Tuesday, August 3, 2010

A New Angel In My Life

I have a new angel in my life. Her name is Sue Beus.
Isn't it interesting how people come into our lives and when we meet them, we know we will never be the same? These angels provide crossroads, where we can mark life before we met them, and life since.
It's a long story, but I have had an interest in doing my family history for over 30 years.
I've gathered a lot of information, and put a little together here and there, but basically I've felt overwhelmed with the organizational part.
I kept gathering piles and piles of papers, that were thrown into multiple boxes.
Along came Sue, who has developed an easy to understand program that put me together. (and that is no small accomplishment!)
Sue invited me into her home, volunteered her time as she gave me one on one attention, and within hours all my Mount Everest boxes of papers were neatly organized, and labeled in a numbering system.
Did I mention, all of this help was done at no cost to me, but out of the kindness of Sue's heart?
I was ready to kiss her feet.

What could I do in return for such a lady?
As coincidence would have it, Sue is a wanna-be quilter. She had taken a few classes and started a few quilts, but felt a little overwhelmed to complete them.
She also has collected a stack of family heirloom quilts that are partially sewn.
There they sat, kind of like my boxes of genealogy papers.
I can help Sue with her quilts. So we developed a trade system.
I will put her quilts together, while she continues to help me with my genealogy.
The first quilt I have finished for her was a very easy pattern: "Turning Twenty".

Simple pattern that uses 20 coordinating fat quarters.

Sue chose some beautiful colors. It's now off to the quilter, and once I have it back, I will bind it and deliver it back to Sue.

My angel story gets even better. For my birthday, my friend Beth gave me a wonderful genealogy software program called Roots Magic.
I have the task of typing all my data entry of names and sources into this computer system.
No one else (that I am aware of as I search the Internet) is working on any of my family lines, and I am forging new territory.
Sue took pity upon me and said "Nedra, you have thousands and thousands of names."
"Yep"
"Would you allow me and my husband to help you?"
Now I want to kiss both of their feet.
Sue and her husband Don have spent many hours in the last month, typing away.
And I happily came home with more quilts to be worked on from Sue's pile.

11 comments:

Jana said...

How wonderful for the both of you! Love the colors in the quilt. So very pretty. I am taking our YW this Saturday to the temple. One lady gave us 160 women's names to do...I can't imagine being able to find that many "new" names in my own family history. You are going to be busy! :)

Nanette Merrill said...

blessings, blessings, blessings....you deserve them my dear, what a sweet story

Live Well With Judi said...

I'm so excited for you! Can I be next in line? Maybe she has a twin? I can only hope. Today, I am cleaning my sewing room (actually all week, but who's counting) and then when the kids are back in school, that family history mess is next!! The entire room the papers are stored in, is nothing but boxes! I probably won't be out for a month!! Slip food under the door, will you? Hugs

Unknown said...

That is an absolute wonderful story! It is amazing the generosity of people in this world!! I think they have also found an angel in you!

Pots and Pins said...

That's amazing...I need her to come and help me when she's done with you! But if you have thousands of names, that means I'll be meeting my ancestors in person by the time you're done! What a great trade you made!! xo, Nan

Material Mary said...

When my husband got back from overseas, he was really messed up. He does geneaology to help him function. He loves it and it is really addicting. I think you are getting the bug and how nice of you to help finish quilts up as a trade--you go girl!!
Mary

Rae Ann said...

Angels serving Angels! What a great service you are doing for each other. I love the quilt and she is very blessed to have you sewing it. I am excited for you both!

AnnieO said...

Serendipity for sure! What a terrific person and couple to meet. They sound absolutely angelic, I agree. My mom is the "keeper" of the geneaology for the most part, though my aunt has also done a lot. This task will fall to me once my mom and aunt have gone, hopefully many, many years from now.

Dawn said...

What a great post and such a sweet story! I use the RM program for my own genealogy and love it. What a great blessing for you, her and those on the other side of the veil.

Annieofbluegables said...

Dang! I want you both over to my house. As I sit here, my feet are surrounded by different stacks of Genealogy. I'm not sure how to organize it. Its hard remember where I was the next day if I put it away, so they all sit making a mess around my desk.
Over on my sewing table sits stacks of fabric ready to piece together into 5 quilts (for grand babies who will get baptized soon) Anyone want to come help?
xoxoxo
~a
Ps found you on RaeAnn's Stash Manicure with your Wonder Box piece. I printed it and read it to Sailor (my hubby). I thought he might be interested in this cooking method when we are sailing his boat on Lake Powell. Thanks for that.

Annieofbluegables said...

Dang! I want you both over to my house. As I sit here, my feet are surrounded by different stacks of Genealogy. I'm not sure how to organize it. Its hard remember where I was the next day if I put it away, so they all sit making a mess around my desk.
Over on my sewing table sits stacks of fabric ready to piece together into 5 quilts (for grand babies who will get baptized soon) Anyone want to come help?
xoxoxo
~a
Ps found you on RaeAnn's Stash Manicure with your Wonder Box piece. I printed it and read it to Sailor (my hubby). I thought he might be interested in this cooking method when we are sailing his boat on Lake Powell. Thanks for that.