Family History: Begin With You

It seems everyone is working on their family trees.  OK, so not everyone, but quite a few.  If you are one of the ones who haven't started then I have some tips to help you get the most out doing your own family history.

Start With You

I have been working on my family history for close to 30 years now.  It started out as a classroom assignment.  The assignment was for me to go and ask my parents about their parents, and to ask my grandparents about their parents.  That really is a good starting point, as your immediate relatives will more often than not have the information you need to further your research.  Start with yourself and work your way back in generations.

Make sure to record, either by taping or writing out, the memories of your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and cousins.  Often times the information they give you right now may seem useless, but later on when you run across a brick-wall, you will be glad that you had the information that Great-Aunt Irene shared with you about her favorite Uncle Johnny.

When recording this information don't forget to put down your own information.  Put down your spouses information and that of your children and grandchildren.  Sure you remember that information right now, but will you remember it when you are 99?

Search Your Home For Scrapbooks

Did you inherit the old cedar chest from Grandma?  Look inside!  There just may be a scrapbook or two in there.  Scrapbooks were kept by most families.  They could include not just photographs, but birth, death, and marriage certificates, school records, family bibles, diaries, letters, and newspaper clippings.  

Documenting Your Records

Yes, I know that today I looked at the census records of 1850 in Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri for my Great-Great-Grandfather Samuel Watson.  I know that I found him and recorded the information about his household.  Will I remember 6 months from now where I found it?  Probably not!

Documenting is for more than just remembering where you found it for yourself.  It also helps other researchers when they want to verify your information.  After all Cousin Nancy may have been told that Grandpa Sam was in Texas in 1850.

These are just a couple of strategies that I am sharing right now.  Come back next Sunday and I will share my interviewing techniques and the questions that I ask.

Home Management: Getting Started

It's time for me to admit something to you...

My home is disorganized....

It's time for me to change that.

I have tried several different systems to get myself and my home organized.  Nothing seems to work.  For the last three months I have been trying to figure out why that is.... I have the answer.  I don't stick with a system because those systems don't work for myself and for my family.  So, I have decided that I am going to create a system that works for me by combining the bits and pieces of the other systems that did work.

First Things First

I am a list maker.  I live by the lists that I create.  So, for me, the most logical place to start is with a list of every room in my house and all the things that need to be done in each room.  Take for example my bedroom.  So I am walking through my house today, room by room, and placing on my list all the things that I would like to get done.  Some of those things include:

• Master Bedroom closet
• Mine and Paul's dressers
• Office desk
• Kitchen junk drawer
• Entertainment center

Some of the areas on my list are going to take a few days to complete.  I am going to break those down into realistic chunks of time.  Doing that is going to allow me to cross more items off of my list, which in turn will allow me to feel like I am accomplishing something.  It will also keep me from feeling overwhelmed within the chaos of my home.

Now that I have my list, I am going to pick a room to start.  Because of my many sleepless nights, I am going to start with my Master Bedroom.  No, we don't currently use it as a Bedroom.  It is being used as a storage room.  With all the stuff in this room there is no room for me.

Getting Rewarded

Now that I have my list of what needs to be done in the Master Bedroom it is time to get started.  The next step is to set my reward.  (Nobody likes to feel as though they are doing something for nothing.)  My reward for completing everything on my Master Bedroom list is going out for a nice dinner with a couple of friends.

Setting a Deadline

The one thing I don't want to happen is for the list to just sit on my desk.  Setting timelines will help me to stay on track.  I am only going to set a timeline for the room that I am working on.  In this case, it's the Master Bedroom.  A realistic timeline for me will be five days from now -- September 10.

I can now use that deadline date to schedule smaller chunks of time to work on my Master Bedroom.  So I will now sit down with my daily planner and schedule those times.  Putting it on my calender will remind me to work on my list.

Here is what my organizing schedule looks like:

Saturday, September 6:  10 AM to 11 AM -- Clean out closet

Sunday, September 7:

Monday, September 8:  10 AM to 11 AM -- Clean out dressers

Tuesday, September 9:  10 AM to 11 AM -- Clean out nightstand / Clean under the bed

Wednesday, September 10:  10 AM to 11 AM -- Wipe down walls / ceiling

I will repeat this process for each area in my home.

Learning Self-Control

Esther: Chapter 5

Read Esther 5 here

People You Will Meet In This Chapter:

• Esther
• King Xerxes
• Haman
• Mordecai
• Zeresh, Mordecai's wife
• Mordecai's friends

God was in control, yet Mordecai and Esther had to act.  We cannot understand how both can be true at the same time, and yet they are.  God chooses to work through those willing to act for him.  We should pray as if all depended on God and act as if all depended on us.  We should avoid two extremes: doing nothing and feeling that we must do it all.

Hatred and bitterness are like weeds with long roots that grow in the heart and corrupt all of life.  Haman was so consumed with hatred toward Mordecai that he could not even enjoy the honor of being invited to Esther's party.  Scripture warns us to watch out "lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby may be defiled." (Hebrews 12:15)  Don't let hatred and its resulting bitterness build in your heart.  Like Haman you will find it backfiring against you.  If the mere mention of someone's name provokes you to anger, confess your bitterness as sin.  Ignoring bitterness, hiding it from others, or making superficial changes in behavior is not enough.  If bitterness isn't completely removed, it will grow back, making matters worse.

Haman's family and friends, who were as arrogant as he, suggested that the gallows be 50 cubits -- 75 feet -- high, built on the city wall or some prominent building.  They wanted to make sure that all the people of the city saw Mordecai's death and would be reminded of the consequences of disobeying Haman.  (Ironically, these high gallows allowed everyone to see Haman's death.)

Applying the Lesson

We need to realize that the battle for self-control is fought primarily within our own minds.  It is a battle of our passions, desires, and thoughts.  If we fail to get our emotions and appetites under control, we will fall to ruin.  We need to become disciplined in every area of our life.  Say no to the temptation to indulge every appetite.  Substitute an old habit with a new one: praise, don't complain; support, don't argue; encourage, don't brag.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the day you have given me; for the time I've been able to spend in Your Word.  I thank you for providing for all of my needs this day; I know I have no worries about tomorrow.  Father, my new life in You has already been more rewarding than I deserve.  I've learned so much about Your plan for my love, and of the love you have for me.  Father, please forgive me of all my sins, those known -- and those unknown.  Help me rid myself of my bitterness.  Teach me how to be forgiving.  Help me to learn self-control in all areas of my life.  In the name of Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.