Finding Lucy (Aloisie) Dolezal

Lucy Dolezal was my grandmother's aunt and godmother.  I learned this just a few years ago after my great niece Lucy was born.  (You can read all about that here.)  From the moment I saw her name on Grandma's baptismal certficate, Lucy Dolezal has been on my mind.  I wanted to learn  more about her, and recently an opportunity presented itself for me to do just that.

Always looking for ways to improve my own writing, I enrolled in Improving Writing Skills through Autobiographical Applications (check it out!), an independent-study graduate ENG class.  I was absolutely thrilled as I browsed the course manual and perused the required writing assignments. The very first exercise/assignment was to write a character sketch based on a picture or artifact.  I knew immediately about whom I would write --Lucy Dolezal! Other than knowing that Lucy was my grandmother's aunt, however, I knew almost nothing else about her.  I needed to do some family history digging, stat.

Enter my sister in law.  

Joy and I are soul sisters to the core, and I knew she would embrace this challenge.  She loves spiritual connections and family as much as I do, and I knew she wouldn't let me down.

And so we began our quest to learn about Lucy Dolezal.  We quickly learned, however, that finding out about ancestors who have been gone for a long time and whose immediate family members are gone as well is not an easy task.  Nevertheless, we both became obsessed with our mission as we encountered inaccurate information, took wrong turns, backtracked often, and even ran into full blown dead ends.  Still, those obstacles only made us more determined to find Lucy Dolezal, and we spent most of July searching.

All we had was a simple piece of paper indicating that my Grandmother Emily was baptized on July 11, 1904, and Lucy Dolezal was listed as her "sponsor." My mom remembered that Lucy was Grandma's aunt, but that was all we had.

So where do we start?  As Glinda  says in The Wizard of Oz, "It's always good to start at the beginning," and so we did.  We Googled Lucy Dolezal, of course.  And just like that, we were off, down our own Yellow Brick Road of discovery.

From that initial Google search, we located many Lucy Dolezals all over the world,  We quickly realized we needed to refine our search.  We added dates and places (Nebraska) and names (Anton, assumed husband)  until we thought we had something.  We thought that our Lucy Dolezal at some point became Lucy Dolezal Fisher.  We speculated that 1) she and Anton divorced (I never wanted to believe that) or  2) She remarried after Anton died.  From there, we spun the story that he died from injuries or sickness incurred in WWI (the info we had said he died in 1928) and so Lucy remarried and became a Fisher.  We even found the gravesite of a Lucy Dolezal Fisher in Wahoo, Nebraska.

Something didn't seem right though.  The dates were slightly off.  The unexplained Fisher name was out of sync.  We had hit our first dead end. But we weren't going to let a Wicked Witch throw apples at us on our journey. Just like Dorothy and friends, we refocused and continued on.

Somewhere in here I changed my search to Lucy Franta, her maiden name. The result was super exciting--I actually found a mention of her marriage certificate! 

I immediately sent the link to Joy, and we both were recharged--we had a glimpse of our Emerald City!  The dates all worked.  We were finally on the right track for the right Lucy and Anton Dolezal.  For a few steps, anyway.  It wasn't long before we hit another dead end--we weren't finding anything beyond the marriage certificate. That Wicked Witch was throwing fireballs at us now.  

It was at this point that Joy and I both remarked that it was a good thing it was summer and we had the time to do our search.  We were into week three at this point, and we were driving our loved ones a little crazy with our obsession.  We found ourselves stopping to read text updates in the middle of Home Depot or staying indoors tethered to our iPads on gorgeous summer days.  And we were starting to get a little weary.  Was that a poppy field up ahead??

Just when we were thinking we had found as much as we could, my mom handed me a faded piece of paper. Any spell of weariness quickly wore off after reading the words on that paper.  It was an old, hand-typed, brief Franta family tree. At first , I thought it was just another dead end---there was no Lucy listed.  But once again, It was Anton's name that led to Lucy.  Anton Dolezal was listed as husband to Aloisie Franta.  Light bulbs went off.  So Lucy used a nickname??  Her real name was Aloisie??  Was that why we seemed to be going one step forward two steps back??

From there, things moved quickly.  We began searching for Aloisie Franta Dolezal, and we found our Emerald City.  Through U. S. Census sites we discovered that she and Anton had seven children.  We discovered that they all stayed in Nebraska, most in the same eastern area.  

