The van Ormer View: Family History

Family History

I love learning about my ancestors: who they are, where they came from, and any other gems I can discover. I have especially loved learning about my husband's family history since so little is known about it. I have uncovered some pretty interesting things including pictures, census information, death certificates, gravestones, etc. Knowing where you come from is a very powerful thing. If you want to know who you are -- know who you come from!

If you would ever like any help, at least getting started . . . let me know, and I might be able to get you on the right path.

Who am I?

I am a wife and a mother, my two favorite and most distinguished titles. I have four lovely children who keep me from being vain and selfish. I spent most of my life living in Anchorage, Alaska -- where I found my love, Charles. I enjoy a great many things, and I am good at a few things. I love to sing, run, have deep conversations, bake, do family history, blog, be with family, be with friends, have quiet time (whatever that is?), teach, rearrange furniture, watch movies, go for Sunday walks, attend the temple, observe people (Yes, I am watching YOU!), and I enjoy pondering the mysteries of the World. I love living on this beautiful Earth that God has created. I know who I am and I am grateful to know it. I am a child of God -- and so are you!

Mothers

God bless you, dear friends. Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home. The baby you hold in your arms will grow quickly as the sunrise and the sunset of the rushing days. I hope that when that occurs you will not be led to exclaim as did King Lear, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!” (King Lear, I, iv, 312). Rather, I hope that you will have every reason to be proud concerning your children, to have love for them, to have faith in them, to see them grow in righteousness and virtue before the Lord, to see them become useful and productive members of society. If with all you have done there is an occasional failure, you can still say, “At least I did the very best of which I was capable. I tried as hard as I knew how. I let nothing stand in the way of my role as a mother.” Failures will be few under such circumstances.

-Gordon B. Hinckley