Billion Graves

For those of you new to the genealogy world, let me be the first to introduce you to an amazing tool that is masterful at "turning the hearts (Malachi 4:6)." BillionGraves.com masterfully combines serving the genealogy field and learning the information a researcher needs. Available both online and through a smartphone app, users can upload headstone and other cemetery pictures, index (essentially "tag" the names and other information) submitted photos, and search for their own ancestors or others. Though not perfect, cemetery records, whether on paper or on a headstone, are very helpful to a genealogist of any skill level. These records can provide names, dates, places, relationships, and other information about our families. Knowing where an ancestor is buried can help us locate other records about them or spark the desire for a vacation to that area.

For example, I may know an exact death date for my ancestor, but only have an estimated birth date. Looking at the ancestor’s headstone can help! The stone may include an exact birth date (which will need to be verified by applicable records) or a birth place, narrowing my search location, so I can be most effective.

I am grateful for my genealogical education and the power of Google. Through these resources, my eyes are opened to the wonders of the genealogical world. As knowledgeable researchers, we have great power which can change the world forever!

How Awesome Are We?!

I just wanted to write a post about how much I love the genealogy world. People are so kind and helpful. They will volunteer THEIR time and hours on YOUR family. They respond to your queries and really care about YOU.
A little back-story... I grew up with little information about my father. For years, half of my tree was missing. I still had plenty to work on, believe me... But I wanted to know my ancestors... One day, my father reached out to me through Facebook. I wasn't sure that I was ready to have him in my life, but then I remembered my family who had gone before.
I added him and his mother, my grandmother, as friends. I asked a few questions and as it turns out, a distant cousin had done a ton of work on my paternal grandmother's side, the Terpenings. He even wrote a book!
I frantically searched through all of this information and added it to my tree. It was so exciting. I asked permission to complete some of the ordinances for my near ancestors (I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.). I learned from people who knew my great-grandparents that they had been good people and had faith. I was so happy to hear about them, read about them, and search them out. I know that they lived their lives the best that they could. They went through many trials, as we all do, but came out fine :)
Like me, my father had no contact with his dad. My grandmother doesn't like to talk about him, and that's her right, but I know that both my father and I want to know him, no matter who he is. I couldn't find much information without knowing if he was deceased or not. The other day I had an assignment to complete for a family history class that I am taking through BYU-Idaho. I was to post a query on three different websites. I decided to ask about my grandpa. I have just been flooded with information. It has been less than a week and I already have over 10 records with information that is possibly about my grandfather.
I am so excited to go through this information, perhaps talk to my grandmother, and see what else I can learn. I've learned his mother's name (she was from the Czech Republic, then Czechoslovakia). I just love the genealogical community right now!