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In this brand new year, with every day just waiting to be lived and more ancestors just waiting to be discovered, there is so much potential for writing new stories. So the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge seems like the perfect way to bring these stories to life.
And since I’m encouraged that I was able to follow through on my resolve to reach out each day to someone who shares and/or is researching my ancestors, I’m going to choose one ancestor each week and write a little story. As Amy Johnson Crow says, “No story is too small.”
Or in other words, what have I gotten myself into? National Blog Posting Month is a challenge that I’m hoping I have enough words to fill, because there are other challenges that I haven’t done so well at 🙂
During November, I pledge to write a post each day to at least one of my three blogs. Hopefully, I can find enough inspiration to post to more than one, but realistically, I’ll only promise to post to at least one each day. Since AncesTrees is my primary blog, this is where I’ll be writing most often, which means that I’ll be trying hard to find something interesting to say about my ancestors, or genealogy, or family trees, or cemeteries or any of the dozens of tags I’ve attached to this blog. The hardest part, is of course to keep it interesting.
And I pledge to read posts from at least one other blog each day. I’m going to really enjoy this part of the challenge because there are so many fascinating people blogging about everything imaginable. In addition to learning something new each day, I’ll be seeing new styles of writing and ways of thinking! Talk about broadening my horizons, and all without leaving the comfort of my desk chair.
So thanks for hanging with me during the month of November, and if you are participating in NaBloPoMo as well, let me know and I’ll be sure to check out your blog as well.
The Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference logo is my inspiration for this prompt blog post. To me, it absolutely epitomizes the event theme, Connect.Explore.Refresh.
Connect – The trunk and intertwining branches of the family tree logo, in the form of stylized people, illustrate the way our lives, and those of our ancestors, are connected. They give new meaning to the term “the family of man.”
Explore – Representing the spirit of exploration and discovery, the leaves signify the countless hours of research, lovingly undertaken to expand our knowledge of the men, women and children who populate our family histories.
Refresh – And because everyone knows that a tree cannot grow and thrive without nourishment, the unseen element of this illustration are the roots which anchor it and provide refreshment. Our roots are our ancestors, whose lives have given us inspiration and courage, awakening in us a sense of adventure as we climb our family trees … and reach out to others, as the figures in the logo are doing, to join us on the journey.
Please make plans now to join your fellow adventurers Feb. 11-14 for the FGS and Roots Tech combined conference in Salt Lake City. Check out the schedule, the speakers and array of tracks to choose from. Whether you are just beginning to explore your roots or are looking down from the top of your family tree, this event just might be the genealogical high point of 2015 for you.
Are you going to the FGS and Roots Tech event? I’d love to know which surnames you’ll be representing and researching!
Four months from today, on Feb. 11, 2015, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and Roots Tech will join together for a combined conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. This fantastic event looks like a wonderful opportunity for genealogists to learn, network and research with people who are there for similar reasons.
I’m proud to be an FGS Ambassador, getting the word out to those who follow my blog and commenting on the monthly prompts that highlight features of the conference. I look forward to learning so much from other genealogists as well.
For more information, here’s a link to Linda McCauley’s post in the FGS Voice Blog.
If you are a member of a genealogical society, please share your experiences with us. And if you’ve ever attended a genealogical conference, I’d love to hear about that, too.
I’ve got to say I’m inspired by the camaraderie in the genealogical community. Most of those I’ve reached out to with questions about shared ancestors have responded. And they have been helpful, whether or not there is an actual family connection.
In fact, I am so impressed that I’ve decided to reach out to at least one of my GenFriends each day. If nothing else, just to keep in touch. I know we may never meet in person, but that doesn’t matter. These people are special to me.
They are the comforting souls at the other end of my message or email or phone call who understand a brick wall or an amazing discovery or double first cousins or disappearing ancestors. They just “get it.”
And I appreciate that … especially the fact that they take the time to respond, however brief. Some even go way beyond that, sending me CDs of information that I would never have guessed existed. And there are those in Find A Grave who have driven miles to document and photograph graves of my ancestors living far away from me.
For my part, I am trying to be just as good a GenFriend to other genealogists as they are to me. So if you have research questions about any of the branches on our family tree (see Word Cloud above) bring them on. I’ll try to help!
Just wondering, how do you reach out to your GenFriends?
This summer has flown by and my good intentions to concentrate on blogging regularly are “Gone with the Wind.” Luckily, we were able to get to the family reunion in July. On the way to that, we went to Corsicana, where we made some amazing discoveries including the resting place of my husband’s second great grandfather, Louis Munson. That was quite a thrill, even though his grave had been relocated and no gravestone could be found.
We’re already planning the 2014 Munson Family Reunion, our 30th year. It should be very special, with lots of great ideas and volunteers.
Closer to home, we also attended the Ancestry Day in Texas last weekend and enjoyed seeing Crista Cowan and others from Ancestry.com. More than a thousand came for genealogy tips and tricks and to network with others who were “climbing their family trees.”
My latest efforts – working on organizing my genealogy research with a form that helps you list all the documentation you have on each ancestor. Really helpful for getting a handle on my paperwork.
Please share – what is your secret to staying organized?
Considering the dozens of ways I get side tracked every time I open my family tree, it’s a wonder that I actually get any research done.
I usually go after one piece of information, then find some interesting side note and start to follow wherever it leads. Like a puppy following a scent, I wander through books, websites, other people’s trees or boxes of old letters and photos.
Then, when I finally look up and realize how far afield I am, I often can’t remember where I started and don’t know how to get back there.
Genealogy experts say that having a plan in writing and taking notes along the way is great for keeping yourself on track. Sound advice. And maybe, it just might keep me from barking up the wrong tree twice.
I’d like to know: how do you keep track of your genealogy research?
We went to the Dallas Public Library, 8th floor, Genealogy section this weekend. What a treat! The research librarian was so helpful and directed me to the stacks and the card catalog.
Although I have worked in libraries before, it has been some time since I held a drawer of index cards in my hand. It was like meeting an old friend again 🙂
I spent most of my time in the Pennsylvania reference section and before I knew it, had found lots of information about someone who might be my fourth great grandfather.
Can’t wait to scan and add these records to my tree and print out the family group sheet. We had a great time and are looking forward to going back to do more research!
I’d like to know: which libraries do you rely on for genealogy research?
AncesTrees 
Happy to be a Geneablogger …
April 28, 2013 in Growing the tree ... | Tags: blog, comments, family history, family stories, GeneaBlogger.com, genealogy, research | 5 comments
I was so happy to find my blog featured among the new genealogy blogs by GeneaBloggers.com on April 27. What an honor.
I enjoy reading the blogs in this group because they are so varied, so colorful, so full of what makes history come alive: real people! I don’t need reality shows to catch my attention when there are so many spellbinding true stories that I can find in their family trees as well as my own.
They set the bar high and I hope I can continue to offer observations and comments on genealogical research and family histories that will be of interest to my fellow genealogy bloggers.
I’ve got a lot to learn and am thankful for this group and any advice I receive from its members. I’d like to know: have you found genealogy blogging groups or organizations that are encouraging to your efforts?