The importance of balance

It's easy to spend more time than is healthy doing a new hobby. I was up WAY too late last night, copying my pedigree out of FamilySearch onto paper to keep track of everyone. This morning came like an angry wind, rattling my sleep addled mind. All day I'm thinking about those pedigrees, and I'm reading up on training. Balance. must. have. balance.

Some quick hands-on training

I just hosted my cousin's son from Australia for a mere 24 hours as he was preparing to enter the MTC. He's serving a mission in Japan. I told him of my new calling, and he was thrilled as he's been a Ward Family History consultant for a year now, using the new system. He was very excited to train me, and we proceeded to spend hours going over the system, how it works, how to do due diligence (can't do enough), and how to find the work to be done. I'm already finding some work in my family lines. Already! Within 24 hours!!! This system is so elegant. There are clearly some improvements that can be made, and I'll see what I can do about getting feedback going up the pipe. And I can see why they were rolling it out in Utah and Idaho last. We're going to kill the system! All the active members who are going to be using the system! And the pioneer families!! The children!!! (The wives!!) I've tried to merge a few stray records already, and the system can't handle the size of the files, so it won't merge. That's going to have to change.

This is exciting stuff. I'm giddy with the yearning to get the work done. Here's the wheel. Put your shoulder to it!

Overwhelming!

My mother in law has loaned to me some genealogical records she has that go back to the 1600's. A little bit too much to chew on for little ol' me. But how do you eat an elephant? A spoonful at a time. I have the spoon, and the appetite. I'm just waiting for access to new.familysearch.org so I can start chomping away. :)

This is becoming so exciting, so stimulating, and so...beautiful. I can't wait to share this with others!

I have records from Denmark, old old temple books, and hand written genealogical charts from 1910. I'll see what I can do about posting some photos soon.

A Summer of Sluething!! (SOS)

wiki.familysearch.org

What a cool idea they've come up with! This is a great way to get everyone in the family thinking about family history. And what's most cool about it is how they've made applications of this available for different age groups and abilities. Regardless of how old you are, you can take part in this!

It's six weeks worth of activities that will turn your heart to your ancestors, albeit very close relatives (family, grandparents). Those of us who are a little older can do a bit more research, but for kids, it's a great exercise and helps to get them thinking about who's come before. There are forms, pictures, cut-outs, hints, etc. Great idea, very cool!

wiki.familysearch.org/en/Family_History_Activities_for_Youth

Who'd have thought?

Ok, so here we begin the Orem Windsor Stake Family History blog. I'm your friendly neighborhood Stake Family History Consultant. Forgive me if I don't look like a pro yet. I've never done ANY family history. I'm starting in a new field, new technology, new thoughts, new inspiration. I'm going to be developing a whole new facet to my personality, and for the rest of my life I know I will be fired up for Family History (hereafter to be called FH). I'm going to be one of those people who always asks if you have your work done. Yep. Expect it.

While we're on the subject....well, do you have your family work done?

I appreciate all the help that will come my way, and I hope to guide you in your personal efforts to accomplish what you may have thought was impossible.