Odd coincidences have occurred recently. After church service last week, I sat upstairs sipping coffee with a girlfriend who does some genealogy. I’ve always thought about using a site like https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/census/all but never really got to it and then I mentioned I was interested in researching my father’s side of the family. I’ve admonished myself for not questioning Dad about his ancestry when he was alive. My mother died young, but my father lived to be 88!
My girlfriend set down her coffee and said I should speak to Bruce, then pointed to a stranger across the room. He’d apparently done genealogical research in depth on his relatives. He and I spoke, but when I got home later and tried the Website he’d suggested it didn’t work. I called my sister and told her about my quest, but she shrugged it off. Yet, the very next day she received a letter from a woman living half way around the world she and I had never heard of, who said she thought we might be relatives. My sister sent the letter to me because she had no interest. The woman-the possible relative and hopefully not a con artist-left an email address. I emailed her and she sent photos; one looks like our father as a boy and another like our grandparents.
I love reading fiction and true-life stories about coincidences: young lovers re-meeting by mistake or a long-lost relative suddenly showing up with a backpack slung across his shoulder.
How about you? Have any of you researched your ancestors? Have you tracked them down? Do you enjoy reading novels with twists and turns in the plot due to happenstance?
What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment below to enter to win a copy of either Pennsylvania Patchwork or Leaving Lancaster. USA or Canadian residents only. Winner has one week to respond. Email address required so the winner may be contacted!
Congratulations to Janna, last week’s winner of a copy of Pennsylvania Patchwork or Leaving Lancaster! Thanks to all who left comments about The Giveaway Bag. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them!
I don’t really get what the “coincidence” was above. That you talked to someone about doing genealogy research one day and something came in the mail the next? Don’t see a connection, but I do not believe in coincidences, everything is God’s timing and His working in our lives that we just can’t see yet or possibly won’t understand until heaven!
The coincidence is that Kate developed an interest in her genealogy, on her Fathers Side and then all of a sudden someone from across the world pretty much sends the start to the info Kate seeks. This woman, may have pertinent info to get the ball rolling.
Thanks, both of you for your comments! It was a little odd that my sister, who wants nothing to do with looking up our fathers genealogy, was the person to receive the letter.
I love to read and I love when things just happen. A few years ago I learned that a cousin that I hadn’t seen in over 20 years lived just 4 houses from me on the same street! He was from New York and I from CT and we were living on the same street in FL! Talk about coincidences!
That is an amazing set of circumstances! Thanks for your comment!
I don’t really believe in coincidences. I think they are put there by God. Isn’t He amazing.
He’s tricky that way, isn’t he, Susan?
I think we are all meant to be where God wants us. My first husband and I were 10 years apart in age, but were conceived in the same house by different parents. Then when me second husband was seven his family moved into the very same house. What are the chances of that happening? It was in the back of a building where my first husbands grandfather had a doctors office, and my first father-in-law was conceived there also. All perfectly planned by God. Carolann Ellmore. barlenbay@comcast.net
Oh, my, truth is stranger and more fascinating than fiction! Thanks for your comment!
se to be a believe of coincidences. Now I believe it is God
just pointing us in the right direction that we need to go.
CherylB1987@Hotmail.com
Thank you, Cheryl! He points us in the right direction, but It seems that sometimes our free will takes us off course.
My mom is doing heavy research on her side. She got me going once….ohhhh so many links and branches to “chase & varify” I came to conclusin that she has more time right now than I do. Another relative on my dad’s side doing the research so he shares. It is SO interesting!I love learning what those ancesters did…their profession, their lifestyle etc…. a Souix Indian Missionary, a Scottish Knight, a Dutch settler….a Norweigian honeymoon couple coming to America….
Mother in law’s husband’s relatives had to leave a sickly child behind when coming to Am. They ment to send for her, but hit hard times with draught, grasshoppers, poor times, and could never afford to send for her passage, she was left with relatives that thought they abandoned her….less than 10 years ago, he was able to reasure the deceased womans family that she had been wanted, but no means to reconnect. It helped answer “why”,
mandn@wisper-wireless.com
Thank you for your intriguing comment! So glad the “why” was answered.
I do not believe in coincidences or luck. God is in charge. If you give away any books would love to win. Beautiful picture of canned foods.
Thanks for you comment, Bonnie! Good luck in the book giveaway!
No, I haven’t researched any of my ancestors. So far, I haven’t had the desire to do so.
I do enjoy reading novels with twists and turns but I don’t believe in happenstance nor coincidences. I believe things happen just as God has planned them to.
Blessings!
Judy B
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Judy! It’s written he knows what will happen before it does. I look back at some of the mistakes I’ve made and wish he’d stopped me!
No. I feel that GOD is the one in control. I like to call them little “God winks” !
