Getting Our Children Involved In Family History.

Sometimes I wonder had I not become a member of the church I attend would I have ever gotten involved in family history work. I have to admit that in the beginning I was a bit clueless because I had no one to guide me on how to begin or how I was supposed to get information on my ancestors. Once I did it became a bit easier, that is until I hit a plateau. Being a first generation member in the church made it a bit difficult for me in finding more of my ancestors, but I know that with time, and seeking answers to resolve gaps in my work, and by asking questing to any living relatives that I hope to get answers. 

I did begin with doing my only family tree once I got married, and then proceeded to ask my mom questions about her parents, grandparents, where they were born, and what their birthdays were so that I can get this genealogy going. So far I have two generations, and at this moment I'm struggling in getting the third generation done, so if there are any genealogy geeks out there with any information or tricks please feel free to share! 

Jon has become involved in doing his family history, and thanks to one of his uncles doing most of the work he's got about seven generations complete, but I'm sure there is still so much to accomplish! He has to limit his time on the computer especially at night. Just like any other social network you can get lost with time in doing family history work. Luckily he's learned to find a balance, and to only be searching on it for about an hour. He has been a huge help in locating some of my ancestors, bit like I said, I still have a lot of work to do. It's a good feeling to seek my ancestors, and it gets me motivated knowing that I'm doing something good for my family. I feel the love of my family whenever I've done any work for them in the temple, and I know that my two oldest daughters have felt how special it is to do their own family names when they perform baptisms in proxy. Passing down this wonderful habit of doing family history is so important to me, and to them too. It's important to get them involved because once we pass on they are going to be the ones who are going to be finishing our work so it's imperative to teach them all about what a family tree is, and to help in seeking their ancestors. 

Our kids in church last year did a whole theme on family history. It took them months to complete, and once they gathered various photos of their ancestors they put it all on a cardboard and at the end of the year displayed their little family history board. It was so sweet, and I can see the joy in my children's eyes as they displayed their work in front of all the parents. I could tell that they were happy to have done this work. I loved this moment, and the smiles on their faces proves all too well that they certainly enjoyed putting it together, and learning about what  family history is. I am grateful that I have taught my kids at a young age to learn it, and how important it is to work on it. 

I only hope that I can accomplish more of mine, because I definitely have a lot of work to do1 

In all honesty...I don't think family history will ever end for me! 

POLAROIDS THEN & NOW.

I will always remember the day my mom had her hand glued to her polaroid camera. It seemed like she always enjoyed taking pictures, and when she did it made her super happy. I miss those days, and sometimes I feel as if she didn't take enough, but the time spent with her without the camera were awesome too! Still...there's something about taking pictures that relieves all kinds of stress. At least it does for me. That's probably why I take so many, and looking back at these photos I remember seeing it in my mother.

She was always excited for the first day of school to start (second polaroid.) I vividly remember the new dresses she bought us, and how she kept telling us to stand still, fold our arms, and smile pretty. I also remember the first time when we got our first bike (third polaroid.) Technically it was for my sister, but after a while was passed on down to me. My mom knew how much I liked her bike so she obviously took a polaroid of me with it. 

Christmases were very rare in our home, and I honestly only remember two, but I will always remember the one when she took a polaroid of us with the little christmas tree standing on a tv tray (fourth polaroid.) She really made that Christmas special, and I will always treasure that moment. I now know why she would always take pictures of us, because I have been doing the same thing with my children for years now!

Times have changed since polaroid cameras, and even though I feel as if iPhones have really raised the bar with all the technology the've put into it with different apps and filters to make your pictures look nicer, there's nothing better than being nostalgic when taking pictures with a polaroid camera, an old school Nikon with film that you can develop, or in my case an instax camera. 

I have really grown to love my fuji instax camera. We gifted this one to Sierra for her birthday this year, and when she opened up the package she squealed with delight. She's always wanted one, just as I wanted one, and just as my mother had one, and now we all have one! 

When I first got my camera I wanted to try it out so one Sunday before church I gathered the kiddos, and we snapped all kinds of pics. They've never seen anything like it, and thought it was pretty cool. Lexie and Chelsea both love these cameras, and it  looks like this is one thing that's going to be on their christmas list this year. 

Nothing can ever replace tangible photos, and I really enjoy using my instant camera. The kids, and I have been going to town, literally, and having fun with it taking all kinds of pictures. I had to remind them that these photos are ones that cannot be "deleted" so if they come out with their eyes closed, looking possessed, or just plain weird to suck it up, and just treasure them. 

