Threads of Heritage in our Tapestries

This past week end Phil and I attended his Aunt Laverna’s funeral in Winnipeg. Hundreds of people, family, friends and relatives were there to celebrate and honor the life of a woman who had touched their lives in many different ways. The service brought smiles, tears and laughter to many of our faces, because as we listened to the eulogies we not only remembered the truths about this special lady, but we were also drawn in and connected to the wider family traits that we recognized in so many of ourselves, our spouses and even our children. We were reminded of rich threads of family heritage (ok, maybe not all good but oh, so many beautiful ones) that have impacted who we are and the choices that have given direction to many of our lives. 

The P.D Reimer family ( Phil's mom Amanda is the daughter with the long black hair)

Phil's family comes from a long Mennonite heritage.  Moving to Steinbach, Manitoba this year, I have been reminded of how extensive the Mennonite family connection goes. 

That's my cute hubby in the middle!

Usually when meeting someone new the conversation goes something like this: 

-Me: “Hi, my name is Tammy Peters”…. "My husband's is Phil Peters".

-Other person: “ Is he perhaps the son of John J. Peters?” (You have to add middle initials in this town because there are so many people with the same name)

-Me: “Yes he is”

-Other: “ Oh I know John Peters.  His wife Doreen is my wife’s second cousin, we went to school together.  That would make your husband and I second cousins once removed..or something like that.”

I usually just smile and nod, but inside there is a nice feeling of belonging and having roots to a place, a country and a people group, something the third-culture-kid side of me has had very little of. 

Grandma Reimer- She prayed for all of her 11 children and 56 grandchildren every day!

                                                                                                                                         I’m discovering this year that character traits which I, for 26 years of marriage with Phil, thought were unique to his person, are actually traits very typical of his Canadianess.

  His diplomatic, non attention-seeking, friendly, consensus-seeking, peacemaking, persevering way are traits that run deep within this Mennonite community.

Opa doing alternate service as a conscientious objector  in B.C

The Mennonites are a group of people who stood for what they believed. Standing up for what they believed in was so important that they left their country of origin and resettled in some new place that offered freedom of belief. There they were given the worst bits of land (in Ukraine).

Opa (on left) in the Ukraine (1925)

From there they moved on to many places in the Americas where they worked and persevered and eventually prospered. 

They are a people of faith, perseverance, strong family values and peace which are admirable traits, but when you spice that up with wit, laughter, straight-forwardness and lots of love (yes those Peters men have a lot of love to give) it makes for a great family heritage to be a part of!

Opa and Michael

Peters 2011 family gathering for Opa's 90th 

What in your heritage has made you who you are today?  We love 

to point out the bad, but there is most likely loads of good thread that God has used to make you into the tapestry you are today. 

This year on the prairies I am learning to see it, embrace it and even be a bit proud of it... eh!