Rannie's/Rennie's ... Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

I am on a mission to find every Rennie family member that were from Aberdeenshire, Scotland and that emigrated to Ontario, Canada, specifically the Wellington County area. My great great grandmother was Jean (Jane) Rennie married to George Lillie (Lily/Lilly) who came from Aberdeenshire to Guelph Township, Ontario in 1834 on their wedding trip. If they had waited a few years there would have been records on both sides of the Atlantic, but in their haste,they missed major dates for record keeping., but they did get beautiful land that they could call their own. It is written and my belief that her parents were John Rennie and Margaret Raeburn, but I cannot find either's death record or birth record, nor can I find the birth records for Jean(Jane) and George Lillie. They were married in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, but because I find very few other records it is my belief that they were members of the Secession Church of Scotland. So, void of records I am starting in Canada with anyone whose last name is Rennie. I have pages with many lines and names. I have not as yet, put anything on the computer. I am looking for John and Margaret Raeburn Rainnie (Rennie), but cannot find them, so the Quest continues (different from "THE QUEST, if you know anything about BYU athletics!")

My Highland Heart beats on ...

Let me tell you how this "blog" thought started. About a month ago, Ashlyn called me and told me that she was asked to speak in her church meeting at Brigham Young University that Sunday. She wanted some of my "family history" stories. I have so many amazing experiences and although I could think of many I had to look up a few details, including years. I have written or partially written many family histories (none of which are published yet, because I am a working mother etc. etc. etc.), but I have never written the stories of the stories. How did I find that person? Who gave me the records that were found in the fireplace of the Shiels Church in Belhelvie, Scotland ( I have slate from the roof of that old church). What happened when the bus hit my car in Liege, Belgium ... did I speak enough french to demand the police? How did I feel when I ascended a hill in Cornesse, with a postcard of my Grandfather's in my hand and right in front of me was the same church that was on that old postcard ... in a sense I was home? ETC. ETC. ETC. So this blog is an attempt to leave some of those stories and the ones still being written for my children and anyone else who wants to read. The Highlands and so many other places ARE in my HEART ! I believe that I live where I live for a reason and my passion for family is inherent ... eternal!

On to the Library ... aaahhh Spring Vacation

This is my spring break and I chose to spend today at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City; it was a beautiful day inside and out. Actually I picked my niece up at the airport and in the process of delivering her to a meeting at the LDS Institute in Salt Lake City, we made a few stops, the best of which was her inititation to Hires Root Beer on 7th East in Salt Lake. An icon and a must for anyone to the city. A root beer float, a large fresh lime, some fries and fish and she is now officially inducted. NOW ON TO THE LIBRARY AND MY FAMILY! This weekend just before Easter dinner I was reading obituaries, which made my children a little concerned. One women wrote only, "The Best Person in the World!" I told my children that they need only write, " She was as happy with the dead as the living," and I have since added, "with the old and the young, and with anyone, anywhere .... even the subways of New York ... no one is ever a stranger .... just a friend I haven't met." NOW ON TO THE LIBRARY!