Laura of Branch and Leaf is slowing down these days…as she recently explained to readers…she has a nasty case of Real-job-itis that comes with the beginning of each new year. To update everyone on her Liebster acceptance (and the part that I love most–getting to know you all who read along with my nutty-ness) I’ve added a couple of extras from her blog. Meanwhile, here are her responses to my questions~
1. If I weren’t blogging about this stuff I would be… reading or writing something else.
2. Who are you named after? My name is unique in my family. I was almost a Sarah, I’ve heard, but my cousin has that name now, so I guess it worked out.
3. I would like my epitaph to read as follows: at rest and rejoicing with the saints …
4. Favorite quote: I have several, one being: “Brass is mistaken for gold more easily than clay is.” (C.S. Lewis)
5. Something I will never understand is … people.
6. If I could run around all day every day, dressed any way that I pleased I would wear: jeans and a sweater
7. What class do you wish you had paid more attention to in school? I wish I had taken physics and paid more attention in algebra.
8. Do you write full time? No, but I work with people who do, so that’s pretty good.
9. What’s your dream job? 1/3 writing , 1/3 visual communication , and 1/3 teaching … with long enough deadlines to do a good job.
10. Where is your dream Writer’s Corner? A cabin in the mountains
11. What’s the craziest thing you have ever learned about your family? How consistent reality is with the stories I’ve been told … 
You can click over and goad her into writing more, or to just let her know that you appreciate what she gets done here http://www.branchandleaf.wordpress.com
I love that she uses this GK Chesterton quote on her side bar:
” Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”:
Also, don’t miss the post she did on Wednesday child It’s kind of a tear-jerker
Wednesday’s Child: Margaret Vanden Bosch (1924-1930)
Margaret was our grandmother’s younger sister. Heart complications took Margaret’s life when she was only 5 years old, a loss that came just three years after the death, at a relatively young age, of their mother, Mary. The obituary tells us that funeral services for Margaret were held at 1 o’clock in the afternoon at the family home in Sioux County, Iowa, and at 1:30 at the First Reformed Church. She was survived by her father and eight brothers and sisters.
“Margaret had been ill for the last four months,” the newspaper said, “confined to her bed all the time, never complaining and hoping to recover soon. But it was not her will but the Lord’s will that she should be taken peacefully away. The father and children and relatives have the sincere sympathy of the entire community…”
The story concluded with a note from the family: “We wish to thank all of our friends and neighbors for their kindly assistance to us during the four months illness and death of our dear daughter and sister … as well as for the many gifts that were given to her during her illness, which were very much appreciated. We also deeply thank all those who took part in the services and singing …”
Such heartbreaking loss. I had a chance to visit Margaret’s grave last year when I was in Iowa. She is laid to rest between her parents in a peaceful cemetery surrounded by farmland … in a pleasant and quiet corner of Sioux County …
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“There are better things ahead than any we leave behind …” (C.S. Lewis)
(Wednesday’s Child is a weekly blogging prompt from Geneabloggers focusing on gravestones of children. Obituary excerpts are from the Boyden Reporter.)
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Such a sad story, but beautifully shared. I’m glad that you have a picture of that sweet child and were able to visit her final resting place.
Thank you for the very kind comments. A combination of real-job-itis (nice term) and a dad in the hospital have greatly slowed my blogging lately. Hope to be back to it soon … Still love reading what others are posting!