Christmas gifts … The best gift I ever received, hands down, was the news last Christmas Eve that after months of grueling treatment, my husband was officially cancer-free.
We were standing in the grocery store, picking up a few last-minute things for the next day’s festivities, when he got a text from the doctor confirming the news. We danced and hugged in the Huggies aisle, joy radiating from us like the brightest star on the top of the biggest tree. Other last-minute shoppers looked at us, no doubt wondering what would cause such a celebration at 4pm the day before Christmas. I’ll never forget the kids’ faces when we told them the news. We celebrated Christmas like never before, a sense of peace and elation surrounding us through the remainder of the season.
I don’t know what could ever top that feeling, to know that the person I cherish the most, who suffered so much, would be fully restored and himself again. He is well today, his happy-go-lucky outlook returned tenfold, smiling and grateful for all the moments we get to share. I look at him sometimes, and the feeling overwhelms me: What an irreplaceable gift, to have his health, to be with him, to share each moment we’re given. I never knew before how fragile and beautiful every simple day could be. We have spent this year celebrating everything, all that we are blessed with—so much!
I hope you all have the gift of health and the love of your family and friends this holiday season.
Since last Christmas, the Irish by Ancestry group has taken off. It’s so hard to believe this time last year, we were only at 20,000 members—and that seemed like an extraordinary number then.
We celebrated 100,000 members on Nov. 20th, when Nancy Haley Furlong joined up. She was the winner of the $100 Visa gift card and an Irish by Ancestry gift pack. Nancy, thank you for being lucky 100,000! We have lots of Irish by Ancestry swag, if you or someone you love wants to celebrate their Irish heritage with us. You can find our store link in the gift guide.
Also in this issue, you will find:
☘️ Tips from our own genealogist Karlee Twiner about how to discern the “right” name for your ancestor in her Ask the Heritage Help Desk column, as well as a guide to using John Grenham’s Irish Ancestorsdirectory
☘️ My interview with entrepreneur and expert Irish gift-giver Katharine Keane of MyIrelandBox, Dingle’s top export
☘️ Directions from destination expert Jonathan Beaumont on how to navigate Ireland by rail
☘️ A few sweet and traditional Irish recipes to add to your family’s special Christmas meal
☘️ A spectacular visual journey through Ireland’s top Christmas experiences
☘️ Our picks for the top books for Irish-loving readers this holiday, as well as a special invitation to join our book club, BRIGID’S LIBRARY
☘️ The winning entries in this month’s Flash Memoir Contest, themed Special Gifts
☘️ My chat with member/author Jean MacDougall-Tattan about some shocking DNA test results that changed her family forever
☘️ And a guide to our favorite Irish gifts, so you can cross off that nice list early and relax this year!
This magazine is for you, so be sure to let us know what you like and what you’d like to read more of. Don’t forget to SHARE! That will help us the most, as it’s what you always do on Irish by Ancestry, how you’ve grown this tremendous community we enjoy. If you’re new to the group, consider yourself most welcome.
Thank you all for being here, and Merry Christmas, from our house to yours. We’re RELATED☘️ now.
Slán, your admin, Shelagh
RELATED ☘️ 