The Official Bloggers of RootsTech 2012

Are you unable to attend RootsTech this year? It is the biggest genealogy conference of the year, and there will be some genealogists who really wanted to go but could not travel to Utah due to work, finances, or health issues. Those of you at home can follow along by paying attention to some of the Official Bloggers of RootsTech 2012. What does it mean to have been designated an Official Blogger of RootsTech 2012? As far as I can tell, this is something that is considered to be an honor. These bloggers will be attending RootsTech 2012, which means … Continue reading

The Big Lecture

Tomorrow my students will be treated with a huge lecture. I’ve given the synopsis to a couple of other instructors who say that it can’t be done. They say it is impossible to cover the amount of material I plan on covering in the short amount of time we have to cover it. Add to that the video clips that I’ll be showing troughout and it seems like an impossible task indeed. What makes it not impossible is something that playwrights typically value in their works: unity. I believe that the lesson is clear, straightforward, and well organized. How do … Continue reading

Are You Afraid of the Big, Bad Dentist?

If you get a little anxious thinking about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Dental phobia keeps a lot of people from getting the care they need for their pearly whites. There are a lot of different facets to dental phobia. Some of the most common fears involving the dentist’s office include: Embarassment — “I haven’t been to the dentist’s office in years, and my teeth are going to be horrible. The dentist is going to lecture me about what a failure I am.” Pain — “It’s going to hurt when they clean my teeth. I’ll have cavities that … Continue reading

Can You Facilitate Instead of Lecture?

I have written before about my challenges as a parent of trying NOT to lecture too much. It just seems to come naturally—we parents have so much we want to say and we expect that our children should want to hear it. The lecture, however, is a big turn-off! It is a surefire way to make sure that our children totally tune out what we are trying to say. Now that my kids are older, they have confessed that when a parent gets that “lecture” tone, they just go on auto-pilot and do not listen to what is being said. … Continue reading

Saving Money at the CSA

Today was my first pick up at our CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) farm. My friend Amy and I met there. Sharing a full membership can be a great way to save money. Often, a full membership is less than the cost of two half memberships. Plus, if one of you goes on vacation, the other can still pick up, so that week’s share isn’t lost. With Amy and I, we are going to alternate weeks. One week she will pick up the items and then drop my half off to me, the next week I will do the same for … Continue reading

Molding Future Adults

Amid the chaos of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture of parenting. Very easy. When you’re in the trenches dealing with your baby’s dirty diapers, your tween’s potty mouth and the host of other excrement that comes with raising children, it’s hard to focus on the fact that you are molding future adults. Well-adjusted, responsible, thoughtful, charitable, productive adults. That’s the goal. The challenge is looking beyond the moment. These moments. The times when it seems easier to give up, give in, or frankly, not give a damn, rather than digging deep to teach your … Continue reading

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 1

It’s that time of the year again – to reflect on those we have lost.  Some deaths might have been expected, but many came as a shock to us.  Either way, all will be missed. January 2012 1 – Etta James – Leukemia (73) James had a beautiful voice and was lucky enough to see it appreciated by a whole new generation when songs such as “At Last” became popular again in the 2000’s.  James won six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards.  Her music crossed genres as she was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame … Continue reading

Upcoming Genealogy Events – Week of July 15, 2012

Each and every week, there are plenty of genealogy courses, workshops, conferences, and events happening. All you have to do is find one, and figure out what you need to do in order to attend it. Here is a quick list of some of the genealogy events that are going on this week. There could be one near you! On July 16, 2012, the Ela Area Public Library, which is located in Lake Zurich, Illinois, will have a meeting of the library’s Genealogy Interest Group (GIG). It will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon, and will end at 5:00 in … Continue reading

What’s New at Family Search? – Week of May 19, 2012

FamilySearch is one of the most popular genealogy websites. It is constantly adding new records to its site. It also has several different genealogy related projects going on, and plenty of other resources for both new and experienced genealogists. Here is what’s new at FamilySearch this week. FamilySearch is the world’s largest genealogy organization. The website is a service that is provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Helping people connect with their ancestors is an important part of their religious beliefs. The website welcomes all genealogists to use their resources, no matter what their background, culture, … Continue reading

Raise a Child in the Way He Should Go

The biggest question on my mind, as a single parent, is always, am I doing the right thing? Am I making choices that will benefit Hailey. Am I setting a good example, am I teaching my child to be strong, independent and an asset to our society? No one has all the answers, and sometimes, even when you do the right things, things don’t always turn out like you plan. Minute by minute you are making small choices and big decisions that impact your childs life and who they will become. Sometimes we forget how huge the little things are, … Continue reading