i have always been interested in where my family on all sides of my tree came from. i knew that part of it was German and another part Irish. but since i started researching 3 weeks ago i now have over a thousand members in my tree. and three more countries to look at. because of another member on this site who is a direct relative. i got my first pictures of my fathers grandfather and grandmother and his children. these were pictures that i have never seen as we dont have copies. my children are starting to become interested in this project as well. and this project has brought me a little closer to my father as he is now talking about the things these people did. my sister and cousins have been researching our family much longer than i have. i get so excited when i get a leaf on ancestry.com or a picture from a site like this. it meant so much to my dad when i told him today about this site. he couldn't wait to see the picture of his granddad. now i wish i had listened more when my grandparents talked about our family. it makes it more personal. so get out your notebooks and write that oral history your grandmother and granddad is giving you on your next visit. someday you may want to see who your related to. better yet bring along a tape recorder and a digital camera. make it a personal project to teach your kids listening skills writing photography history spelling skills. the truth is they are from our past and we are their future.