Book excerpt: This book is a fictional narrative of nonfictional stories that my mother would tell us every Sunday morning as we helped her prepare breakfast. First, we would wake up on Sunday mornings to Mommys beautiful voice joyously singing her favorite spiritual songs. Then, as she began to cook breakfast, we were her audience as she told us stories about her childhood and growing up with her siblings, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and stories of her ancestors. Every Sunday, we would hear a new story although we heard some of the stories numerous times as we grew up. Mommy felt passionate about her familys history and was adamant that each one of her children knew our history. My familys history and the stories about Mommys youth and our ancestors still resonate clearly inside of my mind to this day. The stories have been passed down to my children. and I hope they also will continue this tradition of telling our familys history.