Mission: Retreat, relax and rejuvenate....

Full speed ahead has been my motto for the last eight months. I plunged into numerous projects which I love, however the pace has been dizzying. I mention this only to explain to you how exhausted I feel and how I need a break before I transition (read as leap) into my next endeavor. Here is a short list:

• I wrote, edited and illustrated a coloring book.
• I organized, edited and published the commemorative anniversary book Thirty Years in the Desert for our local historical society and led the chapter celebration event.
• I promoted a coloring contest to celebrate the publication of Maggie Visits Grandpa.
• I assisted many friends and historians with their projects.
• And, did exceptionally well at my day job

Now, I need a little bit of time for just me. And, my two wonderful daughters. This weekend, courtesy of a marvelous award from my company, we will enjoy an unpredecented getaway. The unlimited tennis weekend at The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Arizona has a reservation in our name. Isn't Carefree the perfect name of the spot to experience this? Family memories will be made and cherished for a lifetime this weekend. Here are simply a few of the highlights:

• Luxurious casita accommodations.
• Unlimited tennis on the five premier cushions and three classic clay courts.
• Complimentary access to the award-winning Golden Door Spa, including fitness facility, adult pool, steam rooms and Niwa pool.
• Click on the title of this blog entry and you will disocver more.

So, I will be away from computers, cell phones, lan lines and demands on my time. Only the urgency of a walk through a labyrinth maze, a meal of organic, Arizona grown food, and perhaps a massage of choice at the spa will beckon me. Retreat, relax and rejuvenate. That is my mission this weekend. Did I mention the clay tennis courts? If I meet up to Rafael Nadal, I may never come back.

Anniversaries are so worth celebrating....

Anniversaries. Whatever your opinion of the event, anniversaries are life's milestones...an opportunity to pause, ponder and revel in the essence of our life.

I experienced such an opportunity with seventy Germans from Russia yesterday. The Arizona Sun Chapter celebrated its 30 year anniversary at the Black Forest Mill Inn in Phoenix, Arizona. Sauerbraten, Jaeger schnitzel and black forest torte abundantly dressed our tables as did the new publication Thirty Years in the Desert, a compilation of our member's family stories.

The celebration was sparked with comraderie and joy in our common heritage. The Arizona Sun Chapter's second President, Lewis R. Marquardt, Ph.D., and his wife, Dona Reeves-Marquardt graced us with their wit and wisdom.

Lew was born and raised in North Dakota, the eldest son of a German-Russian father and an Irish mother; his paternal grandparents migrated to the Dakota Territories in 1888. Lew grew up among Black Sea Germans and spent his early years teaching instrumental music in South Dakota, and Interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities at Arizona State University at Tempe. After the death of his first wife in 1984, he married Dona. Lew and Dona have traveled extensively in Germany, France and Europe seeking ancestral villages, art museums and the phenomenon of foreign culture. Lewis a Charter member and a Life member of AHSGR, as well as a Life Member of GRHS.

Dona Reeves-Marquardt, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, is Professor Emerita at Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, where she taught German language and literature many years. Primarily of Volga-German ancestry, she has published articles on the language, history and culture of Germans from Russia. Dona has translated major works in that area, including Peter Sinner’s Germans in the Land of the Volga and Gottlieb Beratz’ The German Colonies on the Lower Volga with LaVern Ripley and Leona Pfeifer. Her grandparents immigrated in 1876 from Volga villages to Russell county, KS. She was a Fulbright scholar at Johannes Gutenberg Universität in Mainz, Germany and has studied and traveled extensively in Germany, to her ancestral villages.

Lew reminisced about the early beginnings of the Arizona Sun Chapter. While only a few founding members like Joe Schwan are with us, we honored their memory and their service to the chapter. Then, he and Dona compared the differences between Black Seas Germans and Volga Germans. To the uninitiated, it may seem odd to have subsets exist within the unique Germans from Russia, however Lew and Dona compared, contrasted and demonstrated clearly that despite the differences, there are many more similarities.

Bonding, learning and sharing. Lew and Dona inspired the next generation at our anniversary event. And, isn't that what tracking our family history is all about?

Now that my football season is over....

