This is Genevieve Love holding me when I was first born. She is my Great Aunt on my dad’s paternal side. Everyone called her Dede. She had a contagious smile that would light up a room when you walked into it. She radiated JOY. I do not remember a cross word ever leaving her lips. She was gentle and kind, humble and generous. Everytime my parents would take us to visit she and Uncle Brooks they would give my sister and I a $1 before we would leave. We would get up in her lap and she would hug us as tight as her rheumatoid arthritis would allow. I will never forget my Dede.

This is Margaret McKnight. She is my Great Aunt on my dad’s maternal side. Everyone called her Aunt Honey. It was the perfect nickname for her. She was as sweet as honey. She was our family historical as she always had a camera. There was never a moment when Aunt Honey wasn’t asking you to smile. I was the first grandchild on both sides of my family. I learned to pose and smile at a very early age. She was the life of the party. Everything was BIG with Aunt Honey. She had exquisite taste in jewelry and perfumes. When my sister and I would visit we would spend hours in her bathroom spraying every kind of perfume and pretending we were movie stars. Before we went to bed my Uncle Hugh would make us a root beer float in a big fancy crystal glass…that’s right, right before bed. They rottened us because they could, and they wanted us to know we were loved. I will never forget my Aunt Honey.

These two ladies are where I get my amazing name, Margaret Genevieve. It’s why I go by Gennie with a “G.” I love it’s uniqueness. I love that I bear the name of two amazing ladies that never had children of their own but LOVED each of us as if we were their own. I love the qualities they both had, and I pray that one day my children’s children may remember me as fondly as I remember them. I hope I radiate JOY as much as Dede did. I hope I am kind and generous. I hope I am seen as FUN and the life of the party like my Aunt Honey. I hope I break out the crystal glasses and serve up something special for my grandbabies right before bed.

Last week I had a dream about my Nana. She was my dad’s mom, sister to Aunt Honey and the very best grandmother to her 9 grandchildren. It’s been years since I have dreamed of her. She was so beautiful in the dream, just the way I remember her. She was helping me clean out my drawers of all things. I remember waking up and just being so thankful for that precious dream. When I went to work that day I was having a conversation with our new Counselors. They asked me if my first name was Margaret. I said yes with a smile and went on to explain the heritage of my name. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe The Lord was reminding me of my sweet heritage and to write it down so that my children and their children will know the depth of their heritage.

When God called me to “Arise” this year by being strong and courageous from Joshua 1:9 he also showed me the importance of remembering our heritage…yours and mine. We all are descendants from Abraham. We are like the Israelites trying to make it to our Promised Land. Just as God had parted the red sea with Moses, he parted the Jordan River for Joshua and his people so they could cross over. He will do the same for us. He is a “Waymaker.” No matter what mountain you are climbing or dry land you are walking through keep going. Persevere! Hold FAST! Remember His faithfulness. Write it down so you won’t forget. Share it with your loved ones.

“In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Joshua 4:21-24

I love the footnote of my bible for these verses. It says, “Do you have traditions — special dates or special places–to help your children learn about God’s work in your life? Do you take time to tell them what God has done for you – forgiving and saving you, answering your prayers, supplying your needs? Retelling your story will help keep memories of God’s faithfulness alive in your family.”

I hope this inspires you like it did me to write it down. Tell your family, especially your children, of His faithfulness. Life is hard. It can try to knock you down to the point you don’t want to get back up, but when we remember His faithfulness not only to us but through the hands that have gone before us it gives us the courage and the strength to keep going!

Today I dedicate this blog in loving memory of my Father in Law, Charles Wayne Coe – February 11, 1944-January 22, 2014. Four years ago today…we miss him, we love him and we will always remember our Grandad!

To my husband…keep marching on sweet one! Persevere, hold-fast, we will make it to the Promised Land! I love you now and forever.