I love to look at profile Photos. PLEASE explain, who, when, what, and where.

Thank you.

THE STORY TELLERS

We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors – to put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.

We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one.

We have been called by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: tell our story. So we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me?

I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation.

It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe is called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.

That is why I do genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.

This poem is attributed to different authors, but it is believed to have been written in 1943, and edited by Thomas Dunn.

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Someday, everything will make perfect sense, so, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, be strong, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.

'Author John Mayer

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"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

"The Lord bless you and keep you,

The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you,

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."

Numbers 6 : 24-26 NKJV

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I was born in Darlington, Montgomery County, Indiana. I was raised on Bernard Ridge, Russell Springs, Russell County, Kentucky.

I live in Anderson, IN.

My ancestors are: Stephens and Coffey (on both sides of the family), McQueary, Tarter, Wilson and, I am connected, in some way, to just about every other family in Russell Co., Kentucky

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Sincerely, thank you, to all you wonderful geneologist who do so much research. Without you, my family "trees" would not have grown from the small acorns to the mighty oaks. You have unselfishly answered so many questions for me. I have benefited so much from your superior knowledge. May God bless every one of you.

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Pl-eas-e-e, stealing an obituary from a newspaper?

Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports.

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Prayer for Genealogists

Lord, help me dig into the past

And sift the sands of time

That I might find the roots that made

This family tree of mine.

Lord, help me trace the ancient road

On which my fathers trod

And led them through so many lands

To find our present sod.

Lord, help me find an ancient book

Or dusty manuscript

That's safely hidden now away

In some forgotten crypt.

Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts

My soul when I can't find

The missing link between some name

That ends the same as mine.

--by Curtis Woods

I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don't have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don't have a curfew. I have a driver's license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant and I don't have acne. Life is great. I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.

Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers.

I didn't make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row. I decided to stop calling the bathroom "John" and renamed it the "Jim". I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.

Old age is coming at a really bad time.

When I was a child I thought "nap time" was a punishment. Now it feels like a small vacation.

The biggest lie I tell myself is... " I don't have to write that down, I'll remember it".

I don't have gray hair... I have "wisdom highlights"! I'm just very wise.

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would've put them on my knees.

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet.

Why do I have to press one for English when you're just going to transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway?

Of course, I talk to myself. Sometimes I need expert advice.

At my age "Getting Lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I came In there for.

I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can't remember their names.

Now, I'm wondering... did I steal this memo from you, or did you steal it from me?

Credit - original owner