Remember, O Remember. Cause I don't!

I have trouble remembering things, and I know I cannot be the only one. But...the most common excuse I find myself making (besides being lazy.....) for not writing in my journal is that I don't need to write it down... I'll remember. And I can't be the only one. But let's face it... sometimes we can't even remember what we had for dinner last night, or two days ago (or 5 minutes ago?)... {and if you do remember everything feel free to skip this blog post}.

Journal writing is not only a way to preserve memories and feelings of the moment you wrote them in... but if you write it instead of type it, it is a way for your posterity to connect to you more emotionally. To see the handwriting of an ancestor, and read what they wrote.. how they felt, how they viewed the world.. is an amazing example of family history. So I will refer to a quote I used in another post...

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten; Either write things worthy of reading, or do things worthy of writing." -- Benjamin Franklin, May 1738

So, here comes my blog post on why we should write in our journals. But first! A Picture. Cause you know how I do. Or maybe you don't. But this is how.

It's so easy a dinosaur can do it!
If dinosaurs didn't journal, we wouldn't have these jokes!
"Q. What happened when the Brachiosaurus took the train home?
A. He had to bring it back!"

You may ask, "Why not wait until I'm older to compile a summary of my life?" Here's President Kimball's answer:
"Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. Your private journal should record the way you face up to challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your experiences will not be interesting to your posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant. Your journal, like most others, will tell of problems as old as the world and how you dealt with them."

“On Keeping a Journal...In the journal I do not just express myself more openly than I could to any person; I create myself. The journal is a vehicle for my sense of selfhood. It represents me as emotionally and spiritually independent. One of the main (social) functions of a journal or diary is precisely to be read furtively by other people, the people (like parents + lovers) about whom one has been cruelly honest only in the journal. Will {so and so} ever read this?” - Susan Sontag

There is the saying, “A goal not written is only a wish.” Journaling is also a great way to concretize goals and dreams on paper. Allowing yourself to express your dreams freely encourages you to strengthen your personal vision for your life. You have the authority and freedom to decide how you want your life to look like. - rappler

Start with a sentence... start with a page...

You'll be glad you did... and so will they.

-SB
fh2history@gmail.com


23andme
Archives


Every Reason to be Thankful for children :)

"Lo, children are an heritage to The Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." 

- Psalms 127:3

Yes, this blog is meant for family history; this post has to do with family history for sure! How can you have history if there were no people and how can you {multiply and replenish the Earth} with no posterity? Recently I read this post on "20 reasons to be thankful if you don't have children." I have to admit, I was offended... I have an 8 month old daughter. How could I ever NOT be thankful for her? Oh my gosh she is such a blessing!

'Recently I saw this post on "20 reasons to be thankful, IF YOU DONT have children."'

be thankful "IF YOU DONT" have children.

Now my post isn't an attack on that post or the person who wrote it or anyone who used it. I read it, and it's downright hilarious.

BUT it is a problem in society nowadays to think we don't need or have some duty to our future posterity... 

I'm not necessarily responding to the post... I'm responding to the feeling I've had for awhile. The feeling I mentioned above. That people are becoming so selfish, that those who are blessed with the gift to be able to bear children, are choosing not to.

When I married my husband, I wanted to wait to have kids. Until one day, while reading, I had inspiration that we should have kids now. My only reason not to at that point was my own selfishness, so we decided to have a baby!

Elizabeth Marie Bean was born on June 24, 2014. She was and still is a HUGE blessing! She is Pretty even tempered, yes. But we took the responsibility of raising a HUMAN. When she cries, she needs something and can't express it any other way. When your kid gets into the paint, and "paints the town" (or house)... You left the paint out. When there's poop everywhere, there's just poop everywhere.

The joys of parenthood far outweigh the sad or stressful times. When he or she first smiles... Laughs... Recognizes you!... Says "mama", "dada", "baba"... Planks.. Rolls... Scoots... Crawls... Stands... Pulls up... And eventually walks and talks! And so many more joys. You'll have a little mini-me running around! And if the thought of that scares you, maybe you oughta be a better future parent rather than asking for a better future child.


-SB

Wisdom Wednesday

"Family means no-one gets left behind or forgotten."

This week I wanted to share a few quotes on family history research that inspire me. I believe the work of family history is so important, and also can be so fun! So I found a few (maybe more than a few, but for sake of attention, only a few) quotes from others who seem to feel the same way!

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness." -- Alex Haley, Roots

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten; Either write things worthy of reading, or do things worthy of writing." -- Benjamin Franklin, May 1738

"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors." -- Edmund Burke

Some family trees have beautiful leaves, and some have just a bunch of nuts. Remember, it is the nuts that make the tree worth shaking. -Unknown

 

 

 

 

"I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me those who are to come. I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond. And their eyes were my eyes. -Richard Llewellyn
 

Your name... You got it from your father, it was all he had to give, So it's yours to keep and cherish for as long as you shall live, It was clean the day he got it, and a worthy name to bear, When he got it from his father, there was no dishonor there, So protect and guard it safely, for when all is said and done, You'll be proud the name is spotless when you give it to your son.

 

 

All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.

 

 

 

And if you want to read a poem, go here!

http://genealogy.about.com/od/humor/a/census_poem.htm

Thank you!

-SB

All about DNA, DNA, DNA --- Ancestry

 

DNA! DNA! DNA!

I know who I am. I know I have parents, and I have traits from them. I know my siblings, and know traits I share with them.

My husband was adopted by amazing people at birth, so all his life he didn't know who his traits came from, or where his ancestry was from. Until one day....

