Derek Warren, Lanta's first great-grandson, and the MC for the
party.
A picture taken at the first planing session we had. To the left is my
Uncle Keith, to the right is my cousin Derek.
Lanta
or "What a Wonderful World"
You've seen trees of green,
Red roses too.
You've seen them bloom
A hundred years through.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful life.
You've seen presidents come,
And seventeen go.
In two more years
Three centuries you'll know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful life.
The colors of the Rainbow,
So pretty up above,
Are also in the faces
Of great-grandchildren you love.
Family and friends come by,
Saying "How do you do?"
We're really saying
"We love you."
You've heard babies cry,
You've help them grow.
You've seen much more
Than any of us know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful life.
I think to myself,
What a wonderful life!
Amazing Grace
Lanta's favorite song
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
When we've been here ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Then when we first begun!
The Party
Over fifty people
came, some of them extended family members I've never met before. I discovered that I have
third cousins out there somewhere! For those who don't know, a first cousin is your
aunt/uncle's children, a second cousin is your parents' cousins' children, and a third cousin is
your grandparents' cousins' grandchildren. I also discovered that I am, in fact, part German!
(Long story as to why this is interesting...) I discovered this because my Aunt Bonnie brought
the family tree she's been working on for *years* to the celebration. Once she's gets it
put on computer (yes, she traced and kept a family tree of my family back to the 1700's without
the aid of a computer!), and I get my copy, I'll put it up so you all can see the family
my Great-Grandmother came from and has since produced. Did you know she married her first
cousin? Yep, and that's where the German family today comes from! : )
Speaking of the German family, here's a picture with four generations of Germans in it; My
great-grandmother, my grandfather, my father, and me!
Here's a picture of Great-Grandma when she was a young woman. Isn't she beautiful?
Here's a picture of Great-Grandma just a couple years ago. Doesn't she look great for 98? She's
as meantally sound as anyone... maybe even more so that I am. ; ) I hope I'm as healthy as her
when I'm one hundred-years-old!