Lives Entwined

{portrait of  my great-great grandmother, Augusta at the time of her marriage, age 16}

She stood on the pier gazing out to the sea.  Soon she would turn her back on her beloved Denmark and would most likely never see it again…

Standing beside her was her new husband—twice her age.  A handsome man, a good man, a man of God.  She felt safe.  She felt secure that the life she had chosen was the right one.

{my great-great grandfather, Jesse Nathaniel Smith}

She was unafraid of her future, whatever it would bring.

She was 16 years old.

{just happening to have “Danish Blue” seam binding on hand was a wonderful thing!}

Augusta lived a beautiful, full life.  That life would take her across the sea to America—and then across America to the wild, wild West.  She would settle in a small town her husband helped to establish…and would be very, very happy.

{my 3rd great-grandmother, Mary Aikens Smith}

Mary was born in an earlier century—in 1797, to be exact.  Her life turned out differently than she imagined it would, as well.

Youth passed her by without providing a husband for her.  She buried herself in her chosen profession—teaching.  She was a gifted teacher, she loved it.  She loved the children.  And so, she was content.

{a new “vintage” locket from the Tim Holtz collection—perfect!}

A new job offered.  A new town in New York state to teach in.  A kind widower made her acquaintance.  A gentle man with six children and no wife to care for them…

Two years later, they were married.  Within a few years, three sons were born to Mary and Silas, and she couldn’t contain her joy…

{my 3rd great-grandfather, Silas Smith.  We only have this sketch of him—no photographs}

A new religion found, faith grew, and the family left New York for the west.  Along the way, however, her beloved Silas became ill.  And died.  Buried along the route as she continued along to the town they had determined beforehand to go…...

{a new “vintage” locket from the Tim Holtz collection—perfect!}

From then on, she mothered her boys alone.  She never remarried.  Their lives became her life.  Her son Jesse took her into his household till the end of her days…where, in her aged days, she was cared for by her loving, Danish daughter-in-law, Augusta.

Two women—born worlds apart.  Lives forever entwined.

My Character Album is coming along quite nicely.  Looking forward to having it filled with the wonderful women of my heritage.

Julie

LiveJournal Tags: Character Album,Augusta Maria Outzen Smith,Mary Aikens Smith,Jesse Nathaniel Smith,Silas Smith

Grace

There’s a certain sense of grace in old images—those beautiful, old Victorian etchings that I love so much…graciousness from a bygone era that seems to be so lacking in the world today…

 

There’s a beautiful grace to the little kindnesses we do for each other every day.  A smile.  The gentle tone of your voice.  Holding a hand that needs holding.  Helping someone who carries a heavy burden…just a little thing for us, perhaps—but to others, it is a great thing, indeed.

There’s a graciousness in kind words…telling someone you care for them.  That they’re just right…

There’s a beautiful grace to be found in our homes…no matter how big or how small, home is home.  And there’s no place like it.

{vintage flash cards used as flaps to reveal further journaling}

There’s a graciousness to old things kept through the years…things to be loved and cherished once again, and used in ways, perhaps, not thought of when they were first made…

{pages from magazines ripped and used—those used in this post became inspiration rather than merely background}

And one of the loveliest graces of all—my very own.  My youngest daughter…named for the gracefulness that she personifies…Anna Grace-- her 17th birthday just celebrated.

Hard for this mother to believe…

{taken in an old courtyard in beautiful Monterey}

Wishing you a day filled with beauty and grace.

Julie

LiveJournal Tags: art journal,grace,Annie,vintage,ephemera