Moving day approaches and ROAGK!

Here in Michigan we're buried under a couple feet of snow!!!! And it's still coming down.  It's a good day to blog and I had to take some time today away from packing and update you all on my progress.  Moving day is very close at hand for me....Like this weekend!  Most of my house is packed and I'm stepping over boxes everywhere.  I've been carefully packing away all my genealogy, but at the same time made a connection with a new genealogy cousin and added some new information to my files!  That's always exciting.  (Happy Dance!)  I've also thought a lot about all the papers I have and all my electronic files....yes I know I said I was working to reduce this, but old habits die hard.  My next big project will be to scan my papers and photos and make electronic copies and reduce...hopefully...the amount of paper I have.  I've moved all my genealogy files to my Microsoft OneDrive...(thank you Microsoft)...so I won't lose all my precious electronic files is my computer tragically dies (again).   We all know about me losing my files and losing my database file.  :( .  I'm also being more proactive about backing up my legacy file.
Anyway I digress.  So most of my genealogy is boxed up safely and ready to go!  I'll take the task of moving it personally....that way I can't get mad at anyone else if something happens to them or make my friends and family feel bad if something happens.  They all know what a Genealogy nerd I am.

My second big thought to share today is that I made my first request on the revamped Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness website!  For those who don't know yet, yes, It's back!!!!!!!!!!!  For those who didn't know it before, check it out.  www.raogk.org.  This is a volunteer based website with people who are willing to help others out with free look ups.  Make sure to read the rules before requesting please, please, please.  Sign up to volunteer!  I can't wait to see Random Acts return to it's former glory!

I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone's story's and experiences with Random Acts!  Please feel free to share below if you've already been using the revamped website!

Happy Hunting to everyone!  And stay warm!!!

Good Bye Family Tree Maker?

Today I received an email from Ancestry.  They have announced that as of December 31, 2015 they will no longer be selling Family Tree Maker.  They are going to continue their efforts into the website.
I find this interesting.  It must have been a hard decision to come to.  I personally respect Ancestry's decision.  I will continue to use the website for my own research.  But I can also understand the frustration from it's long time users.  My best of luck to Ancestry and all it's followers through these changes.

For more info directly from Ancestry check out their Blog.

Moving with Genealogy

Hey all!
Well big news on my horizon.  I'll be moving next month into a new house.  So one of my projects will be to pack up all my genealogy work and move it safely to the new house.  Fortunately this move is going to be only across town and I don't have to worry about my work travelling long distances in boxes and crates.  But this led me to think about how I'm going to move with my research safely intact.
My first task I did was an internet search on moving with genealogy....guess what?!?  I didn't actually find a lot of advice on how to move your genealogy.  I found a lot of information about moving away from researching in one type of documentation and on ancestors moving.  All good information and advice.
So lets start a new trend topic.  How to safely move your genealogy to a new house.

I look forward to sharing this new genealogy adventure with you all!

Happy Hunting!!!

If these Items could talk!

Recently, I was with my mom and dad at a local antique store where we spent a great deal of time looking around. It's quite a large store we were at and I really enjoyed looking at all the items the different vendors who have areas in the store have for sale. My mom and dad were looking to add to their own collections respectively, while I just browse through the shelves. This got me thinking while I was there about the stories that some of the items in the shop could tell. This also got me thinking what a perfect tie into family history that some of these items may have made at one time. We've all heard of family air but do we all have the stories that are behind them. For example I have my great-grandmothers wedding cake plate. But I don't know much more about it. And currently there are few people left who would. No don't get me wrong, this is an item that I cherish dearly, and how much fun would it be to know a little bit more about the plate. Another example I can think of are the silver pieces that my mom has collected. Now as far as I know she is just a fan of silver pieces and of course many of them are very beautiful to look at and very ornate. However, I don't really know why she decided to start collecting silver. This I think would be an important element in the family history part of my research. An important story that I could document in my files to share with future generations when no one else is around to share the story.

