 My Ice-Skating Memoirs: A Nostalgic Journey Through Rinks, Memories, and Time Today, a photograph transported me back in time—a candid shot of my grandpa, brother, and me at one of my skating lessons. It was a sweet reminder of those formative years when the ice rink was not just a venue but a second home. My grandpa had come to watch me skate, and that moment sparked a wave of nostalgia that had me Googling the ice rinks of my youth and looking up old photos. Those rinks were more than just buildings; they were the backdrop to my childhood, a reflection of an ice-skating family’s dedication and love for the sport.  1. The picture that sparked the memory — a snapshot of skating days with my brother and Grandpa outside the West Covina Ice Arena, ca. 1981-1982 The Early Years: Skates and Figure Eights I started skating in the very early 1970s, officially beginning lessons at the age of 5. For nearly a decade, the rink was my playground, classroom, and stage. From the painstaking perfection of figure eights to the exhilaration of free skate sessions, the ice demanded discipline and grace. Practices often began at the crack of dawn. Sometimes, I found myself practicing figure eights not on ice but on a peculiar surface made of plastic patches designed to mimic it. It was rigorous, sometimes draining, and always a little surreal. Those mornings were not just about learning to skate but about developing a resilience that stays with me even today. Our family was deeply entrenched in the skating world. My mom had been an avid skater since childhood, performing in shows well into adulthood. My sister, the natural performer, was a showstopper in both competitions and ice shows. While she left the sport by 12, her brief career was marked with dazzling spins and theatrical flair.
The Rinks That Built My World The Los Angeles area of the 1970s and 1980s was home to an array of iconic ice rinks, but 4 were our rink-hop rinks, Pickwick Ice Rink, Culver City Ice Arena, West Covina Ice Arena, and the Santa Monica Ice Capades Chalet, depending on factors like my mom’s rehearsal schedule, the rinks’ operating hours, or which skating friends she planned to meet up with. Each one holds a special place in my memory, as well as a few others:
Each rink had its quirks and culture, from the cozy coffee shops where parents waited to the bustling energy of rehearsals and free skates. My dad, for instance, spent hours in the coffee shop adjoining West Covina Ice Arena, patiently waiting while I practiced during my later years. A Skating Family’s Life As an ice-skating family, we lived by the rink’s rhythms. My mom, always connected with the skating community, often practiced after hours, long after the rink had closed. The early days were spent with my brother and I roaming around the rinks ALL day. We knew everyone at the rinks, and everyone knew us, so we always had others looking out for us. That was the 70s for you. I sometimes slept in the car during these late-night sessions, though I vividly recall a scary moment when a stranger peered into the window. These were sacrifices we made as part of the sport’s demanding culture. I met fascinating people through the rink, including skating legends like Dorothy Hamill, at the Pickwick Rink, who once gifted me her Barbie doll modeled after her Olympic triumph in 1976; the actor Peter Falk, who played as Columbo, at the Santa Monica Rink and for some reason was dressed in his famous coat and giving us his Columbo routine; Peggy Flemming; and many more. Encounters like these brought the magic of skating alive. The Decision to Step Away By the time I reached 13, the grind of skating had begun to wear on me. The hours of practice left little room for fun, and I longed for time to spend with friends. When I told my mom I wanted to stop, her disappointment was unmistakable. Skating had been such a central part of her life and ours that stepping away felt monumental. But it was the right decision for me.