Rita M.
godskid91@gmail.com
I like that term, Rita! Thanks for your comment!
I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe all things happen for a reason & God is in control of everything. Isn’t it amazing how He worked to bring you & that woman together?
Thank you for the opportunity to win one of your books Kate. I loved Leaving Lancaster & would love to win Pennsylvania Patchwork!
Thank you for your lovely reply, Lorraine! So pleased you enjoyed Leaving lancaster! I just noticed you didn’t leave contact info in case you win.
I call those moments “God incidents”. I do not believe for a minute that our lives happen purely by chance but rather that God orders our steps in each and every thing.
Thanks for your comment, Beverly! You are all giving me great food for thought!
My brother has researched our relatives. He loves to study about our ancestors.
I believe that God is in control but he also gives us free will…and we can sometimes make the wrong choices.
Love reading Amish fiction! Would love to win a book.
donnac.taylor@hotmail.com
I agree, Donna! Why did he give us free will? I’ve often wondered. I’ve certainly made wrong choices, but some of them have turned for good …
No i don’t believe in coincidences. God ordaines everything and we either follow His path or chose a different one. Yes to the researching ancestory. I LOVE any books Amish or Inspirational. bethekelsay@yahoo.com
Thank you for your comment! Many seem to be choosing different path these days …
I have been doing geanology work on our history and recently found out a relative on Mom’s side joined army at 16 and was prisoner of war in his teens..never knew this before -so interesting.
I love to read and would like to be in your drawing.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
That does sound interesting, Paula! Thanks for entering the contest!
Like many others have said, I often think that coincidence is really an act of God. Sometimes we dont see it for what it is at the time.
Life is full of wonderful gifts, isnt it?
Lynn Brokaw
Thank you, Lynn, for reminding me of the gifts we don’t see at the time!
Many times I have had strong thoughts about any particular person that has been in my life & very soon will have a connection of some sort occur between us. “God Happenings”.
Amish Fiction is my reading passion. Just finished reading “Leaving Lancaster”.
Please leave an email address to enter to win a book so I can contact the winner. Or you are most welcome to comment w/o entering! Thanks!
No coincidences to those who have entrusted their lives into God’s Hands…just His plans unfolding.
lldietz@gmail.com
Thanks for your comment, Linda, and for entering the book giveaway!
Yes, I believe in coincidences. Just last Sunday at our Church service, we sang “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” as the closing hymn. How coincidental that we sang that hymn the day after President Obama gave a speech on his plans with Syria!! This is the “Navy Hymn”. And, the Navy has ships near Syria. I really got tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and chills up and down myself.
Thank you for writing all these wonderful stories!! I just love to read them!!
Have a beautiful day!!
Elaine Shorb
tinkerbell2by2@gmail.com
I hope you have a beautiful day too, Elaine! Thanks for writing!
I haven’t research my ancestors, but I have a cousin who has done this. He traced us back to the Allens. We are related to Stonewall Jackson. He now has us all the way back to England.
Sounds intriguing, Judy!
No coincidences when you believe Our Father has our lives in His hands. You are right to be a little wary though. Our world is not the same as even a few years ago.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thanks for your comment, Betsy! I’ll take your words into consideration.
I have done a lot of research on family members on both my fathers side and my husbands fathers side. In my research I have made scrapbook type books with all my information, letters, pictures, birth, death and other certificates, military dog tags ect.. I have met several family members through the internet and have kept in contact with. It’s amazing to see pictures of distant relatives that look like your immediate family.
Kate I see how that would be a coincidence in your sister receiving the letter. As you were not aware of it going to arrive at your sisters house. Genealogy is a fascinating research. God will guide you if your heart really desires it.
As for books with twist and turns I love them it keeps you wanting to read more to find the answers of your minds thoughts.
Your friend in faith,
Joannah C.
auntiejomama@sbcglobal.net
Thank you, Joannah! Your research sounds fascinating and I appreciate your good taste in books!
I believe in God’s appointments…..
and just last week I received an email with picture of my mom and her family that I hadn’t seen before from a man I’ve never met. it turns out he lives near where my mom’s family was raised and is kin somehow…still in the middle of this and have things to find out. but hospital pictures aren’t something a stranger would get their hands on and he has tons of information on her family.
and yes I love twists in books…makes it interesting…meeting your own brother or sister or twin would be fun and you never knew about them.
and doing a search, like going from Courthouse to the capitol led me to birth family!!!!! so yes genealogy is great.
Oh, how amazing, Virginia! Thanks for writing!
Both my oldest sister and I have been working on researching our genealogy. We’ve had a lot of fun with it. She has been able to go much farther than I have. She has actually been able to visit a number of graveyards where some of our ancestors are buried. I’ve enjoyed seeing the photos she’s taken of their headstones. I’ve learned a lot of interesting things about their beliefs and how they lived through it.