My parents discovered Ancestry DNA! (Also known as 23andme) It is an amazing program where you send your spit to a lab and they tell you where you came from! No not babylandia. The countries! And what percentages of each make up YOU :)  For example, I'm 33% Irish. So cool!

An example of what you can find out!

Back to my husband...We have since connected with his birth parents and having that in person information, is amazing. (originally we did this [23andme] to find medical history, which they don't include all of anymore because of the FDA)* But this a great find for those who don't, or even those who do know their history.

Ancestry DNA will also match you with [supposed] relatives that have also taken this (test).

You should definitely take this opportunity, if you are serious about this family history stuff, OR just as curious as me ;)

Please check it out! You will not regret it.

-SB

*23andMe provides ancestry-related genetic reports and uninterpreted raw genetic data. We no longer offer our health-related genetic reports. If you are a current customer please go to the health page for more information.

a Compilation Sensation!

Hallo! (Hello-just in German) Today I want to give some tips on how to start compiling your family history :) But there is just SOOO much information! Well... first let's choose the most pertinent information, and we will go from there! Sounds good? Good.

NUMERO UNO. (Yes I am speaking spanglermanish here).

WHO ARE YOU?

Let's write a rough sketch. Pencil and paper ready?

Well, I am Sarah Nicole Bean, born on a day, in a place, to parents, and I have this many siblings, and I have a husband, and a daughter, and I like food, and water, and music, and books, and poetry, and words, and funny things, and creating stuff, and dogs, and I have blond hair and blue eyes and I am short but not too short. (please don't make it as vague as I just did, mine was an example of what to say but not how to write it...;))

No I do not own Alice in Wonderland or any rights attached to it, I just thought
this was a good example. Thank you.

OK... NOW, WHAT STUFF ABOUT YOU IS SUPER IMPORTANT?

I am Sarah Nicole Bean, formerly Sarah Nicole Watson. I was born to parents Jason and Kristina Watson. I have 3 brothers, and 4 sisters. I was born in the year 1995, on Wednesday February 1st, in Provo, UT. I married my husband James Gavin Bean on July 6th, 2013; and we had our first daughter, Elizabeth Marie Bean on June 24, 2014. On purpose. I love music, learning, comedy, writing, eating, and being a wife and mommy. I have blond curly hair, and blue eyes.

See what I did there? Hopefully it's more refined, if it's not please let me know ;)

(I meant if it is refined, I know I'm not ;D)

This can be considered a "mission statement" of sorts, so make it good.

NEXT STEP.

Also known as NUMERO DOS, number 2, or NUMMER ZWEI.

Where do you want your history compiled? Do you want to write it all down in a Journal, do you want to make a photo book out of it? (my favorite idea) Do you want to create a record on the computer? This is a very important step, so choose wisely.

Now, which ever you chose, you are probably going to want to have pictures. So gather pictures! Gather pictures of you, your siblings, parents, grandparents, and any others you can find. While you're gathering pictures, gather information on those people so that you can include some info along with the picture. Next step: Compile all of that info in your chosen platform.

And Vwallah! A history everyone can see ;)

And if you want to take it further... this is a really cool idea! (click and type in family, scroll down to this one)

fh2history@gmail.com

-SB

Lengthy Linky Lists

Hello! So last time we talked about how to get started using pedigree charts. Today I want to address some other ways to get started on family history! I will post links to both free sites, and sites with a membership feature. 

Family Search

--------------------

Free to use for both LDS and non LDS persons. Includes family tree feature as well as searching for records on different platforms. For LDS persons includes a temple ordinance section. 

Ancestry

----------------

Free to use for constructing a family tree, but they do charge a [monthly or annual] fee to search for records. 

Archives

----------------

7 day free trial, and then monthly membership- gives access to many different records. 

Google

---------------

Has amazing search function, can search for anything! And.... It's free ;) 

Facebook, Telephone, Email- are also great ways to search for family history.

As well as....

Familyhistory.com

Fh-history.blogspot.com ;)

myheritage.com


There are even programs you can buy that help with doing your family history!

http://deseretbook.com/search/search#q=family%20history&page=1&sort=score&facets=

Here are a whole bunch!

There is a lot of information, I

know. But I hoped to give you a

list that you can refer to if you

have questions on where to go!








With these sites, paired with your pedigree charts... You are so close to starting your own family history. Next week I hope to talk about compiling your Family History!

Once again, feel free to email comments, questions, and suggestions to
fh2history@gmail.com, or comment below :)

-SB

Let's start from the very beginning

Family History is more important than you might realize. Or maybe you realize it, but just don't know how to get started! Well, I hope I can help you along, if you are willing and wanting to come for the ride :)

First I want to talk about writing down what you already know.

Do you know your birthday? Great.

What about your parents' birthdays? Even better!

Do you have kids? Siblings? Aunts? Uncles?

Do you know their birthdays?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you already have a few simple components to writing a family history!

So that means that step 1, is like I said; writing down what you already know.

So now that you know what you already know... let's get to the writing!

So, where do you keep this information? On a piece of paper? In your memory? Sure, you'll remember it, but what if others want to know the same information? (trust me, even if you're boring, future generations will still want to know about you and your history) Let me tell you the 1st second step to getting started ;)

A Pedigree chart! No, not a chart to keep track of your dog's food... But a chart to keep track of your family!

You can buy them here, or simply download and print them from here. My personal preference is to buy them instead of using ink, but either way works. :) Then you will just fill in the information, and Wallah! Your second official start to family history! (the first was being born, so congrats on that)

.......

Thanks for reading! Periodically, I will write about specific topics that people have specific questions on. Feel free to email your questions, comments, and suggestions to: fh2history@gmail.com

Meanwhile, this site is an amazing place to search for ancestors.