Names are Important

I was reading a scripture this morning that struck me as speaking directly to ME.
From Helaman Chapter 5:6-7
"Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first ^aparents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were ^bgood.

7Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them."

It made me think about my name. I was named for my grandmothers, as my parents wanted to name me after the two women who meant the most to them, people to emulate and admire, as well as having a name that would inspire me to do that which is good, so that it will be said and written that I would be as my grandmothers were.

My grandmothers were ordinary women, as far as the world is concerned. However, they both were examples of loyalty, fidelity, strength, and love, having left the world a fine posterity and a wonderful example of how to live. They were not perfect, but they were striving to do and be better.

They had plenty that they could have complained about, but I did not hear them complain. They did not lament their lots in life but continued forward with the talents and gifts they were given.

My Grandma Starks had tragedy and adversity early in life. Her mother, Lillie, died when my grandmother was only 5 years old. She was the oldest child and many responsibilities fell upon her in her mother's absence. She loved her younger sister and brother. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. If she was here today, she would even have a great-great-grandchild. Grandma Starks loved babies and never let anyone leave her home hungry. She knew how to use every scrap, every bit of everything, and is an example to me of how to be happy with what you have, saving for things you need, and making people happy through their stomachs. :)

I want to leave a legacy of faith and love for my children. My grandmothers are both an example of what I want to become. I am so grateful I have their names and can remember them every time I hear my name, see my name, write my name. I am blessed.

I have named my children after people and places that are important to me, to our family. I hope that they will always remember to do something good with the names they have been given.

Dece

FamilySearch Indexing

I took a break from serious genealogy research during the holidays - between NaNoWriMo in November and then the Christmas holidays, I knew I did not have time to really DIG into genealogy...

Well, with the new year I was feeling down. Missing my mother took center stage and frustrations with daily life was weighing heavily on my mind. I needed something to focus on, something to help me feel "better". Of course I began with prayer. I wanted to do something for someone else. And I thought back to the Sundays when I would do FamilySearch Indexing before church.

So, I have decided that I will set aside a chunk of time every day to index. I think of all the hours I've spent at http://www.familysearch.org using the indexes and records that are available to the public, free of charge, to move forward in my genealogy search, and I am grateful for those who take a little time to index a census record, a batch of marriage records, and the like. Every name really does belong to SOMEONE and that SOMEONE may be an ancestor that you need to find out more information.

I've been working on marriage info in Illinois. Since I have kindred from Illinois, I felt like that would be a good series to work on. Some of these records have the names of parents, location of birth for the groom and bride, etc. What a treasure it would be to find that someone had indexed MY ancestors' information and then made it possible for me to find it! So, that is what I'm doing.

I am hoping that by helping with records, some windows and doors will open for me in my own genealogy research. I feel as though I'm at a brick wall with many of my names. I look at ancestry.com and only find people who have the same information as I do about my brick walls.

So, I'll focus on the indexing until I feel the push to begin back at my own lines. Who knows. Maybe I'll find my gg grandfather in one of these records I index! :)

BTW, my own grandfather became a Great-Great-Grandfather during December. I cannot imagine what it is like to see one's posterity grow into a fifth generation! And at the same time, I became a GrandAunt (great-aunt to the non-genealogist). It's exciting! :)

Dece