Blog Archives

Where do you “hail” from?

old treasure map  Migration studies have long been a key to studying genealogy. So much so, there are classes, lectures and book series written about it. Animals are not the only creature that migrate. Learning where someone is from, where they traveled and why is key to opening more doors in your genealogy research.

Today in the New York Times – an article on the US migration was posted and I found it very interesting, and thought I would share it with my readers.  The map display is more current and only covers since 2010, but very interesting when you look at your home state and where you or your fellow neighbors came from. Do look closer at the article, as there is a link of maps of migration since 1900 that may or may not help you in your own research.

I for instance live in Southern California, and although I have lived in a few other places, am a California Native. I thought I was one of the few left. According to this research, I am in the majority!

Where do you live – were you a transplant? or a native to your state?

One Leaf at a Time!

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Obsess Much? I Think I Do!

Back to Tuesday’s Secret – my obsession with BLOGS (and Pinterest and Podcasts and Movies and Books and Family History). OK so maybe I am a bit obsessive, you have to be in this profession though don’t you?!?

Often times we think we don’t have enough time in the day to get things done or do anything for ourselves. Believe me, I was there once too. Most of my “reading” back then, was done via audio books in my car on my commute to and from work. But now that my family is grown and I am not the Choir, Soccer, Youth Leader, Sleep Over and fund raising mom anymore, I have found a bit of time to reevaluate what is important to me now at this point in my life. This is part of my regular every day – work day! Awesome right? Well, I think so.

Please don’t picture me eating bon-bons and sitting on the couch with my IPad reading blog after blog, it doesn’t happen that way at all! I have a few favorites that I review when there are updates – thank goodness for RSS subscriptions – and others that I check for news and happenings in the genealogical and regular world too. This is my relaxation before bedtime moment. At the end of the day is when I get all caught up – on a perfect day that is!

So I thought I would share some of the Blogs and Podcasts that I read and listen to. These can help you and me both along our genealogical journey as well as entertain us at times too. (This is NOT an exclusive list, NOT even close!) and please note, occasionally I may introduce you to something or someone that is not necessarily involved in the industry.

Have a look, next week I will be sharing educational websites and blogs so you can learn about specific techniques or software that can help you along your journey.

Remember……all it takes is just One Leaf

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A little Confession

Something secret you may not know about me………I am completely and utterly ADDICTED to Blogs and Podcasts! (More on that later)
One of my favorites I love to read happens to be a Genealogy Blog called “No Story Too Small” by Certified Genealogist, Amy Johnson Crow

Let me share why I love this blog; about this time a year ago Amy gave herself a challenge – to research 52 ancestors in 52 weeks! Each week she posted about her ancestors and information, stories, facts and figures about them. Just one a week on the same day each week and encouraged others to do the same. Sounds reasonable – right? I thought so, so I am joining the challenge and encouraging you to do so!

 52ancestors-2015

Here is the link to the 2015 Edition of the challenge

If you are a blogger, please register with her so you can link your blog and your ancestors to her site. If you are not a blogger, keep these items in your journal, or share them with a cousin, or a newsletter to the family. There are all kinds of ways to do this. The rules are easy – just do it! Throughout the year, we will share and accomplish this all together!

I can’t wait to see what you find out about your family!

Remember – it all starts with just One Leaf

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I don’t have time for that…..or do I?

Mom and Dad Sexton 1950

Often times we are confronted with major decisions when we least expect them. Although we are confident that we can handle anything that comes our way, we often get giddy at the joy or crumble under the stress that occurs from these decision making moments. School, moving, jobs, family, buying a house, loss of a loved one, care of a loved one and the list goes on. A few of these I have mentioned have made my top list in the last three months, good things and bad things happen in tandem. Isn’t this what we call the “circle of life”? (go ahead and sing the song, I am in my head!)

So in the last three weeks my husband and I have traveled in three different states, taken care of an ailing parent, started a masters program, met 35 relatives we have never met in person before, said goodbye to my beloved mother in law, celebrated a wedding for a dear friends daughter,  launched a business and took a deep breath every day. Not to mention said a little prayer to get us through it all. None of this in any particular order.

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Keeping a Journal

Call me crazy, but visiting office supply stores and book stores is my dream! I love them; I could spend hours in them, looking at all of the different gadgets and gizmos, books and binders, pens and puzzles. My husband and I were out on a date night tonight, and he suggested we make a stop, so I took the opportunity to go today and browse through the local Barnes and Noble to take a look at their “journal” section. Barnes and Noble actually has a nice selection of journals from the traditional “diary” style (with a lock that I had when I was a child) to the spiral bound 5×7 size notebook with a pretty design cover. They had them in all sizes, and even had some that were bound in leather and removable. I actually bought myself a new one today, and have a drawer full of them for various purposes. Today, I chose a spiral bound book with limited pages in it, hard cover though. It lies flat when open for ease of writing which I love!

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Starting Your List

Starting your family history is simple. It all starts with you – just one person, one important person – YOU!

Grab a paper, your notebook, a computer or a tablet, and make a list of stuff you remember as a child. People, places, things. These will all help you to understand who you are, where and what you come from, and a bit more about the era in which you lived, live now and will grow into.
Your list will be added to, and change as you work on it. Don’t do details, just thoughts, one or two words is sufficient to jog your memories. To help you to remember what your life was all about.

Family History is just that – history – it is so much more than names and dates to be listed in a chronological order. There are people, and stories, personalities, and memories to be had. These are all so important to your heritage that follows you. Stories and legends is what makes up our history.

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