This is a blog that I wrote ten years ago and published on a different site. It still rings true today! Somethings have changed and many things have not so today I have edited it a bit and added pictures that it did not previously contain but the message is the same….

“Lord, could we talk for a few minutes? ”

“I knew you would say yes!  You are such a good listener.  Wish I knew how to listen as well as you.  Feel free to jump in here anytime, especially if I start to ramble!  I just have a few important things to talk to you about today.”

“First things first, do you remember those explorers you sent out? You gave them the courage to sail all over the world. They were men who sailed day and night, day after day, month after month. They left their homes not knowing if they would ever return. I can not imagine the fear that must have built up in those brave souls, not knowing where they were or where they might end up. They had no itinerary, they were sailing blind! Nor can I imagine the joy and excitement they must have felt the day that they finally did see land on the horizon.”

 ” Thank you, Lord, for them, their courage, their safe travel and their discoveries!”

“Remember all those brave people who left Europe and came to America when it was a wild settlement. They left their known world for an unknown world. Their courage to me is incredible. They left everything they knew with the hope of having something better in the “New World”. They hoped for a “New World” that they had the power to create! “

“Thanks, Lord, for their safe travels and their determination to make America the land of the free.”

“You gave them courage to stand tall and fight for the freedom of democracy that we have today. They thanked you on the first Thanksgiving and we thank you today on our Thanksgiving of 2020. You provided them with food for their first Thanksgiving and the first brutal winter in the New World and you do the same for us today.  “

“You provided us with people who are civic minded and focused on America and making it the Democratic country that we love.  You gave us people who are courageous enough to become members of our military, leaders, governors, senators, congressmen and judges. You have guided their decisions and our country has most often flourished. The road is bumpy today and has been bumpy in the past but with your guidance you have always pulled us through. We, as a people, do not always agree on every thing but we do agree on the importance of our freedom. It is a critical part of our Democracy! So once again today we say Thank You.”

“You gave me wonderful Grandparents who loved me and whom I adore. It was many years later when I finally understand their importance, how much they taught me and the influence that they had in life. You gave me parents who loved me, encouraged me and had the courage to let me spread my wings and fly when the time came. They “cheered me on” when I flew and were there to help “pick me up” when I fell! It takes courage to let your child fall. Thank you, Lord!”

“You gave me the world’s best siblings with whom wonderful memories have been created. You taught us to love, to share, to encourage, to champion, to support, to listen, and to enjoy! Thank you Lord and incase you are wondering, we have just gotten started with a new bunch of memories. So stay tuned!”

“You gave me two sons, whom I love. You gave me the courage to raise them when I was just a child and to set them free when they became adults. You helped me through the smooth sailing and the rough seas and for that I am grateful. Thanks so much for teaching me balance, know when my role in their lives should be in the foreground and when it should be in the background. Your guidance is most appreciated when the line is fine. I am still listening.”

“And then for my second chance in marriage, thanks so much for sending my husband across my path first as a friend and then as my companion for life.  Help us to learn to sail through the still waters and the rough seas enjoying the adventures which it brings.”

“Thanks for my Grandchildren, help me to know what they need to learn from me, as my Grandparent knew what I needed to learn from them.  Please give me the right time and place to teach them the lessons. They are so very special and carry our family on into the future.”

“Then there are nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who you orchestrated into my life at the exact times they should be there. They have blessed me with their gifts and I thank you for these blessings.”

“You have given me the opportunity to peek into the lives of my family members who have come and gone long before me and I am grateful. You have blessed me with the ability to get to know wonderful people who I will never met or who are related to me through these early settlers that you brought to America and I am grateful.”

“On this Thanksgiving, and each day of my life, I have been blessed! THANK YOU, LORD!”

“You let me ramble, you have this listening thing down to a science, don’t you? Have a Great Day!”

Love, Jan

Maritie was born on May 5, 1688 in New Amsterdam, New York. She is the daughter of David and Hillegondt (Ver Planck) Ackerman. David and Hellegondt had four children as far as I can determine; David (1681), Johannes (1682), Geyln (1686-1688), Maritie(Mary) (1688).