I am ready get back to researching and documenting my family history. That is, if I can put the Packer loss to the Giants out of my mind. It may take a couple more days... perhaps even the Super Bowl will have to pass. It will be difficult this year since the Super Bowl will be played in my own back yard in Glendale, Arizona. Let the media frenzy begin without me.

OK, not exactly my back yard, but as close as someone in Arizona gets to the Super Bowl. And, I should be happy for the Manning family history. How many Dads have a son on different teams in two consecutive Super Bowls? But, enough about the Mannings. This year, I am nearly as disappointed as the Atlanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys NFC championship game where my cousin Steve, as quarterback, just missed the Super Bowl. At least Brett Favre had two Super Bowl appearances.

Alas, I did certainly have some great memories as I watched yesterday's game. I remembered the picture in Lombardi's Run to Daylight book of my Dad and Uncle Fred freezing in the Lambeau field stands during the 1967 Ice Bowl. Or, how about seeing Bart Starr as the honorary captain yesterday? My Dad took my sister and I to the training camps for the Packers in the 1960s. To this day I remember how patient and kind and good looking Bart Starr was to all of the kids who wanted his autograph. I waited in line twice and am proud of the two signatures. My red autograph book is filled with names like Ray Nitschke, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Max McGee, Lionel Aldridge, and Jim Taylor. I was always jealous of my sister who managed to get Vince Lombardi's signature. I missed him, probably while I chased Bart Starr.

Ok, I guess with memories like these and of the friends and family with whom I have enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday, I suppose I can watch one more football game this season. I may have more memories tied to sports than any other event. What is your favorite sports memory with your family? Please share with me as we prepare for the Super Bowl and....let the media frenzy begin..

Sympathetic symptoms....Part II

Listened to disc 9 of The Worst Hard Time today. Just out of curiosity, have you ever read or listened to a book where you felt so transported in time, you actually experienced sympathetic symptoms? Or, did you ever have a situation like I did last Saturday, when I watched the Packer-Seahawks game, and when I walked outside afterwards, I couldn't believe it wasn't snowing? I would like to hear your stories. The mind is powerful and what we put into it comes out in many different ways.

Sympathetic symptoms....

I started to cough today. But, I don't think I am really sick. I believe I have sympathetic symptoms.

Let me explain. The latest audio book I am listening to during my commute is The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. There are 10 discs and I am up to disc 8.

Before listening to this book, I thought I had an idea what the Dust Bowl was. However, I was mistaken. I knew the drought caused problems for farmers, but I had no idea of the scope of the dilemma. Dust pneumonia, death, and anxiety were a way of life in the 1930's in the southern plains. Loss of breath and blindness occurred. There was constant cough through the entire region. Dust infiltrated fields, houses, livestock and people.

A friend recommended this book because some settlers of the Dust Bowl shared my German Russian ancestry. I know my ancestors suffered in Russia. Unfortunately, those who moved to the Oklahoma and Texas experienced the horror of drought and dust.

This book is an outstanding collection of in-depth research which invokes gratitude for every breath you take whether your ancestry revolves around the Dust Bowl or not. My little cough is merely my sympathetic reaction to wanting to clear my lungs as I hear more and more of the dramatic struggle for survival. I will be just fine when I finish disc 10.

Have you turned in your coloring contest entry?

As mentioned last month, Maggie's Adventure Coloring Contest is underway! You can win a $25 gift card for art supplies from Michael's Art and Craft Store and a copy of Maggie Visits Grandpa, A coloring adventure.

By popular demand, new age brackets were added to ensure artists of every age would be included. Age brackets are:

• Ages 2-5
• Ages 6-9
• Ages 10-14
• Ages 15-18
• Ages 18-25
• Over 25

Gather the entire family together for coloring night. It's been proven that coloring spurs creativity and generates the benefits of a meditative state. It's cheaper than therapy and a lot more fun.

Coloring is the ideal vehicle to spark interest in family history and art for kids of all ages. It is a common denominator of all cultures. Have you seen the latest crayola crayons? Not only is color listed in English, but the same word is also labeled in French and Spanish.

