Welcome to the World Sullivan Arig!

Congratulations to Chris and Gina on the birth of their baby boy, Sullivan Arig who came into this world on Tuesday! Congratulations also to my cousin Amy and her husband Greg who are the paternal grandparents! 

Dear Sullivan,

Welcome to the world precious little boy!

I hope you have eyes that are filled with wonder.

I hope you are mischievous as all little boys tend to be.

I hope your laugh sounds like a big deep belly laughs.

I hope your heart is full of grace.

I hope you reach for the stars and the moon and everything this world has to offer.

Most of all little boy, I hope you know just how much you are loved!

Love,

Dawn 

 

Family Picture Friday - Happy Easter Everyone!

This is my first Easter picture with my Mom! April 1963 Hialeah, Florida. I will see you on Sunday, Momma! 

 

Welcome to the World Julia!!!

Congratulations to my cousin, Douglas and his beautiful wife, Tracy who have brought another beautiful little girl into the world yesterday. Her name is Julia Ruth and she is a beauty! I am so very happy for you both. I know how excited Anna Dayle must be to become a big sister and I know she will always cherish that role. And by now Julia, has all of you wrapped around her little fingers! Congratulations to my cousin Amy and her hubby Greg on their beautiful new granddaughter and Congratulations to Tracy's family too!

Dear Julia,

Welcome to the world precious little girl! 

I hope you have eyes that are bright like starlight.

I hope you are sugar and spice but mischievious too!

I hope your laugh sounds like the tinkling of bells.

I hope your heart is full of grace.

I hope that you reach for dragonflies, lady bugs, butterflies and the wonders of the world.

Most of all, little girl I hope that you know how much you are loved!

Love,

Cousin Dawn

Welcome to the World Riley!!!

Congratulations to my cousin, Jonathan and his fiance Samantha who brought a beautiful little girl named Riley into the world yesterday. I am so very happy for you both and your new little family. Jonathan I am truly thrilled for your Mom and Dad because being a grandparent is awesome! And by now Riley, has you all wrapped around her little fingers! Congratulations to my cousin Robin and her hubby Mathis on their beautiful granddaughter and Congratulations to Samantha's family too!

Dear Riley,

Welcome to the world precious little girl! 

I hope you have eyes that are bright like starlight.

I hope you are sugar and spice but mischievious too!

I hope your laugh sounds like the tinkling of bells.

I hope your heart is full of grace.

I hope that you reach for dragonflies, lady bugs, butterflies and the wonders of the world.

Most of all, little girl I hope that you know how much you are loved!

Love,

Cousin Dawn

 

Surname Saturday # 3 ~ Elbert's ~

Congratulations Jeff and Mario! The Elbert surname is that of my maternal uncle, Jim who is married to my aunt, Bonnie Rueff. Today is a special day in the Elbert family. My cousin Jeff is finally getting to marry the love of his life, Mario. I am very happy for them both and I am looking forward to attending their wedding later today. Cheers!

 

Family Photo Friday ~ The Descendents of George and Myrtle (Behrle) Rueff

Standing L to R: Susie, Dawn Thomas, Jim, Lisa, Patty, Billy, Ronnie, Donna, Bobby holding Jon, Jaclyn, Kristy, Michael, Jeff and Becky. Sitting L to R: My Dad, Kathy, My Mom, Ashley, Aunt Barbara, Melissa, Uncle Kenny, Matt, Aunt Bonnie, Christoper, Uncle Jim and Robin. May 1991. From my personal collection.

When my grandfather, George Rueff passed away on 19 May 1991 we knew that we would all be going to Louisville. He wanted to be buried with his beloved, Myrtle. Each of our families are standing behind our parents. For my instance, my family is on the left so my siblings, each of their spouses, and I were arranged. 

I believe it was a family decision to have the pictures taken of us in one of the bigger rooms at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home on Lexington Road in Louisville. Know the efficiency of my Mom and my Aunts it was probably before the funeral. Mom doesn't remember and neither do I. 

Our family has grown by leaps and bounds, since this photograph was taken in 1991! 
My cousins Amy, Donna, Robin and Ronnie and I have added yet another generation as our children (the great grand children) are now having their own families. As of now (grin), providing my math is right, there are fifteen (15), 2nd great children with 2 more due by the end of the year and one due next spring. This generation ranges in age from under a year to about 14 years old. My grandson, Easton is currently the second youngest in the group.
 
Sources:

Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40207 (http://www.rattermanbrothers.com/ : 7 August 2015).

Family Photo Friday - The Grandchildren of George K. and Myrtle (Behrle) Rueff

This photo was taken on June 15th, 1973 in front of my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jim's house in Gulf Breeze, Florida. I don't remember if this was an official family reunion since George & Myrtle were not there but it was definitely one of my favorite get togethers with my Rueff aunts, uncles and cousins.

My Mom along with her family gathered with her sister, Bonnie's family and their brother Kenny's family came together for several days. This was the trip I learned I would never be a fisherwoman! I lost my Dad's rod and reel in the Santa Rosa Sound. 

 Going left to right in order of age we are the second generation of the descendants of George and Myrtle Rueff. Susie Williams (age 6 months), Mike Rueff (age 4), Amy Elbert (age 4), Kathy Williams (age 5), Billy Williams (age 6), Jeff Elbert (age 8), Patty Williams (age 9), Dawn Williams (age 10), Becky Elbert (age 11), Donna Rueff (age 12) and Ronnie Rueff (age 14).

Thank you, Aunt Barbara for documenting all of your photographs! While I maybe the unofficial family historian you are most definitely the family photographer!

Family Photo Friday - The Elbert and The Williams Families Celebrate Thanksgiving 1989

I am starting a new tradition here at Dawning Genealogy, Family Photo Friday. Beginning today I will be posting family photos from the past and the present. Here is today's family photo.

 1. Uncle Jim; 2. My Dad, Bill; 3. Aunt Bonnie; 4. My Mom; 5. Jeff; 6. Robin; 7. Amy; 8. My former brother in law Jim; 9. Kathy; 10 & 11. Becky and Douglas; 12. our Grandfather George; 13. Dawn; 14. Billy; 15. My son, Kenny; 16. My son, David and 17. Christopher. The little one's are my cousin Amy's son's.

This picture is from Thanksgiving weekend 1989. My Mom's sister, Bonnie and her husband Jim came with their four children (Becky, Robin, Jeff & Amy) and their grandson's Douglas & Christopher (Amy's children) all came to Greensboro, NC to celebrate Thanksgiving with each other.

We had a great time together but then we always do when we get together. These days we don't get to see each other often what with work, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren running around these days, but when we do there is never a dull moment! Our last big get together we had was in 2011 to celebrate my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jim's 50th Wedding Anniversary.