FHE with Small Children-Pioneer Day

So, Sunday, I had the opportunity to teach sharing time in my ward. The topic was honesty, yet with pioneer day being two days away, I wanted to do something to talk about the pioneers too. I of course went to sugardoodle to look for ideas and I came across a great one to tell stories about pioneer children that were being honest. It was a great lesson. You can find that link here. The kids loved this idea so much that I thought it would make a great FHE lesson too. I decided to make a campfire for our … Continue reading

Does Elizabeth Warren Really Have Cherokee Ancestry?

The ancestry of Democrat Elizabeth Warren is still a topic that is raising questions. A few months ago, a genealogist determined that Warren did, really, have Cherokee ancestry. Shortly after that, there were blogs that stated that there wasn’t any credible evidence that this was so. Now, another genealogist says that Elizabeth Warren really doesn’t have Cherokee ancestry. In Massachusetts, the current Senator is Scott Brown, who is a Republican. Elizabeth Warren, who is a Democrat, is running against him for the Senate seat he currently holds. The winner will be decided in the 2012 election. It has become common … Continue reading

Genealogy Podcast Roundup – Week of June 4, 2012

Every week, the Genealogy Podcast Roundup brings you brand new episodes of podcasts that talk about topics related to genealogy. Has your favorite genealogy podcast released a new episode yet? African Roots Podcast released episode number 165 on June 1, 2012. In this episode, host Angela Walton-Raji talks a little about her recent visit to Arkansas where she attended a Preservation conference and the dedication of a monument to the first black Deputy Marshal on the western frontier. She also talks about the upcoming conference by the African American Genealogy Group of Philadelphia, upcoming Juneteenth celebrations, the Samford IGHR, the … Continue reading

Choo-Choo Scrapbook

Instead of celebrating the season with a monster Christmas party, this year my daughter’s school is hosting a Polar Express-themed winter shindig. The teachers are planning a series of activities and events, which feature lessons on trains, the spirit of giving and other topics covered in the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. With all of the hard work going into designing the massive soiree, naturally, the school wants to document the event from beginning to end. That’s where I come in. Last week I found myself agreeing to join the scrapbook committee. A bunch of moms will be … Continue reading

Family Tree Magazine Picks 101 Best Websites of 2010

There are a plethora of genealogy related websites out there, and you cannot possibly test out all of them yourself. Sometimes, it’s nice to get an expert opinion about which sites are good, which are only okay, and which are so bad that they should be avoided completely. Family Tree Magazine came up with a list of their picks for the top 101 genealogy websites. Family Tree Magazine was founded in 1999. It is America’s #1 family history magazine. It covers a variety of topics that would be of interest to genealogists, from tips for genealogy research, to ideas for … Continue reading

Children Teach Us to Appreciate

Yesterday, for family home evening, we decided to talk about the earth, and how it was created. This is a simple topic for our 4 year old. I asked her what she knew about the earth. She said, that she knew that it, “turns, and circles around the sun, and that half of it is in the daytime, and half is in the night time” I was amazed at how much she already knew. I then asked her, “Do you know who created the earth?” She said, “Jesus”. Children do not take things for granted. Every day is a new … Continue reading

Beware the Green Eyed Monster: How Jealousy Can Impact Your Blended Family

I tiptoed up to the topic, believing that most of us are pretty sensitive about it: “Sometimes step parents feel…I don’t want to call it jealousy, but…” at which point Kelly, eight years into her step mom experience, interrupted, “Oh, you can call it jealous! I was definitely jealous!—of a six year old, no less!” We were talking about what can often become a defining dynamic between children and step parents, and consequently, a divisive issue for a biological parent and their spouse. It’s not an emotion many of us are willing to cop to, especially if the trigger is … Continue reading

Where to Find a Genealogy Group to Join

So, you’ve decided to join a genealogy group? Great! Now, you have to find one that you can join. It may take a little bit of searching, but you should be able to find one. It is just a matter of knowing where to look. There are lots of good reasons why you may want to join a genealogy group. It can be fun to share your favorite hobby with other people who enjoy it too. This is a great way to start new friendships. But, before you can experience the benefits of joining a genealogy group, you have to … Continue reading

Why are YOU interested in genealogy?

Something occurred to me right after I decided to become a blogger on the topic of genealogy. I realized that it has been a long, long time since I did any genealogical research. I think the last time I conducted research about my family history was in middle school when my mom helped me make a family tree as part of a school project. A lot has changed since then, and while I have not yet acquainted myself with the modern tools of genealogical research like these free web resources, I am eager to see how far back in time … Continue reading

Ricky Martin Comes Out

Today, Ricky Martin announced what many had suspected for years – he is homosexual. Martin came into the spotlight as a teen when he joined Menudo, a boys band that replaced members when they turned 16, their voice changed, they grew facial hair, or grew too tall – whatever came first. Martin made a comeback in the early ‘90s with the hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” but even then, many question his sexuality, despite a 14 year on-again/off-again relationship with TV host Rebecca de Alba. He avoided the topic, choosing instead to talk about his music rather than his personal … Continue reading