Happy New Year!

A Bright New Year and New Beginnings for Our Family Stories!

Happy New Year, dear family and fellow family history enthusiasts! As we step into 2026, I wanted to send the warmest wishes to all of you. May this year bring health, happiness, and many wonderful discoveries.

I know things have been quiet on the blog lately, but the hiatus is officially over.  Life got a bit noisy for a while, but I’m so ready to get back to it! I never stopped thinking about the next branch of the tree we need to climb. For 2026, I’m getting back on a regular schedule. I have a backlog of fascinating ancestors and dusty records to share, so stay tuned for a lot more updates. 

I’ve also spent the last week tidying up our digital home. I’ve made some updates so the site functions a bit more like a permanent archive rather than just a chronological blog. If you head up to the navigation menu, you’ll find new thematic collections. I've organized our history into sections like "Family Treasures" and a "Military Honor Roll" to make those specific stories easier to find and revisit.

 I’ve missed this, and I can't wait to dive back in with all of you.  Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey. Here's to a year filled with connection, remembrance, and the joy of our shared heritage!

#53: The Travels of Joseph & Vitula Davidson

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2025–28)

From Buckingham to the Banks of the James: The Travels of Joseph & Vitula Davidson

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of July 7 is "Travel".

#55: Religious Traditions - Charlotte Emilie Gustava Larsen

Charlotte Emilie Gustava Larsen: Faith, Family, and Resilience in 19th-Century Norway

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2025-30)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of July 21 is "Religious Tradtions". Let me introduce you to my 2X great-grandmother Charlotte Emilie Gustava Larsen.

#54: Sunday Obituary - Fredrick Gillen (1859-1941)

Legacy in the Empire State: The Life and Lineage of Fredrick Gillen (1859–1941)

Each Sunday, genealogy bloggers reflect on the lives of their ancestors through the lens of an obituary. Whether clipped from a newspaper or passed down through family lore, obituaries offer a unique snapshot of a person’s final chapter—and often hint at the rich life that came before. This week, I’m honoring my 2x great-grandfather, Fredrick Gillen, by expanding on his obituary with historical records, family connections, and personal reflections.

#52: Maj. John Finley, Revolutionary War Patriot and Kentucky Pioneer

July 4th Reflections: Honoring Maj. John Finley, Revolutionary War Patriot and Kentucky Pioneer

This Independence Day, I’m remembering one of my wife's direct ancestors whose life intersected with the birth of our nation — Major John Finley (1748–1837), a Revolutionary War soldier, explorer, and early Kentucky settler.