As I say goodbye to 2019, I take a deep breath and reflect on the year that has flown by so quickly. Looking at my goals from last year, I see at a glance that I did not accomplish everything that I had intended to. I have to ask myself why. What kept me from accomplishing my goals? Lack of Focus? Too busy? Life? Yes, yes and yes. I have a family and a full-time job, life happens.
Though many genealogy goals went unmet, my year was amazing and full of enjoyment. On a personal level, I made a commitment to homeschool my precious granddaughter for one full school year (five months to go!!) and my husband and I are in the process of building a house, which required us to move from our property into a rental house. In addition to working a full-time job at the library, I completed my first full year as Genealogy Program Director, teaching monthly classes and scheduling speakers. I also had several clients this year which took a considerable amount of time. So, even though I didn’t meet all the goals I set for myself for 2019, I did accomplish quite a bit.
Year in Review
Completed the Advanced Southern Research Techniques track at the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) in Austin, Texas[1]
Attended the 2019 Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) Family History Conference[2] in Houston, Texas
Taught monthly genealogy classes at the Groesbeck Public Library, Groesbeck, Texas
Served on the Board of Directors for the Limestone County Historical Museum[3]
Served as registrar for my local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
Wrote and published genealogy article for our local newspaper titled “No Better Time to Dig into Your Family History”
Started a genealogy blog entitled Digging Up Roots on WordPress using Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestor Challenge for content
Presented a program for the Foster Grandparents Program of Texas entitled “Telling Your Story”
Presented genealogy program for my local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter entitled “Insights to Genealogy Research”
Completed two applications (for myself) for the First Families of Limestone County[4], which were approved, and certificate awarded
Completed nineteen client applications for the First Families of Limestone County
Completed two client family history books
Completed one client DNA analysis
Continued work on long term client research
Began transcribing the Mt Gillead Church Record book[5]
Began work on compiling a family history book for three of my family lines; Stafford, Parten and Roundtree.
Focus and Goals for 2020
As I go forward into this new year, I want to be mindful of my unfinished goals from last year. Though it was a busy year, I could have completed some of those goals if I had been better organized, so this year’s first goal is to become better organized. I am a pretty organized person as in I keep things neatly organized and structured, but I need to improve my organizational skills in order to become more productive. I have discovered a book that will help me do precisely that. It is called Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen (All New Updated Edition). I’m only partway through this book and can already tell it will help me tremendously.
Other goals include:
* Write a research analysis for my Roundtree family to prove a relationship using DNA evidence with documentation
* Write a research analysis connecting Joseph Green Johnson to his parents using DNA evidence with documentation
* Transcribe collection of family letters to publish
* Publish my grandmother’s book of poems
* Finish transcribing the Mt Gillead Church Record Book
* Complete and submit DAR supplemental applications for Stephen Bartley Westbrook and Cuthbert Hudson
* Complete and submit UDC supplemental applications for George Franklin Stafford, William Butler Widener, Phillip Coker and Joseph Green Johnson
*Complete and submit Indian Wars of Texas application for Elijah and Charles Goodnight
* Continue to work on family lineage books for Stafford, Parten and Roundtree Families
*Continue my genealogical education by taking online classes, attending conferences/classes, reading and studying
[1] https://www.txsgs.org/texas-research-institute/
[2] https://www.txsgs.org/featured-events/
[3] https://www.limestone-county-historical-museum.com/
[4] http://www.limestonechc.com/first-families/
[5] This church record book dates back to 1854 and continues through the Civil War and into the 1880’s. It contains many names of founding families of Limestone County, Texas. The record book was donated to the Groesbeck Public Library several years ago. The Mt. Gillead Church was located near Springfield in Limestone County, Texas.
Digging Up Roots 