And, who couldn't find a fun way to spend $25 at Michael's? Your artistic efforts may just boomerang into more fun and imaginative projects. For full rules and entry form, visit http://maggiesadventure.blogspot.com/

Rabbit Rabbit...Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I hope 2008 finds you happy and healthy. If you haven’t already made (or broken) some New Year’s resolutions, I have five ideas to recommend to family historians.

1) Make plans to find a way to learn more about your ancestry. For me, it means attending the annual German from Russian conference. Make your reservations today! I plan to attend the AHSGR/GRHS conference in Casper, Wyoming from July 28 to August 3. This is destined to be a historic event as the two organizations join together for one fabulous event. For more details, visit http://ahsgr.org/convention.htm or http://www.germansfromrussia.net/2008_Convention/2008%20Convention.htm.

2) Celebrate your ancestry locally! I plan to attend the Arizona Sun Chapter 30 year anniversary meeting. Guest speakers, Lewis R. Marquardt and Dona Reeves-Marquardt, will present “Reminiscences,” highlighting the early years of the chapter as Lew remembers it, and a comparison of the Volga and Black Sea Germans. The meeting is at the Black Forest Mill German Restaurant, 4900 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018 at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 9. All attendees will receive a complementary copy of our 30 year anniversary book entitled Thirty Years in the Desert. Our meal includes the following:
· Beverage including soft drinks, iced tea or coffee
· Caesar Salad or German Potato Soup,
· A choice of entree
o Smothered Chicken
o Jaeger Schnitzel (pork)
o Smoked Pork Chop
· Apple Strudel with Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream.

Cost for the luncheon is $25 which includes tax and gratuity. Please send your paid reservation to Ed Bischoff before January 12th.

3) Resolve to travel to experience more of our world and to learn about our ancestors. For me this means to plan for a trip to Argentina this fall with the AHSGR. The 13 day trip is still in the planning stages. A tentative itinerary was in the latest AHSGR newsletter.

4) In preparation for future travel, resolve to spend an hour or two per week learning or brushing up on a foreign languager. For me, German, Spanish or Russian are natural choices. My plan is to refresh my Spanish skills. Language skills are a wonderful asset as we can help to translate documents and build bridges around the globe for our research efforts.

5) And, last but not least, resolve to track back one more generation of your family history. Retrace your previous steps and look for clues and hints which may not have been obvious the first time around. Recheck entire passenger lists, attend genealogical meetings for additional information, and talk to your fellow researchers. Links can come from any sources and let’s be open to all of the opportunities.

So, as we enter 2008, let’s make this year one of the very best for you. Ich wunsche euchgluckseeliges neujahr, langes leben und gesundkeit, frieden und einigkeit. Happy New Year!

Reading, writing and coloring....just what the doctor ordered

What a wonderful day! Finally, my day to do what I want. My goal, as I mentioned yesterday, was to color.

I started my day quietly avoiding my laptop. I rejoiced at my reserve. I sipped my coffee and read one of my Christmas gifts, the new Shirley MacLaine book, Sage-ing while Age-ing. http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/. As the proud owner of all of Shirley's previous books, I was delighted to sit back and start her latest venture. Her insight on the interconnectedness and synchronicity of life mirror my unexpressed thoughts. More on the book another day.

As a break from my book, I succumbed to check my email. This quote by Joan Hiatt Harlow was my daily quote from NAWW.

"Talent is one thing, the drive to express it another."

The quote certainly spoke to me. How many people say they could do so and so, but can't find the time? Don't we all have 24 hours in a day? Why do some people accomplish it, while others shrug it off? The drive and the choice to express is the key.

Now I was ready to color. (If you are not familiar with the health benefits of coloring, please be sure to review Stop! And smell the crayons at http://members.cox.net/infiniteadventure/STOP.htm)


I choose to color Catherine the Great. I selected my colors carefully from my daughter's new 64 count Crayola box. As I checked the label for the skin tone color I used, I wondered why the color name was so long. It wasn't until I picked out the blue, that I realized why. The crayon was labeled blue, azul and bleu. Not only were the Crayola people wise enough to write the color in English, they included the Spanish and French colors on every crayon.

