"You'll never know the difference in 100 years"

Papa used to say when we would get upset or mad over things.

To which a 5 or 6 year old once responded, "But Papa, we never the the difference a hundred years from because we will be dead."

Papa replied, "Some things matter enough that they will last more than a hundred years and those are the only things worth getting upset over.  Everything else is just a passing thing."

sounds like something Papa would have done

love was the answer

Only when we recognize that we are heirs can we truly be pioneers.

We inherit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted-our names, the color of our eyes and the texture of our hair, the unfolding of varied abilities and interests in different subjects. . . .

Each of us contains within our fragile vessels of skin and bones and cells this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise.

Only when we recognize that we are heirs can we truly be pioneers.

-Edward C. Sellner

Some day we will be the Ancestors . . . what do you want to tell our family in the future?

I research our ancestors, trying to find enough information to help us know who they are/were.  I hope to help us see some of their lives through their eyes, so that they are not just facts on page.  

I love our family of today enough to put forth the effort to do   

I hope for our family in the future that they will 

"Why do you do this? Why do you spend time on our genealogy?"

I do this for the love of our family I know and in honor of those that came before us and for the curiosity of those that will come after us.

I have often been asked why I spend my time on our family history?  It is a valid question, I suppose.  The answer today is very different than it was when I first started.

The love of 'knowing' people who came before us was a gift instilled by Papa and Nan Jones.  If you were fortunate enough to know them when you were young, you may remember them showing us old photos while naming the people.  Sometimes you would get a story and sometimes it was just a name and how they were related to us. Even more than knowing who came before us, I love my family today.  We are a wide variety of personality types and interests, but most of all I am so very happy that I am part of this big family!

Who knew we would reach back in time hundred's of years to various countries with voyages on ships, traveling on foot, by horse, wagon and train. Who knew there would be banishment from Scotland or defiance of King James or the search for gold or the adventure for the wide open west.


I think I was around 12 years old when I started to document some of the things they were sharing. 

They Ask "What type of things do you need?"

Some of you want to help and I am so glad!!  The big question is what type of stuff do you need?  Anything you want to include is important enough to me to add!  All contributions are very welcome.  Don't worry, you can always revise anything you have added.

Here are some suggestions:
photos of anything and everything
your stories about
   something special to you
   something you did with someone
   your 'traditions'
   your 'I remember when' stories
your 'favorites'
   favorite color
   favorite food
   favorite song
recipes - maybe some day we can do a Family Cookbook
   your favorite Christmas recipe or Thanksgiving recipe
   your favorite appetizer or dessert
hobbies
your pets if you want 
photos and info of Special Dates
    births
    graduation
    special sports events
    when you started ballet
    your very first basketball game 
    your sports team photos
    prom  
    parties
    vacations