For years, I thought I was simply doing family history research. I interviewed relatives. I scanned photographs. I organized documents. I collected funeral programs. I preserved school memorabilia. I wrote about my discoveries on my blog and shared them through my podcast. It wasn't until recently that I learned the word stewardship. Stewardship means caring... Continue Reading →
My Birthday Celebration – Looking Back Before Looking Ahead
As my birthday approaches each year, I find myself doing what I suspect many family historians do best, looking back. Usually, I'm looking back at the lives of my ancestors, searching for another clue or preserving another story. This year, however, I found myself looking back at a different story...my own. When I started researching... Continue Reading →
Relative Race Season 17 Premiers Sunday, September 13, 2026
If you have been following my blog or podcast for anytime at all, then you know how much I love the TV show Relative Race. Relative Race is a genetic DNA reality show. It consists of four teams that are racing across America in search for their relatives that they have never met before. They have all... Continue Reading →
When Family History Becomes a Gift During Times of Grief
Most people think of family history as a way to preserve the past. We spend years researching our ancestors, scanning old photographs, organizing documents, and recording family stories so future generations will know where they came from. But over the years, I've discovered that family history can also become an unexpected gift during one of... Continue Reading →
Wordless Wednesday – Family Vacation Memories Made
Mays Cummings 2026 Family Vacation
Back to Research: Where Were My Ancestors in 1776?
Over the past several months, much of my genealogy time has been spent writing instead of researching. Now that my writing projects are wrapping up, I'm excited to get back to what started this journey fifteen years ago - researching my family history. Earlier this year, I introduced my 2026 research challenge, "Do You Know... Continue Reading →
Wordless Wednesday – It’s Our Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip D. Cummings - Newport, AR 2000
Including Genealogy Research in Your Summer Fun
When I think of summer, I think of vacations, long weekends, road trips, and day trips. It's during the summer months that many people are planning trips to beaches, national parks, and family reunions. Family historians have a unique opportunity to add a little genealogy to their travel plans. Whether you're taking a cross-country vacation,... Continue Reading →
Celebrating America 250
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, many families will gather to celebrate Independence Day with reflection, gratitude, and tradition. It is a milestone that invites us to look back at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and consider how far the nation has come since that moment. For family historians,... Continue Reading →
Celebrating Juneteenth Through Family History
Each year, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on freedom, resilience, and the sacrifices made by those who came before us. While many people celebrate by attending community events, festivals, and family gatherings, I believe it can also be a meaningful time to connect with our family history. As genealogists, we spend countless hours researching... Continue Reading →