Thursday, February 16, 2012

Happy Thursday 2.16.12

With Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday right around the corner, I thought I'd share with you this little number.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Who Do You Think You Are?

Preview the Stories from Season 3!

Words cannot describe how excited I am about this show!

For the last two years from February to March, you could always find me at my parent's house every Friday night. Why? Well, the fundamental reason was that I, until recently, did not have cable but the real reason I was over there weekly, was to watch this show!

Here is another spin-off television show from Englad. The series follows well-known celebrities and athletes as they journey through time to discover their personal, family roots. There are celebrities who finally get answers to family mysteries (Kim Cattrall). There are celebrities who are united with relatives they did not know existed (Rosie O'Donnell). There are celebrities who are brought back to the faith of their ancestors by what they discover (Gwyneth Paltrow).

I don't think I need to explain to you why I love this show so much but if you are just tuning in, you can read more about my infatuation here or here and if you still need more here.

If you are a fan of the show or are tuning in for the first time tonight, let me know what you think of it!
Season Premiere February 3 - Fridays 8/7c - on ABC

Monday, January 30, 2012

Are You There God, It's Me Rebecca

The Lord has only spoken to me one time in my life. It was a core-shaking, awakening, totally freak me out in a good way kind of speaking. Ever since then I take even the smallest whisper as the Lord trying to tell me something. And His timing could not have been more perfect. 

Yesterday at church, one of my favorite songs came on, "Forever Reign". I like this song because of the chorus but never really found comfort in it until yesterday. 


Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Ok, I got it. At this time in my life, I really need to focus on giving everything to God and embracing Him and what works He is doing in my life; regardless if I understand it or not. 

He didn't stop there because I still had a little resistance and fear inside of me. 

As the sermon begins, the intro pops up on the screen and I was intrigued. The verse on the screen was Deuteronomy 31:8; The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Tell me more!

I kept waiting for the reference back to that verse throughout the message but it never happened. That was confirmation to me that I was meant to hear that verse. 

He still wasn't done though. 

The Biblical reference in the sermon was actually Romans 12:17 but my eye landed on Romans 12:12, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. What I found comfort in was the middle of the verse, be patient in affliction. The Lord tells us that we will have trials in our life that will bring us closer to Him and that will strengthen us or change us always for the better, for the Lord only wants the best for us. 


I may not understand what is going on in my life right now but I just need to rest assured that there is a purpose and a plan for my life. 

All within a matter of minutes, I had been wanted, comforted and instructed. Even if they were three seperate whispers spoken to me, I heard all three loud and clear! 


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sentimental Sundays - Hopelessly Romantic

Upon re-typing my 3rd Great-Grandmother's diary, I came across this entry this morning. 

The day before, there had been a Vernon family reunion and Georgia Alden was continuing the description from that day. I found the following poem to be so heartbreakingly romantic and not to mention the continued conversation regarding the height of some of the men quite amusing. 

Sunday, September 7, 1890
Too tired to go to Church. Uncle Frank and Lizzie stopped at Aunt Harriet’s last night. Harry Hargis and Hendson Vernon of Georgia spent the night. The number of tall men at Nazareth yesterday has been subject of comment. A great many were six feet or over, all the way to six feet, six inches. The youngest descendant there was Master Alex. Vernon Holmes 5 weeks of age. The following poem was received from his descendant in Texas who wrote they would be with us in spirit on the 6. Anna L. Walden, Frances Lay, Dallas, Texas. The subject of the poem was a Great-Granddaughter of Alexander Vernon and the writer General Mirabeau B. Lamar, Third President of the Republic of Texas. It was written while Texas was a Republic on a sheet of music with a lead pencil, during Nancy’s absence from home.

To Miss Vernon

The richest rose, the rarest flower in Texas Valleys shining,
Can never match the absent one for whom my heart is pining.
My thoughts are with her day and night, nor can I from her turn ‘em.
Go where I will I still behold the smiles of Nancy Vernon.

Ye belles of wealth, ye devotees of fortunes heartless pleasures,
If to your stores ye wish to add fair virtues shining treasures,
Go seek the subject of my song; in her you’ll quickly find ‘em
For every gem of soul and mind is found in Nancy Vernon.

