The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale

by

Kristin Hannah

If I had to make a list of the most outstanding books I have ever read,  The Nightingale would be on that list.   I  listened to it in audio format on my way to and from work and was on the edge of my seat most of the novel.   It is the story of women in occupied France during WWII and how they were involved in  the resistance.  Most of the men in France had left to fight the Germans to prevent the occupation at the beginning of the war and were not available to participate in the resistance.  There were some men in the resistance, of course, but many women were involved.   The Nightingale is about two sisters specifically and how they came to decide to help others during the war and what danger that decision involved.  There is a movie being created from this book and if you are not a reader I recommend watching the movie.  It is a wonderful story that is both heart breaking and heart warming.  Please follow the links above by clicking on the title and the author's name to learn more and enjoy the video that follows.  

The Dear Santa Genealogy Challenge

The link to the Saturday Night Genealogy Challenge and all the posts that participated can be found HERE.  

Dear Genea-Santa,

     First off and most importantly,  I want to thank you for my early holiday gift!  When I got my repaired MacBook Pro back and all my files were there and intact, it was the best gift ever!!  I had worried over those files for over a month while my lap top was in Santa's workshop.   Even though my "cousin" and research buddy Shirley reassured me, in a very supportive and confidential manner,  that since they could find every thing that Hillary Clinton ever typed on a keyboard that indeed my files would be safe and sound too, I remained worried until I opened each folder and file myself.
   The most important gift I think would be for me to figure out how to set up my Time Machine.  Please have me find time to call Apple Support or spend time on google figuring that out.  In that way I won't have the worry of my files again as they will be all backed up on my external hard drive automatically.
   I would like to find and obtain a piece of pottery made by the Bohemian Pottery Company in Zanesville Ohio.  They were only in business from 1904 - 1918.  It was my grandmother's aunt and uncle's pottery company.   I think it would be cool to have an example of what they made.   I would like to run over there to Zanesville one day in the coming year and look around.  Hopefully before I finish the article I am writing on this family.
    I would like to see a land case file on one of my ancestors.  So far, every one I have tried to obtain has not been located.  I have a good NARA source but no luck so far.  I also want to see a Naturalization Application on the one ancestor that I can think of that came over recent enough to have one.   His name was Herman August Funk.  This is on my list for the next NARA record obtained so hopefully it will be found.
     I want my plans to go to the Ohio Genealogical Conference in the spring to work out.  And also I would like to make it to Anderson County Kansas this year on a research trip.  After wards I would like to find time to write the Samuel Tipton article I have plans to write.  
    In closing, if I could scale just one of my brick walls this year it would be cool.  To name a few of them specifically:  Peter Beck (1764 PA - 1864 IN),  Catherine Coolbaugh Sheafor (1754 NJ-1826 OH),  Sarah Armstrong Jacobs (1766 Ireland-1842 PA),  Jacob Isaac Rohrer (1780 MD? - 1850 OH),  and Solomon Zelner (1825 PA - 1886 IN).  I would love to have information on their families of origin.
    Do know Genea-Santa that I have been a gracious researcher this year and shared my information with others.  I have not been selfish.  I have also been kind to those who are less experienced than me.  And I have been patient with those who are more experienced than I am  and I did not call any of them snooty even if they acted that way.
  And do find your plate of home made cookies along with your mug of steaming hot chocolate on the mantle.
    Sincerely,
      Mary