We discovered that Anton died before Lucy, and that both of them are buried in Schuyler, Nebraska.  We even found this

I got teary when I saw these images.  I couldn't help feeling that my great, great aunt Lucy Dolezal was a part of me, and I was sad that I never got to know her.  

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But I also smiled when I saw that Lucy and Anton are together even now.  Although I don't know their real love story, I can imagine that their life was filled to the rim with love for their children and grandchildren and each other and that they have their happily ever after somewhere over a Nebraska rainbow.

(Oh, and about that writing assignment that inspired this summer-long search for Lucy Doleful?  You can read that story here)

Archer

Our family has been blessed again with another Royal Baby.  Henry Archer Alldredge joined our family on November 7, 2015, born to my niece Amy and her husband Austin.

Compared to our other Royal Babies, Archer's arrival was a cakewalk (Amy might have something to say about that!)  Amy's due date was November 12, so none of us were prepared for the phone call a week before that date.  We were all celebrating Lucy Mae's 1st birthday in Lincoln when my cell phone rang.  When I saw Amy's name on the screen, I just assumed she was calling to wish Miss Lucy a happy birthday .  Instead, I heard Amy's voice, a little sleepy, a little giddy, and a lot happy .  Their baby boy was here.

So many people were anxiously awaiting little Archer's entrance into our world.  Even though he lives all the way in California, his new family quickly arranged trips to the West Coast to surround him with love.

Grinny

Poppi T

Alabama Grandma, Grandpa, and Cousin

Uncle Andy

Some of us had to wait a little longer to meet Archer.  In fact, he had to come visit us in Colorado, and we are so glad he did!!

Meeting Aunt Ana and cousins Max and Madi

Grams!

The seemingly endless wait was so worth it!

Finally!!!

We couldn't get enough of Archer when he was here in Colorado.  We even got to have a slumber party at my house!  And throughout the whole process of meeting new family, meeting Jewel, playing with twin cousins, having his first tea party, and being passed around like a football, Archer rarely cried.  He's such a good baby!!

As Archer grows and changes, some things have become obvious.  Like . . .

FOOTBALL

He's going to grow up with football all around him.  From his mama's Stanford Cardinals to the Thompson's Nebraska Huskers and the Colorado family's Denver Broncos all the way to his dad's Alabama Crimson Tide, Archie's life will be full of the excitement and thrill that is football.

FAMILY

Even though Archer is far away in distance from most of his extended family, he is close to all of our hearts.  We all look forward to planning trips to San Francisco, and we're anxiously awaiting his next adventure to Colorado.  Or Alabama.  Or Nebraska.  Or wherever life takes Archer!

Welcome to our beautiful world, little Archer!!!

A Beautiful Year

I'm sitting here in the comfort of my warm, cozy living room.  The Cotton Bowl is on in the background, Jewel is cuddled in her favorite blanket, snoring peacefully, and I'm getting all misty-eyed.  Maybe it's because I had champagne for lunch with a good friend.  Or maybe it's because I've had two Christmas Cokes (Colorado Bulldogs as some people call them). Maybe.

But I think I'm all sentimental because 2015 has been such a beautiful year.  Not perfect.  But beautiful.  One of the best things I've discovered about getting older is the desire to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me.  My Christmas card focused on some of the splendor that made this year so magical.

I became a bit obsessed with Nature this year.  Blame it on the English teacher in me as I introduced Transcendentalism to my students.  Blame it on Thoreau and Walden Pond.  But I found myself

pulling off busy interstates and sitting in solitude by riversides, listening to the words  of the whispering water

sitting by Nebraska cornfields staring at the perfect rows of tassel-topped cornstalks

driving east of the city lights to have a clear, unobstructed view of the blood-red, super Harvest Moon

braving the weekend bumper-to-bumper traffic going west to the mountains to behold the dazzling, gold aspen trees

standing on the edge of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World in perfect silence while hearing and feeling Thoreau's words loud and clear--"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads."

As always, my family continues to be a source of strength and beauty, and 2015 brought some new heavenly faces as the Thompson family continues to grow.  Quinn and Archer are our newest Royal babies, and I also gained a new niece when my nephew Kyle tied the knot with Ashlie.  My family is my biggest Natural Wonder, and I am forever grateful for being born a Thompson.

So yes, I am misty-eyed as I close out 2015--not because I'm sad to see it go but because I have a life that is beautiful.  And good.