A Legacy on Ice My mom continued skating long after we had grown up, performing in shows at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center. Her dedication was a testament to the lifelong joy that skating brought her. Reflecting on those years, I see skating as more than a sport. It was a tapestry woven with memories of family, discipline, and the pure magic of gliding across the ice. The rinks, now lost to time or transformed, remain alive in my heart—a frozen piece of my history, preserved forever. Closing Thoughts Whether you grew up skating or simply watching from the stands, the rink has a way of bringing people together. It’s a place of camaraderie, creativity, and countless stories. For me, those stories are etched into the ice, a legacy of a childhood spent in motion and a family that lived to skate. Image Descriptions
©Diane Henriks #nostalgia,#nostalgicmemories,#1970s,#1980s,#iceskating,#Genealogy,#familyhistory
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 AI and Genealogy: Creating a Perfect Ancestor Biography Using ChatGPT Over the past few months, I've been diving deeper into the potential of AI for genealogy and family history. One of the fascinating aspects of AI is how it continuously evolves and improves, especially when applied to a complex and personal field like genealogy. To test how far the technology has come, I decided to recreate a biography for my 2nd great-grandfather, Samuel Steinman, one that I had first generated around five months ago. For context, this project was part of a study I had conducted for an "AI and Family History" presentation. I wanted to see if ChatGPT had improved since that time—after all, family history is ever-evolving, and so too should our tools. Five months may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but in the world of AI development, it's a significant span. The Experiment I approached this test with the same mindset I had months ago. First, I used my own gathered research—Samuel Steinman’s entire family history, meticulously compiled on Ancestry.com. Then, I took the same steps I had previously: I opened ChatGPT, prompted it to generate a biography, and copied and pasted Samuel Steinman’s entire ancestor profile page (in one swoop) directly into the prompt. What happened next was nothing less than impressive. A Flawless Result, First Try Unlike the earlier version where I had to tweak and fine-tune the generated text to remove overly flowery language or adjust historical context, this time ChatGPT nailed it on the first try. The biography it created was clean, well-structured, and detailed without unnecessary embellishment. It pulled in my research flawlessly and even incorporated a touch of historical context, just as I had requested. Gone were the excessive adjectives that usually muddled early versions of AI-generated content. Instead, I received a biography that was not only factual but written in a professional tone that resonated with my family history documentation style. Here’s why this was particularly impressive: I didn’t feed the AI much detail other than the ancestor profile/my research. There were no long-winded instructions, just a simple prompt. Yet, ChatGPT was able to seamlessly weave together all the relevant information into a cohesive narrative—just the way I had imagined it.
How AI Has Improved Over Time The key takeaway from this experiment is just how much AI, specifically ChatGPT, has evolved in such a short period. Five months ago, I could see the potential, but I still had to make manual adjustments to refine the generated text. This time, I was left with a ready-to-use biography that required no extra work. Here are a few improvements I noticed:
A Game-Changer for Family Historians For those who might be skeptical about using AI in genealogy, this experience highlights just how transformative these tools can be. Not only can AI significantly reduce the time it takes to compile and write family biographies, but it also allows researchers to focus on the other aspects of family history—like uncovering stories and connections—while leaving much of the writing and organization to AI. Imagine how this could help you write your family history! Whether you’re working on biographies, timelines, or even trying to contextualize historical events within your family’s narrative, AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming even more invaluable resources. The Future of AI in Family History This recent test of ChatGPT reaffirms my belief that AI will continue to play an essential role in family history research. With the ongoing improvements, AI will likely become even better at organizing and interpreting complex genealogical data, turning raw information into compelling, accurate stories. It has already streamlined a significant part of the process for me—and I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve. For anyone curious about using AI to assist in your genealogy research, now is the perfect time to start experimenting. The tools are here, and they are more powerful than ever. So, what’s next for me and my AI journey? I’ll continue testing and fine-tuning my approach, looking for ways to integrate AI into every aspect of my family history research. And who knows, maybe the next big breakthrough will come in just a few months, as AI continues to advance and redefine the possibilities for genealogists like us. In the meantime, Samuel Steinman’s biography stands as a testament to how far we’ve come in just a few short months. I look forward to seeing what the future holds. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Creating Family History Songs with AI-assisted Music Compostion to Honor Our Ancestor’s As a genealogist, I’m always looking for unique ways to connect with my ancestors and make their stories come alive. Since the beginning of this year, I have been testing out the power of AI and its many family history and genealogy transforming capabilities, bringing my research to a whole new level. Recently, I ventured into a creative experiment that blended genealogy and artificial intelligence (AI) in an unexpected way: I used AI to compose songs based on my ancestors' life stories by creating a song to honor my 2nd great-grandfather, Samuel “Sam” Steinman, with AI playing a key role in crafting this musical tribute. The Power of Storytelling Through Music Genealogy usually revolves around research—documents, records, family trees, and dates. However, it’s the stories behind those names and dates that make genealogy so meaningful. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of finding new ways to tell those stories, whether through writing, video, or photographs. This time, I chose music to tell Samuel’s story. Samuel Steinman lived during a pivotal time in rural America, facing the challenges of a changing world while raising his family and working hard on the land. To honor him, I wanted to create something that captured the essence of his life: resilience, hard work, and the enduring bond of family. And that’s where AI came in. Using ChatGPT to Generate Song Lyrics The process started with ChatGPT, an AI language model that can generate text in various forms, including song lyrics. I copied Samuel Steinman’s ENTIRE ancestor profile page/historical timeline on Ancestry.com (use can use your ancestor profile page from MyHeritage as well), which I had carefully compiled through my research and already had plenty of details and descriptions included in the facts, and pasted the entire profile page into ChatGPT with a simple prompt: "Generate a song for my 2nd great grandfather, Samuel “Sam” Steinman using the following genealogical timeline: (pasted ENTIRE ancestor profile page)” The AI quickly generated a song that captured the spirit of Samuel’s life, using storytelling lyrics to convey the key moments of his journey. From his humble beginnings in rural America to the trials and triumphs he faced along the way, the song brought his story to life in a way that I hadn’t imagined before. Here’s a snippet of the lyrics ChatGPT produced: " A man of Ohio, born in the fall, Worked with his hands, standing tall. From butcher’s blade to family ties, Sam Steinman lived under open skies." The folk genre was the perfect fit for this project, with its storytelling approach and emotional depth. The lyrics reflected Samuel’s values and the strength he exhibited throughout his life, all while honoring his connection to the land and family. Adding Music with AI Tools Once I had the lyrics, it was time to add music. I used AI music generators like AI Music Factory and Suno to create instrumental backing tracks and produce a complete song, including voice. These platforms allow you to input lyrics or choose a musical style, and they generate a backing track that complements the mood and tone of the song. With AI Music Factory, I was able to manually give directions to use a folk-inspired arrangement that included acoustic guitar, soft percussion, and a harmonica to echo the rural American setting of Samuel’s life, which ChatGPT generated. Suno, on the other hand, gave me a bit more of a modern take on the folk-inspired genre, blending traditional elements with subtle electronic enhancements to add depth to the song. Each version offered a different, yet powerful, interpretation of Samuel’s story. Why Use AI to Create Family History Songs? This experiment was not just about making music—it was about finding a new way to preserve and share family stories. AI offers a range of possibilities for genealogists who want to explore creative storytelling methods beyond the traditional family tree. Whether it’s generating lyrics, composing a soundtrack, or even creating visuals to accompany a family history, AI opens doors to new forms of expression. If you're looking to try this approach in your own research, here’s a step-by-step outline of how I brought Samuel Steinman’s story to life through AI-generated music: 1. Compile a Complete Historical Timeline Start by gathering all the key events, locations, and personal details to add to your ancestor’s profile—just as I did with Samuel’s profile on Ancestry.com. Make sure you include important milestones, emotional moments, and any themes that resonate with your ancestor’s story. 2. Use ChatGPT to Generate Lyrics Once you have a complete timeline, paste the ENTIRE ancestor profile page, in one swoop, into ChatGPT with a specific prompt. For example, you might request lyrics in a particular genre, tone, or mood that reflects your ancestor’s life. This customization can help tailor the song to the unique essence of the person you’re honoring, but ChatGPT will also generate it for you automatically, based on your ancestor timeline/facts and details, so there is really no need. 3. Choose AI Music Generators for Backing Tracks After the lyrics and composition are complete, try using AI tools like AI Music Factory or Suno to create the instrumental backing track, and even voice. You can select the genre, mood, and instruments that best complement your ancestor’s story, or you can just free text what ChatGPT turned out for you. Experiment with different platforms to see what kind of soundscape works best. 4. Combine the Elements Finally, merge the lyrics, by pasting what ChatGPT gave you, and backing track to complete the song. You can also adjust the vocals or try different arrangements to refine the final product. The Final Result The songs I created for Samuel Steinman were more than just music—they were an emotional tribute to a man whose life shaped my family’s history. Each version of the song, whether created through AI Music Factory or Suno, brought Samuel’s story to life in a way that words alone could not. Check out the different outcomes using the same ChatGPT response!
