with a heart for the Missouri Ozarks and the details of Ozarks life. 

I queried the editor at that time, Mr. Clay Anderson, time after time with stories I, and my writing mentor, Kay Hively who is now deceased, just knew fit the Mountaineer like it should. Nope. Anderson turned my queries down every single time. I was devastated as the proverbial writer should be. 

I labored, I toiled, and I wrote/rewrote many articles that I just knew fit the specialized magazine. Never did I publish one single article with Mr. Clay Anderson. 

One day while looking through my old photographs during a family history search, I ran across the family photographs taken by Fields Photo of Cassville, Missouri. Fields had long since passed on and his treasure trove of old negatives was housed at the Barry County Museum located in Cassville, Missouri. 

The idea struck. I would write about the Ozarkian famous photographer, Fred Fields! And I did. I used a couple of my family's photos with the Fields logo imprinted on them, decided to name the manuscript "Photographing the Ozarks," and sent the query to the editor. It was not Clay Anderson! Mr. Fred Pfister had taken over the editor's desk when Anderson died. Pfister loved the article and agreed to publish it! 

When I received the check in the mail for my story, I won. I persevered, wrote, rewrote, and wrote again, and finally found the story that was "just right" for the good old magazine. The Mountaineer is now defunct. But my story is a part of the legacy. 

My beautiful article was published in  THE OZARKS MOUNTAINEER magazine during the Summer of 2011. Here's a photo of the summer edition.

It all started when Fred Fields went to college in Oklahoma and learned photography while working in the college lab. After graduation, Fields went to work in a photographer’s studio in Dodge City, Kansas. It was there he met and married his wife, Cleo. Fields enjoyed photography and he wanted to make it his mission in life. One day he and Cleo took off traveling in the countryside, going from town to town taking pictures. That was back in the good old days of the 1930s. By then, the couple had nicknamed each other “Pa” and “Ma.”  When they rolled into Cassville, Missouri, they decided to make the Barry County town their home.

Here's a photo of the spread.

Photography had grown to be a popular occupation as well as a hobby for people since the early days of its inception, but in the heart of the Depression, money was tight. After Pa and Ma Fields set up their photography studio in an upstairs building on the Cassville Square, they offered tiny gem-style photos measuring one-inch x one-and-one-half inches and sold them three for a dollar. Business bloomed and Fields Photo Shop was born. Fields was living his dream.

During the Depression years, the Fields boosted their photography business by advertising they would photograph anything, anywhere, anytime. The couple began traveling around the area photographing people, architecture, events, and nature. My Utter family began an annual reunion in 1935 at Big Spring Park in Neosho, Missouri. Each year the Utters counted on Fields to photograph their event.

In those early days, Fields Photo took pictures of local and area-wide schools. Along with photographing individual children, many graduating classes are preserved in formal groups. The Rocky Comfort Elementary School in McDonald County, south of Longview, owns a vintage set of graduating class pictures.  As a traveling photographer, Fields soon adopted the slogan, “Photographing the Ozarks.”

During World War II, the photography business slowed down as film was hard to get due to military demands. Fields saved what film he had for photographing the spouses and children of those in the military. In the 1940s, Fields bought a parrot and named her Polly. Polly stayed in the studio and was a favorite of customers. The camera captured the smiles and laughter brought about by Polly. To help ease the stress of waiting or sitting for the camera, Ma Fields used many tactics such as tickling children on the belly with a yardstick to make them laugh.

In 1952, the Fields’ son, Max, and his wife, Margie, joined the photography team.

During this time, the studio’s name changed to Fields’ Photo and Camera Shop. Fields added photography supplies such as cameras, film, batteries, and General Electric flash bulbs. They also added a new wholesale route to customers farther south of Cassville. In 1957, Pa and Ma Fields retired from managing the photography studio but continued to help with the Kodak finishing until 196

After moving their photography studio again in 1962, Fields Photo and Camera Shop remained at 903 Main Street in Cassville until the business closed. When Max Fields bought a computer for the office, they used it to begin the monumental task of cataloging the old negatives. It took seven years to finish, but the project helped birth what was to come.