Here's wishing you a beautiful 2016!

Cheers!

Two and a Half Perfect Days (in Arizona)

If you have a long weekend coming up and want to go somewhere where you feel like you've gotten out of town, head for Arizona.  In three days, you can comfortably fit in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Flagstaff, The Grand Canyon, and Sedona.

TRAVELING COMPANIONS

Perfect traveling buddies!!

Don't even think about going by yourself.  You are going to need someone to oohh and aahh with as your eyes behold some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United States, including one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.  I was blessed to have four of the most amazing people on this trip with me--my mom, my sister Kerri, my nephew Nathan, and his girlfriend Lindsey,  I could not have taken this trip without all four,  and I am so, so grateful for them <3

Day One begins with

GETTING THERE

Did I mention we were in first class?  Well . . . someone has to do it; might as well be me!

Because we were limited on time, we flew from Denver to Phoenix, but we all remarked about how cool it would be to road trip this entire itinerary.  We definitely put that on our to-do list, but for this trip, we took to the friendly skies.  I must say, as a loyal United girl, I was a little hesitant when Kerri emailed our reservations.  US Air (US Scare as we referred to them when I worked for United!) has always seemed a little questionable in my eyes, but to my surprise and relief, our flight was delightful.  As it turned out, we were on one of the last ever true US Air flights to operate.  The next day American Airlines took over in another major airline merger.  

First stop

SCOTTSDALE

Olive and Ivy, Scottsdale

Kerri sat next to a chatty guy on the flight to Phoenix.  He might have been borderline annoying, but he did give her some awesome recommendations for lunch spots in the Phoenix area.  We decided to try one, and we are so glad we did.  Check out Olive and Ivy.  We all loved this Scottsdale gem.  As we walked to the entryway, we were greeted with a soft, cooling mist and a friendly staff.  The food and drinks were outstanding.  We all ordered salads and their specialty, flatbreads.  I would definitely go back and most likely order the same thing!

CONTINUING ON

After our perfect lunch, we were in our rental car heading north to Williams, Arizona, our final destination for day one.  The next morning we would be catching the Grand Canyon Railroad and heading to Grand Canyon National Park.  Since the train leaves at 9 a.m. we didn't exactly want to leave Phoenix at 4 in the morning, and so we headed north on I 17 toward Flagstaff.  Although there are several routes to get to the Grand Canyon, we found this to be most practical, especially since some of our travel would be in the dark.  And there's this amazing rest stop called SUNSET POINT with a gorgeous view of the sun setting behind the mountains.  The image of that view will stay with you as you cruise into Williams to end travel day one.

DAY TWO

THE GRAND CANYON, SOUTH RIM, AND SEDONA

Riding the rails in style

Once we arrived at Williams, we stayed at The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Although by no means a luxury stay, the rooms were comfortable, and the train was only steps away.  We survived two, TWO fire alarms complete with total evacuation  of the hotel (the first one at midnight and another at 7 in the morning), but we shook those off and soon forgot them.  

GRAND CANYON!

Real pictures, not postcards, of the Canyon

You can, of course, drive from Williams to the Grand Canyon, but why would you when you can ride the rails?  We took the historic Grand Canyon Railway just steps from our hotel.  The two and a half hour train trip was filled with incredible scenery from desert to bluffs to forests and finally the canyon. 

Nothing could possibly have prepared me for the view awaiting us just a short walk from the train.  For one thing, when they say the south rim of the Canyon, they really mean the RIM.  When you walk up for the first look, you are literally on the rim.  Short walls border some parts to prevent people from falling, but there are also open areas that I wasn't comfortable approaching.  You can see all the way to the bottom and catch glimpses of the Colorado River, and you can see across to the the north side as well.  The views are so incredibly crystal clear and perfect that it almost seems like you're looking at a movie scene or green screen and not the real thing.  

And I couldn't believe how quiet it was, despite the many tourists present.  There was almost a reverent hush as we all took in God's beauty.

We had about four hours to walk around The South Rim, the perfect amount of time.  Make sure to allow time to have lunch at the Grand Hotel, a historic hotel just steps from the rim.  Their lunch menu is amazing--try the Indian taco--to die for!

The train ride back to Williams was equally relaxing and entertaining,  I don't want to spoil anything, but be prepared for some surprises on the return trip.  (Hint:  make sure your purse/wallet is tucked safely away!)