From a marketing perspective, this is a stroke of genius. Children around the world can learn the basics of a foreign language when they color. Crayola only needs one label to cover three major languages. Crayons manufactured here can be used globally. What a fabulous way to demonstrate international diversity and build interconnectedness. So, as I color my picture of a famous world leader born in Germany, ruled in Russia, I used these colors:

• Hair--Chestnut, Castana, Marron
• Skin--Peach, Durazno, Peche
• Lips-Carnation Pink, Rosado Clavel, Rose Ceillet
• Sash--Pacific Blue, Azula Pacifico, Bleu Pacifique
• Bodice--Purple Mountain Majesty, Montanas purpuras Majestuosas, Majestueuses Montagnes pour pres
• Background-Mauvelous, Malvavilloso, Mauveilleux

If that does not give one a sense of interconnectedness, what does? Something as simple as a crayon expresses what we often forget. It is a small, interconnected world.

One more check on the email. My other quote for the day has arrived.

The purpose in life, then, is not the gratifying of appetites nor of any selfish desires, but it is that the entity, the soul, may make the earth, where the entity finds its consciousness, a better place in which to live. Edgar Cayce Reading 4047-2

Nothing the doctor prescribes could ever be as good as this day.

Creativity in progress....

Christmas Day passed quickly. My week was filled with family, however a good portion of my time was devoted to following through on a prior commitment. I committed to edit and publish the 30 year anniversary book for the Arizona Sun Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. While I enjoyed the process and value the end result, I really wanted to goof off and do whatever I wanted during this break from my day job. I really wanted to color and draw.

So, I was a bit of a grump after the excitement of Christmas Day. I tried to enjoy the days, but instead I focused on section breaks, page numbers and photo captions. I barely took the time away from my laptop to visit the Jim Henson Fantastic World exhibit at the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa, but I was glad I did.

What an awe inspiring exhibit. I loved the drawings and doodles Jim did all of his life. He used legal lined paper or napkins to make some of his creations. Did you know he ran a poster service during his college years? The exhibit was outstanding and a hit with kids and adults. My oldest daughter is a fanatic Muppet fan from Sesame Street to the Muppets Take Manhattan to the the Muppets Christmas Carol (which we watched on Dec. 26th). Jim died when she was only four years old, however to this day I remember how I shared the news with her. The exhibit sparked memories, family history and respect for the wonderful process of creativity. Jim's life is a beautiful example of how one's creations, small or large, move you to the next phase of your life.

Tonight, I finished the book and now await my proof copy. Thank goodness! My creativity on this project is complete and I am ready to move on to the next project. Now I have 3 days which I can devote to my new choices....playing tennis, cleaning my room, coloring and drawing.

Christmas and Coloring

The two C's of December converge as we get closer and closer to Christmas break. I am almost ready to leave my work life behind, only one more day left (or so I hope...I should be on vacation starting tomorrow, but the demands of corporate life beckon me for one more day).

I bask in the glow of the holiday lights and visions of holiday time filled with wrapping the presents, finalizing food preparation to be followed by the wonderful relaxation. I will imbibe in a glass or two of holiday cheer, get to some of those "I've been meaning to's" on my list, and set aside some time for drawing and coloring, the ultimate relaxation. What could be better than looking forward to it?

Plus, I was thrilled to find my latest Maggie Visits Grandpa coloring book on the North Dakota Library site. Thanks to Michael Miller who has been such an advocate for research and information on Germans from Russia. To check out the site yourself, please visit http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/grhc/order/general/maggievisitsgrandpa.html. There is such thorough information here, you could be caught until Christmas, so set the timer so you still have time to relax and color.

Private caller....

So, I was checking my email last night and the phone rang. It said private caller, so I almost didn't answer. Maybe it was exhaustion after a long work week, but I decided to answer.

Someone asked for me by name and I asked who was calling? He started to talk about Germans from Russia so I knew he had the right person.

After a few minutes, I discovered my new friend grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (just like me) and knew my grandmother. His mother was her good friend and knew her pre-1925 when my grandfather lived in Sheboygan.

I learned that Sheboygan was the ideal place for Germans from Russia to settle because in the spring and summer they would grow and harvest the beets, then in the winter they would work at Kohler. In those days, Kohler would stock up on inventory in the winter months and needed winter workers. I know when my grandmother came to the United States she traveled to Fresno, Flint, and many other areas to work the fields so the story made sense to me.