Through the years, the Fields family flew nationwide from New York to California and everywhere in between to photograph weddings, reunions, business and civic groups, military units, fraternal organizations, and schools. Ma Fields passed away in 1984 and Pa Fields in 1987. In 1988, after more than 55 years of serving the public, Max Fields decided to discontinue retail sales and portraiture and specialize in large group photos, school photos, and sports photography

In 1995, the building was sold and the processing laboratory, along with the one million negatives weighing 3900 pounds, was moved to the Fields’ residence. Max and Margie continued to serve the public by offering a place where customers could browse the listing of old negatives, find what they wanted, and have them reprinted. Imagine the excitement this process served when genealogists, looking for long-lost ancestor’s pictures, finally found them! It was also a great endeavor for local historical projects and a Cassville bank began printing yearly calendars featuring historical Barry County photos made from the old negatives.

Eventually, Max and Margie Fields retired, and Max formed a plan to keep all of the negatives of the pictures he had taken safe. The negatives were moved to the new Barry County Museum, located on Highway 112 in Cassville, Missouri. There, the Fields Photo archives, housed inside the museum, is open to the public. Visitors may search the collection by subject name and then request a contact sheet of pertinent negatives. Fees for the reprints vary according to the print size ordered. All profits are donated to the Barry County Historical Society

The Archives is a treasure for genealogists and historians. According to the staff at the Barry County Museum, business is brisk for reprints from the old negatives. Through the years, my family frequented Fields Photo Shop. My personal album of photographs documented generations of grandparents, parents, siblings, and myself posing for the camera.

Fred “Pa” Fields began living his dream in the 1930s. He enjoyed serving the public and traveling miles to preserve people’s smiles, capture regional and local history, and visually record life in the Ozarks. His dream lives on as the Archives continue to serve the public. Photographing the Ozarks is exactly what Pa and Ma Fields did. On the second page, upper right corner is a photograph of my late Grandad, Perry Gresham Utter, who sat for a professional photo session with Fields during the 1950s.

REFERENCES: 

1. Interview with Max Fields, Cassville, Missouri, by Karen Utter Jennings, 03 April 2009. Transcript held in 2009 by Utter Jennings, Neosho, Missouri.

2. BARRY COUNTY REFLECTIONS. Barry County Museum Quarterly Volume 11, Issue 3, (September 2009) 4.

 3. Interview with Margie Fields, Cassville, Missouri, by Karen Utter Jennings, 28 December 2009. Transcript held in 2009 by Utter Jennings, Neosho, Missouri.

 4. Max Fields. HISTORY OF FIELDS’ PHOTO – CASSVILLE, MO. 2004. Barry County, MO online database accessed at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~haddockfamily/field.htm. Fields data downloaded 17 October 2009. 

FICTIONAL CHILDREN'S STORY: The Surprise Birthday Surprises ~ a story written for two of my great-grandchildren, Claira and Creed

 THE SURPRISE BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

            “Catch that rooster!” Urgency rang loud and clear. It was time for all of the animals to go to bed, but Captain Spaulding ran amuck in the barnyard like he did every single night. If the rooster wasn’t important, these moments would be laughable. But he had a job to do as the head rooster in the henhouse, so he could not be left out of the chicken coop at night.

            “Claira, you stay there, and I’ll run toward Captain and maybe we can catch him that way!” Gammy shouted to her granddaughter.

            Claira answered, “Alright!” Claira really did not want to catch the rooster, especially since he had long hooked spurs on the ends of both his legs. She knew roosters were not very nice sometimes and those spurs hurt when they gouged human skin. Chickens and roosters squawked and flapped their wings, which scared her.

            As Gammy ran toward the beautiful green, red, black, and yellow feathered rooster, Claira stood with her arms outstretched hoping she looked fierce enough that the rooster did not try any shenanigans. Just to make sure, she bared her teeth, and a frown puckered her face and she pumped her arms up and down in a menacing way.

            Captain Spaulding ran faster toward Claira while Gammy was running up behind him, waving her arms and shooing at him. Just when Claira thought the rooster was going to win this game of running amuck, Gammy swooped in and caught him up in her arms. The plaid flannel shirt she wore protected her arms from the rooster’s spurs.

            “Not this time, Captain!” Gammy announced as Claira did a cheer right there in the yard.

            “You did it, Gammy! I knew you’d catch that crazy chicken!” A big grin replaced the frown that had spread across her sweet face and her eyes twinkled.

            Claira followed her grandmother to the henhouse as Captain Spaulding squawked and tried to flap his wings in a getaway attempt. But he was not getting loose again tonight. Tonight, he would be put up with the rest of the flock of chickens for a good night’s rest.

            Just as the henhouse door was shut and fastened tight, cars honking on the highway blared a warning.

