We Believe In Jesus

What a good start for the week. It was such a beautiful sunrise on Sunday morning. I've been sailing along that wonderful day. Thank You, Jesus!

I enjoyed my quiet time in the Upper Room. I greeted some of the people as we gathered as the church. We heard a good message by our lead pastor. We received communion. We witnessed and celebrated as some of our young people were water baptized. God is good!

  
Sunday's message: 
No Future Without Forgiveness by Pastor Brian Zahnd

After the gathering with the church, I made my way home. Some of my siblings came by. We had some pizza and watch TV. We had a great time.

The subject came up about the NFL.
Is it rigged? We googled it. WoW! Is it?

Prayer for the Week Beginning on Sunday, January 28
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Week
Beginning on Sunday, January 28
Mark 1:21-28
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
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Have a wonderful ending for the month of January!
Thanks for reading and praying.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Which Ancestor To Invite To Dinner? ~ Week 4 #52ancestors Martha Scott Blakey

 If I could invite an ancestor to diner, which one would I choose? I looked at my pedigree tree. I thought about it and went down my list.

I believe that my Great Grandmother, Martha called upon the LORD. And in due time, we all will be at the dinner table. What a family reunion that will be.
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I choose my Great Grandmother, Martha Scott Blakey. Why?  I know very little about her. And it would be nice if I had an opportunity to met with her.  She was the mother of my Grandfather, John BLAKEY / Blakley.

I don't think, I would prepare a big meal for my Great Grandmother, Martha. The real reason for our get together would be to get to know one another. I think, I would learn about from her life.
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Through family research...What I've learned about Martha, comes from her husband ( my Great Grandfather), Isaac Blakey's Civil War pension records. I continued to search for her on census records. I couldn't determine which was my Martha Scott.

Page from Private Isaac Blakey's pension records.

It wasn't until a few years ago, I discovered when my Great Grandparents, Isaac and Martha were married. According to Isaac's records, they knew each other for about a year to three years before they married.  That day was on Feb 13, 1870 in Wilkerson County MS. The Mississippi index had Isaac's surname as BAKER.

On June 21, 1871, Martha gave birth to twins sons on Hew Davis Plantation, in Woodlong MS. One son, Andrew Blakey passed perhaps at birth. Their other son, John was my Grandfather. I can assume that Martha died after giving birth some time in June 1871 on the plantation. She would been about 23 or 24 years old. 

As I think about my Great Grandmother, Martha, I wonder. Who were her parents? Who were her siblings? How did Martha met Isaac? Where is she buried?
Perhaps, Great Grandma Martha was a slave on Hew Davis Plantation or worked there after slavery. Great Grandpa Isaac somehow came to where Great Grandma Martha was. He was a MS. Union Private during the Civil War from 1863 - 1866 stationed in Natchez.

Even though, I don't know much about my Great Grandma Martha, she was apart of my family lineage. I'm honored to be one of her off springs.

A few years ago, I came across a photo of Isaac and his wife. I have heard about this photo. The date on the back of the photo is 1866. I thought to myself, the year. The photo was of Isaac and his 2nd wife Rachel. That couldn't be. I wondered if the date on the photo was incorrect. If so, Martha is the woman in that photo. 

I've seen a copy of the photo. It's a treasure. That's the youngest photo, I've seen of my Great Grandfather, Isaac. I'm glad that the photos were taken and keep by family members.
Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A.Blakley

Follow Jesus: Forgive, Because Jesus Forgives Us.

Sunday was a great start of the 3rd Full Week of 2018. I hope that you will have a wonderful week. The weather is unbelievable. It's in the high of 40's and 50's. We've been having weird weather.

It's been a great day! As I reflect back on this day, oh, the joy of being in the present moments in time. God does amazing things. Only if we will take the time to stop, listen, learn and enjoy the moments that He has given us. ~ Thank You, LORD! Thank You, JESUS!

 Prayer for the Week of  January 21
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer via the Book Of Common Prayer

Scripture for the Week: via Mark 1:14 -20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
      Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him

Message Why Forgive?   by Pastor Brian Zahnd
Stories of Forgiveness: By Glen and Heather Taylor on January 17, 2018.

