You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls. Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.
My Happy Dance Moment for this week:
Helping people learn about their family and creating trees for them makes me so happy! This week, I was able to make a connection that brought a family together. One that had been apart for way too long! Because of the nature of the situation, I cannot give too many details but where one was lost, they now are reunited and are home again! The circle is complete. This will have me dancing for a long time to come!
What is your happy dance moment for this week?
Share your discovery!
Let the dancing commence!
Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post!
Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Helping you climb your family tree,
Another RootsTech Conference has come to an end and as usual, I have come home exhausted but at the same time energized and fulfilled.
Why all the hype about this conference?
Why so many posts on the various social media platforms?
It's simple. There is a feeling at RootsTech that is tangible and contagious.
What can Family History do for us? Watch this short video:
Love~Memories~Trust~Understanding~Faith~Loss~Sorrow~Misunderstanding~Healing Some of the emotions we discover and feel as we learn about and share our family stories. Now don't get me wrong, there are other worthwhile educational experiences out there that can teach you how to research, connect with your family and other genealogists and I would recommend you attend as many as you can.
The purpose of this post is to explain why RootsTech is special in its own way. 1-Keynote speakers from various walks of life share their thoughts on family and the importance of connecting with ancestors. Their stories are heartwarming, entertaining and start the day with excitement to spend the rest of the day learning and socializing with others who share the same passion. Each of these special guests is presented with information on their ancestors. Imagine learning about who your people are in front of alive audience!
The keynotes for each day of RootsTech 2019 and previous years can be watched using this link. Listen as their stories touch your heart. What stands out to you? Did you hear something that motivates and strengthens your desire to find your family? 2-Classes for all levels. With over 300 classes offered this year, there was sure to be something for everyone! This was my first year speaking and I was amazed at the kindness showed me by the other instructors and the attendees who came to listen to what I had to share. Many of the classes were recorded and can be seen using this link.
3-Expo Hall-You probably heard how big the Expo Hall is at RootsTech, but unless you've been there it's hard to envision! There were vendors from all over the genealogy world. You can visit your favorite companies, learn from classes taught in their booths, talk with those representing new products and that have been around for a while. Many of your favorite speakers also have their own booths. Books, jewelry, and apparel for the genealogist were also represented!
4-Special Events-Two special events were planned this year. A screening of the movie Gina's Journey: The Search for William Grimes was held on Thursday night. An emotional evening as the story of Gina's unrelenting work in getting the memories of her 3rd great grandfather published. It is the first slave narrative in US History.
On Friday a treat as BYU Ballroom Team was joined by Derek Hough.
He surprised the audience by coming down and taking questions from his fans.
He even did a little dancing with them!
5-A team that cares. Honestly, there were some problems at RootsTech last year. Long lines and crowded classrooms had some feeling frustrated. Comments and feedback were encouraged, read and addressed. With the help of easier check-in, bigger classrooms, and the RootsTech Crew none of these problems exited this year. The team behind RootsTech really cares about their attendees and wants each person to have the best experience possible. Kudos to for understanding the issues and resolving them!
RootsTech is an experience all unto itself. It is a feeling that is tangible. It is people learning, connecting, finding out they belong and understanding lives can be healed through their family history journey. Before leaving for RootsTech, I posted my top 10 reasons for going. You can read it here. Did it meet up with my expectations? It did and more. A truly special conference.
March 19~ Eliza (Brazell) Roberts (1836-1890), my maternal 3rd great grandmother, died 128 years ago in Richland County, South Carolina. She was buried in Brown's Chapel Cemetery, Richland County, South Carolina. She died just short of a week before her birthday which is also remembered on this post.
Eliza Brazell Roberts Headstone photo credit: Jim Hepler
March 22~ This day would have been the 124 birthday of my paternal great grandfather, William Treadford Roberts (1894-1959). He was the son of George Phillip Roberts (1856-1930) and Hattie (Brazell) Roberts (1870-1927) and was born in Richland County, South Carolina.
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls. Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.
My Happy Dance Moment for this week:
My daughters went with me yesterday to fulfill a request for headstones photos in a nearby cemetery. Now, you'd think that my happy dance was the fact that they went with me! And, to start with it was! But, there was a second event that kept the dance going. Once home, I uploaded the photos and then checked my email.
Headstones of Benjamin Resse Gibson and wife Margaret Cantey Walker Gibson Home Branch Cemetery, Paxton, Clarendon County, South Carolina Photo Credit: William Norris
A distant cousin was visiting a cemetery where my 3rd great grandparents were buried and sent me a photo of their headstones! Wow! Genealogy Serendipity at work. When we give, it always comes back. Maybe not as quickly as yesterday, but it will in time.
What is your happy dance moment for this week?
Share your discovery!
Let the dancing commence!
Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post!
Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Helping you climb your family tree,
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls. Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.
My Happy Dance Moment for this week:
Some of my bling from Rootstech 2019!
This week I was looking back at all my photos of RootsTech 2019. Through the fog of jet lag and straight up exhaustion that I usually feel after returning, I realized how grateful I am to have been able to attend this wonderful conference over the last few years. This year was especially good. The crowds of precious years were handled well, room sizes were bigger and there was an all-around sense of excitement and friendliness. The love of genealogy and family history work was definitely in the air.
Over the next few months, I will be sharing my adventures. What I learned and experienced. And why attending RootsTech is valuable to all. Did you attend this year or have you in the past? What are some of your takeaways?
What is your happy dance moment for this week?
Share your discovery!
Let the dancing commence!
Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post!
Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Helping you climb your family tree,
March 6~ Martha Parnold Brazell (1795-1876), my maternal 4th great-grandmother, died 143 years ago in Richland County, South Carolina. She is buried in the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery.
Martha Parnold Brazell Headstone Old Macedonia Cemetery Richland, South Carolina
March 8~ Alice (Cook) Vaughn (1774-1859), my paternal 5th great grandmother died 160 years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina. She was buried in the Dargan Family Cemetery, which is now part of private property in the city of Sumter.
Alice Cook Vaughn Headstone Dargan Cemetery Sumter, South Carolina
March 9~ My paternal great great grandmother, Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson (1835-1916) died 102 years ago in New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina. Sarah died of influenza and was buried in the Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery also in New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina.
Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson Headstone Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina
Who are you remembering this week? Thanks so much for stopping by! Helping you climb your family tree,
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls. Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.
My Happy Dance Moment for this week: RootsTech 2019!!!
What is your happy dance moment for this week?
Share your discovery!
Let the dancing commence!
Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post!
Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Helping you climb your family tree,