I know ‘tis said there never shone on earth a faultless creature.
That some slight shade must ever dim the brightest form or feature
But if such shadows dwell with her I’m sure I can’t discern ‘em.
I own that others have their faults, but none has Nancy Vernon.

But why should I her praises sing? Poor worth my softest numbers;
Songs of mine can never make the love that in her bosom slumbers.
Then take any harp and break its chords, take my songs and burn ‘em
I prize them not since they can win no smiles from Nancy Vernon. 

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Surname Saturday - Richardson to Richerson

My last name is Richerson; not Richardson, Richarson, or Richerdson. To me, my last name is the correct spelling but I am a little biased. 

The story in our house is that my 3rd Great Grandfather and his brothers went off to fight in the Civil War. At some point during their enlistment, the spelling of their last name was changed from Richardson to Richerson. The theory is that the boys did this to ensure receipt of payment. Apparently, there were other Richardsons fighting in the war and my relatives wanted to make absolutely sure that they got what was theirs. 
4 Generations of Richersons
Thanks to the man on the left, Wright Montillion

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Thankful Thursday - Circumstance of Events

There are many things that I am thankful for but when I sit down and really dive deep into what matters most to me and what would make me an incredibly different person, I’d have to say I’m grateful for my Great-Aunt, Goti (technically, she’s my 1st cousin 2x removed but she was like a sister to my grandmother.)

Take this as you will but I would not be here if her father had not been killed in a German bomb shelter – that’s another story for another day. Honestly though, had he survived the war, there is absolutely no way that I would be here. The following events would not have happened:

1. Goti’s mother would not have married an American soldier, who adopted her and moved the family back to the US after the war was over.

2. Goti would not have met her future husband while they were both stationed in Alaska – ALASKA! and after a short long-distance relationship, he asked her to marry him!

3. Shortly after the wedding, Goti’s new husband, my Uncle John, would never have sponsored my Grandmother’s immigration over to the US and provided helpful information on her journey, “For the record, I am a woman.”

4. Lastly, had my grandmother never emigrated from Germany, she would have never met my Grandfather, who most of  his friends and family thought would never marry, she would have never fallen madly in love, married and later had my mother who, thankfully and  subsequently fell in love with my father, married and a few years later had me. :)

I’ve just now begun to see the effects of God’s wheels turning slowly but I would have to say that the earlier events definitely happened for a reason and there was a reason for them all.

Today I am most thankful for my fun, loving, and witty Great Aunt, Irmgard Fischer! 

Goti and my Grandmother

Sunday, January 15, 2012

My New Favorite Song

I am quickly becoming obsessed with this song so I thought I'd share it with everyone! 
Here's the Cover to Miranda Lambert's "Makin' Plans" 


Enjoy! 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Grown-Up Field Trip: Part 2

So this took a little longer to write than I had anticipated. 
I apologize. 

We woke up from our glorious night of rest and headed to a kitschy restaurant for breakfast. The food was ok but the restaurant did not receive a good review from mom. If you have award winning Corned Beef Hash, it better taste award winning! 
Apparently, my face blows up after taking Benadryl


After we filled up for the day, we then headed over to Duxbury, Mass for our own private torn of our 8th and 9th Great-Grandparent's home!! 

John Alden was a Cooper, Barrel Maker

Our tour started outside the house. Our tour guide, Matt from The Alden House, gave us a quick timeline of the Alden's time in Plymouth and their journey to Duxbury.  The Alden's first settled a few hundred yards east of the present location. Just a short walk through the woods from the present day home.  
The site of the Alden's first home, built in 1627

An interesting fact that I walked away with was that out of all the Pilgrims descendants, the Alden's children were the most easy going. All of the other Pilgrim's children made news for things most people wouldn't want to be known for, i.e., ending the pact with the Indians. The Alden's were simply living day by day. I wonder what they would think of their notoriety today? 



Myself, sister, and Mom at the Alden House

 After our tour was complete and we drove around the city of Duxbury and visited the Myles Standish Cemetery, America's oldest maintained cemetery. The burial place of John and Priscilla are unknown, as well as the date of Priscilla's death, but there are two plaques for them beside the grave of their oldest son, Jonathan. 