Book giving away Pastor Brian's book on forgiveness (one per family) after the church gathering.   I'll give this copy to someone else.  The Way Of Forgiveness I have a copy. I'm in the process of re reading the book.


Thanks for reading.
God Bless you.
S.A.Blakley

Hannah Hooper, The Oldest Ancestor On My Familty Tree: Week 3 ~ #52ancestors 52 Weeks

1880 Missouri census date in June,  

I begin searching for records on my family tree about mid 1980's. I was amazed when I came across the 1880 Missouri census. My 2nd Great Grandfather, Elias BARTLETT and his Grandmother, Hannah HOOPER were listed on that census. Hannah was listed as age 115.

Hannah was born in South Carolina. She was sick, an invalid. She couldn't read or write. This is information was recorded sometime in June of 1880. And it's all I know about Hannah. I don't know when Hannah passed. 
 
I tried to continue to search more leads on Hannah. I was always lead to believe that she was Elias grandmother. That was until early in 2008. I came across the death record of my Great Aunt, Wauneta (Bartlett) Armstrong. She was my Grandmother, Jennie's sister.

Wauneta Armstrong's parents were Elias Bartlett and Harriet (HOOPER) Bartlett. So, I see that Hooper came from Harriet's side and not Elias'. So that's what I thought. But, as I kept searching for  info on Harriet's children, she has two other surnames.  This is a mystery.

However, when I discovered Harriett's maiden name or surnames, I had all my Great Grandmother's maiden names. I was so excited.  I can only imagine to find more on my lineage.

I would never imagine that I would come across a census record listing my 3rd Great Grandmother living to at the age of 115.  So far,  she's the oldest person that I've found on my family tree. And my journey continues. I wonder what I've come across?

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A.Blakley

In Memory of My Great Grandma Charlotta ~ Week 2 ~ The prompts "Favorite Photo #25ancestors 52 Weeks

I choose this photo of my Great Grandmother,

Charlotta "Lottie" Charlottie (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD. 

I have many favorite photos. There are some that I've written about.
This is one of them. But, I've added more to the story.

Mrs. Robert Louis Lankford / Lankfard
(1854- 1924)

 I don't know where this photo was taken. However, it's a postcard. There's nothing written on the back of it. I was told this was a picture of my Grandmother, Charlotta "Lottie" Charlottie DADE LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

I can't recall when I learned about this postcard. I know that it came from my Grandmother, Mary (Allen) Lankford / Lankfard's home around 1976. The Lankford / Lankfard home was being cleaned out and later torn down.

I love this photo. There's so much there that tells a story. As I look at what my Great Grandmother was wearing, it's nice clothing. I was told that Charlotta was a seamstress. The census records states that she kept house and was a laundress. 

I've seen two other photos of Charlotta. She looked like a well kept woman. She dressed well. I could only imagine where she bought her clothes. Or if she design them herself.

Also, I noticed in the above photo, that Charlotta is posing in a way to tell a story. She has a book in her hand. There's another photo of Charlotta holding something. But, in this photo, she also has reading glasses and wearing her ring. It appears that she had a watch or jewelry on her left side. There a broach near her neck.

Who was Charlotta Lankford / Lankfard ?
 Charlotta was the daughter of Isaac DADE and Frances "Frankie" (OVINGTON) DADE. Charlotta was of 14 children. Charlotta was the wife of Robert Louis Lankford / Lankfard. Robert was a Contractor and a builder. They had 11 children

Robert and Charlotta had three well known sons in their time. One son, Frederick A. Lankfard was a musician who traveled the country in a professional banjo group. Another son, Louis A. Lankfard, a.k.a. Add Langford, played in the Negro League Baseball. Another son, Nym Lankfard was a porter  etc. and was married an entertainer by the name of Hattie McDaniel.