            Claira looked down the hill and saw several cars stopped on the highway allowing the gaggle of geese and guineas to cross safely, but the fowl took their time, stopping to peck at the pavement looking for a late-night supper.

            “Oh no, Gammy, look!” Claira shouted, pointing toward the bottom of the hill where the wayward fowl were causing a big ruckus.

            “Let’s go!” Gammy shouted and headed down the hill.

            Just as Gammy and Claira arrived at the highway, the last of the fat speckled guineas and cute white geese waddled safely across the road. The stopped cars sped down the highway and out of view.

            As they approached Claira and Gammy, their screeching grew louder as they sounded the alarm that someone new was with their owner.                                                                                 

            Gammy laughed. “They know you’re with me and they don’t like it! Let’s shoo them on up to the barnyard, Claira!” Gammy again waved her arms and shouted.

            Claira followed Gammy up the hill and ran ahead holding the big aluminum gate open so the foul could go inside. She listened to the honking white geese with fat yellow legs, feet, and beaks. They were her favorites; she didn’t care for the guineas as they cackled, called, and caused an uproar over basically nothing. The ducks were more serene in their barnyard banter.

                Gammy joined Claira and closed the gate behind them.

            “Those guineas hurt my ears with all their clucking!” Claira announced, looking at her grandma and covering her ears.

            Gammy laughed. “That’s why when I’m alone I wear my earbuds to help close out all their squawking!”

            “Good idea!” Claira gave her a thumbs up. “Now what are we going to do?”

            “Let’s wake up Creed so he can join us while we do the dogs' chores.”

            “I can do that!” Claira shouted and headed inside the house to get her brother.

            Creed was already awake and was watching the spectacle from the window.

            “Creed, it’s time to do the dog chores,” Claira said, her eyes flashing with wonder.

            “Last one outside is a rotten potato!” Creed called behind him as he ran to the back door.

Claira was right behind him. They found their Gammy in the building where the kennels for the Dachshunds were kept.

            “Okay, Creed, choose your chore: water the dogs or feed the dogs?”

            “Water!” Creed announced with a big smile across his face.

            “I get to feed!” Claira shouted, clapping her hands.

            The two kids began to do their jobs, while Gammy shooed the dogs into other pens so she could clean the kennels they just left.

            “Gammy, what kind of dogs are they again?” Creed asked as he let the water from the hose fill the dogs’ stainless-steel bowls.

            “Dachshunds,” Gammy said. She used a broom and a pan with a long handle on it to sweep the dog kennels free of muck.

            “And,” Creed went on, putting his finger in the air, “why are they so special? Tell me again.”

                Gammy smiled, proud of her little grandson for wanting to know more information about the dogs that she loved to raise and sell.

            “Well, they make good pets for people and families. Kids get along with them well.”

            Claira interrupted, “And for kids like us!”

            Gammy went on, “They are also called wiener dogs and sausage dogs. Most people love them. And they come from Germany. In that country, they are called badger dogs because they like to hunt badgers and rabbits. They rank high by the American Kennel Club as popular dogs.” Gammy was almost finished cleaning the kennels. “That’s why I raise and sell them.”

            Claira finished putting dog food into the bowls and went over to the runs where the dogs were outside in the evening air. 

            Creed finished the watering and joined his sister. “My favorite is the red one with the fluffy ears.”

            “And mine is the black ones with brown on them,” Claira joined in the conversation.

            Gammy stood beside them looking at the few puppies remaining. “I like them all.”

            Claira looked up at her grandma. “Then why do you sell them? Why don’t you keep them here with you and Grandpa Mike?”

            Gammy laughed again. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed them staying with her. “Well, what would happen if I kept every single puppy?”

            The two children thought for a moment. Their eyes grew round, and they both answered at the same time, “You’d have hundreds of them!”

            “Well, that’s about right, way too many to keep inside this building and allow them plenty of room to move around and the runs to let them go outside when they want to.”

            “Plus, you’d have to buy hundreds of bags of dog food!” Creed announced, his face serious as he looked at his grandma.

            “Wait a minute,” Claira said, looking around the kennel. “Where’s Little Man?”

            They looked around for the little brown and white Dachshund. He was missing. Among the other seven puppies, there were two gone.

            “Oh no,” Gammy said, rolling her eyes. “We’ve got to find him and his sister! It’s getting dark in the next fifteen minutes and they cannot be left outside the building.”

            “Will they die?” Claira asked.

            “That’s possible. Or a roaming animal might eat them.”

            Both children gasped, then groaned.