We have taken it to the beach, the playground, and Lexie even took it to EFY this summer. The people in her company thought that the instax camera was pretty cool. I love my kids, and will continue to take advantage of capturing moments, and making memories with them. That way they can look back at these photos when I'm super old and gray, and remember how much I loved taking pictures of them.  

Just as my mom did with me. These moments are priceless, and I am so grateful that my mother took the time out of her day when we were small children to capture these memories of me and my sister. 

Family History.

Family history has become a pretty big deal in our house, and although it can be addicting, and fun it can also get a bit stressful...especially when you've hit a plateau. It has been quite challenging tracking down the ancestors of my father, and because I have little information about him it can be pretty difficult trying to accomplish any family history on his side, but I'm determined, and will not give up. I have learned that by doing family history, and finding out who my ancestors are brings me an unspeakable happiness and that it is definitely something that is a priority in my life. I have definitely felt the spirit of Elijah, and every time I enter the temple I feel it even more, and it becomes even stronger. 

I received a box full of old photos the other day from my mom. It's not very many, but I finally have one of my great-great-grandmother. Unfortunately my mother didn't keep too many old photos, but the ones she has will be separated between me, and my sister. When my grandmother passed on my mom's side she pretty much left everything to my stepbrother who lives with one of my aunts with whom I'm become estranged with. It's a sad story, but I don't let it bring me down. I will attempt to contact her, and my stepbrother in hopes that she will give me more information on our family, or even send me some photos. 

Last weekend I attended a conference at my church on family history, and the theme was "I Am A Cousin". I attended a few classes that really helped me grow in organizing myself a bit better on tracking my side of the family down. It hasn't been an easy task, but it's so worth it. I'm a first generation member, and when you don't come from a "pioneer" family like my husband does doing genealogy can be a little tough. Luckily I still have my mom, and even though she's not a member she's been a pretty good sport in giving me all the names of my four aunts, and two uncles from my fathers side which I've never met, as well as their parents whom I've never met either (insert frown face here.) The fact that my father abandoned us when I was five doesn't help. My mother has no record of their whereabouts except the city in Mexico in which they are from. I am trying, and have willed myself to try harder. Looking in the Mexican census and all! I have encouraged my 15 year old to take the time out of her busy school schedule to put in a couple of hours a week of indexing. I have also advised my oldest daughter who is in Utah at the moment to do the same too. She hasn't gone through the temple yet (she's 19), but can sure as heck do baptisms. They come from pioneer heritage, and it is going to be their job to clean up what little mess I've made in continuing the genealogy on my side of the  family. Luckily I have four children that will all pitch in and do their work as I get older. As long as they continue to live righteously they can all have the opportunity to attend the temple and do work for our kindred dead. 

I have so much passion for my families history, and am grateful to my mom for giving me some information that I didn't know. For example, I had no idea my grandmother had a brother that died in a car crash at 16 years of age, or that she even had a brother! She actually had two brothers, and they are both deceased. My grandfather also had numerous brothers and sisters who are also deceased. See...the work will never end! Jon will have the privilege of doing all my grandpas, and great-grandpa's work, and am thrilled for that! The spirit of Elijah constantly nudges me to seek, seek, seek, and work, work, work! I know that by exercising faith I will prevail when it comes to finding more about my fathers side of the family. There's so much more to find out about my mothers side of the family as well. It's kind of tough when half of them are spread out all over the country, and for one reason or another have become estranged over the years. It's so sad to know that, and because of that history makes me grateful to be a member of a church that not only helps me grow spiritually, and increases my love for the Savior, but that helps me raise my family in a perspective that focuses on eternal families, and family history. 

All I know is that if I never had the gospel in my life before dying that I would be one of those spirits looking down from the spirit world praying my heart out that my "cousin" or someone in my family will do my work for me. I'd be saying, "Do my work please! Do my work! Find Me please!" That is the whole purpose of eternal families, and why we are here. It's so important to seek our ancestors and to know who they are, what they did, where they came from, and if by some chance I may be related to Ricardo Montalban, or Julio, and Enrique Iglesias!! Who knows! I could be a long lost cousin to them!! Seriously...all joking aside the time has come to seriously delve into deeper, unknown territories and to find out more about my fathers side of the family, as well as my mother's.  

Since all of the youth are our future generation in accomplishing family history work I leave you with this video (that was made by the youth of our church) in hopes that we will all be encouraged in finding our "cousins".

Happy Friday!