Wordless Wednesday: Happy New Year!

Fred Pape & Gerrie Guokas on New Year's Eve, 1953 going on 1954, Houston, Texas.
Not sure who the guy on the left is, probably a member of the Rosarian Club in Houston.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Surname Christmas Tree

This was the prompt from a week ago for Randy Seaver's Genea-Musings Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, but I'm only getting around to it now.  This tree-shaped word cloud was made using Tagul, and the size of the names (from both my tree and that of my husband) reflect how close the generation is (Jones is big because my husband's great-grandfather Jones also married a Jones).  Therefore, the smaller-size names are ancestors further out the trees.  Happy Holidays, everyone!

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Thankful Thursday: Merry Christmas!

Me on Christmas Day, 1960, 7913 Cedel Drive in Houston, Texas.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Eve - Wordless Wednesday

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding a relevant photo.

The prompt for today (the last day!) is:  December 24 – Christmas Eve 

Me at Christmastime, 1960, 7913 Cedel Drive in Houston, Texas.
The table and chairs were a Christmas gift to my sister and I in 1959.

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Blog Caroling: Emmanuel

The incomparable f o o t n o t e M a v e n invited all the Geneabloggers to go Blog Caroling!  You're supposed to post your favorite Christmas carol.  WHAT!  Favorite!  But I don't have just ONE favorite!  Ah well, that means I can participate in Blog Caroling every year, with a different favorite each year!

This year, my choice is "Emmanuel," one of my more recent favorites, written by Rhonda Kye Fleming and Janis Ian, as sung by Kathy Mattea ( who performs part of it as a round) on her Good News album.

Here are the lyrics:

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
A child is born
A child is born
Sing glory unto God on high
Joy to all the world this night
And to all people, peace
And to all people, peace

Remember Him, oh, little star
Remember Him and shine
Around the world
In every heart
On this holy night
Lead us to His light

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
A child is born
A child is born
Sing glory unto God on high
Joy to all the world this night
And to all people, peace
And to all people, peace

Remember Him, the angels sing
And do not be afraid
Into this world
Good news we bring
Love has overcome
Behold a Son

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
A child is born
A child is born
Sing glory unto God on high
Joy to all the world this night
And to all people, peace
And to all people, peace

(chorus repeats and fades out)



© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: The Meaning of Christmas

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 23 – The Meaning of Christmas

Our Pape family's nativity scene, hand-carved pieces from West Germany, set up in 1984 at 8015 Sharpview, Houston, Texas

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas (and Military Monday) Memories - Christmas Homecomings

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding (a) relevant photo(s).

The prompt for December 22 – Christmas Homecoming

The link above goes to a grab bag prompt from earlier years where I wrote about my Dad's memories of Christmas growing up in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois.  One of those memories was at Christmas in 1951, when he was a navigator cadet at Ellington Air Force Base outside Houston. The Chicago area received tremendous snowfall that December, and getting there for Christmas was going to be a problem. He said Colonel William L. Lee, the commanding officer of the 3605th Navigator Training Wing, released some planes, and two were going to the Chicago area. Dad managed to get into O'Hare (this was back when it was being used by the Air Force and wasn't the commercial airport it is today) when all other Chicago area airports were closed.

Here are some photos taken during my Dad's visit home.  Since my grandfather, Paul Robert Pape Sr., is not in any of the photographs, I think he probably took these photos: 

Marilyn, Fred, Elizabeth, and Rosemary Pape outside 2093 W. Lunt Avenue, Chicago, Christmastime 1951

Fred Pape with his younger sisters Marilyn and  Rosemary Pape outside 2093 W. Lunt Avenue, Chicago, Christmastime 1951

Fred Pape with his mother Elizabeth Massmann Pape outside 2093 W. Lunt Avenue, Chicago, Christmastime 1951,
Rosemary Pape is off to the right

Fred Pape with the family dog, Lucky, outside 2093 W. Lunt Avenue, Chicago, Christmastime 1951

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Sentimental Sunday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 21 – Christmas Wishes - linking this one to some old "grab bag" prompts - Christmas in Corpus Christi, ugly Christmas sweaters - as well as prompts for holiday happenings, sweethearts, and loved ones lost. 

Christmastime, 1958 - My Dietz first cousins:  Shelly, Ron, and Ruth (looking away from the camera)

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Sibling Saturday Christmas Party

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 20 – Christmas Parties.

