Certain Man came home from his long weekend in Ohio. He and two of his sisters and one brother in law did some monumental decision making. He weathered it all very well. In fact, he came home in surprisingly good humor.
One of the things that has troubled the offsrpringin’s of Ralph Yutzy for a long time is that there are large pieces of their history that seem to have disappeared into oblivion. There were no medical records, and the few family pictures that they did have, disappeared along the way.
This weekend they came into a marvelous find. In an old desk, tucked back in a corner, they found a journal of their deceased mother’s that had each of their births recorded. What they weighed. Their childhood diseases. It was a wondrous missing piece to a great puzzle. (Interestingly enough, if they could have found this journal when Certain Man was found to be without a birth certificate back in 1969, they would have saved in incredible amount of trouble, legalities and Certain Man would be “Daniel R. Yutzy” instead of “Daniel Jay Yutzy.”) This book was fascinating to say the least.
Also found were the pictures that they have all longed for so much. Photo albums that went up to the time of their mother’s untimely death in May of 1958 when the children were 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11. And slides of some of their more memorable times after their daddy remarried. What a find! What an incredible gift to the children. And what a blessing to these adult children who have so much unresolved grief, and so many unanswered questions.
Certain Man brought two of his own pictures home to Delaware last night. He pulled them out and put them on the counter. I looked into his little boy face and wished that I could somehow make up some of the losses that he experienced through the years. But even as I think that, I realize that the hard times have made him the man he is, and I am so grateful for the kind of husband he has been to me, and the kind of Dad he has been to our children.
I thought it would be interesting to show the two early ones — and then one taken at the wedding of Youngest Son last summer.
Also found were the pictures that they have all longed for so much. Photo albums that went up to the time of their mother’s untimely death in May of 1958 when the children were 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11. And slides of some of their more memorable times after their daddy remarried. What a find! What an incredible gift to the children. And what a blessing to these adult children who have so much unresolved grief, and so many unanswered questions.
Certain Man brought two of his own pictures home to Delaware last night. He pulled them out and put them on the counter. I looked into his little boy face and wished that I could somehow make up some of the losses that he experienced through the years. But even as I think that, I realize that the hard times have made him the man he is, and I am so grateful for the kind of husband he has been to me, and the kind of Dad he has been to our children.
I thought it would be interesting to show the two early ones — and then one taken at the wedding of Youngest Son last summer.
We aren’t sure when this was taken.
Probably around third grade.
This was his grad picture — 1971
And this is him now.
I know that I look at him through the lenses of what we have been through together.
I know that I am prejudiced by the eyes of not only love but respect.
But I like how he looks now a whole lot better now than at any other time in his life.
And I am so glad to have him home to Shady Acres.
I know that I am prejudiced by the eyes of not only love but respect.
But I like how he looks now a whole lot better now than at any other time in his life.
And I am so glad to have him home to Shady Acres.
Delaware Grammy 
How nice!
I agree with you. You have a wonderful husband. I’m glad they found the pictures, journal, and albums.
That’s crazy…Daniel R.?? Weird…and even more crazy that Grandpa kept it when all of the other stuff disappeared. Daniel R?? Man that is tripping me out…was it just the initial or was it Ralph or do we not know??Daniel R? I’m sorry that’s just crazy to me…
what a blessing to find treasures from the past, and to think of the treasures to come to fill in the gaps of the lost past. Blessing to both you and you husband.
Okay, Mary Ann, I just got ready for school, and now my face is getting all messed up with tears! What a precious post.
what to say? what does Daniel say? God is good to use everything for His glory and our good – if we allow Him too. You brag him up which he deserves, but lady, you have been an awesome support and encouragement to him. I bet you are bringing out the best in him!
Oh wow! That is just the neatest real life story. I love it when missing puzzle pieces are found.
It is great to find answers. WOW.
What a wonderful post! I am so happy for you and your husband to have the gaps filled in in his history.