Sponsored Family

This is the Adam Kadir family from Ethiopia sponsored by the James & Harriet Alger Family. Together we helped one family this year. The sponsor's letter can be read at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddx3257h_12fdx2tffz and the details on the family are available at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddx3257h_14g3bdvvc4

I was touched when I received the sponsorship letter addressed to the "James and Harriet Alger Family" and it belongs to all of us. They live on in our memories. They are thought of often and we share our memories with our children.

Dan Alger's preface in the book "Those Damn Algers" ended with the paragraph "Our Life is Not Our Own. We live in a world where we hear ‘do what you want, it’s your life’ and ‘if it doesn’t hurt someone else, it’s OK’. These are not the teachings of a loving Heavenly Father. These are the teachings of one who would drag you down to misery. The choices we make not only affect those who are or should be of most importance to us. The choices we make can build or destroy our lives and the consequences, good or bad, ripple through generations. We are responsible for our actions. This means that we cannot blame others for the decisions we make. It also means we are responsible for how our lives affect our families and future generations."

Dan is absolutely correct. We will live on in our families memories. Good, bad, or otherwise. On a good note, Cathy Durman appeared at the 2008 reunion with potatoe salad. Someone said "who brought Grandma Alger's potato salad?" Cathy was surprised and responded "my grandmother Mina Alger Lyman taught me to make potato salad". That's a good memory and everyone remembers Grandma's cooking and we know where to get the recipe.

This year, I will encourage the "Quentin & Odena Alger Family" to sponsor an ethiopian family. It's a great feeling to help another family but it was inspiring to receive the sponsorship letter in James & Harriet Alger's name. They continue to live on . . . in all of us. Please read the letter and let me know if it warms your heart. Sponsoring a family together may be a positive memory we can leave our children.

Next week, I will share the names of our family featured in the "Name your family" photo. I will give you a hint: Louise Alger (Steven's wife) was the first person to send in the names.