Whether you’re a genealogist like me or simply someone who wants to honor a loved one’s memory, AI offers endless possibilities for creative expression. Through this project, I’ve discovered a new way to use AI in family history and genealogy and keep an ancestor’s legacy alive, and I encourage others to explore how technology can help us tell the stories of the past in innovative ways. What do you think? Have you tried using AI to create family history songs, or do you have another creative method to share your ancestor’s story? Let me know in the comments! © 2024 Diane Henriks @ Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family About the AuthorI'm Diane Henriks, a professional genealogist with a passion for preserving family histories through creative methods. Whether through writing, music, or digital media, I strive to make each ancestor’s story come alive. I have experience in a variety of genealogical research areas, including expertise in unknown parentage, brick walls, DNA testing, descendant research, and living people search. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Nostalgic Memories: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Nostalgic Memories #3: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Remember when commercials had catchy tunes that you just couldn’t get out of your head, memorable plots that reeled you in, or well-known stars that hooked you, along with being memorable no matter the age? This is the third in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The second was Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. These brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe they will bring back some for you as well. My Most Memorable Commercials of the 70s I remember tons of commercials from the 70s, but these are the most memorable ones that I still remember quite well to this day. They include links that will take you to some of the ones I watched during that time. See how many you remember!  Band-Aid 1970s TV Commercials
 Oscar Mayer Bologna 1970s TV Commercials  9-Lives (Morris the Cat) 1970s TV Commercials
 Charmin (Mr. Whipple, "Don't squeeze the Charmin") 1970s TV Commercials  Tootsie Roll Pop 1970s TV Commercial
 Life Cereal ("Hey Mikey!") 1970s TV Commercial  Fritos 1970s TV Commercial
 Hershey’s Syrup (Messy Marvin Debut) 1970s TV Commercials  Meow Mix 1970s TV Commercials  Nostalgic Memories: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows This is the second in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The first was Nostalgic Memories #1: Early 1970s Kid’s TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. I spent a couple of years living with my grandma when I was between the ages of 3-5, and while jotting down my memories of my time with her, I also remembered some of the TV shows I watched during that time. This brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe it will bring back some for you as well. My Early 1970s (Pre-Elementary School) Children's Cartoon Line UpBelieve it or not, with this long list, at this age, I wasn’t into cartoons as much as I was educational shows, but these are all the ones I remember watching before I started kindergarten. They include links that will take you to either episodes or opening songs of the ones I would have watched during that time, along with their air dates and some rerun dates.