Here's the last in the photos I've been posting from a Pape family Christmas party, probably in Chicago, in 1958.  This one is of the Streff siblings:

Christmas 1958, probably at Nana and Grandpa's house on Lunt in Chicago, Illinois.
My first cousins, the Streff kids - from the left, Marianne holding Tom, Rosemary with Beth in front of her, and Bud.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Gifts

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done, I have been linking to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt name, and adding a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 19 – Christmas Gifts

I just finished this year's Blurb.com BookSmart® blog-to-books!  Check out the previews (of the first 15 pages of the two 120-page books) below:

Gerrie's 1953 Trip to Europe, compiled by Amanda Pape | Make Your Own Book

ABT UNK 4 by Amanda Pape | Make Your Own Book

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 18 – Christmas Baking

Another photo from my parents' huge collection - I too save photos sent to me in Christmas cards.  This is one my parents received (probably) from my first cousin Rosemary, of her three children and her father, my uncle Bud Streff:

The Grandusky kids:  Jonathan Joseph (J.J.), Heather, and Brooke (on grandfather Bud Streff's lap), about 1979

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Stories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo.

The prompt for  December 17 – Christmas Stories

An author who lives nearby, Lori Wilde, writes romance novels set in the mythical town of Twilight, Texas - which is based on my home of Granbury.  Three of the books are set in Twilight at Christmastime - which makes them Christmas stories, right?  One of those (The Christmas Cookie Collection) is actually a compilation of four novellas, pictured below.

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Travel Tuesday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 16 – Christmas Travel  

Christmas tree at Puerto Maya, Cozumel, Mexico, still up when we were there January 10, 2014

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Tree Ornaments

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 15 – Christmas Tree Decorations

My son Eric made the Good Boys list!

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Sentimental Sunday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 14 – Christmas Cookies

Christmastime, 1958, probably at Nana and Grandpa's house on Lunt in Chicago, Illinois.
The Dietz kids, clockwise from top:  Ron, Shelly, and Ruth

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Sibling Saturday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 13 – Christmas at School

My Pape first cousins - probably Christmas 1965, and then the film was developed in March 1966.
Clockwise from Roxie the dog:  Bobbie, Donna, Terrie, and Judy

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Friday's Faces From the Past: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 12 – Fruitcake - Friend or Foe?

Uncle Bob & Aunt Lorrie (Paul Robert Pape Jr. & Delores Olker Pape), Aunt Betty & Uncle Bud (Elizabeth Marie Pape Streff and Frank James Streff), Christmas 1958, probably at Nana & Grandpa's house on Lunt in Chicago, Illinois

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Treasure Chest Thursday Church

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 11 – Christmas at Church

Above is the church and some of the surrounding snow-covered trees, benches, and a snowman that were a part of my parents' Christmas decorations in 1994.

I believe Mom & Dad still have all or part of this set in a box somewhere.  I found a better photo (at right) of the church on an auction site - it's described as a "Vintage Ceramic Handcrafted LIGHT UP CHURCH W/ Stained Glass Look Windows."


The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

(Not-So-) Wordless Wednesday: Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for  December 10 – Christmas Traditions

Christmastime in 1958, probably at Nana and Grandpa's triplex on Hastings in Evanston, Illinois,  From the left:  a little bit of my first cousin Ron Dietz, Grandpa (Paul Robert Pape) holding granddaughter Shelly Dietz, Aunt Lorrie (Delores Olker Pape) with daughter Donna Pape snuggling against her legs, Nana (Elizabeth Florence Massmann Pape) with granddaughter Terrie Pape at her feet, and first cousin Bud Streff standing at the far right.

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Crafts

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo.

The prompt for December 9 – Christmas Crafts

Angel tree topper made by my parents' friend Dorothy Marr.  This photo was taken
 at Christmas 1984.  Mom & Dad used this angel on the tree at least 25 years.

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.


© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

It's the annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories!  I've participated the past five years (2009 through 2013), and this year, the prompts and their sequence are the same as in 2013.  Due to some pressing needs to get some other projects done (like gift books for my parents made out of the previous years' blog posts), I'm going to link to the appropriate post from 2013 (which also links to older posts, when applicable) in the prompt title, and add a relevant photo - if possible.  Today is one of those days when I'm going to add a Christmas-related photo totally unrelated to the prompt - just because it's an old photo related to my family history!

The prompt for December 8 – Christmas Shopping

Some of my first cousins at Christmastime in 1958, probably at Nana and Grandpa's house on Lunt Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.  From the left:  the back of Marianne Streff, Bud Streff and Ron Dietz 

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.

© Amanda Pape - 2014 - click here to e-mail me.