Welcome to Cheerful Recollections : A Family Legacy
Before we dive in, let’s go over how this site works and what it means to be part of our family archive. Think of this as your guide to navigating the past, present, and future of our shared history.
Join, If You Are Related
First things first: you must be related to me to join this journey. Take a look at the picture below and ask yourself: Am I connected to one of these families? If the answer is yes, then congratulations—you’re one of us. Proceed to step two. If not, well, maybe someday you’ll marry into the clan!

Create Your Account
To participate or browse the treasure trove of memories here, you’ll need to set up an account. Why? Because this isn’t just any website—it’s a private family vault designed to protect our stories from prying eyes. Don’t worry; it’s easy. Just create a username, password, and provide an email address. And don’t forget them—this is your key to unlocking generations of recollections. (You will be able to reset your password if you forget yours; hence, the need for an email address.)
Become a Family Historian
I encourage each of you to take on the role of a part-time family historian. This is your chance to carve out space for your branch of the family tree. Turn your corner of the site into a time capsule—a place where you can drop photos, videos, letters, or anything else that tells your story. Imagine one of your descendants stumbling across this site 1,000 years in the future. What do you want them to know about you? Let your family get to know you as deeply as you’re getting to know them.
Share Wisely
Let’s talk about what—and what not —to share. St. Paul had some wisdom on this topic. My belief is he came up with this after reading the genealogy of Noah, but it could have entered his mind after reading an account of his own colorful past.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Remember Noah? What do you remember about Noah? When I read his genealogy I wondered, how did that get recorded? Did someone forget to shut off the camcorder?
Genesis 9:18-23 Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
Moral of this story? Don’t post anything here that you wouldn’t want to come back and embarrass you later. We’re all pretty forgiving, but still—better safe than sorry.
Make Philippians 4:8 your compass. Keep it cheerful, keep it kind, and keep it real. Falsehoods don’t do well over time; they have a way of being found out. In contrast to fading falsehoods, think of the Bible; a Book that endures generation after generation after generation. Why? Because it is filled with truth. You cannot erase truth.

Navigate Using Categories and Tags
You’ll notice Categories and Tags sprinkled throughout the site. These are tools to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Clicking on them groups all the information I’ve gathered on specific topics, making it easier to explore. Whether you’re searching for old reunion pics or tracing your lineage, these features will be your best friends.
Questions? Concerns? Contact Me
By all means, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to talk about the site or family, reach out to me directly. I’m always happy to hear from you and help however I can. For now, you can message me through either Facebook Group.