Gorgeous View of Duxbury

Plaques for John and Priscilla Alden

Once we had seen all of Duxbury, we drove back to Plymouth and visited a few more spots. They included The Mayflower Society Home, Burial Hill, and The Pilgrim Hall Museum. We capped the night off with the best meal of the day, White Pizza and Red Wine at The Upper Crust and sundaes at Friendly's. 



Our last day in Plymouth started at the Plimouth Plantation. The Plimouth Plantation is a recreation of a Wampanoag Indian Homesite and a 17th Century English Village. It is an interactive and realistic recreation of what life would have been like for both the Indians and Pilgrims a few years after the Pilgrims had arrived. 
Cooking Pumpkin

A Wampanoag Winterized Hut, as known as a Wetus

On our way to visit our 'ancestors' at the English Village

Pilgrims cutting wood 

17th Century Style Home


Gorgeous views of the village from the Fort

After we had finished at the Plantation, it was time for us to head out of town and back home. On the drive to Boston, we stopped at Presidents John and John Quincy Adams' birth place home and final home in, wait for it, Quincy, Mass. We didn't have enough time to take the tour so we just walked around and took some pictures. 
Peacefields, The Old House, of the Adams, also descendants of the Aldens!

The grounds held a gorgeous English styled garden

The weekend was a success and we were actually surprised that we were not able to view everything that we wanted to! Who knew that Plymouth, Mass was so interesting?!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Become Who I Am Looking For Is Looking For

For 2012 my main focus, my main goal, is: 

To become the person I am looking for is looking for. 

Last summer, my pastor, Andy Stanley, did a series entitled, "The New Rules of Love, Sex, and Dating."  For the entire nine years that I have been attending Buckhead Church, this is the first time a series has stuck with me for this long!

In the first part of the series, Andy states that he has never come across a married couple who has "a marriage problem". What it is instead is that people with problems get married. These people believe the "Right Person Myth"--When I marry or meet the right person, everything will be alright. Instead, their single people problems carry over into their marriage. 
(You can click on the link above to hear Andy's more eloquent description). 

Towards the end of the message, Andy challenges single people to fix their single people problems before they marry. Instead of trying to find the "right person" to fix your problems, he states, you need to become the right person! Become the Person who are looking for is looking for! Get out of debt! Quick your bad habits! Fix your "daddy/mommy issues"! 

So, in becoming the person I am looking for is looking for, here are my 2012 goals for the year! 

1. I am looking for a strong, godly, Christian man. 
I am going to work on a having a daily, stronger, more personal relationship with my Lord and Savior! 
If you have not read, Heaven is For Real, you need to add it to your list ASAP.
This, according to the Colton Burpo, is what Jesus looks like.

2. I am looking for someone who is wise with their money. 
I am going to find financial peace! I am going to get out of debt and I am going to live a life of financial margin!

3. I am looking for someone who is successful in their career and takes pride in their work. 
I am going to take and pass the Series 7 exam by the end of April!

4. I am looking for an educated, sophisticated man. 
I am going to read a list of classic novels that I was supposed to read in h.s. and college or that I have always wanted to read. The first few include Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. 

5. I am looking for a person who takes care of their physical bodies and health. 
I am going to become more active, starting with the JFBC Polar Bear Run at the end of the month and possibly begin rowing this summer and I am going to make more of an effort in keeping up appearances.
Yes, Kate Middleton is my inspiration. I have no problem admitting this. 

6. I am looking for a man who is kind, generous, and loving. 
I am going to donate either my time or money more to charities around the community on a quarterly basis. 

7. I am looking for someone who is generally neat and tidy. 
Ok, so this one is more so for me personally, I just want to keep up a daily routine of keeping a clean house. Put my shoes away instead of kicking them off and leaving them on the floor, go through and throw away mail as it comes in; all of the small things that eventually add up. 
8. I am looking for a man who has strong relationships with their family and friends. 
 I am going to further strength my relationships with my close friends by getting together more often with them and showing my family and friends how much they mean to me!


These are my resolutions goals, what are some of yours? 

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