DNA for Genealogy and Family History-August 29, 2017

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If you have been around the genealogy community for awhile you know that DNA testing has been getting center stage for a few years. Lots of people beyond our community have been having their DNA tested too discover their ethnicity. It has become quite "the thing to do" and most people don't have any idea what to do with their results beyond seeing where their ancestors came from in a very general way.

My mother-in-law had her DNA tested at 90 and was thrilled to discover things she had never dreamed of before. Although she thought she was 100% Italian, she was happy to know she was also Greek with a little Irish mixed in.

DNA was discovered in the early 1950s. I remember studying it in high school in the late 60s and thinking no further than learning how to spell all the words like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and that it controls the chemical processes within cells. None of us ever dreamed that one day we could learn so much about our heritage with this discovery. Nor did we ever realize that it could connect us with our very close relatives we had never even known about.

So the issue we have now as family historians is learning how that can happen. Once again it is The Family History Guide to the rescue! Go to <www.thefhguide.com> and select Projects from the Home page. Project 8 DNA: Choice: A Introduction. Step 1: Articles for an overview of genetics and genealogy. Step 2: Watch an excellent simplified video of the basics. This video connects to a great blog with even more detailed learning available. In the blog I found some great ideas about reading the results of the DNA testing. There is so much more in this Project 8's content as you will see, if you simply scroll down the page.

I really appreciate that Bob Taylor has already reviewed lots of material and selected such great content and resources for us. Again we find them in chronological order for our benefit & sequential learning. http://thefhguide.com/project-8-dna.html

Please consider sharing any ways that DNA has helped you with your family history and genealogy. I'll include a story and photo in the comments section below.

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The Family History Guide I had a personal experience with this that was life changing. In 2008 I wrote a blog post about my aunt who has just died. It included her obituary, photos, the funeral, cousins' photos, etc. In 2013 a professional researcher, after suggesting her client do DNA testing, was able to find his parents by Google searching his possible surnames from his DNA test. She found my blog post. Because of that I was united with my cousin whom we knew nothing about until 2013. He was adopted as an infant and had spent over 30 years trying to find his birth mother. He got more than he bargained for; both of his birth parents, and five siblings he did not know existed. Because of DNA testing and my blog post this came to be. I'll include a photo below of when I I met him. This is unimaginable joy to see six dear siblings reunited. This is the kind of joy family history can bring.
Meet William, my first cousin and my father's nephew.  The bonus is that William reminds me of three people that have passed away that were very close to me. My dad, his sister and my grandmother.  Actually it was like heaven on earth!

Technology Has Changed How We Learn-YouTube List for Genealogy Help-August 28, 2017

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I really enjoy connecting with all of you throughout each week! I just have one tiny problem! Once I open the Family History Guide I sit here for hours just browsing through it. It is like a good book, you just cannot put it down! It literally guides me to places and things I have wondered about for a long time but haven't pursued in detail yet.

I recommend you take time to just look around often and see what's there. It will fascinate you and motivate you to learn more. The best thing is it's so organized and because of that it feels so doable.

I spoke about Youtube when we were preparing for Bob's Webinar a few weeks ago. I found myself back in the Projects Under Technology again last night.

If you go to the Home page on <thefhguide.com> Click Projects: Technology: Choice 3 YouTube: Using Social Media To Further Your Family History Work:(Stop here click on the link Summary. There you will get a short summary of the information contained in the Choice. Click again to close. You'll find these throughout the Projects in The Family History Guide.) Look at Step 2. Sample List of YouTube Channels for Genealogy.

< http://thefhguide.com/project-7-tech.html>

I remembered when I was looking at the List that I don't know a lot about American Ancestors. It is one of the big data base Partners with Family Search so I need to know more about it.

It is a paid website but free through the portal at all the Family Search Libraries. I watched a video on the NEHGS (New England Historical Genealogy Society). I learned a lot about their holdings, their amazing library and how to access them in person or online. It made me want to learn more so I can use it and share with others.

The funny thing is I have meant to investigate this website for a long time. But The Family History Guide put it in my path with a simple video. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a thousand pictures. Every time I close the Family History Guide website, I go away feeling grateful!

Happy Monday Everyone! When you look through this list, please share your discoveries, it will help everyone in the process.

Keeping a Good Current Family History? Living Is Our History!-August 21, 2017

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Happy Monday Everyone! I don't know about you but I am having a hard time thinking and focusing on the past today. We are witnessing history in the making as our country will experience "totality" across certain places of the country with the solar eclipse throughout the day.

Not only that but I just read our daughter's Facebook post. Her four daughters will be in 4 different schools this year. One in elementary, one in junior high, one in high school and one in college in another state. All ten of our grandchildren are experiencing big changes this school year.

My point is that sometimes we forget that we are living our family history each day. Are you keeping a good family history and are you recording stories of your own? If you are will you share how you do this? I love to write so I do stories on my blogs all the time. Our family is spread out and it is my way of trying to keep us connected.

The Family History Guide has an entire section on Memories in Project 2. However, there are more things of interest regarding memories in the Vault of The Family History Guide <www.thefhguide.com>.

The Vault is found under Misc on the Home page. The Vault is a place where secondary content is entered to supplement the Goals and Choices and Steps in the Projects. This morning I was watching a video about Family Stories by Ancestry's Crista Cowan. The principles she discusses about stories of our ancestors also apply to those of us still living.

Home page: Misc.: Vault: Stories: Choice 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URPFm8sIe-4

Stories connect us to our families in a real way. The records are the vehicle for the deceased as they create stories when analyzed. By keeping the stories of our own lives and our living family we can truly bless our posterity and keep our families connected.

While you are in the Vault look at the array of content in there. You'll like it.

P.S. The solar eclipse is just happening here in Northern CA. We have a 75% eclipse. Kind of underwhelming actually. Lots of cloud cover so think...dreary winter morning. Should have driven to Rigby, Idaho, I guess! Happy gazing wherever you are.

Bob Taylor Announces the Upcoming "Exciting News "Webinar-July 28, 2017

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Bob Taylor, CEO of the Family History Guide announced yesterday that he is sharing some very exciting news with the world on August 10, 2017 at 6:00 PM MDT. This will be happening on YouTube from the BYU Family History Library channel. I want to watch this live so I am going to get prepared now for this upcoming event. If you have never streamed a webinar live, go to The Family History Guide at <www.thefhguide.com> and select: Projects:Technology: Choice A:Step 3, BYU Family History Webinars. Then also go to Choice B, on the same page. Participating and Streaming Events, select Step 1. This will get you all set in plenty of time to enjoy this event live. If you miss it live you can also see it in the archives at a later date but I read it can take up to several weeks to get it reviewed and posted.

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