We are Relative Race fans

Anyone else watching Relative Race tonight? Check out our latest YouTube video about it this fun show from BYUtv:

http://youtu.be/it1HESP_UkM

#relativerace 

#byutv

Kids can be genealogy teachers

The time has come for the young people, (who were born with an uncanny ability to use computers, could swipe their fingers across a screen by the time they were a few days old, and could practically surf the web by the time they were two, who innately understand all things technical, especially if it involves a smartphone or tablet) to be genealogists.  More importantly, it's time for them to be genealogy teachers.

What's better than a kid appreciating his heritage and understanding where to go to look for information about his own history? The benefits to him are immense. But, there's something better. If he can take that knowledge and share it with someone else, now the benefits are shared, and the kid has become a teacher ... his confidence has grown and he's discovered the joy of doing something for someone other than himself (which is really saying something for a teenager!)

My 13-year old son and I are sitting at the local family history center tonight volunteering to teach others. He's having a grand time and he just made this elderly gentleman very happy by showing him how to navigate his family tree online.

-Jana

Favorite FamilySearch Features

Yesterday, the FamilySearch blog posted this lovely article, featuring yours truly.  Check it out!

https://familysearch.org/blog/en/millennials-share-favorite-familysearch-tools-preserving-family-memories/#comment-1523787

Interviewing my grandpa

This week I asked my grandpa what life was like for him when he was a kid.  I asked him to tell me what his favorite activities were, what chores he did, what he did with friends, and where he lived. I found out a lot of things I didn't know.

Ken Hardman as a kid

Grandpa lived in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley. He had a stingray banana seat bicycle that he rode down hills. For chores, he cleaned his room, took out trash, swept his dad's cabinet shop, and fed the rabbit.

Grandpa vacationed in National Parks in a camper that his dad made! He and his friends would play marbles, ride bikes, fly kites in the baseball field behind the church, and sneak into the church on weekdays to see if there was any food left from the socials the weekend before.

Sounds like Grandpa had a pretty cool childhood.

-Nathan

John Ault ... from Doveridge to Cedar Fort

John Ault, my great-great-great-grandfather lost his mother when he was just three years old.  At the age of nine, he left his poor shoemaker father in their hometown of Doveridge, and started working on the railroad.  Eventually he found himself a couple of counties away where he met the Tirrells of Wicken, Northamptonshire.  He married Rachel Tirrell and together they moved their young family to America.  John worked for railroads in Utah and they settled in Cedar Fort.   I love Cedar Fort.  Each time I drive through that pretty valley (not far from my home), I think of John and try to picture the railroad that used to pass through.  My little boys love to play with trains ... maybe they got it from the Ault side of the family!  Perhaps someday we'll travel to Doveridge, England where we'll picture young John riding away on the railway to his future ...

#ancestorclips

#ancestorclips

Our grandpa is a writer and a genealogist.  He has created this template to help people write short, meaningful, powerful stories about their ancestors.  Try it out and don't forget to use the hashtag #ancestorclips when you share on social media or anywhere.

I think we'll try it out in our next post!!

His blog is: www.krhardman.wordpress.com

Teaching our friends

Today we visited our friends and taught them how to find their family members on FamilySearch. Now they're just as addicted to this stuff as we are. All the cool 10-year olds do family history.

And now I'm staying up past my bedtime 'cause I can't quit. I'm turning into my mom. -SAM