I’ve been a little pouty about having to decline an invitation to give the keynote speech at an annual high school Veterans Day presentation, in a town connected to the Wilson family. Traveling has become difficult for both my Favorite Guy and me.
Then I remembered the blessings of this September, such as learning about the book club that has chosen Leora’s Early Years for their October meeting.
And Our American Stories aired my first new story, six years after the very first one.
The granddaughter of W. D. Clampitt found my story about him, and about Louise Oehlman, the retired teacher who took in her mother who’d been orphaned at age 14. She was so grateful to find the stories, and sent a photo of her parents’ wedding, with Miss Oehlman in it.
And the granddaughter of a man who owned one of the original Granger Homesteads sent a note, glad that I’d shared Brent Hegstrom’s blog post about them. Her grandfather’s house is still in the family!
John Busbee’s interview with me about What Leora Never Knew was rerun on his Culture Buzz radio program. In it, the idea of motherline stories came up. I’m at work on those, so it was just the nudge I needed.
And I just discovered this welcome review on Amazon for What Leora Never Knew: “This story is a sweeping family quest. Joy Neal Kidney did an extensive family search for the real story behind the death of three of her uncles in World War Two. Five served. Only two made it home. What Leora Never Knew depicts the incomprehensible impact such a loss had on her family and the great resolve it gave the author to bring the story into the light. She did an exemplary job using actual letters as exhibits in the story. She has honored both those who were lost and those forced to endure such a loss. I am glad I read this account. It had to be told and the family legacy it spawned had to be honored. Joy is such a gifted storyteller. Every bit as good as the other books in the series.”
Blessings galore!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! – 1 John 3:1