Ancestor Appreciation Day ~ 2015

1. My maternal grandparents, Myrtle & George Rueff. 2. My paternal grandparents, William & Peggy Williams. 3. My paternal great grandparents, William & Sarah Williams. 4. My paternal 2nd great grandfather, William W Williams. 5. My maternal great grandparents, Pauline & Ray Behrle. 6. My maternal great grandparents, Anna & William Rueff. 7. My maternal great aunt and uncle, Cromy & Mory Hoskins. 8. My 2nd paternal great aunt, Georgia Williams Bannister. 9. My 2nd great maternal grandparents, William & Caroline Rueff.

In honor of Ancestor Appreciation Day I am posting these pictures of who I would love to interview if it were possible to travel to heaven and come back. There is a song by Justin Moore called "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" which inspired me to think of a genealogy version. Of course I should let you know that my version is not really meant for singing! Every time I hear this song, I am reminded of the family and friends who have been gone for more years than I can count. The song was written by Robert Henry Hatch. This is refrain of the original song and my genealogy version follows after that.

Original version:

If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away

My genealogy version: 

If heaven wasn't so far away

I'd pack up my papers, pens and recording devices

To visit my kin gone so long now 

Many of whom I would be meeting for the first time

But that doesn't matter because they know who I am

I'd find my long lost Grandpa Williams and find out who his parents are

I'd find all my grandmothers and give them great big hugs

Show them pictures of all their descendants 

I'd ask all my questions and tell them I'll be back

Of course their is one person I would have to see, my son, Kenny

I'd tell him all about the family and his nephew Easton

I'd gather everyone around and hug them all so tight

In the rear view mirror I'd watch 'em wave and feel their love

Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take

If heaven wasn't so far away

Sources: 

"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" sung by Justin Moore, Lyrics by Robert Henry Hatch, AZ Lyrics (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/justinmoore/ifheavenwasntsofaraway.html : 26 September 2015)