Because we wanted to take the scenic drive back to Phoenix, we stayed one more night in Williams in order to avoid driving in the dark.  I highly recommend doing the same.

DAY THREE

SEDONA

L'Auberge.  Gorgeous.

You must take Highway 89A at least one way of your trip between the Grand Canyon and Phoenix.  This road winds through some of the most breathtaking scenery ever, and this is coming from a Colorado girl!  The mountain views with Oak Creek by your side the entire way to Sedona rival many drives through the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Because we had a late afternoon flight to catch in Phoenix, we were only in Sedona long enough to have brunch.  There are tons of fabulous restaurants in the Sedona area.  We relied on a sure-fire means to find the best--we asked Siri!  And Siri is never wrong--she led us to a perfect brunch location, L'Auberge, right on the banks of Oak Creek.  I mean really on the banks--we were so close to the edge that sliding a chair just a little too far would have landed one of us in the creek, brunching with the ducks.  The brunch menu was French and elegant and scrumptious, and the scenery was breathtaking.  Make sure to ask for a table by the creek, and by all means try their quiche of the day and a bubbly mimosa.

 L'Auberge was the perfect last stop on a fabulous weekend trip; I couldn't have scripted a better ending to our two and a half perfect days in Arizona.

The Gratitude Challenge

I am grateful for what I am and have.  My thanksgiving is perpetual.

Henry David Thoreau

A while back (oh say a year  ago!) I was invited by my BFF Eileen to do the "gratitude challenge" on FaceBook.  You know, where for seven days you post things that you're grateful for.  So yes, a year has gone by and I still haven't done it.  Not because I'm not grateful.  Good Heavens, quite the opposite.  But every time I started to post something, I found myself writing paragraphs about each thing and wanting to include pictures of the many blessings in my life.  FaceBook just didn't seem like the right mode to express my gratitude.  And so I didn't do it.

After reading the writings of Thoreau with my students and realizing I was complicating everything in my life, I decided to "simplify, simplify, simplify."  That, along with a recent series of events, so life changing and powerful, has me revisiting  this gratitude challenge with a new perspective.  It started with . . .

My mom

I am so lucky to have my 87 year old mom.  She is my lifeline, my friend, my traveling buddy, my confidant, and I would be lost without her.  Recently, we had a scare that was just way too close for comfort.  Mom's heartrate dropped dangerously low, without our knowing it.  We finally learned, after taking her to a cardiologist, that her heart was only beating at 30 beats per minute.  He said she needed a pacemaker. Now.  That day.  Within three hours of her initial appointment, she was in surgery, and in the nick of time.  Her heart actually stopped beating during the surgery, but because the pacemaker was in place, they were able to get it started again.  Within 24 hours, she was home, feeling better than she had in months.   I've never said so many Our Fathers or Hail Marys in my life--before, during, and after this scare, and I've never felt the power of prayer so strongly.  My own prayers, my family's and my friends'.  In addition to the power of prayer, the power of family rallying together with love and support was unbelievable.  Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews--love so strong and healing.

My mom--less than 24 hours after heart surgery (left) and 2 months after that

Lucy Mae

The tiniest  royal baby in the Thompson family arrived one day after my birthday, and she has us all wrapped around her little, and I mean little, finger.  Lucy Mae Rischling was born to my niece Jill and her husband Todd on November 7,  six weeks before her official due date of December 16. (You can read all about this miracle HERE.)  When I found out that Jill was going to the hospital, I immediately began the Our Fathers and Hail Marys, praying for God and Mary and all the angels in our family to take care of Jill and to protect this baby.  Lucy arrived safely and weighed in at a whopping 3 pounds, 8 ounces when she was born.  Needless to say, she spent some time in the NICU in order to put on a few pounds and fill those little lungs out.  But for being 6 weeks early, she is amazing.  Oh, and November 7 happens to be my Grandma Emily's birthday.  Did I mention that Jill Emily is named after Grandma?  No coincidence there, just another Angel Kiss from above.

Lucy Mae--doing just fine almost one year later!

