Famille de Thibodeaux
March 2003
Dearest Cousins,
Here we are in the year of
2003 whatever happened to 2002?
I personally had several
minor surgeries and have already had two done this year and possibly will have
another one in the next several months.
I am feeling fine just minor things that needed to be taken care of
before I get tooooo old hhhhaaaa.
Since the day John and I
met, 42 years ago, we have always planned our lives in making memories. In the last couple of years we have
escalated our commitment to create memories for our children and
grandchildren. I want to share some of
the thing we have done together as a family.
In June of 2002 John, our
daughter Donna, her husband Tom and their daughter Jessica and I spent several
weeks visiting family.
Celebrated the 50th Wedding
Anniversary of “cousin”
Linel and Lionel Thibodeau’s
of Baie–Ste Marie, New Brunswick,
They are the parents of Lou
Thibodeau Griffin.
We visited Boston and New
York and of course saw ground zero.
That was the second time John and I witnessed ground zero within 6
months. We were in Philadelphia on the
morning of July 4th and in Washington that evening, what a way to
celebrate our country’s freedom.
Then in the month of July,
John and I sponsored and were host family for a French student from Paris. That was an experience that we will never
forget for he was a delight.
August 1st John
and I were on the road again to visit my brother, James and sister in-law, Luci
Thibodeaux’s home in Moreno Valley, CA and attended their daughter, Aimee’s
wedding. She was such a beautiful bride
and it was wonderful to spend time with my brother.
Christmas was wonderful it
was the first time since 1984
that all my children and
grandchildren, John and I were
able to spend the holidays together. We arrived in Ruidoso, New Mexico on December 26th and
returned home on January 1st 2003.
For the first time in 20 years our children
and 4 out of 5 grandchildren were here
to celebrate Mardi Gras. We celebrated
in Lafayette, Morse (country Mardi Gras); thanks Irving and Doris Thibodeaux
our family thoroughly enjoyed the day.
It was an experience they will always
remember and of course we were brave to venture out to New Orleans on Tuesday. The weekend was so
grand – my children are now
at a point in their busy daily lives to finally
realize and truly
appreciate the meaning of
FAMILY.
Louisiana is celebrating the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial this entire year. So in that spirit Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian, Inc. (CAFA) which the Thibodeaux Association is a member will celebrate on Father’s Day weekend, June 13, 14 & 15, 2003 in Rayne, Louisiana, Rayne Civic Center. The brochure enclosed has details. We will have a family booth (we are in need of volunteers to man the booth and items to sell if you can help please contact me.)
I received a phone call from René Thibodeau, President of Thibodeau Family in Nova Scotia, they are thinking of possibly sending a group here for the Louisiana Purchase Celebration.
On June 15, 2003, 3:00 PM, the Acadian Memorial Foundation will reenact the
Deportation Order inside St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, LA. Following the reenactment we will have the dedication of a full size replica of the Deportation Cross.
Grand-Pré Cross►
August 1, 2004, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia is the place to be if you want to meet and see “cousins” for that is the date and place of our family reunion.
More information can be found on the web:
The Acadian Memorial is now in the process of planning a tour trip to Nova Scotia during CMA. However at this time their plans will not be of any benefit to our Thibodeau (x) family. Because of the time factor they plan to make the closing ceremonies and not the opening ceremony.
I have enclosed a list of accommodations that the Thibodeau Family of Canada has recommended. If you have not made your arrangements I suggest it’s time to do so now.
The Acadian Memorial Foundation received a $4000.00 grant for the purpose of installing family crests in mosaic on the sidewalk in the Memorial Garden directly behind the Memorial Building. The cost per crest averages out to $1000.00. In an effort to help families with half of the cost ($500.00) families were notified via mail that on February 3, 2003 beginning at 9:00 AM the first 8 families that called and requested that their family crest be included and after approval by the committee would be charged only $500.00. While I was having surgery my daughter called and finally got in at 9:05 AM and requested that The Thibodeaux Family crest be included. The committee contacted me within a few days and asked me about the authenticity of the crest and I told them as far as the Thibodeaux’s were concern it was real enough due to the fact that it was used for CMA 1994, CMA 1999 and is being used for CMA 2004. Our crest was approved based on that discussion and will one of the first 4 installed and hopefully will be completed by June 2003. Thanks go to Donna for making that call.
Well cousins it’s time to close for now and as I get more information I’ll pass it on. Hope to see you all real soon.
May God’s light shine and protect our country, military and keep ALL of us safe from harm in his loving arms.
God Bless America and our FAMILIES,
Cousin Shirley