Finlinson Family Reunion 2011!



Grandma and Grandpa Finlinson's headstone.



George and Susan Finlinson's headstone.





I'm not sure who's grave this was, but I thought this was a sweet saying.



All the remaining siblings talked about growing up in Oak City and life at the Flat.



Lillah really wanted to say hi to the cowboys. It was so cute! I told that to Uncle Garth and he just picked her up and started talking to her. She didn't know what to do! It was the best thing ever!





The three last brothers.




Marshall, Harrison and Lillah all ran in the kids races and were happy there was candy at the end!



We stayed for the dance. Ivy and Lillah were in heaven!

Just so you can get a feel for good ol' Oak City, Utah!

Wish everyone could have been there!



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We stopped off at the Flat before heading home. The kids loved feeding the horses and seeing the chickens. Lillah went over by the chickens and we heard her crying. We went over and she said that "They flew at me!". haha So Bill started scaring the rooster!



Family Reunion Auction

At the Ray and Frankie Finlinson family reunion this last weekend there were some great crafts up for sale at the auction. I just wanted to show some of the fun things we saw. I especially liked the decoupaged tiles and blocks. So fun! I know what my next project will be! Such a great idea to put crafts and family history together. And displaying them in your home can be a constant reminder of where you came from and that you have the strength to go on.

 The family reunion was so GREAT!! I will post some more pictures soon!

More Than Coincidence

Almost every time I take one of our family names to the temple something happens right after that shows me they care about what we are doing for them. They want to progress.
A few times ago I went with Nonni and did a session at the Salt lake city temple. That night I checked my email and I had a message from a friend I met through doing family history who lives up in Canada who I hadn't talked to in about a year. She said that she had just started doing family history work again and came across Solomon W. Casler's death record. That was so amazing because I had just done his wife's work that day. He was definately ready. Bill did his work the next time he went.
Then this last time we went in June we did work for a coulple on the Casler side of the family and the next day we got a package from Nonni and Grandpa that had a packet of casler side information.
It is more than coincidence. They are aware of their progression and want to be involved in their work.
This stands true in everything... it being more than coincidence. Heavenly Father is very aware of every one of his children. He knows when to step in and show his hand.

The letter typed

I asked my mother to sit down with me and take a look at Martha Marie Soper Casler's letter and see if we could read all of her cursive.. my mom is much better at that than me. We read and studied it and this is what we came up with. Feel free to give me any pointers or tips to anything you see that we didn't catch. Here is the letter:



Thomas do you know where Mand Pickard is?

Flint April 23 1921

my dear brother & children your long looked for letter recived at last. You rote the 13 mailed it the 16 I got it the 21. We was o so glad to here from you to know that you was still on earth. I have thought of you o so many times & so have the rest of us. I am not at all well. I am as well as I can be expected to be. I have passed my 73 year last Feb the 19. I am only waiting for the call to go home to be with Jesus & all the dear ones over there. They are watching and waiting for us over there. So we will hold on to god a little longer. we hope this will find you better thomas dear brother and all of you well & happie.
& family. I am riteing to them. They will here from you tomorrow or monday. thomas do you remember dealas sister mary? I had a fine visit with her the last time I was to Edwins. as for seath we dont know where he is. Edwin thinkes he knows at any time where to find us. have you any idea where he is? I have no complaints to bring only I long to leave this world & be with Jesus. thomas I hope you have not broke up your home for there is no place like your own home to go to when you need rest. I hope you see my meanining. it is the advise I give to all weather men.
You did not say where you was staying but I thought mite be with will your sone. I think you children are some scatared over the earth. You can't see them verry often. You did not say how far you was from mattie. I can get to Jennie in 3 hours & 2 hours will take me to Eddies. Teain is not to miles from me. I go to her on the street car. & Joanna we sit at tabble together 3 times a day. how many children has willie got? amanda tusday said tomie was better so he could walk with a cane. he has been verry sick. mertle (mertie?) is no better. she can't do anything much. John martin has passed away. the last one of mira's boys. she has been gone most a year. gil & hide are well as far as I know. so is our dear brother Edwin.
or women. how I wish I could see you but I dont expect to in this world. I know get about 30 dollars a month for which I am verry thankful for it. Well as it is near time for the mail I will close from you sisiter martha to her Dear brother & his Dear children. pray for us. rite often. tell the children their aunt sendes love to them all. I was going to ask how is times out there? well you will get tired of this so I will have to say by by for this time.
rite often.
from mrs. s. w. casler
god bless you all in my prear

I looked at my family history event calendar and found we have some more birthdays today! Happy Birthday Jason, Uncle Norm and Cinders! Three on one day! Sounds like the 10th of Feburary is a popular day. Happy Birthday Everyone!!

Happy Birthday Ernest!

Today is Ernest H. Hect's 130th birthday! He was born on Feb. 9, 1880 in Lapeer County Michigan. Ernest is married to Martha Marie Soper and Solomon W. Casler's daughter who I believe is named Ernestine Christine Casler. We are still searching more sources for her name. Ernest and Ernestine had 6 children together.
So everyone remember Ernest H. Hect today and maybe try to search him out a little.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERNEST!

The inspired search for Solomon W. Casler

Yesterday I was talking to my mom about doing family history work, how much I love it and the importance of it, when the thought popped into my head to search the Canadian census records on Ancestry.com for Solomon W. Casler. I have searched his name before on Ancestry.com, but was limited until just recently to only the United states information. I realized that oh, since I now have access to the world wide search I would be able to potentially find more information on him.
Today I put in Solomon W. Casler's name and information and YES! I was so excited new information came up! I was just expecting to find Canadian census information and was hoping to find more information on his parents from it since we didn't have their names. Not only was there census information for him, but I found someones family tree with information and pictures of our family! The family tree owner is someone that I have been in contact with in the past few months, but I found some new information on her page. She is a distant distant relative that lives in Canada and has been so helpful!

Some of what I found posted was:

A four page letter from Martha Marie Soper Casler (Solomon's Wife) to her brother-in-law Thomas Baldwin Little. Thomas Married Martha's sister Sarah Jane Soper. I Loved reading the letter and feeling her faith in Christ and that our loved ones are watching and waiting for us. I LOVE how she says that " We will hold on to God a little longer." What a great woman! I can't wait to meet her someday.
pictures of Solomon W. Casler and Martha Marie Soper Casler's headstones which stand in Otter Lake Cemetery in Marathon, Michigan.

A picture of two postcards she sent her nieces, Martha and Mary for the New Year.

And last but not least she had the names of Solomon's Parents!!! I was so excited to find them!Their names are Joseph Casler (Born: march 30, 1809 in German Flatts, Herkimer, New York)and Hanna Winterstein (Born: July 20, 1816 in York, Whitchurch Twp, On (I am wondering if On means Ontario,Canada that's where their families were)) Hanna's Parents are also listed too! so I am very very excited!

I didn't expect to find the things that I did and it was such a treat! I know that it wasn't just coincidence, The spirit was telling me where to go to find the information that we needed at this time! It's all so wonderful! Miracles happen every day. Even and especially in the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost.