Show & Tell Friday

Whoa... I'm late to the party today! I guess it's better late then never, right?

Today, I'd like to share some belongings from my Great Great Uncle Martin O. Svendsen. Uncle Martin was born in Norway in 1873. He came to America about 1893 and lived here until his death in 1956.

Many years ago my daddy was given Uncle Martin's pocket watch because he was partially named after him. It's a very thick silver watch with a engraved gold locomotive on the back (which I forgot to take a picture of ... ) It really is very beautiful.

Uncle Martin worked for many years in the United States Marine Hospital in Port Townsend, Washington. In a newsapaper article dated July 20, 1933, it describes Martin as a deeply religious man who sought to give spiritual comfort to those whom he thought would appreciate it. Here is one of his Bible's from 1917.
I have enjoyed reading through it especially noting which verses he has highlighted, and there are many!
In 1986 my Great Auntie Edith wrote a little book about Uncle Martin. This is a picture of the inside cover.
Martin was known for writing many letters to his family and friends and he always wrote an inscription on the cover of a book he'd give as a gift. Here are a couple pages from Auntie Edith's book. (I think if you enlarge the pictures, you'll be able to read the text.)

She mentions a cookbook that Uncle Martin gave her when she was seventeen.
One of the things he wrote was:
"Home, a smiling woman and a good dinner, Does not the heart of man yearn for this trio at evening time?" I've always thought that would make a nice motto to hang in our kitchen...

Here is the inside cover of that cookbook! I was given the cookbook when my Auntie Edith passed away. What a treasure!

At the end of Edith's tribute to Uncle Martin she writes:

The memory of a man whose love for God enabled him to see the beauty in nature, in words and in music. The memory of a man whose love for God enabled him to find contentment in work or repose, for whom nothing and no one was above, beyond or beneath.

I can still hear him saying, "Isn't this a beautiful day that the Lord has given us?"

Yes, Uncle Martin it is.

I feel so blessed that my family was given some of Uncle Martin's belongings. Although I never knew him, his wonderful testimony has lived on.

Don't forget to stop by Kelli's house for more Show & Tell fun!