Tia Lola and Suzie

So, recently I came into contact with our cousin Al Ramirez. I found him by researching our family history. Turns out his grandfather was a very close cousin of my dad. I couldn't believe I found them. My mom use to babysit his mother, Cecelia, when she was young. Her dad, Rafael, was the person who introduced my dad to the Apostolic Church, and also had my dad set his sights on my mom becoming a future wife. I was so happy to find him. This post; however, is about my Tia Lola, Rafael's wife. The last time they visited the family was when mom was pregnant with Suzie. She took one look at my mom and said, "Vas a tener una nina." My dad said no that they were going to have another boy. They went back and forth. Tia Lola asked Dad if he wanted to make a wager. She wanted to bet him $100. Tio Rafael said, "Where are you going to get that money when you loose this bet?" Yet, Tia Lola was sure they were going to have a girl. She was right. At the hospital when Suzie was born. The nurses told my mom she had a girl. My mom said, "Let me see her." She took the blanket off to verify the baby was a girl. The nurses were offended that my mom did not believe them. Somehow my mom was able to tell them Suzie was the first girl after giving birth to five sons. Mom did not know any English at this time, and she can't even recall how she remembers how she was able to convey this message to them. They understood and were celebrating joyously at the knowledge Suzie was the first girl. When my dad found out. He didn't believe it. He was surprised. He was so sure Suzie was going to be a boy. He already had a name picked out for "him." Angel, was to be the name, which is very ironic since Suzie always loved the name Angelica. When the shock of having a daughter past, he asked, "How are we going to take her home?" My mom was wondering what the question meant. Then he said, "We do not have any girl clothes for her." The ironic thing about the girl's clothes was that when my Tia Lola found out Suzie came and she was right; she sent a box of girl's clothes.

Family History Work

It's been a while since I have been able to post on this blog. I had lost my password. Also, I have been doing a different route of family history work. I have been having a lot of "success," really, it's miracles in finding ancestors on my father's line. I even found relatives living in Utah that are Mormon like me, and one of these cousins does a lot of family history work. It's incredible! I found one line of grandfathers up to my Great-Great Grandfather on my father's line. It's amazing to me to think I went from thinking I didn't have grandparents (my dad actually told me this as a child) and believing I was a bit of an oddity. I was like a pod-person or something. It was strange how I did and didn't accept what he told me about my family tree. I ALWAYS dreaded that assignment at school. You know the one, "Okay, children tomorrow I want you to bring your family trees to class and we can discuss them." It was very upsetting. This is when I got the line, "No tenemos eso. Tu no tenes abuelos." I know better now. Just because they are dead, doesn't mean they are no longer my family. I now know that my family can be together forever. It was a promise I made for my dad when he passed away, and I honestly believe he is helping me from the other side of the veil. I will be trying to post more as I can, but I won't post many pictures here. I will post the remainder of my photos on familysearch.org as I trust this site will make sure these pictures will be available for many, many years to come. I want my children's children to know where they came from and the stories of their ancestors. I am hoping my siblings will want to add to these stories here, and will let me know if it's okay to make this blog public. I worry if something should ever happen to me this blog will be lost again, and no one in my family will be able to find it again. Also, I want to link this blog to familysearch.org for generations to come to find and read about their ancestor's lives.