A book for Will...

This morning, while organizing my closet, I came across all of our old "family albums" that belonged to my grandmother.  I am the most sentimental person in the world, so these albums were one of the few items I took from my grandmother's home when she passed away.  I love that she wrote by each picture, where it was taken, and who was in it.  I feel like she knew that her albums would one day be an heirloom for generations to come.  I am not sure she knew that it would leave her grand-daughter sitting in the floor of her closet bawling like a baby...but it did!

I lost my last grandparent (my dad's mom) two years ago...and it seems I am grieving more now than ever.  Having Will has made me miss my grandparents all the more.  It makes me so sad that no one from that generation of my family will meet Will and no one from that generation of my family got to meet Cullen.  I guess that is one disadvantage of being the baby child!  

I lost both of my grandfathers before I turned 6 years old...so my memories of them are limited.  I have always envied my two older brothers for having stories to tell about both of them.  They remember their characteristics...where as I just remember their images.  While I got to enjoy my grandmothers longer, I wish now that I had paid more attention to the details of their stories.  I wish I had taken notes, and not relied on my memory-which seems to get worse by the day..."mommy brain!"  I find it remarkable that while my memories are blurred, my love for them is still so vivid.  

I am so very thankful that Will has both sets of his grandparents and I pray they get to see him grow up. What a blessing that will be!  I am so grateful that we live an hour away from both of our parents, so that we can visit whenever we want.  I have been thinking a lot lately about ways I can ensure that Will always remembers the details of his grandparents...the details I cannot remember about mine.  I decided to create a "family tree" book for him and I will give it to him when he is older and can appreciate it.  I want to start it now though, while we are so blessed to have so many family members in his life.  I want him to have an understanding of each branch of our family tree...and to be able to share it with his own children one day. I created a list of questions(that may or not be tweaked) to provide to all of our family members to complete.  I am going to ask Cullen's great-grandmothers the questions, and record their answers, to type up myself:)  I am sure new questions will come from the existing questions...but this will be my guide.  I LOVE the idea of having an heirloom to pass down from generation to generation, with each generation adding to it!

Our Family Tree…every branch holds a story

What is your name and relationship to William Cullen Smith?

Who is your spouse and how did you and your spouse meet?  (Please give all of the romantic details)

What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

Who are your parents? Where were they born? If deceased, how did they die?  If deceased, when did they die?

Who are your children? 

What did you do for a living?

Where were you born? 

Where do you attend church?  Who is responsible for your relationship with Christ?

What do you feel will be your greatest legacy?

What is your most favorite family tradition?

What is your highest level of education?

What is something that would surprise most of your family to know about you?

Where was the most interesting place you traveled?

What do you remember about the South during your childhood?

What is the most significant cultural change you have seen within our society?

Favorite movie?  Actor?  Actress?

What is your favorite meal?

What do you feel is the best advice you can give to Will?

Wish me luck in getting this done in a TIMELY manner!!!