Other Lankford / Lankfard sons, were James A. Lankfard was as a mason, construction and a teamster, Leo Lankfard was in trucking and hauling, Charles E. Lankfard was a labor. And daughters, Lula Madison, a housewife, Anna Alice Smith was a seamstress, and Isabella Nickerson was a housewife.



Mrs. Charlotta "Lottie" Lankford / Lankfard.

Burial at Ashland Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri

Charlotta lived to be 70 years old. She was living in New York City for about eight months before she passed on April 3, 1924. Her body was brought back to St. Joseph, Missouri  to be buried next to her husband.

I found parts of her obituary in the St. Joseph, Missouri newspaper. It was in the classified adverting section. In the Funeral Notices. It isn't readable. There were bits and pieces that can be made out. Her body came in the route of St. Paul MN. The funeral was at the A.M.C. on 18th Street.

I believe that the Lankfords / Lankfards posed for photos. They used postcard. Sadly to say most of ones that I've come across had nothing written on them. I know where 3 of the photos of Charlotta Lankfard are located. The are treasured photos.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Looking Forward Into the Season

We're a month away from the Lenten Season.  It falls on Valentine's Day! How sweet.  And Easter falls on April 1st. Hmm. It's not a joke.

It's been a good start for this 2nd full Week of 2018. And we have a snow day. I enjoyed gathering with the church this morning. I had the honor to greet some of the people. It was a blessing

We have a new platform design. I like it. I have to get use to looking at the center screen. There are three screens. We had three back in the day.

The youth worship teams lead us into worship. It was beautiful. They did a good job too.

Prayer for the Week : Common Book Of Prayer
Beginning Sunday, January 14

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen

 Scripture for the week John 1:43-51

The Message  The Sunflower by Pastor Brian Zahnd
Series on Forgiveness

I'm looking forward. I'm pressing on in the season at hand. I'm thankful that God is with us on the journey. Amen.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Week 1 ~ The prompts for January 1 - 7 ~ START

#52Ancestors  in 52 Weeks:  Week  1  (The prompts for  January 1 - 7 )  ~  START

 . The article was written in 1971.

Where do I start? With myself. ~  I'm the home person on my family tree. I don't recall when I started searching for my family history. Perhaps, the interest began with a family article on my father's BLAKLEY /  BLAKEY / WHITE side about "Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion . I don't recall when I came across it.

I could have started searching for my family history after the passing of my mother's mother, Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD / LANKFARD. I thought all my family history was lost when my Grandma died. I was wrong.

I do recall doing an assignment in the 6th grade on my family history. Whatever the case, I'm still on the journey since the 1970's.



Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD / LANKFARD
(1889- 1975)


I've stumbled across a lot over the years. I'm trying to compile stories of what I've iscovered.  There are some relatives that I'm hoping to iscover more about during this year.

For example four of my Great Uncles who lived and died in New York City. They were the LANKFARD brothers.

What I've been exploring over the years have been amazing. I need to tell some of the stories that I have come across. I have to information. Just need to share some of my ancestors stories.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you,
S.A. Blakley

Challenges in 2018

It's been a great day. It was raining. And is still cold. I'm thankful that I made it to the gathering. I was asked to greet some of the people.  It was a challenge. They were short on greeters. There was a good amount of people who came.

The church Christmas decorations were still up.
I was admiring them.
I'll take mine down on Jan 8th.

The message: In the Time of Tyrant Kings by Pastor Brian Zahnd

Prayer for the week of  January 7, 2018

Scripture for the week: Matthew 2:1-15

The first Sunday of the New Year was the start of something different. As I reflect back over this day. I wonder. The things that are set before us can bring many surprises.  Thank God for leading the way.

May the LORD keep a watch over what we do and say to one another.
May Jesus guide us into that path that He is leading us to.
May we be aware of our surrounding as we go about our every day.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Some of my thoughts:

I'm gearing up for my Winter Conditioning.
It starts on January 8 - March 23, 2018.
I have Friday at noon and the weekends off.
I think this will be a big challenge.

I'm taking the 52 Ancestors in 52 Week Challenge.
I hope that I can do this challenge.
I love journaling about my ancestors.