More than a decade ago, I began this blog as part of the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. It started simply — a way to discipline myself to write, to document my research, and to preserve family stories before they faded.
After a while, I became more involved in helping others with their research, and my writing dwindled.
Over the years, this site has chronicled breakthroughs and brick walls, DNA discoveries, corrections to long-held family assumptions, and the steady process of documenting what can — and cannot — be proven. It has never been a polished family narrative. It is, and has always been, a working research record.
Recently, however, I faced a different kind of challenge.
I had allowed my website’s PHP version — the software engine running behind the scenes — to remain outdated for too long. Eventually, that decision caught up with me in the form of a hefty monthly fee charged by my webhost to support my outdated website. The theme I had carefully customized years ago would no longer function after I upgraded to the current standard. I had a choice: freeze the site in time and pay exorbitantly to keep it running, or rebuild.
The result is the refreshed look you see now.
Some elements had to be reconstructed. Others were simplified. The content remains the same, but the framework supporting it has been modernized. In genealogy — as in technology — maintenance matters.
An Expanding Role in the Genealogical Community
While this blog began as a personal project, my work in genealogy has expanded significantly in recent years.
I am the new President of Florida’s Lee County Genealogical Society (LCGS), where I am helping guide strategic planning, program development, and outreach efforts as we position the society for long-term sustainability and growth. As LCGS moves forward, we are focused on education, responsible research standards, and meaningful engagement for genealogists at every level. Although we are located in Florida, we serve individuals from all over.
You can learn more about LCGS here:
Lee County Genealogical Society
https://lcgsfl.org/
We offer outstanding webinars at our monthly membership meetings, and anyone is welcome to join us in person at the Fort Myers Regional Library or online via Zoom. Information on upcoming programs can be found here: https://lcgsfl.org/events/