And The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (ABC)/The New Saturday Superstar Movie (1972-1973) (included pilots for new shows) *Many of these can be found on Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube. Remember any of these? I'd love to know!  Harnessing the Power of AI to Help You Write about Your Ancestors The Combined Power of AI and Timelines in Ancestor WritingJust a few days before MyHeritage announced their newest feature, AI Biographer, which you can read about in my post, “New MyHeritage Feature: AI Biographer, Creates Instant Biographies for Your Ancestors!”, I was literally working on a couple of projects that was doing just that, using AI for my biography, as well as for my ancestors’ biographies! I was taking all my own historical facts from my timeline and copying and pasting them in an AI paraphraser tool to create something just like this! At the same time, I was telling myself that it would be cool if either Ancestry or MyHeritage came out with a feature that did exactly what I was doing manually, take everything from your timeline/ancestor’s timeline and create a story or biographical sketch using AI. Who knew that MyHeritage was working on just that behind the curtains, right at the time I was envisioning it! I quickly found that if I create one myself from ancestors in my family tree, using their timeline events, I can create a fairly descent ancestor story/biography. Of course, it wasn’t that quick, and I had to manually tweak the paragraphs then run them through a paraphraser again. Then today, I decided to add some historical context throughout to make it a bit more interesting, taking cues from Ancestry’s new AncestryAI and My Heritage’s new AI Biographer, by using some of the events in my timelines and running them through an AI chat program. I also tweaked those as well. Altogether, I used quite a few different programs to accomplish my final test product. Check out the result below! 😊 My Ancestor Biography, with the Help of AI*This example is all based on my OWN research and taken from my own ancestor timeline, which is filled with facts and events based on my research. I then used AI to help me paraphrase my facts and events.
More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 My 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge; Week #3: Out of Place My 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge; Week #3: Out of PlaceI joined the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge this year, put on by Amy Johnson Crow, and for week #3's challenge, "Out of Place", I immediately thought of my mom. When the 1950 Census came out in April of last year, I, just as many, was on a crazed hunt searching through the 1950 Census digital images for 2 straight days! I had made a list of everyone I had wanted to find in the 1950 U.S. Census, but it was my mom, my dad, my biological father, and my paternal grandmother who I wanted to find the most, especially my mom! Searching the digital images was not that easy, especially if you didn't have an address or your ancestors weren't where they should have been. It took me just 2 days to find everyone on my list, basically ALL of my ancestors to be found on the 1950 Census, with the help of different tools that I had mentioned in "A Whirlwind of Searching the 1950 Census Digital Images!", including Ancestry's 1950 Census helps, such as the Enumeration District Maps tool they had out to help search the digital images one by one. I was really surprised that I could find everyone from that long list in just 2 days! Well, not everyone; I wasn't able to find my mom. My mom had just passed away, unexpectedly, the year before, and it was extremely important to me to be able to find her on the census for the first time, as maybe it might have helped the healing process in some way. She was the first person that I wanted to find, and her and her mom wound up being the only ones I did not find. I gave up and thought, even though I knew the chance was slim that it would help, I would wait until the 1950 Census became searchable, even though I knew I checked the entire area and surrounding areas thoroughly and painstakingly, image by image/page by page. My Mom and the 1950 Census:
My mom was born in 1948 in Massillon, Ohio, according to her and her birth certificate. I knew where she and her mom should have been, so it should have been easy right? Not at all. Her mom was an unwed teenager who had my mom at the age of 17. My mom didn't speak much about her life with her family nor her childhood. Most of the family information, I got when I started my genealogy research over a decade ago. I had to start from square 1 with my mom's lines. As I did the research, of course I was able to find relatives, that were never spoken about, during the process, and I was able to get tons of family stories through them. Let's just say, I understand why my mom wanted to keep mum. I was told by an uncle of my mom, her mother's brother, that he had taken his sister and my mom in and helped raise my mom, before her mom married. That wasn't until just a month or so shy of my mom's 2nd birthday. She was not with her uncle as told, nor any other family member. She was nowhere to be found. I pride myself on being a diligent genealogist and researcher, and I can usually find needles in a haystack, but not this time. I am convinced that they just aren't on it. Definitely out of place.
