December 5, 2000:

The unthinkable has happened. I've suffered the loss of one more Family member. Jason Karl Prescott, My Nephew passed away during the early morning hours of December 5. I wanted to tell about Jason and have decided to have a page on my site just for him. Read Jason's Story

I have started to pick up on my research again a little, It's actually the one thing I can do without sad thought's, A place where I can "escape" to and try to free my mind a little. I received a E-mail from Carldine Van Allen. We actually have the same Oh golly, let me see, the Same Great Great Grandparents. Or Our Great Great Grandparents were siblings. whew, that's hard to figure out. Carldine is the "closest" kin I've found so far The bonus is I have some new tidbit's to share with Mama.

December 24, 2000, We spent Christmas Eve with Mama, Our tradition for as long as I can remember. I made a pan of Lasagna and we had French bread and Caesar salad to go along side. It was very nice. Mama loves it when I "cook" and bring it up to her. I could tell she was having a rough go of it without Jason. It breaks my heart to see her hurting so. Jay had bought presents way back in November, He had mentioned it to me at around Thanksgiving time. It was very out of character for him to shop early, he would normally wait until December 23rd. I had carefully shopped for something to go with the sweater he bought for Mama, I found a small broach shaped like a heart that said "Mom." I pinned it on the sweater and it was bitter sweet when she opened it. It was a very emotional day. One I wont soon forget.

December 31, 2000: Grief has struck my family again. Please read about my Mom on her page, Dorothy Ullom

January 2001:

Carldine Van Allen sent me an email with more information on my Ullom names. She has Ullom obituaries and will mail me copies of what she has. It is so nice to be able to have contact with nice people with a common interest.

March 11, 2001:

I looked at my files, stacks of papers and books and realized that I had not done any work in a long time. I went to rootsweb and started reading "quires" on the MI GenWeb Armada County site and found one from Ruth Mills. She had McCrossen's and Perkins's in her database. I emailed her, Ruth replied back that we had a connection! Her GGG Grandmother Susan Adams Bannister was a sister of Deborah Adams McCrossen, Mother of David. My David! I was thrilled and very eager to see what Ruth would get back to me with.

March 17, 2001:Ruth emailed me a copy of her GEDCOM. I was overjoyed, We had so many common names in our files.

March 18, 2001: When I read the email from Ruth I was excited to see what else she had for me. She had sent me copies of original Obituaries and Wedding Announcement for My Grandparents and great Grandparents. I cried I was overcome with emotion. these were My grandparents, sadly ones that I never knew. In all my happiness at the new family connections, Not being able to share it with the one person that was always urging me on, My Mom, It makes me very sad.

Having all this new information has motivated me and I went at my genealogy like never before. I sent for vital records on My Jacob Pelon, the Michigan birth record for my grandpa Bennie Perkins, Michigan birth record for my grandma Alice (Pelon) Perkins, the death certificate for My Grandpa David McCrossen and his wife Mary Waite. I also sent for the Marriage record of William Perkins and Medora McCrossen. I was renergized.

In the midst of all this energy my family Tree Maker program CRASHED! I could not get into it! What to do! what to do! I got really upset, turned off the computer and went to sleep! Figuring the morning will bring a solution with a rested mind!

In the morning I went on line to the FTM site and they had a "fix" for my problem. I'm back in business!

April 2001:

I scanned old Photographs to mail to Ruth, My Mom had a box of old Family Photos that included a lot of names in Ruth's files I was very happy to do it for her.

May 2001:

I have recieved back some of the vitals I sent for. No death record available for David McCrossen; No birth record available for Alice Pelon Perkins; I did recieve the birth record for Benjamin McCrossen Perkins, and it clarifies his date of birth.

I sent for published obituaries for my Great grandmother Pelon and one for Medora. I'm curious to see if Medoras will be the same one Ruth sent me.

I have been citing more source's in my genealogy program. I know I should do it as I go! This has been a real learning experience for me! How to do it right the first time!

I recieved the marriage record for William Perkins and Dora McCrossen. It shows William from Brome County, Quebec. And lists his parents names. My William has been a brick wall until now with these locations and names to go on.

I'll be off work for about 5 weeks, carpal tunnel release surgery for me on the 25th of June.

July 2001:

I haven't been able to do hardly anything with my left wrist in a cast. My Doctor warned me about getting the cast wet. Oh darn! *grin* I can't do the dishes!