About the Note

Myrna wrote: A person in Melanie's ward, when we were visiting her in Flower Mound, Texas, gave LHT and I a an interesting note. The man in Texas, who handed me the note really did not have much helpful information for us.

The first word he had written on it was "Opladen."
Next was, "Leverkusen--Opladen."
He then wrote:(Rheinland) NRW (stake); Nord Rhein Westfalen

He then wrote: "Trautwein."  It is note spelled as ours is "Trauntvein." There is not much there.

The Trautwein, he said, was a member of the church and could be traced through church records.

Eva wrote: Thank you. In all the years I researched, many of the family was wein, one Tromp wein.  I think the spelling was just whatever the Parish minister heard- Danish with a heavy German accent.  As I think back over those many years, I was so blessed to be able to find so much and be able to connect families.  I know the Holy Spirit was my constant companion.  As I get older, I keep thinking about in not too many more years, I am going to finally meet all of those wonderful folks and be able to finally tie them into their parents. One day  David showed me how he was able to pull up the huge family tree in a fan shape.  As we were looking at the lines, I noticed that our gr grandmother about three back ( Marie Fredericka Birch Trauntvein's parents were not there. I had brought that family group sheet to the library with me that morning and showed it to my favorite missionary who had been helping me for weeks. She showed  me how to add  her parents and a brother I had also found.  In doing that, she also showed me how someone else had added a sister; I had never found her in any of my extensive research. I was elated. It was in a totally different parish than I knew about. How wonderful the Spirit is to help us be successful  and for somone else to connect us. I would like to find that person; maybe he could help me in joinning up some more families. 

HAVE A GREAT TURKEY DAY. GOD BLESS YOU. OH, BY THE WAY, I LOVED BEN'S  QUOTE ABOUT THE 100,000 MISSIONARIES. BOTH OF YOUR YOUNG MEN ARE DOING TERRIFIC.  IT TOOK ME THREE FULL DAYS  (AT MY SNAIL'S PACE TO WRITE, STUFF AND MAIL LETTERS TO 13 MISSIONARIES WHICH INCLUDED THREE MATURE  COUPLES IN PARIS, AUSTRALIA AND COVE FORT,  ELDERS EVERYWHERE FROM TWO IN AREAS  IN AFRICA, TAIWAN, PHILIPPINES, TONGA, SOUTH AMERICA, ENGLAND, USA. IT IS SO REWARDING. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LORD'S HELP  IN WRITING AND THINKING AND PLANNING. MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU IIN ALL YOU DO. LOVE  AND  HUGS ALWAYS, EVA

Kimberly wrote: Opladen is the place my piano tuner gave me for knowing a trauntvein, last year.

Myrna wrote: I wonder if we could get in touch?

Is Bree Ill?

Melanie wrote: Mom, why is Bree in the hospital?

Bree may have tried to take her own life. She may have used her prescription. It had been newly filled. There were 50 pills in the bottle. It may not be that that is what happened. She may not have really taken all of them. She was deeply depressed and may have taken a few to try to feel better. However, when David returned from work, he took her to the hospital because she appeared to not be well. David is home with the children and is taking the next day or two off while he determines what help he might need or what he might need to do. We have offered to take the kids, to go and stay there or to do whatever else is needed. 

I told him I would not tell all of you about this but he said there was nothing secret about it so he did not care if I did. Last spring she tried to cut her wrists with an old soda pop can. She seems to be cycling with the bipolar disease but none of the meds seem to work for keeping her from cycling into the deepest depression. David has more questions at this point than he has answers. I am certain that is also true for Bree. She does not choose to be ill.

I want you all to know that LHT and I love them all. We cannot imagine what it must be like to be in her shoes.  We just pray that some one of the doctors may find the necessary treatment and that all will be well. 

Melanie wrote: I called to talk to him about the dog and camping in November in Texas. He has good ideas. I will be using some of them. I love that little boy.