Kohler is a small village outside of Sheboygan. My father, uncles and aunt worked there for many years so again the story is very realistic since both the Dalhaimers and the Herzogs worked there. Kohler was a small, company-owned village which has evolved into a beautiful, picturesque corporate town. I loved it as a young child so much that when I visited Sheboygan last April, I ate dinner at the Horse and Plow. restaurant in the heart of the American Club. For more information, visit http://kohler.com/ and http://www.akohlerexperience.com/. The gorgeous web sites are exquisitely done which gives you true insight into the Kohler family. The history of the village merits another story on another day.

My new contact, Ray, was a friend of my Uncle Freddy and they played basketball in the alley behind the house. Ray said he remembered my Uncle John, who he called Johnny, as the best looking of the athletic Dalhaimer boys. John was well known for his "horrible temper." (I could probably write a book on the Dalhaimer temper at some point, with most of the evidence coming from my Uncle Zeaman, Uncle Fred and myself, not necessarily in that order).

If the kids were playing basketball and they saw John coming, they left the area until John was done with whatever John was doing. My friend knew John was killed in World War II, as was another good friend named Klunk. I know I have a picture of of Klunk with my Dad in their military uniforms, but I had assumed Klunk was a nickname. John hung out with Huntzie Klunk and Kaiser, both of whom were killed in the war.

Ray described German Russian weddings at the 99 Hall, ties with Reimers, Ruppels, Bruder Reimer and how he knew the Knaubs (Jacob, John, Gottlieb known as Ace, Emily and Gubby).

His mother and my grandmother were members of the Volga Aid Society group. As a young girl, I remember my grandmother quilting in her living room with these women. I remember how important those meetings were to her and I could not disturb her during those times. Ray said this group was a focal point of their lives. They had coffee together, met often and marched in 4th of July parades in uniforms with zorro style capes and tams. Apparently my grandmother knew how to have a good time with some of the stunts she did with this group.

His mother also knew why my grandmother married Gottlieb Bauer, her second husband, who was Lutheran. Many of the German Russians who settled in Sheboygan were from Reinwald, which was a Lutheran village. My grandmother was from Mariental, which was Catholic, and Catholics were the German Russian minority in Sheboygan. Unfortunately, there was not another German Russian Catholic in the entire town, so my grandmother married Gottlieb.

Ray also knew Herman Schneider who was the brother of my mother's best friend, Lydia. There were many more anecdotes we shared during our hour on the telephone. Some of the best news was that Ray attended the AHSGR conference in Hays, Kansas, as I did, and will attend the next conference in Casper, Wyoming. For updates on the convention, visit http://www.germansfromrussia-casper.blogspot.com/. I look forward to meeting him. When I answered the phone last night, little did I know what private information this caller would bring. Private and fascinating.

Grab your crayons and join Maggie's Coloring Contest

Too much holiday stress? Countdown to the holiday coming too quickly?

Stop! And smell the crayons. What can compare to a new crayon box…the aroma, the freshly sharpened points of each crayon, the aligned organization of the brand new colors. Your unique coloring talent can bring you wonderful rewards when you join Maggie's Coloring Contest.

As part of the celebration of my latest book, Maggie Visits Grandpa, I am sponsoring a coloring contest for kids from age 2 to 102. It’s proven that coloring reduces stress, so it makes sense to have a coloring contest overlap with one of the more stressful times of year. And, part of Maggie's adventure is hearing about her family history.

Here are some of the details:

Entry Procedure

1. Each artist may submit one entry

2. Each entry form must be filled in completely and include the parent’s name and signature for entrants under age 18.

3. Entry form needs to include:

• Name of artist
• Address
• City, State, Zip,
• Telephone number
• E-mail address (optional for contest updates)
• Age of artist (on Feb. 9, 2008)
• If under age 18, Parent’s Name and Signature

4. Drawings will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope for first class mail is included.

5. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

6. Entry forms are available at the following locations in Chandler, Arizona
· Way 2 Play Café, 940 E. Riggs Road, Chandler, Chandler, AZ 85249, NE corner of Riggs and McQueen, way2playcafe.com.

· Java Spot, 1915 E Chandler Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85225.

