At “may” age (ha-ha)!! (May day humor.)

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Today, I have been to Canada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Right now, 10:30 PM, I feel like I’m in Death Valley, California, in the middle of Summer!!

I turned off the air-conditioner half-an-hour ago (planning to go to bed). My trailer home is uncomfortably HOT. But I can’t seem to find a “stopping point” with Traxler families. See those numbers? They represent people who will eventually have sources added to their record.

Was it AT&T who had that slogan?

Today, I am traveling to a foreign country. A few days ago Ancestry gave me a “free” subscription to their International records (free for thirty days). Very unexpectedly (today), one “Traxler” individual sent me over-the-border into Canada. In the past, Ancestry would (rudely) block me from access to International information. Today, without hesitation I was transported to Ontario, Canada.

This trip brightened my day because I’ve been “hunkered down” at home for two months. This trip brought back memories of my visit to Ontario, Canada, in 2010. I spent an enjoyable week at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. (Other experiences in Canada, too.) ~~  Picture taken while on “Maid of the Mist” boat, below the Falls.

“Sleepless in Central Texas” (yada, yada, yada). At 4:25 AM a voice said “get up and watch TBN.”  I did… and I heard an inspiring message by Steven Furtick. He addressed all the concerns I have been struggling with. I haven’t wanted to confide in this medium (my journal). I’ve wanted to keep my messages “upbeat.”

Precious memories, how they linger…

Where do I go from here?

TODAY Sunday ~ ~ ~ ~ TOMORROW Sonday

A story idea I have been mulling over in my mind.

I want to paint a picture for you–a “paint-by-number” picture. I inherited a vast mansion (a castle). However, the mansion was sparsely furnished. The walls were there, the rooms were bare. I found myself with (in a manner of speaking) the paintbrush.

More than seventy-five-thousand names in a genealogy software database but very few “sources.” Brush-stroke by brush-stroke (keystroke by keystroke, on my computer) items are added to the new database (preserved on Ancestry.com).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ four examples ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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Imagine for a minute, the length of time it takes to add those “hints” (those “sources”) to an individual. Multiply that by 75,000 individuals and the reader can understand the magnitude of the project. Eventually (“painting by number”) it will be a lush green tree.

Many years ago there was a radio program titled “One Man’s Family.” I’ve spent an entire day with this “one man” and his family. As you look at the images, consider how complicated it was to sort out the wives. Searching “sources” for the children helped provide the answer to their mother. Frequently they appeared in Census records with the woman who was actually their step-mother. I love the “detective work” and this is my gift to future researchers of this branch of the family tree. (Comparing this with other Member Family Trees, I see careless mistakes. I strive for 200% accuracy! Because I see where “Member Family Trees” copy one another, I speculate “they” don’t spend an entire day accurately documenting the family structure.) ~~ This is one illustration of the “furnishings” added to “one-room” of the mansion I inherited. ~~ There is an “overlap” of images because (understandably?) too long for one illustration. ~~”One man’s family”: Father, mother, five wives, four children, two step-children, ten in-laws, and twenty-two sources. Lest I forget: Spouses and children of former wife’s subsequent marriage.  😉

The past couple of days I have been swiveling between two computers as I expand the information in the Myrtle Traxler Family Tree. The challenges are endless!!

Honestly, I’ve exhausted all my “funny stuff” (or I’m too tired to search for something new).

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Believe it or not, I received an inspirational message (about ten o’clock, long after this message was published). I like to believe “God, my Heavenly Father” was speaking to me. I heard “relax” and immediately saw the word in “Traxler.” (Eight, ten, twelve hours a day is “obsessive”.)