What's in a Name?

 This week we added a new member to our family...Samuel Elias.  He's a sweet little guy with golden brown hair and eyes that hint at turning brown like Daddy's.  As with our other two kiddos, he is named after some of his ancestors.  His first name comes from both sides of our family, my hubby's gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather Harmon Samuel Griswold and my gr-gr-gr grandfather Samuel Winfield Scott Pribble.  Interestingly enough when my hubby and I were first married we lived about 10 miles from where grandpa Pribble lived and is buried.

Harmon Samuel Griswold

Samuel W. S. Pribble

 Our baby's middle name comes from my gr-gr grandfather Elias W. Clem whom I always heard stories about when I was a child.

Elias W. Clem

Coincidentally, and somewhat purposefully, he is also named after two Old Testament prophets who have the most notable "listen to God" stories associated with them.  Samuel was the little boy who's mother desperately wanted a baby and then turned him over to God's service when she was blessed with one. Samuel heard God's voice calling to him in the middle of the night and when he finally recognized it for what it was, answered.  Elias is the Greek form of the name Elijah.  Elijah was listening for God's voice and heard him call not in the wind, or an earthquake, but a still small whisper. 
  It is something we are striving toward as a family to listen carefully for that voice.  This sweet little boy has renewed our commitment to living for God and instilling that in our children.  What a wonderful new adventure we are embarking on!

New Territory

  I am entering new territory in recent history for our family.  We are expecting our third kiddo this fall.  Not since my great-grandparents has either of my branches had 3 or more kiddos.  Our two that we already have are Bubby (age 8) and Mookie (age 6).  They are super excited and are going to be great helpers. 
  The most major change is going to be where to put the little one.  In this age of plenty it's so easy to get caught up in each person having their own space and needing more room.  Practicality is leading us to do with what we have and work with it.  I'm taking alot of inspiration from how families used to do it as well as some awesome friends and cousins who have done the same thing.   No matter what we are feeling super blessed and anxiously awaiting the new adventures we will have!
  

My Christian Heritage

Lafayette Mauzey

   Lafayette Mauzey is my great great great Grandfather.  He was born in 1835 in Missouri.  His mother's family were big time slave owners and although not much is known about his father, we do know that he in addition to being a piano teacher was a gambler. These factors shaped Lafayette, not to emulate those lifestyles, but to go in the opposite direction.  Lafayette moved to Kansas and fought for freedom on the Union side.  He also became a Methodist Episcopal minister and was very opposed to gambling.

 

Lafayette's preacher's license

  His son Oscar Mauzey was a strong Christian.  He followed his father's lead and disallowed anything that resembled gambling (cards).  Both Lafayette and Oscar and Oscar's son (my great-grandfather) Cecil are memorialized in the Cummings Methodist Church stained glass windows.

Oscar Mauzey stained glass

 Oscar's son, Cecil was also a strong Christian.  When church services were going, you could hear Cecil singing loud enough to be heard outside.  Not that he was any good, just loud, praising God:)

Cecil Mauzey

 As a Bible believing Christian, I am so proud to have these guys and many others as my ancestors.  Thanks grandpas!

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!

  My Aunt Frances was the family keeper.  Her son (my cousin) and I have been working in tandem on family research to get our Gentry family and branches ironed out.  He recently sent some scantly identified photos which I was thrilled to be able to help out in identification of!

"Aunt Bee"

  Meet Rebecca Amelia Pribble Shields otherwise known as "Aunt Bee".  She is the only full sister to my great-great grandmother Flora Helen Marr Pribble Gentry.  Growing up I had heard fond references to this aunt:) 

"Uncle Herschel, Aunt Clara & Carl?"

   Meet my great-great-Uncle Herschel, Aunt Clara, and I think their son Carl ("Bee" would have been Hersch's aunt).  Uncle Hersch had one other son named Herschel Raymond who died when he was only 6, so I think this was taken after his death when Carl would have been about 10 in 1919/20.  

Hersch and Clara settled in Washington State.

"Uncle Ed"

  Meet "Uncle Ed"  I am pretty sure that this is Ed Pribble, half brother to "Bee" and Flora.  I have not seen a picture of him before, but there aren't any other likely candidates and I can see the resemblance to his father, Samuel Winfield Scott Pribble. *Note* - how wonderful are cousins?!?  This is not Ed Pribble, but most likely Edgar Gentry!  Thanks guys! :)  So much for the "resemblance" ;) (3/28/13)
   I am so excited to see what other treasures might lie in Aunt Frances's collection!