· Mind over Splatter, Historic Downtown Chandler, 64 South San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ, mindoversplatter.com.

· T’z Marketplace, Historic Downtown Chandler, 58 San Marcos Pl. Chandler, AZ 85225, tzmarketplace.com· Michaels, The Arts & Crafts Store, 3771 S. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85296, michaels.com.

*Signs by Tomorrow, 1929 E. Ray Rd. - Suite 4, Chandler, AZ 85225.
www.signsbytomorrow.com/chandler

7. Also, the entry form can be downloaded from this site.

Prizes

Six first-place awards will be given for entries in the following age brackets:

Ages 2-5, Ages 6-9, Ages 10-14, Ages 15-18, Ages 18-25, over 25

First place winners will receive a $25 Michael’s gift card and a copy of the new coloring book, Maggie Visits Grandpa by Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski. One runner-up in each age bracket will receive a copy of Maggie Visits Grandpa. Winning artwork will be posted on members.cox.net/infiniteadventure. The judges’ decisions are final.

Winners will be notified by telephone.

Deadline

The deadline for receipt of entries is 5 p.m. February 9, 2008. Entries received after this time and date will not be entered in the contest. Send all entries to: Infinite Adventure, 6043 S. Danielson Way, Chandler, AZ 85249 or scan and email drawing and entry form to maggies_adventure@cox.net. No purchase necessary to enter or to win.

More information on Maggie Visits Grandpa to come. Or, visit the Web site at http:members.cox.net/infininteadventure.

December 1st...only 24 days til Christmas!*@!!

Rabbit, Rabbit! Ok, I had to say that first. Now onto our real topic of the day.

I like to think I am in control of my life. So, how did I let it get to be December 1st? I really do plan and have many things done for the holidays, but I have no idea how December 1st came so quickly.

November 1 was on a Thursday which made Thanksgiving on the earliest possible date it can be. So I actually had more time than usual between turkey and the first. I fear the countdown of days will continue to pass quickly.

Perhaps the time has flown past because I have just finished my second book. I am doing all of the things a writer needs to do to get the word out about it. One of my fun ways of sharing the publishing news will be introduced on this blog tomorrow so stay tuned. With that and all of the other holiday plans, I may have entered a time warp and sped forward by accident.

Since my Seven Habits training and Sacramento trip in November, I plan better, I prioritize better, and I have eliminated all Quadrant IV activities. So, I am in control of my life. However, I still cannot control the date on the calendar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's my Thanksgiving wish for you! I hope Thanksgiving brings you:

• Family, friends with loads of laughter and relaxation
• New memories combined with established family traditions
• Awe as you watch the new Macy's Day parade
• Fabulous food combined football
• A Packer victory
• Capped off with a fabulous new segment of Ugly Betty

Oh, wait! That's my wish for myself! I hope each and every one of you has the Thanksgiving Day you dream of. Enjoy!

Interview with NAWW

After another hectic work week I was delighted to return home from Sacramento to find that my interview with the National Association of Women Writers was posted on their web site. Here is a link if you would like to check it out:

http://naww.org/blog/naww-member-interview-anna-bartkowski

A few days in California...

I traveled to California this week for my day job to participate in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People workshop. I originally attended a Seven Habits workshop many years ago after the book's debut.

Today we covered Habits 1 and 2. Be Proactive and Begin with the end in Mind. It is amazing how much I remember. It is also amazing to me how my goals and objectives are clearer to me this time around.

My focus on family history, memories, writing and publishing have integrated completely into my lifestyle. All of my free time is spent on my true pleasures. I no longer veer off course, as I did 17 years ago.

What a blessing! I can enjoy the workshop for the next two days with the confidence that I am living my legacy.

I took a couple of days off....

After my 31 days adventure. October flew past me with so many tips, ideas, and baseball games. So, I took a few days off from my blog to regroup. I tried many of the tips and still have many to incorporate into my family history research.

I've accomplished so much. Here is a brief list of which I am quite proud:

• Mailed my picture of unknown Russian men to Photo Detective Maureen Taylor for her expert investigation. http://www.maureentaylor.com/
• Uncovered a great web site honoring the war heroes of Saipan in World War II which I accidentally found when I googled my uncle's name. See for yourself at http://www.nps.gov/archive/amme/court_of_honor/unit46_plate9column5.html
• Requested military records for my father and uncle.
• Started and made a significant dent in my photograph archiving.

