Genealogy... I AM DOING IT.

Lately I have become a bit of a genealogy buff... by genealogy buff I mean I've taken a huge interest in my ancestors. When I was writing my personal history for a class I realized I didn't base my past on a sequence of events; I based a lot of what I wrote on people who came into my life and changed it and made me a better person. I measure my life in love and I love people because they are truly what matters. Sure, places and events can make a lasting impact but things always happen, people can enter into your heart and lead you to beliefs and strength you never knew you had.
I want to know my ancestors, starting with my grandpa Lynn. I never knew this man but what I do know I cannot even begin to understand what kind of person he was. My grandma never talked about him much. In fact, I can only recall about three times that he was even mentioned in her stories. I've found so many things about him on the internet that I feel closer to him somehow. I believe we were both the intellectual type, which is unusual because my family is primarily semi-educated rednecks. (Which is not a bad thing by the way... they have more common sense and skills than most people.) I've never blended in with my family much because I was always the one who was studying some exotic subject or attempting to learn a language or instrument. My grandpa seemed to be a lover of knowledge and I really cannot wait to meet him sometime after this life. I found ticket information of his travels on a ship called the "Gripsholm" from when he traveled back to Denmark and Sweden.

In the Bible it tells the story of Elijah going up against the 450 priests to see who's God would set the sacrifice on fire and when the Lord burned it it consumed the whole alter and all of the water that Elijah had put upon it. The people were amazed and turned their hearts to the Lord. This is symbolic to me because the Lord will pour out blessings like fire to us if we just allow him to and do what we are told. We are advised to learn of our ancestors and to do genealogy. My heart is set on fire for these people whom I have never met but will someday meet.

It has been such a blessing to research these people using the miracle that is the internet! I wish I could encourage everyone to do it!

The Family

This is the FAMILY. We are no where near perfect. There's a quote that describes us perfectly, "Home is where we are loved the most and act the worst". I have found this to be so true in my life. We fight... a lot... but we are fiercely loyal to each other and we'd gladly stand up to anyone to defend each other. We are a little dysfunctional but I can't imagine it being any different or more wonderful. When there is peace I realize why this family has worked this long. My family means the absolute world to me so I thought I'd go through and tell you a bit about them because they are worth knowing about!

This is Larry Glen... and Zip. I think this picture kind of demonstrates how my dad is when no one is looking. He's a tough as nails, stubborn as a mule, rancher/trucker. He loves snowmachines, hunting, fishing, and being outside in general. He's happiest the entire month of October when he's hiding up in the mountains in his really nice camper. My dad is a really hard worker and has been his whole life. He's a sucker for a good deal and he also respects other people who are willing to do things for him. I would say the love of his life should be my mom, but everyone in our family knows that the love of his life is his dog Zip! He treats her like a human and would do anything for that little fat tank of a dog.

This beautiful lady is my mother! Alison is the sweetest, most wonderful lady... just ask anyone! I think it's impossible for people not to love her. She's always been so willing to do anything for anyone and she has supported me so much in my life. She's a tender heart who has been the glue and has held our family together through thick and thin. She is the greatest example of being Christ-like that I know. My mom loves things like reading and gardening and lately she's been quite the quilter.

Tracy Glen is the patient one. That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my oldest brother. He has always been the peacemaker no matter what. He has stopped Wade and I from fighting and stringing each other's guts from the rooftops SO many times. Tracy tends to go with the flow of things and when things go wrong in his life he bounces back better than most people. He has a worrier streak but he's always the one who's up for something fun. He loves fishing, hunting, snowmobiles and dirtbikes. A little known fact is that he can play the trumpet. He fights wild fires and sometimes I think he'd be an awesome hermit in Alaska somewhere. 

This is Larry Wade. We have fought like cats and dogs since the day I was born and he looked at me and growled. Wade has a really big heart and a way with people that I guess I must be missing. He is well known for the fact that he can make anyone laugh. Wade has always been the type to tinker on anything with a motor and make broken things work again. He is the cowboy of the family and wore a cowboy hat to school in kindergarten every single day. Wade loves horses and ranch roping. He's probably the biggest example of a country boy that the world has ever known.

Ancestral History of Katie Fluckiger

*The Fluckigers: The Fluckiger's are of Swiss descent and immigrated to America in the 1800s. Their name was originally spelled "Flueckiger". Mormonism brought them over with the promise of a new life in a new place led by a prophet. Many Fluckiger's stayed in a valley in western Wyoming instead of going on to the Salt Lake valley. These families were headed by Johannes (John) Fluckiger and his brother Gottlieb Fluckiger, they settled in Bedford and Turnerville- part of a place that will someday be known as Star Valley. To this day there are many Fluckiger's in this part of the woods. (Pictured below: Glen and Eva Olson Fluckiger)

*The Kenningtons/Wilkes'- Kennington is an English last name, but I know through this line that Hyrum Smith is my fifth great grandfather. I was so excited when I found this out at the age of fifteen. This side of my family is also linked to the LDS church because there are members that go back to the restoration of the gospel. My grandma was a Kennington and I had the pleasure of knowing almost all of her brother's and sisters. My grandpa was a Wilkes, I never knew him because he passed away when my mother was young. I wish I had asked more about his life and history because all I know is that Wilkes is  also an English name.

Star Valley is where it all connects for me. It's where my family has lived for quite a few generations and I feel like my roots run deep here. I feel connected to the land like I've been there forever, not just a couple decades. :) It is more like home than anyone can ever understand. Pioneer headstones with my ancestors names are all over this Valley. It's beautiful, no wonder they wanted to stay. (Pictured below: my backyard)