Follow more of my #52ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge here, and let's see if I can accomplish it this year! *Note: These photos are copyright protected and may not be downloaded, screenshot, etc. Are you interested in getting prompts to help you to begin jotting down more about your ancestors than just names and dates? Give it a whirl! You can sign up for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks here! This post is a participant in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and Sepia Saturday 
My 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge; Week #2: Favorite Photo
My 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge; Week #2: Favorite PhotoAbout 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
So, I joined the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge this year, put on by Amy Johnson Crow, for the first time. The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is a series of prompts that you get each week that gets you thinking about an ancestor and sharing about them, which also helps with you writing about them to preserve for future generations, one of the stressed objectives of Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family. I have wanted to attempt it many times over the years, but I am flooded with work, and it seemed too overwhelming, so we'll see how it goes and if I can complete it or not. I had always thought that the challenge had to be done in blog form, but since I found out that it can be done in any form, even just a post on social media, I was in! They also modify the challenge to those that will find it overwhelming, to 12 Ancestors in 12 Months, which is what I may have to revert to if I can't find the time each week to continue with it. I will try to blog about some through the year, but many will be just a quick post on my Facebook Page, like the first one that I have already done, I'm sure. I am also not a very elaborate memoir writer, and more of a technical writer, so I apologize in advance.
#52Ancestors Challenge Week #2: Favorite Photo
I don't really have a favorite family history photo, but I do have many that stand out to me for various reasons, and this is one of them. This is a photo of one set of my maternal 2nd great grandparents and 7 of their children, including my great grandmother to the far right. They had a total of 9 children. One is not pictured because he's already off working in the coal mines at a very young age, and the last child wasn't born until a year and a half later.
My 2nd Great Grandparents and their Children, including My Great Grandmother, ca. 1901; ©Diane Henriks
Reasons This Family History Photo Stands Out to Me
*Note: Photo is copyright protected and may not be downloaded, screenshot, etc. You can check out my first week's challenge on my Facebook Page and below:
Are you intereseted in getting prompts to help you to begin jotting down more about your ancestors than just names and dates? Give it a whirl! You can sign up for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks here!
Follow my #52ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge here, and let's see if I can accomplish it this year!  A Woman of Courage and Strength: A Mother’s Day Tribute Part 4Continue with me in the conclusion of my first family history memoir/narrative, from A Woman of Courage and Strength: A Mother's Day Tribute Part 3. Another Tragedy Strikes, Another Test of Courage: My mom started childcare back in the 1980’s and continued up until 2011, when she became paralyzed due to a mishap with a CT Myelogram. She adored all the children she babysat over the years, and I believe she touched every single one of their lives; they brought so much joy to her life, and I’m sure she brought a lot of joy to theirs. After being paralyzed in 2011, she was filled with grief, as she knew she would not be able to babysit anymore, and she had thought all her activities she loved, like card making, ceramic painting, and more would no longer be able to be done. It was a very difficult time for her for the first couple of years, but she got right back to the activities she loved; it took quadruple time, but she made it happen. After her passing, I had reached out to Color Me Mine to pick up the last projects she was working on. One of the staff there, who spent a lot of time helping her and conversing with her, had said she remembered my mom coming in and spending many days, and all day, on her pieces. She remembered how difficult it was for her, but how my mom was extremely patient and would never give up, and how passionate she was with it and how much joy it brought her. My mom was a strong woman who overcame many adversities in her childhood and during the rest of her life. Some of these drawbacks included an unfathomable childhood; a childhood car accident that left her with facial reconstructive surgery and complete dentures by the age of 9; severe scoliosis; 21 back surgeries; her paralysis; losing her home and almost 80% of her belongings in the year and a half right before she passed, due to the home she was renting being sold, all while she was in the hospital battling a severe staph infection; and being moved into an assisted living home, when all she ever wanted was to be in her own home and independent. I will never forget how, the last year before she passed, she walked blocks with her walker to see me give a presentation in Whittier. I told her she would be bored with the topic, but she insisted on coming to hear me speak. No matter how difficult things were, my mom pressed on and kept her faith. It was through her relationship with God that she had hope and faith in knowing that everything was in his control, and she was able to ease her anxieties in life, which was shown through her personal journal. I will always remember her tremendous strength in trying to overcome her extreme adversities in life. Take Aways Gifted to Me from my Mom: Not only was my mom gifted with creativity that she was able to use to show her love for others when she didn't know how to show love in conventional ways, but she was gifted with so much more that she hadn't come to realize! She was gifted with resiliency, strength and courage. I’ve learned many things throughout my life from my mom, but the 2 things that stick the most are to never give up with anything and to put forth 100% in everything I do. I hope she knew just how much I loved her; she is truly missed and is greatly loved.