            Down the hill from the dog kennel was a small bluff. The drop-off was extreme, and nothing could ever survive a fall from it. This part of the property was a wild landscape with caves and holes. Some of it had already been cleared.

            As Gammy and the two children neared the drop-off, they heard whimpering. “There! I heard it, it’s the puppies!” Creed shouted, pointing down three feet to a little ledge.

            They saw the two pups, brother and sister, Little Man and Little Bit huddled together.

            “I’m too big to fit through the fence,” Gammy said.

            “I can do it, Gammy!” Creed spoke up.

            She thought for a moment before she answered. There was no one back at the house to help and darkness was closing in on them now. They had to try to rescue the puppies or risk them staying where they were until they could get someone else to help.

            “I’ll help, too,” Claira said.

            “I guess we can try, but kids, please be careful where you step and don’t fall off the ledge!” Gammy gave in.

            She helped Creed squeeze through the fence rails and hung on to his legs for a few moments until he got his footing. Claira went through, too, and stayed close to the fence.

            Claira said softly to her brother, “I’m here waiting, Creed. When you get a puppy, you can hand it to me, and I’ll give it to Gammy.”

            Creed nodded his blonde head and stretched his arm out. The puppies were crying out louder now that their people were near them.

            Creed reached for Little Man, but the puppy jerked his leg away from his hand. “Little Man don’t be afraid,” Creed whispered to the pup. “I’m here to save you.”

            The girl puppy moved closer, so Creed was able to grab her belly and lift her off the ledge. “I’ve got Little Bit!”

            “Hand her to me.” Claira reached for the spotted puppy. When Claira had a good hold on her, she transferred Little Bit to Gammy.

            “Good deal!” Gammy said, snuggling the pup to her chest. “Now Creed, do be careful!”

            Creed spoke softly to Little Man who was now yapping. He reached for the pup’s hind leg, but chat and rocks fell loose from the hillside, sliding away.

            Claira shouted at her brother. “Creed! No!”

            Creed stopped and gained his breath, then reached down farther, grabbed the pup’s back legs, and pulled him into his hands. “Got Little Man!” He handed the pup to his sister and waited for Claira to go through the fence, then he crawled through and stood next to Gammy. 

            “You did it!” Gammy shouted. “You saved the Dachshunds!”

            Creed beamed. “I thought I was going to fall that one time. But I held on!”

            Darkness enveloped them. It was time to get the puppies back where they belonged and get into the house for dinner.

            After dinner, Gammy read books to the children and showed them some of the papers she had to keep on the dogs she raised. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s something that I love. I wish I could keep all the dogs, but I share them with other people by selling them. That makes everyone happy; I get to love them when they’re born and then sell them to people who adopt a sweet puppy to love and raise as their own family.”

            “Maybe we can adopt a puppy someday,” Claira said. She yawned and stretched her arms wide. “I’m sleepy after all the chores we did today.”

            “I wish I could sleep with the puppies,” Creed told Gammy.

            “I have a thought,” Gammy answered. “I’ll let Dozer come in and sleep with you. Would you like that?”

            Creed’s eyes grew round, and he jumped up and down. “Yes, yes!”

            “The puppies are still too young and have to be with their mothers, but Dozer and Flower Girl are old enough to sleep inside with you both.”

            That night the children snuggled up with their furry friends beside them in their beds. Gammy said good night and closed the bedroom door, leaving the night light glowing softly in the room.

            The next day when the children’s mother came to pick them up, they chattered about what had taken place on the farm with the chickens, roosters, guineas, ducks, and puppies. Creed’s chest puffed out a bit when he told how he had saved the two puppies from falling off the rock ledge or being eaten by nighttime predators.

            Their mother was happy to hear about their fun. “I know you love visiting Gammy!”

            Claira spoke up, “Mom, Creed and I want to adopt two of Gammy’s puppies. She can tell you all about them, how much they cost, and how to take care of them. You know, their shots and health requirements.”

            “Yes! Please, Mom! Let’s tell Dad!” Creed agreed with his sister.

            “Well,” Mother said, smiling and looking at Gammy. “It just happens that we have a big surprise for you.”

            The children grew quiet, waiting for her to go on. Smiles played about their mouths and they wiggled and giggled. They loved surprises.

            “Creed, for your birthday, Daddy said that you may pick out one of Gammy’s puppies.”

            “But it’s not my birthday,” Creed said, frowning. 

            “And I want one too!” Claira stuck out her bottom lip and wrapped her arms around her tummy, pouting.

