September Adoption Update

Well September has been an extremely busy month for us. It seems with Dan's dad's passing we have had far less time than we had origially planned to work on our homestudy paperwork. But. . .we are almost done!!! Dan and I just have to finish our 54 essay questions each, get our very busy bosses to fill out our employment verification paperwork, and pay the rest of our homestudy fee. We also have a few little things to do for the NEDC (digital copies of three photos and our dear donor letter). We are so excited for the next steps and can't wait to officially be out of the paper chase phase of our adoption. Those next steps will be to do our homestudy interviews and house visit with Bethany and then wait to hear from the NEDC to schedule our initial visit to Knoxville, TN to meet our doctor. I have heard from others who are completing their transfer with the NEDC that the wait is a bit longer than we anticipated. I am trying not to be discouraged but just take everything one step at a time. We have waited this long a few more months won't matter that much in the long run.

In the meantime I have begun to read a GREAT book called Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. In this book Moore asserts that, "The gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news that through Jesus we have been adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family—means that Christians ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans in North America and around the world." Moore writes from his own experience of adopting his two boys from Russia. I have only just begun reading this text but I have found it an excellent mix of adoption philosophy/theology and personal anecdote. (Thanks for the recommendation Betsy!)

Lastly, in anticipation of our future embryo transfer I have been working hard to improve my health and I am excited to report that I have lost 40 pounds since June! Thanks to all my motivators out there who help me stay focused. I have many more pounds to go!


Well that is all for now! Hopefully my next entry in our blog will be to tell you all that we have completed all of our adoption homestudy paperwork!

God is good all the time. . .

The Shackleton Family Tree

At Alvin's funeral on Saturday I learned so much about the Shackleton family which led me to an internet search. Here is what I found out:


Dan's Great Great Great Grandpa was John Shackleton who was from Leeds, England.

Dan's Great Great Grandpa and Grandma were Stephen Shackleton and Susan Waymire. (Stephen is the one who brought the Shackletons to the USA in 1854 when he arrived in New York.)

Dan's Great Grandpa and Grandma were John William Shackleton and Jane Elizabeth Wise;

Dan's Grandpa and Grandma were Stephen Frederick Shackleton and Lena Chessie(Dykstra) Shackleton.

Dan's Dad is Alvin Shackleton.


This is the family tree I found on the internet that corresponds with the information presented at the funeral:

Stephen Shackleton was the son of John Shackleton of Leeds, England. John was a wealthy lawyer. Stephen b. 13 October 1835 in Leeds, England. He studied law under his father and was admitted to the bar at the age of nineteen. Stephen left the same year, 1854, for New York. He married Susan Waymire (she was of German descent) on 24 October 1857 at Fort Madison, Iowa; b. 18 March 1840 at Independence Hill, Indiana; d. 31 August 1897; Stephen d. 2 July 1912; both are buried at Mautrase or Mankato, Kansas

Children of Stephen Shackleton and Susan Waymire:

i. John William, b. 10 September 1858, d. 1 September 1887, buried at Hill City, Kansas; m. Jane Elizabeth Wise on 16 February 1878; b. 23 February 1861, d. 6 November 1892, buried at Deepwater, Missouri; 4 children

