Just after starting my shelter in place I started to trim my facial hair a little different.

Part of the change was because I had read about facial hair and wearing of masks, but I also chose the look because of family tradition.

I took this picture about a month ago, so both the beard and hair are a little longer now. However, you can see that I shaved my mustache off.

Many of you know that I am 1/4 Amish, so that is partly where the family tradition is for having a beard like this. However, it is a also tradition in other branches of my family.

Here you see my Grandpa Braman with the same type of beard. It is much longer than mine is 🙂 Oh, it is me on the left side of the picture and my little brother in the middle.

Here is my 3rd great grandfather William Leeper with a beard and no mustache.

His father was Absalom Leeper, my 4th great grandfather. I really like his beard in this picture. This picture was taken of him when he was in his 90’s. He was one of the first Restoration Movement preachers in Iowa.

Here is another 3rd great grandfather. David Darling was another early settler in Iowa.

I am not sure what the beard will look like once I emerge from sheltering in place. Perhaps I will keep the new look.

Steven