It's resolution time! 

On the eve of 2013, are you thinking about your family history?  Do you want to start researching your ancestry but don't know where to start? Do you want to find out if an old family legend is true? TurtleTrove can help you get started.

If you're new to family ancestry research or have it a roadblock in your research, going back to basics and remembering these were people with families will help in most cases.  Who were they related to through marriage and blood?  Villages, religious groups and families tended to move together so understanding where the group went and when will often help you find your ancestor. 

And get the family involved! 

This past summer my boys and I went with my Mom on a road trip to find the cemeteries where my Oregon ancestors are buried.  While that was a major goal, we made sure to spend time in the communities and historical museums where my ancestors lived.  We were able to get historic pictures of ancestors, connect with cousins we didn't know, and get a better idea of what it was like to live there 100 or more years before.  And of course there are the funny stories that also come along to make your ancestors real people. 

One thing we've done as a family is to get a large wall map of the United States and world and are marking where our ancestors came from.  It's fun to see how people and places connect for myself and the kids.  Then to get to visit those places in person leaves a lasting impression.  Many family ancestry researchers have big plans to travel to the "mother country" in Europe, Africa, etc.  Don't forget that for many of us there is a long history in the US and visiting those places also has great meaning.  We always look to see if there is a historic or family connection on trips.

Have a safe and happy new year!