Reflection "Cornerview"

I am in serious nesting mode right now though I have another couple months before Addy arrives; however, this is a post for another day. I promise to show you her nursery. It is coming along very nicely. One hint her room has pink in it and Paris. Anyway, I have been working on my family genealogy inspired by the television show Who Do You Think You Are? I know I won't have a chance to work on it for a while once the baby has arrived. Thankfully, my mother is working on it too! She has done most of the work for her side of the family has gone back about 700 years. Her family arrived in America on the Mayflower.  I have been working on my dad's side. I haven't gotten very far. I am waiting for a confirmation on a few dates before I can order records from Ireland. On both sides of my dad's family they have very similar stories. After the Potato Famine of 1845 many families if they were lucky made it to either America or England. Mine headed for England. Each family stayed about 25 years before heading for Massachusetts where they worked in the Textiles Mills. Working on their genealogy has had me reflecting on their stories. My Great Grandfather Ben came to America when he was 7 after losing his father who was not even 50 years old. I can't imagine how scared my great-grandmother must have been traveling alone with her small children. Leaving half of her older children behind. She didn't live very long either. I wonder if some of my great aunts and uncles choose not to get married because of the starvation and uncertainty the faced. My mothers side didn't have it much easier. My grandfather's family left Oklahoma for California during the Dust Bowl era. I am grateful for their dreams of wanting a better life and sacrifice. I wonder if my children will ever fully appreciate the sacrifices made for them. They have no idea what it means to struggle. Their idea of struggling is me not purchasing the newest DS or XBOX game for them. They have no idea what it means to eat pancakes for three months to be able to pay for college tuition (me). This is what I have been reflecting on lately.