Children of John William Shackleton and Jane Elizabeth Wise:
1. Stephen Frederick, b. 2 February 1880 in Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri; d. 31 May 1933 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and is buried there; m. Lena Chessie Dykstra (daughter of Peter G. Dykstra and Gertrude Iedema) on 21 December 1911 in Nashau, Montana; b. 12 December 1891 in LaMars, Iowa, d. 3 July 1955 in Cornell, Wisconsin; buried at Rice Lake, Wisconsin; 4 children; (a) Loren Frederick, b. 5 October 1912 in Nashua, Montana, d. 6 April 1998; (b) Benjamin Lee, b. 1 June 1914 in Nashau, Montana, d. 18 February 2002 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan; m. Margaret Elinor Burnett (see obituary page) (daughter of Matt Kochevar and Margaret Simonick; she was adopted and raised by Volney Irwin Burnett and Ella Huddleson) on 27 February 1938 in Cornell, Wisconsin; b. 4 January 1915 in Buhl, St. Louis County, Minnesota, d. 16 December 2001 in Michigan; 3 children; Ruth Ann, m. Ronald Martin Denniston (son of Rev. Otis and Evalene Denniston) they have 2 daughters, Cynthia Lou and Linda Jo; Janet Lee, m. Virgil LaMar Leatherman (son of Joseph and Marjorie Leatherman) they have 3 children, Scott Allen, Lori Lee, and Julie Lynn; Dr. Benjamin Alan, m. Jane Colette Hendrickson, they have 1 daughter, Kelly Jo; (c) Alvin William; (d) Frederick Gerald
2. Lee Edward, b. 14 May 1881 in Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri, d. 25 April 1951, m. Dora Elva Haworth (daughter of Perry and Vena Haworth) in February 1901; b. 28 June 1885, d. 3 May 1947; 8 children, (a) Morris William, b. 15 April 1901, d. June 1978, m. Gladys Maude Lane on 10 December 1921 in Barron, Wisconsin; b. 19 July 1904, d. February 1995; 2 children, (i) Milford Lee, b. 24 August 1922 in Hillsdale, Wisconsin, d. 15 November 1999, m. Pearl Agnew on 10 December 1946 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin; they had 2 daughters, Linda Sue, m. Robert Mayer, 2 children, Malisa Marie and Timothy Robert; and Joyce; (ii) Betty Jane; (b) Milo Perry, b. 4 June 1903, m. Genevieve Charity Bliven (daughter of William Robert Bliven and Amanda Viola Flowers); 10 children, (i) Robert Lee, m. Clarice; (ii) Elva Viola, m. Earl Cook; (iii) Sarah Jane; (iv) Dora May, m. Bud Carrell; (v) Raymond Edward, m. Millie; (vi) Don Andrew; (vii) Richard "Dick" Earl, m. Lois; (viii) Paul Stanley, m. Marty; (ix) David Perry, (see obituary page) b. 30 March 1948 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, d. 18 February 2000, buried Forest Hill Cemetery, Stanton, Dunn County, Wisconsin, m. Karen Rundle; 3 children, David, m. Teresa, Sam and Shayne; (x) Daniel Allan, m. Wendy; (c) Florence Mable; (d) Elmer Edward, b. 14 October 1909, d. 1924, buried Prarie Farm, Wisconsin; (e) Vernon Lee, b. 17 October 1915, d. 8 May 2001; (f) Alfred Leroy, b. 17 October 1918, d. April 1982; (g) Faith Elaine; (h) Stephen Paul, b. 21 February 1929, d. August 1986
3. William "Clyde", b. 27 April 1884 in Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri, d. 4 September 1950, buried in Cornell, Wisconsin, m. Catherine Traxler (daughter of Jacob and Ruth Traxler) on 16 August 1905 in Beaver City, Nebraska; b. 5 March 1885 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, d. 7 February 1949, buried in Cornell, Wisconsin; 7 children, (a) Howard Albert, b. 18 May 1906 in Furnas County, Nebraska, d. August 1981; (b) Laura Pearl; (c) Floyd Stephen, b. 8 August 1909 in Furnas County, Nebraska, d. 18 December 1991, m. Susan Bozonie (daughter of John and Susan Bozonie) 3 children, (i) Michael Allen, m. Ruth Ann Miller (daughter of Melvin and Martha Miller) 2 children, Debra Sue and Michael Paul; (ii) Dennis Floyd, m. Jeanne Marie Albertson (daughter of Lawerance and Dora Albertson) 2 sons, Mark Dennis and Stephen Edward; (iii) Mary Susan, m. Keith Lowell Eliason (son of Keith Lamar and Ethel Annette Eliason) 3 sons, Kurt Lowell, David John, and Brian Keith; (d) (Reverand) Cecil Ward, b. 27 July 1911 in Montrace, Jewell County, Kansas, d. 13 April 1983, m. Jeanette Monica Gangstad (see obituary page) b. 29 September 1914 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, d. 31 August 2000, buried at Prairie View Cemetery (family plot) in Hallie, Wisconsin; 7 children, (i) Della, m. Dale Fisk, 2 children, Sylvia (d. before January 2000), m. Alan Jones; Carol, (see obituary page) b. 10 April 1960 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, d. 18 January 2000 in Green Grove, Clark County, Wisconsin, m. Terry Wood (divorced); 4 children, Phillip, Isaac, Elijah, and Sienna; (ii) Laura, m. Jesse Ruby; one son, Joseph Edwin; (iii) Evelyn; (iv) Pearl, m. Phillip Veile; one daughter, Susan Marie; (v) Sarah, m. LaVerne Larson; (vi) Jeanette; (vii) Warren Cecil, d. before September 2000; (e) Mabel Ruth; (f) Gale Clarence, b. 17 July 1922 in Furnas County, Nebraska, d. 28 May 1989; (g) Dale Clyde, b. 17 July 1922 in Furnas County, Nebraska, d. 31 October 1992
4. Pearl, b. 3 April 1886 in Hill City, Graham County, Kansas

ii. Charles Henry, b. 14 February 1861, d. 1864
iii. Mary Jane, b. 6 February 1863, d. 1864
iv. Elizabeth Aletha, b. 30 May 1866, d. 12 March 1876
v. George Edward "Ed" b. 27 July 1868, m. Liddia Harrison; 2 daughters, Icie, m. Omar Duncan; and Hallie, d. 15 August 1912
vi. Harriet "Nellie" Ellen, b. 11 October 1870, m. G.A. Leckenby on 1 February 1887; 1 son, Stephen Lee (could be Leroy), b. 3 December 1888, d. 1 February 1944
vii. Stephen "Dick" Matthew, b. 9 November 1872, m. Nellie Haworth in February 1898; 7 children, Lewis Vernon, Elsa, Elva, Eugene, Clifford, Charles and Ruby
viii. Solomon Alfred, b. 18 December 1875, d. 18 March 1876
ix. James Franklin "Frank", b. 7 February 1877, m. Gertrude Thorp on 25 December 1900; 8 children, John, Merle, Harold, Frank, Margaret, Mildred, Owen, and Rusell
x. Maud May, b. 15 September 1880, d. in Jewell, Kansas, m. John Franklin Wyatt on 30 May 1902; he died in Jewell, Kansas; 2 children, Margaret Fay and Russell
xi. Susan Maggie, b. 30 June 1883, m. (1) S. Ernest Cope on 11 August 1904; 1 son Laverne, b. 20 February 1905; m. (2) Mr. MacNamara

HOW AWESOME IS THIS???!!!!

Fall is around the corner!

In an effort to cheer myself up at the start of the school year I try to get excited about the coziness of decorating for fall. I love the pumpkins, leaves, and the spicy color pallate. I change all the air fresheners to cinnamon and spice flavors and change out the wreath on the front door. I put out the sweet cinnamon pumpkin hand wash and fall themed hand towels in the guest bath and change the beachy themed candle display on the dinning room hutch to a harvest themed display. I baked pumpkin bread for the first time since Christmas last week. I wear bronze colored eye shadow and paint my nails with my fallish bronze/reddish nail polish. I suppose this is my version of what Maria on the Sound of Music would suggest: to focus on the things you like so that the negative parts of life don't seem so bad. Happy fall everyone!