The BIG 6 - 0

Yeh, I had a big birthday last year.  I wasn't really thinking about turning 60, but in retrospect, I spent much of October in a bit of a gloomy fog.  As November 6th grew nearer, I started feeling a little depressed.  I really just wanted this birthday to come and go quickly with no one noticing that I had turned another year older.  However, my family and friends had other plans.  While I was in Lincoln for fall break, my family had been working behind the scenes to surprise me with a party.  I was attending the Nebraska football game with some family members, and when we returned to my brother's house,  I was greeted with balloons, a pink tiara and boa, shouts of happy birthday, and lots of hugs from everyone.  My sister made a video montage and a Cheryl trivia game to top the evening off.  I was overwhelmed beyond words, and it wasn't until late that night that the emotion caught up with me.  I was overwhelmed again on the actual day of my birthday when I received three bouquets of flowers from the absolute best friends a girl could possibly have.  And just to keep the party going, we celebrated a final time at Elway's with my Colorado family.  Thanks to my beautiful family and friends, my 60th birthday changed from a gloomy dread to a beautiful occasion that made me happy to welcome my seventh decade of life!

The Simplicity?

These huge moments of my life have made me want to shout my gratitude to the world, but they've also caused me to reflect on the big picture.  I found, running through each of these events, three recurring themes, and I realized everything in my life results from them.  And so, rather than make a long list of gratitudes,  my gratitutude list is simple.  I am, now and forever, grateful for

GOD, JESUS, MOTHER MARY, AND ALL THE ANGELS AND SAINTS

I don't often wear my Catholicism on my sleeve, but  I am proud and grateful to be Catholic through and through.  Without my faith, without my religion, and without my rosaries, I would not have made it through the many challenges along my 60-year journey.  I would never push my faith on anyone.  Ever.  I just know that I would be lost without my own religious beliefs and rituals.  I cling to them, and I am eternally grateful.

MY FAMILY
This big, amazing, crazy, Czech/Welsh/British, but mostly beautiful Thompson/Jambor clan.  How did I get so lucky to be born into this bundle of love??  Without my mom and dad, my sisters and brothers, my nieces and nephews (and the greats!), my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my cousins, my life would be empty.  I am forever grateful for the love.

MY FRIENDS
I have been blessed throughout my entire life with the most incredible, loving, supportive, FUN friends!  From my neighborhood playmates to my college roommates and all the friendships that have grown along the way, I am forever grateful.  My life is full of sparkles and sunshine because of my friends.

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.

Ralph Waldo  Emerson

For my faith, for my family and for my friends, my thanksgiving is truly perpetual, and I am eternally

It All Begins in Kindergarten

See that chair?  Yes, it's waiting for Ethan on his first day of kindergarten.  But it could be any name on that chair--Emily, Juan, Marie, Max--doesn't matter.  Because for every child, this is where it begins.

Every five year old who enters through that schoolhouse door, full of wonder, intrigue, anticipation, and yes, even nervousness and fear, begins an educational journey completely in the hands of a teacher.  Most of us can remember our own beginning.  I certainly can--I couldn't wait to go to kindergarten, and I loved every day I spent with Mrs. Smaha and my kindergarten classmates.  Without knowing it, she provided us a safe, loving environment that began our quest for success.

Ethan began his own quest when he walked down the hallway to his classroom for the first time.  On the way, he said to his mom and dad, "I can't get this smile off me face!"  How lucky teachers are to have these little souls enter their classrooms so full of joy and so ready to devour everything presented to them.  And how lucky are these children who are welcomed with loving arms and full hearts by their teachers. This first year is crucial for setting the stage for the rest of those students' school years.  It is here, in the kindergarten classroom, where children will begin to believe in the value of education and develop a joy for learning.  Oh Ethan--I hope you never get that smile off your face!

What will it take to keep that smile burning bright?  Whether they know it or not, much of that will depend on the teachers along the way.  The relationships they build with their students.  The classrooms they create that encourage every one of their kids to be creative and successful.  The excitement they bring to their lessons.  The heart they give freely to their students as they see them as their very own children.

Here's wishing every little five year old, every elementary student, every middle schooler, every freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and college student, the gift of having those teachers with hearts as big as the ocean.   I know I did. 

Micki on her first day of kindergarten

And so did Ethan's mom!

And apparently, so has Ethan.  He wrote his brand-new teacher this note after his first week of kindergarten, complete with hearts!

Little brother Drake trying out a kindergarten chair

May those teacher hearts be there for generations and generations of children who so desperately need their influence, guidance, expertise, and love.

Thank you, Mrs. Aten,  for giving your heart to Ethan and all the beautiful children you have touched.  I hope you know the important role you are playing in their futures and the way they see themselves for the rest of their lives.