            “Let me explain, please. Creed, the puppies aren’t ready to go yet, but when your birthday gets here, they will be. Choose one now and it will be yours.”

            Mother turned to Claira. “And your birthday is in December and Gammy will have puppies born and ready to be adopted just in time for your birthday!”

 Both children shouted hooray and danced around, clapping and giggling.

            “You know Flower Girl who spent the night with you last night, Claira? Well, she is going to have puppies and they will be ready to go by your birthday.”

            “Flower Girl’s going to have puppies? Yay!” A big smile drew Claira’s mouth up.  

            Creed thought for a moment. “I know which puppy I want. I want Little Man! I saved him last night just in time to be my doggie!” 

            Claira and Creed knew that birthday puppies were the best, especially when they came from their Gammy who gave them extra love and attention.

                                                                        THE END  

            

DEVOTION: Blessings of the Heart

 BLESSINGS OF THE HEART: A CHRISTMAS DEVOTION

            Is your heart happy and healthy?  Do you feel good, celebrating your life the way you intend? Is your heart filled with love, grace, and hope? Or is your heart stony, one that is crowded with internal and external chaos? Do you suffer from loss or betrayal? Is your heart filled with fear, anger, or disappointment? Is it broken?

            Maybe your heart needs to be restored and rejuvenated. You need blessings, my friend.

            The word blessed is described in the dictionary as: made holy; consecrated. Synonyms for blessed are holy, hallowed, sanctified, dedicated, and revered.

            A few years back, God gave me three words. Those words were Believe, Slow down, and Listen. I pondered what they meant for me. I had no idea how they would impact my life. Through the years, I related many meanings to the words. I thought about each word separately and the group of words as a whole.

            Over time, through life’s ups and downs, I learned lessons. I suffered from grief when my husband unexpectedly passed away and I found him. Grief crippled me. Here I am today living with a heart full of blessings. Oh sure, some days aren’t easy. But today I’m learning how to embrace grace, renewal, and hope.  

            Let’s consider each word. Then we will explore ways to gather blessings.

            The word Believe. Believe in what or who? I believed in God, no doubt there. As the years passed, I learned that though I believed, I asked myself how deep did it go. In myself. In family and friends. Was I committed to believing? I had work to do.

            The words Slow Down. I’ve rushed through life, not stopping until my tasks were finished. Many people have the responsibilities of a spouse, children, family, and a day job. Days are filled from morning to night with work. Rushing is not a healthy way to live. This was hard for me to embrace. I had work to do.

            The word Listen. I was confident I listened well. The truth is I did not. I heard what others said, but I interrupted them by inserting my feelings and experiences on the matter. While they talked to me, I fidgeted, I doodled, I wasn’t a good listener. To God. To others. To myself. I had work to do.

            Here are ways I learned to find blessings to restore and revive my heart.

            BELIEVE. Communicate with God daily. Talk, laugh, cry, pray, and pour out your feelings. Open your Bible or a devotional guide and read. I made many mistakes, only to finally and fully believe that God is in control. He is in control of you, me, and the universe. Exercise faith that God is waiting to hear you and help you. In the good and bad of life, God is but a breath away.

            We have choices to make every day. Choose to believe. Believe in yourself. You are created by God. Your family is created by God. Even through the rotten times, believe that good things are going to happen! Jesus tells us in Scripture, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Mark 11:24 NKJV). Practice believing through faith, trust, and hope.

            SLOW DOWN. Prioritize your day, your week, and maybe an entire month. Rest a bit after you have accomplished something. Celebrate your success! Make lists of things to do. Lists are an organizational skill that keeps you on track. I make lists of where I am going and what I need to do.

            Say a prayer and be thankful for all that you have. Memorize a Bible verse to help you turn your thoughts heavenward and give your heart a calming boost.

            Learn to say “no” to things that steal your time. Take time for yourself. Do something that refreshes you and fills you with joy. Life is hard sometimes! Practice slowing down by taking a break, filling your thoughts with honor, comfort, and gratitude.  

            David writes, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.” (Psalms 62:1-2 NKJV).

            LISTEN. Listen to yourself.  Listen to others. Listen to God. Learn to listen to the sounds around you and to those speaking. Find a picture of something or someone and focus on it for a few minutes. Go outdoors to focus on what you hear. Close your eyes and enjoy the moment. Is there silence? Do you hear animals or the sounds of daily life? Play a CD and pay attention to the words of the song. Ponder what the words mean to you. 