Interative Questions:
Do you have an ancestor or family member that showed tremendous courage during challenging times? What have you learned from a trying experience, family member or ancestor? I'd love to read your comments below! More Family History Memoirs: Read this story from the beginning and find more family history stories under the Family History Memoirs category! Note: All photos are copyright protected and are owned by me and may not be downloaded, screenshot, or saved in any other way without my explicit permission  A Woman of Courage and Strength: A Mother’s Day Tribute Part 3 Continue with me in my first family history memoir/narrative from A Woman of Courage and Strength: A Mother's Day Tribute Part 2. The Turning Point:  My mom became a Christian and was baptized in 1988 at the church she had been attending, and she then officially became a member of the church. It was at this time, along with the birth of her first granddaughter, my oldest, whom she got to spend every weekend with, that was the most significant turning point in her life. It was a new beginning to all her past regrets and helped her to forgive and move on from her traumatic childhood that she had grappled with most of her life. She loved her children very much but had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren, they were the light of her life, and she supported them in everything they did. She never missed an activity of theirs or supporting them in some way or another! They were the biggest joy in her life.
Spreading Joy with the Gifts Given to Her:  I believe that everyone has a special gift, such as a talent or skill. What do you choose to do with your gifts? My mom loved using what she really believed to be her one gift, the gift of creativity, from God (revealed after her death in a personal journal) for the purpose of bringing joy to others. She incorporated this into teaching Sunday School and Early Childhood at her church, and she always thought up the most adorable new crafts and activities for them. She had a hard time showing her love in conventional standards, because of her childhood, but you could see how much she loved by the time she spent putting such detail into her thoughtful handmade cards and gifts for family and friends, and by the time she spent helping and supporting others. I will always cherish that she had figured out she had a special talent and that unknowingly, she used it to show her love in an unconventional way to bring joy to others by making things for her family and friends, and how much time she put into it. I will never forget how she watched my children for me, so I could finish up school- from the times she took the bus all the way to my place to watch them, to the time she underwent the medical training to be able to watch my youngest for me. It takes a strong person to be able to see light after being in the dark for so long. It was through her love of God and the quality time she got to spend with her grandchildren, that she became the softer, more caring, and compassionate woman that she was known by, and how she had finally come to know love and how to freely give it. You could see that in her interactions with her grandchildren and how she helped others. She visited the homebound, helped those dealing with chronic pain, and helped those dealing with physical challenges, all through programs offered through her church. She loved to help others and give back, and she made many friends along the way through her activities at church. Not only was she able to help and give hope to others, but unknowingly, she was able to do the same for herself.
Interative Questions:
Did you have a major turning point in your life that helped get you through tough times? Have you used a special talent or skill that you have to hep others? I'd love to read your comments below! Stay Tuned: Stay tuned for Part 4, the final part, in this month long memoir celebrating my mom, for a Mother's Day tribute Next Up: Tragedy Strikes, Another Test of Courage, and more Note: All photos are copyright protected and are owned by me and may not be downloaded, screenshot, or saved in any other way without my explicit permission |
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BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! 
Come visit me at Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family if you're interested in starting your family history journey, booking me for your next speaking event, or family history and genealogy heirloom products!
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January 2025
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family is dedicated to promoting family history and genealogy, while maintaining commitment to client care and professional service, and adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices put forth by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
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