Mary married Swain Ogden on May 5, 1711 in Hackensack, New Jersey. Mary and Swain had ten children; Elizabeth(1711) David (1714), Samuel (1716), Hellegondt (1719), Hulda (1719), Nathaniel (1722), Abraham (1724), Sarah (1724), Mary (1726), John (1729).

Two hundred and sixty four years ago, Mary Ackerman Ogden died in Hackensack, New Jersey. She is buried at the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey with her husband and several of her children.

Rest in peace, Mary!

Love, Jan

Maritie Ackerman Ogden is my second cousin nine times removed.

Each summer my parents would load up the station wagon and we would go camping for a week. Grandpa Anderson always came along with us. Grandpa (Andrew) Anderson was my Mom’s Dad. His wife, my Grandma Addie, died in April of 1955, a few short months before I was born. Once my parents moved to Romeo from Lapeer, he came and visited us often. He would drive from Marine City to Romeo and stay with us until he need some peace and quiet and then he would return home. He was a huge help for my mother and kept all of us kids occupied. He loved to sit on the beach and keep an eye on us when were were swimming.

When I was seven our family camping trip was an exploration of the lower peninsula or the Mitten! We camped in several locations along the way including a stop in Tawas, Rogers City, Mackinaw and Orchard Beach as we rounded the upper part of the lower peninsula before making our way back to Romeo where we lived.

When I was eight years old, our camping trip was in the upper peninsula which included a trip to the Soo Locks. Today when you go to the Soo Locks you can time your visit to be there when you are certain that a freighter is traversing thru the locks. Visit www.saultstemarie.com/finding-freightors-sault-ste-marie-mi or Marinetraffic.com. Marinetraffic has an app for your phone. But in 1963 you just took your chances and somehow we timed it just right

Not only did we see a ship go through the locks but it was a Norwegian ship headed northbound to Lake Superior. My Grandfather, who was a gentle, quiet, reserved man, became very excited. Grandpa Anderson had arrived in Michigan from Norway fifty nine years ago in 1904 and never had an opportunity to return to his homeland. Until this day I had never heard my Grandfather raise his voice much above a whisper. My Grandfather yelled out a greeting to a sailor on deck in a language I had never heard him speak. This loud outburst from such a quiet man was a happy lively greeting. I was startled and surprised! I walked with him the full length of the lock as the ship navigated thru it. For the next twenty minutes or so, Grandpa and the young sailor yelled back and forth. My grandfather showed me a full range of emotions from laughter, dismay, surprise and eventually several tears which he quickly wiped away all the while having what appeared to be a eager, informative conversation with this sailor. I was so excited to hear him speak, I took in every thing he said but did not understanding a word. I could not wait for him to be done talking so I could ask him what they said.

Eventually the water level had risen which brought the ship to the correct height in the lock for entering Lake Superior, the horn blew, the gates began to open and the freighter began to leave the lock. As it sailed away, Grandpa and his new sailor friend waved…said their “goodbyes” and it was all over. I was so excite, I said, “Grandpa, Grandpa what did he say?” He looked down at me with his gentle smile and said in his calm reserved voice, “Oh nothing child”. “Wait, what do you mean nothing?” I implored. “You just talked to him for the whole time that we have been walking, he had to say something?”, I asked. He said, “its OK child, it was nothing!” I never heard him speak his native language again.

I have often thought of that day with my Grandfather. Was the conversation something that an eight year old should not heard? I just can not imaging my always gentle Grandfather having that kind of conversation. You know “the mouth of a sailor” type because after all he was a sailor for many years when he first arrived in America. Or after 59 years of not using his native language, did he struggle to have a conversation with the sailor on deck. Did he no longer understand everything that had been said. I never sensed frustrated, only excitement so I don’t think that is it either.

My Grandfather has been gone a long time but my memories of that day are vivid and very special. That day, I heard him speak in his native language. In our lives there are many events which will establish a permanent place in our hearts. A memory you will always cherish, that will always be special to you. This is one that my Grandfather and I share forever. Never underestimate the impact that you can have on another person. Take advantage of making these seemly small and insignificant events a lasting memory for those around you, those that you care about, be they family or friends.

Love you Grandpa!

Jan