So while I have not discovered the collectible that I have to have proudly displayed in my home, this leads me to think that we should all be documenting the stories behind our family's treasures. I'd love to hear your stories with your family treasures. Please share them in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from all my followers.

Happy hunting!

New Trends in my Blog! AKA Confession of a Geneaholic is on You Tube!

So recently I had a great idea for my blog. As we move into the next level of online communication and blogging, I have decided video recordings. However I find that I cannot upload video recordings teaching genealogy, after some thought I have created my own YouTube channel called Confessions of a Geneaholic where you find the videos I will be creating of genealogy videos in addition to my blog about genealogy as a hobby as well as provide education for everyone out there who wants to learn about researching their genealogy as well as those of you that don't think you might have not have the time to actually research on genealogy. I'm going show you how to start, how to keep going, and how to squeeze a little bit of time into your day for research.

I'm also going to explore sharing genealogy with my children and hopefully even with their classmates as the year goes on. The kids were five and nine years old are both becoming interested in genealogy. In fact you can only guess my joy when I discovered that my nine-year-old had found a blank family group sheet and started filling in her name her birthday, her brother's name, her brother's birthday and mine and their fathers names like every proud genealogy mama I have that for hanging up on my wall and I'm excited to learn about projects to show my children and hopefully grow their interest in genealogy.

Another plan I have for all my blog followers out there in my future YouTube channel followers is to record my genealogy vacation I have planned coming up in the next year to you all can follow my adventures on trying to break down my biggest brick wall.

I can't wait to hear your ideas on what you like to hear me talk about and what you'd like to learn about in the genealogy world.

Happy hunting!

Random Acts has Returned!

When I say genealogy happy dance what genealogist doesn't  know that feeling?

Recently I typed in the website for the former website Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness In my search engine, looking for some information on the former website.. I wasn't expecting to find much on the website itself, however I was surprised that random answers back online. Those of you who are followers know I have always been a huge fan of the website, and was devastated when we found out that the founder had unexpectedly died.  The website was shut down shortly after her death. Recently the website has come back online!

Now to honor her memory I encourage all my genealogy friends out there to sign up and volunteer. The commitment isn't big the new creators asked that you follow through with one random act a month in more of course if you like what you the guidelines are the same as the former random acts website and I am encouraged to be using this website again soon

Myself. All the details on the website on how to volunteer and how to request a volunteer. I am so excited and thrilled that this invaluable tool is back online.

Make sure to share with all your genealogy friends out there that random acts of genealogy kindness has returned and encourage your friends to sign up as well. The website won't work without everybody's help.

I look forward to hearing about all the acts that you, my followers, fulfill and the ones that you receive. I'm even more excited to hear how these random acts will help each of you further your own genealogy research as well as to share my own experiences. And what better way to give back to our genealogy community and each other by volunteering to help someone else!!

The web address is www.RA0GK.org

Happy Hunting!

Why we do it

Yesterday my 9 year-old asked me why I "do genealogy".  My immediate answer was a less than eloquent "because I like it".  Which satisfied my daughter's curiosity...at least for now, but what would I tell another adult who would likely required a more detailed answer.

So why do we do what we do?  Why do we spend hours in front of our computers tapping away? Or waiting by the mailbox for that next piece of evidence?  What drives us to hunt down the clues and piece together our ancestors lives?    

Genealogy is about the people that came before us.  We learn about their hardships and heartaches as well as their joys in life.  It's also about learning where we come from and about the lives that shaped our own lives.  Although, unless you've been there, it's hard to describe the feeling of hunting down that crucial piece of evidence and finally finding it and jumping out of your chair to do the genealogy happy dance in your living room.  A dance that normally knocks over the chair, scares one of the lives out of the cat and receives odd looks from one's significant other and eye rolling from one's children.

Why wouldn't we love it?
I love to hear from my readers.  Share your reasons why you love it in the comments below!

Happy Hunting!