            Learn to listen to yourself. Our actions and words come from our hearts. Are we respectful, full of love and grace? Are we living our lives in a worthy manner? Listen deeply and make changes if they are needed. Let the Lord lead you.

            The next time someone talks to you, focus on the conversation. Look at the speaker, open your ears, and hear. Respond very little, giving them your full attention and respect. Practice listening in love, encouragement, and grace.

            In the words of James, the brother of Jesus, he states, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:10 NKJV).

            This Christmas give yourself a gift of blessings. Be willing. Be encouraged. Be consistent. Be faithful to yourself! The Bible teaches that we go through storms of life. We will make mistakes, suffer loss, and encounter hurt. But our life walk is much better if we believe, slow down, and listen. Jesus tells us in the Book of Luke 11:9, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (NKJV).

            God speaks to us in the Book of Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (NKJV).

            These are only a few suggestions to help you gather blessings. While you are resting, think of other ways to bless yourself and other people this Christmas season. Believe, slow down and listen. In the Spirit of Christmas, let’s remember how the Grinch’s heart grew again after practicing forgiveness and kindness.

            Fill your heart with blessings! Merry Christmas!

 

COMING SOON! Evening Reflections a 30-day devotional ~ Reflect, Renew, & Rest

 I'm still waiting on the cover and the last little details of my devotional book. 

Here's a blurb: 

“Evening Reflections: offers you a roadmap to reclaim your evenings, guiding you through 30 days of devotions. By the end of this journey, you’ll have cultivated a deep sense of tranquility, a strengthened connection with God, and the ability to enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of a peaceful night’s rest.

Don’t miss the opportunity to embrace the transformative potential of your evenings - order your copy today and embark on a spiritual and restful journey that will leave you resting in the treasures of God’s Word.

The purpose of my 30-day devotionals is to help you develop the habit of ending your day in quiet so that you rest well at night. Once your routine is in place, each evening you will REFLECT on the day, RENEW your mind, and REST well. 

Of course, it's not available to order yet, but it will be soon, both in ebook and print book. I can't wait to share my discovery with you! 

FAMILY HISTORY: Cherish Your Family Stories

 Since the beginning of time, the harvest has been a season of gathering crops from the fields and getting together with family and friends to celebrate. There are other things to gather this time of year besides our produce. With the holidays approaching and while you are preparing for family gatherings, swing your thoughts to your family history.   

Gathering family stories can be a fun and tantalizing activity. Collecting those tales from yesteryear (or even not so long ago) is something you will treasure. Letters, photos, and cards are pieces of memorabilia that enrich your family history.

Many folks write holiday family letters, happily chattering about their year. These letters are full of family information, so keep them with your research. One winter, my cousin blessed me with a batch of her old family keepsakes. In the collection of goodies were several letters written when a family member passed. One of the sisters included news from their hometown in Indiana and included at great length news of a friend’s wedding. What an endearing historical artifact for me. Here is the first page of the four-page letter my cousin gave to me: 

 

When you have old letters and photos, use the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions to document the details. When you read cards and letters, pay attention to the writer’s handwriting and their way of communication and spelling.

Here is the front page of the letter my 3rd great-grandfather wrote to his children after his beloved wife died. He spells the word 'much' as 'mutch' and 'which' as 'witch.'

If you send holiday cards, explain to your family about your interest in family history and genealogy. Ask them if they can supply answers to missing information and if they have pictures they will share. Share some of your family history information with them. You may be surprised at what you will get in return. 

Another suggestion for your get-togethers, ask your guests to bring a few family photos and the stories that go along with them to share with everyone. Don’t forget to ask questions and write the answers down so you’ll have details later. Think of it as an informal interview.

If you’re seriously savvy, use a recorder to capture every word and phrase of the stories you hear. If you know Great-grandma or Uncle Henry will grace your gathering, write your questions on paper so you won’t forget to ask her during the excitement of the day.

Here’s a neat tip about sharing photos with everyone. To prevent smudging the photos, place them in archival-safe sleeves. If you don’t know who the people are in any of your photographs, consider assigning a number to each photo. If anyone recognizes the people, places, events, and dates, you can easily write that information on your paper with the assigned photograph number. 

One last suggestion about vintage (actually all) photographs: never write on the backs of them. If you absolutely must, use a pencil.  If you use an ink pen over time the ink will bleed through onto the fronts of the pictures ruining them.

Not only during the holidays but at every gathering, enjoy the opportunities to discover your family history.