Right now my focus is on researching my husband’s side of the family since our daughter has fallen in love with a man with the same last name. Thankfully there doesn’t seem to be any connection between the 2 Wilder families. That is going back about 6 generations.
What appears to be a coincidence to man’s eyes is just God orchestrating things in His timing. He sure does seem to enjoy springing surprises on His children.
I thoroughly enjoy reading books with surprising twists and turns in them. I’m always curious to see how the main characters will deal with them.
Thanks for offering these giveaways in you blogs.
debbiewilder@comcast.net
Very interesting, Debbie! Your last name story is fodder for a fiction writer, but I’ll resist. Thanks for commenting!
I haven’t done any research and I love reading books with twists and turns.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com
Thanks, Jackie!
I had to do a little bit of genealogy research when my children had to complete class projects. Unfortunately, my family contacts are quite limited now. My husbands family did an extensive backround genealogy to his ancestors who first came to this country. It is pretty impressive. Maybe someday, I will do the research to dig deeper into my own lineage.
Blessings,
Kristin J
keithkrisjager(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for your comment, Kristin! Our two sons had school projects too and one did his about my dad. I could kick myself for not listening better to my parents when they were alive!
Yes! I believe in coincidences. God is a mysterious maker for sure, and I love it when things seem to mesh well and work out all at the same time.
I wish you much luck in researching your family tee. I wish I knew more about my fathers side as well…he died when I was 7 (he was 42) and he carries all my Italian Roots. I am getting as much info from my grandmother on my Moms side, as I can, but it’s frustrating at times, because people only know so far back.
Info@Imagiary-Bee.com
Thanks, Elizabeth! Italian roots sound intriguing. I love Italy but have no relatives there that I know of.
Things happen for reasons..God is in control of all matters
I so would love to win
bearangel0@yahoo.com
Kathy Milburn
Thank you, Kathy!
I love books where the plot changes by some coincidence! In real life though I think God controls everything. He may make it seem to us a coincidence. I would love to read either of your books! Donna d.brookmyer@yahoo.com
Thanks for your comment and good luck in the contest, Donna!
We sometimes think things are coincidental but in the end, it is God! Love the way some books turn things around! Thanks for the chance to win one of your books!
rcourts@twc.com
Thanks for commenting and entering the contest, Tammy!
I believe it is all God!!! My husbands family keeps telling me that they can be traced back to the Mayflower and William Brewster. A cousin who lives in another state is big into genealogy.
grammador@gmail.com
That’s what I need, Dorie. A cousin to do the research for me! To bad my father was an only child. Thanks for commenting!
Coincidence is just part of Gods plan
Lisa
korell62@aol.com
Thanks Lisa!
My Mother and I are researching our genealogy. She’s the youngest of eleven children and there is only three siblings left including Mom. She wants the younger generation to know about their ancestors. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you!
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds interesting, Barbara! How wonderful to have your mother helping you! You’re entered!
I don’t beleive in coincidences I beleive they are GODindences. Great books, I love them
Thanks, Michelle!
I was going to write exactly what Michelle Morgan wrote … I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in GODincidences. Everything happens for a reason ~ it’s all orchestrated by God. Then because we have free will it depends on us what happens next & how we handle it.
I have started researching our family history but have not gotten far. Would love to do a LOT more! If you have any good webiste(s) that are free (as I am on limited income) I would love for you to share them! Love your books Kate! Thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest.
Mary E
mdegram218@centurylink.net
Thanks for your comment, Mary! If I find any good and free websites I’ll let you know. Good luck in the contest!
Hi, Kate!
I just developed an interest in genealogy a few years ago, & have uncovered info about some really interesting ancestors on my mother’s side of the family. I haven’t been able to trace near as far back on my father’s side, as my mother’s. Unfortunately, at my age – the family members are all deceased, but some very interesting characters, none-the-less (a couple that are in the history books). My brother gathered a lot of info from the archives in Salt Lake City – if you haven’t checked there, you may find some valuable info about your family – Kate.
I love reading about the Amish, don’t have any of your books, & would love to read them. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of one.
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you so much for entering, Bonnie! And good luck in your genealogical quest. I do know a woman who goes to Salt Lake City, but she works by the hour …
Yes, I love to know my relatives are, but both of my parents are of Amish decent, so there are no military records, voting records or anything. However we (Amish) do have “Franshauft” books or “Family” books in English. We can trace ourselves way back, my mom’s side we can trace back to the 7 Yoder brothers that came over from Switzerland/Germany! Very interesting.
How fabulous! I’d love to learn more about the “Franshauft” books. Thanks for writing!