This list assures me I have made process and yet there is so much more I want to do. I just need to pace myself.

And, sometimes, when I think I am the only one concerned about history, a close friend, Mitzi Kleidon, gives me a wonderful magazine entitled The Writer. In the December 2007 issue, the cover headline is "Write a Family History." The features explains why it is the best time ever for this pursuit. Inside you learn step by step how to write your family history. This story eases the way for individuals who say they don't know how to write to capture their memories. Check it out for yourself at http://www.writermag.com/wrt/

One of the best ideas shared in a sidebar story (which I wish I had thought of myself in October) is to write birthday letters each year for each of your children. It is a beautiful thought. The letters will be treasured heirlooms for generations. It requires a bit less time than a daily journal and certainly gives a yearly perspective of a child's life. The letters can be saved and given on an milestone birthday or other special occasion. I know I will add it to my "to do" list.

Tip # 31...Establish new family traditions for Family History Month every October

First things first. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We made it through all 31 tips in 31 days of October. Plenty of the ideas from this blog will help you maintain momentum to share your heritage through the entire year.

This last tip needs a family vote to determine how to implement it. I recommend you hold a family meeting to ensure you have every one's input.

First, review the 31 tips on how to celebrate family history month. If you have sampled any of the ideas, you may already have some favorite ways to celebrate.

Second, discuss the 31 ways with family members. What were their likes, dislikes, etc. The discussion should focus on building a win-win solution if there are differences in opinion.

Third, choose one idea, maybe from these 31 tips or something your family uniquely creates, that you can build as your own family tradition. Each family member casts one vote.

Fourth, implement the tradition every October for Family History Month. And, be sure to let me know what fabulous traditions your family will create!

Tip # 30...Set up a schedule to spend time with the boxes you have in storage

It is the day before Halloween and the last thing you want to do is go through storage boxes. I understand. But part of our celebration of Family History Month, especially as it draws to a close, is to set plans to keep family history a part of our everyday lives.

So, today's tip is an easy one. Spend five minutes building a plan to spend time with those boxes. You know the ones that were tossed in the back of the closet, left on the shelves in the garage, or stored in rental space. Decide today whether you will spend an hour a week, two hours a month or one Saturday every quarter going on a treasure hunt in your own house. Just like you plan to mop the kitchen and cut the grass, create the time and the reminders you need to do it. And, include the whole family. Everyone can help and relive memories or learn about the family's life before they were born.

You may discover precious heirlooms which require better archival storage. Or, you may find since you have lived without the item for a few months, years, or decades, it may be time to donate to a worthy cause.

Plan it, record it and do it. Sometimes the best family history research happens in your own home.

Tip # 29...Record your own family stories

As a family historian, I always question:

1) What prompted my ancestors to make their decisions,?
2) What were their daily lives like?
3) How did they view the world around them?

Only three simple questions but there are a multitude of answers, none of which I can prove in this lifetime. Chances are good, our descendants will ask the same questions. So, our tip for today is to try to provide them with some answers. Why not celebrate Family History Month by recording your own daily stories?

Duane Roen, a professor of English at ASU, presents workshops throughout Arizona on "Writing Family History.” He offers insight into how he can make cold genealogical facts come alive and how to pass those facts on to the next generation.

Duane recommends writing a daily journal detailing events for your children. Duane follows his own advice and has written memories for his children’s lifetime. Details which could quickly be forgotten will be given to his children as precious keepsakes when they are adults.

I attended two of Duane's workshops and his approach is easy to follow even if you haven't approached a keyboard or picked up a pencil in decades. Through a simple fill-in the answers worksheet, Duane helps you to remember important family events. His workshop is a great way to ignite the desire to record your family stories. For more details, please visit his Web Sites at:

http://community.uui.asu.edu/features/roen.asp
http://www.public.asu.edu/~dhroen/

Keeping a journal is an ideal way to keep the memories close at hand. A paragraph, a sentence or a word or two daily or a few times a week is a fabulous start. It's living history in the making to give your children or grandchildren the insight you may not always be able to share with them.