Happy 4th of July!!!

Please allow me to step on my soapbox for a moment. Genealogy is another hobby that I have that is separate from my love of reading. However, I am so very grateful for FREEDOM today - something that most of my ancestors from Europe, specifically, did not have! That is why they came to the "colonies" for their personal FREEDOM which covered a gambit of reasons. 

But, interestingly, many of the ancestors that I have researched so far came to the "colonies" for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Many from Germany, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom were fleeing religious persecution and seeking religious FREEDOM (Quakers, Mennonites, or Protestants in Roman Catholic countries). 

I celebrate each and every one of these individuals who came in search of a better life, land, futures for their children, and FREEDOM to worship in whatever manner they chose (and not dictated by the State).

I consider myself spiritual rather than religious. But it is amazing to see the marriage, christening, and deaths noted in different documents that were written in Latin or another language (Google Translate helps). It makes me proud that these people made ME!

Thank you to so many who came before me to allow my family and me to have FREEDOM in the United States!! Please celebrate your family that came to the United States for FREEDOM!

My family has been here for a very long time, but if your family came one generation ago or are immigrants, CELEBRATE them and you!!! We are ALL Americans regardless of WHEN we arrived!

Stepping off my soapbox. Now back to your regular programming... 

 

Have a safe 4th of July!! Enjoy the fireworks or books or BOTH - whatever makes you happy today!! 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