Six months ago a miracle happened in Switzerland.  As we were traveling through Switzerland visiting friends during the last week of our mission, I got a message from Sariah Knabe, who found me in a sort of find friends group associated with RootsTech.  The night she messaged me happened to be the night we were staying about 5 minutes from her home.  We are cousins.  Her father is a Degen.  My 3rd Great-grandma, Elizabeth Degen came from the town where Sariah lives (which we were going to spend the next day visiting).  The fates brought us together.  You can read about it below.

Another Mission Family History Miracle–Discovering the Degen Family

This week Sariah came to Utah for a doTerra conference and we made plans to meet at the Lehi Cemetery to visit Elizabeth Degen’s grave.  Seeing Sariah again brought big tears to my eyes.  We don’t know yet exactly how we are related, but we know we are.  Elizabeth  Degen’s son Jacob (my 2ggpa) did the temple work for her ancestors.  We feel we are absolutely connected and our hearts are drawn to each other.  It’s a remarkable feeling.

After visiting the cemetery, we went to see Elizabeth and Martin Bushman’s home in Lehi.  I’m sad to see it hasn’t been kept up much since I was last here.

There is more about her home written here:

Sometimes Heaven Smiles Down on Us: Elizabeth Degen Bushman, My 3rd Great Grand-Mother