Encountering errors like this is an everyday occurrence. It has me shaking my head in disbelief that an individual, researching their family, is oblivious to their mistake. ~~ On television, we watch Mike Rowe clean up “Dirty Jobs.”  On Ancestry.com, Lorraine cleans up “dirty jobs.”

This entire day (almost) has been devoted to the obituary of this man. “Cousin” sent the message at 11:00 PM last night. I started documenting… at 8:30 this morning. During the process of adding siblings and ancestors, I found a fourth-cousin-one-time-removed. I’m only remotely related to Melvin E. Bechtold (1927-2020) but firmly related to Harold M. Neher (1904-1972). Melvin’s sister married Harold Neher. ~~ It’s almost 3:00 PM as I add this postscript so (explicitly) six hours documenting and sixty-two individuals added to my Ancestry database. Many family members were already in “my forest.”

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Thirteen hours; can I stop now? I’m ready to crawl into bed; I haven’t gotten out of my pajamas all day!!

Three new obituaries today–and I haven’t completed documentation of families connected to yesterday’s obituary. Truthfully, I didn’t even look at the three new ones. My cousin only sends ones he knows are likely to match the Old German Baptist Brethren families in my Ancestry database. ~~~ It was a cold, cloudy day with occasional rain showers. This weather is forecast to continue for several days so I’ll probably spend a lot more time “climbing the family tree.”

Ancestry addiction!! I honestly devoted time and energy to projects other than “climbing the family tree.” There were several days spent with Christmas lights—decorating the RV Park. (The lights were turned on at dark on Thanksgiving evening and the decorations ARE BEAUTIFUL.) Household projects, and laundry, were accomplished. It amazes me when another one-thousand individuals are registered in the database. It frustrates me when I’m tired, and sleepy, and it’s midnight but “never a stopping point.”

Gospel truth: One-hundred-twenty-four (124) individuals were added to my database because of the obituary for this man (my Old German Baptist Brethren seventh-cousin). The individuals in his family connected with families already documented in my Ancestry.com database. I may have added “sources” for two-hundred individuals and “sources” were (conservatively) in the hundreds. I share these details so the reader can understand the extreme value of the obituaries—and the time it takes to document the information. (Twelve hours today, Thanksgiving Day.) Although the obituaries do not list the cause of death, the cousin who sends the sad news (via email) says the Coronavirus is a factor. The “good news”: These dear Christian folks are enjoying Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~~~~ Very soon, obituary details will arrive via email regarding the death of the 104-year-old husband of a seventh cousin.

“Mother Nature” put on a show!! See the rain pouring off the roof?  We had extremely hard rain for about half-an-hour. Lightning, too, but I did not capture the image. ~~~ Earlier today, we had strong winds that toppled my garden flags. The American flag was on the ground because the pole broke!!

“Cousin” sent three obituaries in three days!! OMG!! My peers are passing away at a rapid rate. I haven’t spent any time at the computer “doing genealogy.” It’s a cold, cloudy day in Waco, and “yours truly” has done two loads of laundry and some reorganizing of clutter in the living room. Indoor stuff. Recently, I brought numerous things indoors, from the storage unit, with the intention of sorting, selecting, and discarding. Counting my blessing for a washing machine, and dryer, so I can do laundry in the convenience of my own home. For many years, I’ve used laundrymats. Counting my blessings that I’m not sick with the Coronavirus. A resident (here at our RV Park) tested positive but he was “out and about” without a mask.

Have you heard this story? God was passing out brains and Jerry (resident) thought God said “trains.” Jerry said: “I’ll take a slow one.”

It’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning!! Some parts of my body don’t want to move!! Made worse obviously when I spend fourteen hours sitting at the computer. I haven’t counted… but perhaps ten obituaries await my attention. Regrettably, many of my “cousins” are no longer with us. I feel such an urgency to get all the information accurately documented in Ancestry–as a permanent record.

In my humble opinion, my family is precious–the individuals are jewels.

I learned today (24th) that many of my Old German Baptist Brethren “family” gathered for an event and many (“too many”) have been stricken with Coronavirus.

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For several days, “razzle-dazzle” Christmas decorations and lots of exercise. To relax, late yesterday afternoon, I planned to “do a few families” but “never a stopping point”! It’s almost four PM and I’m still in my pajamas and I haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch!! I “stumbled” on that valuable information and there’s an awesome amount of information. Those are “print screen” images from a book so I could attach that record (that information) to the specified individuals. This is so interesting because I do not know who the “Frantz” immigrant ancestor is. One record at a time, I’m documenting this branch of the tree (all new to me).

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“Yours truly” got to a stopping point. Several of us were working to hang the remaining Christmas lights and decorations.  This is an ENORMOUS project and fewer people this year because of the threat of Coronavirus. I’m told—in previous years—decorating is a social event.

“Mr. Red” (owner-manager) phoned and said, “Grab your camera.” After a couple of pictures, I was right here on my computer downloading the pictures for this blog message. A second phone call and another “Grab your camera.” The talented resident who crafted the wood “bottle” and fashioned the patriotic cross is also a mechanic. Bill restored two old John Deere tractors. Driving his tractor around the Park puts a smile on everyone’s face. (“Yes, that’s my yard in the background.)