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<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN><STRONG>BLOOD LINE by LaRose
Karr</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT><SPAN>One hundred seventeen
years ago, the Lord paved the way for me to go to Washington D.C. in the spring
of 2003.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>That's a bold statement isn't it? Hard to
comprehend that God thinks of us so far in advance. But I believe it is
true. The stories of our lives are not crafted haphazardly or by chance,
not by some great hoohah in the sky who looks down on the world as a
playground. Instead a loving Father who knew us before birth creates
us. <EM>(</EM><I><STRONG>Jeremiah 1:4-5</STRONG></I><EM> Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you...)</EM></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Actually the story goes back farther than one
hundred seventeen years but for the purposes of storytelling in short
form, I will start this story in the year 1886.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>John Thomas Cypert was born June 19, 1886. His
parents were Millard Fillmore and Sarah Minervia Osborne
Cypert. Millard was the son of Captain Thomas Jefferson Cypert, a
civil war veteran and state senator in Tennessee. Captain Tom also
attended the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.</SPAN><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Two years later Tom's baby sister Mary Emma
Cypert came along November 14, 1888. These two children grew up in
the last part of the 19th century. They played together, learned
bible scriptures in church, were schoolmates, attended college and later became
teachers. They had two brothers and a younger sister.</SPAN><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Tom and Emma each married and raised large
families. Tom remained in their hometown in Alabama while Emma moved to
Tennessee. While both had teaching degrees, Tom spent a portion of his
life as a builder. He even constructed a large home for his
family that still stands today and family members occupied until
recently. Emma gave up teaching when marrying and became a full time wife
and mother.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Tom's wife gave birth to a daughter named Frances who
in turn has a daughter named Janet. One of Emma's daughters
is named Laurine who is my mother.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>In 1974 after a long full life, Tom passed away on
his birthday at age eighty-eight. I traveled to Alabama with two of my
mother's sisters to attend his funeral. While there I met Tom's
granddaughter Janet. We instantly became friends. While it was a sad
time for the family, Janet and I bonded, enjoying each other's
company. We kept busy talking and giggling as teens do.
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Janet's younger sister followed us closely around the
home place and ran behind us up the stairs in the large home that Uncle Tom
built. What began in 1974 is a journey of the bloodline, thicker than
water and infinitely more special. We only had a few days together during
that initial meeting but agreed to keep in touch and exchanged
addresses.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Letter writing soon began. Janet was a city
girl and I the country cousin. Mostly we exchanged letters about boys and
dreams. I was in love with a young man. Janet desired to work in a
candle store at a mall in the metro area where she lived. As so
often happens, the letters became less frequent and at some point we drifted
apart. We moved on to other pursuits while young and intent upon living life to
its fullest.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Many years later in I began to think about my
cousin. I asked my aunt if she could get an address and phone
number. She did and I called. By coincidence she had been thinking
about me also. It was as if no time had passed and once again we
were good friends.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>In the fall of 1997, my husband and I flew to
Washington D.C. to visit. <SPAN>Janet's husband and mine attended the
Promise Keepers rally at the capital and witnessed the amazing historic moment
when men sang <EM>"Amazing Grace"</EM> acapella in the metro system and it
echoed through the corridors. </SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Since then our family has vacationed and spent time
with her family. Last fall when my daughter was nominated to attend
the <EM>National Young Leaders Conference</EM> in Chevy Chase Maryland, I jumped
at the chance to accompany her. While she attended the leaders conference
I would have the opportunity to spend time with friends and
relatives.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>There are many family dynamics that come into play
whenever I am around Great Uncle Tom's family. He has one daughter Polly
whose voice is musical to me. You see her voice, rich and full of
Alabama accent sounds so much like that of my own grandmother Emma. I
cannot get enough of hearing her speak. Janet's mother bears a
strong resemblance to her aunt, my grandmother. Her sister looks
so much like my mother's oldest sister that being with her almost takes my
breath away. And then there's Janet who has mannerisms and laughter so
much like another cousin that it's uncanny.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Our families did not grow up together since many
miles separated us but we are indeed close. On March 23, 2003 as I
stood in my cousin's church with our arms raised in worship, I couldn't
help but think about how a death brought us together. Her
grandfather's death was not a finality but instead a
beginning. Of course Great Uncle Tom never knew that Emma's granddaughter
had connected with his grandchild. But I wonder if he does now?
</SPAN><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>The bible tells us a great cloud of witnesses
surrounds us. <EM>(<STRONG>Hebrews 12:1</STRONG> Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us.)</EM></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Our husbands stood at the nation's capital and
prayed, repented and confessed the sins of our nation. Janet and I worship
together when given the opportunity. And so this is how the story goes as
far back as I can recall...</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN><STRONG>Blood Line:</STRONG> Captain Thomas Jefferson
Cypert begat Millard Fillmore who begat John Thomas who begat
Frances who begat Janet. Captain Thomas Jefferson Cypert begat
Millard Fillmore who begat Mary Emma who begat Laurine who begat
LaRose. </SPAN><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Next time you read all those genealogies in the
bible, think about how God knows you intimately and also those who have gone
before.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3> </FONT><STRONG><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS">L</FONT></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT
color=#000080><FONT face="Courier New" color=#000000><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT
color=#000080><FONT face="Courier New" color=#000000><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><STRONG>aRose Karr</STRONG> <FONT
color=#000080>is a church secretary and a contributing writer to
<EM>"<STRONG>God Allows U-Turns,"</STRONG></EM> volumes 1, 2, 3 & 4,
published under the Promise Imprint by Barbour Publishing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her work has also appeared in
<EM><STRONG>"The Upper Room"</STRONG></EM> devotional guide.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her writing credits include historical
and technical writing, newsletter publication, producing an internet digest,
also compiling and editing a cookbook.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She believes her writing is a gift from God and gives HIM all the glory!
She is the editor of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><EM>"<STRONG>Moonflower Ministry Digest,"</STRONG></EM> an online
Christian digest reaching 13 countries around the world weekly.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She is available to speak to
groups or church events, and is a CLASS graduate. (Christian
Leaders Authors Speakers Services) Contact</SPAN>: </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="mailto:rosiebay@kci.net"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=2>rosiebay@kci.net</FONT></SPAN></A>
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