Search Ship Manifests for your Family's History

Before the days of airplane travel, emigrants typically left their countries of origin on ships and braved long and difficult journeys across the ocean. Finding evidence of an ancestor's journey to a new world through passenger lists and ship manifests can be a thrilling experience for anyone who is interested in their family history. Such valuable documents, kept by most shipping companies across the world, can be incredibly difficult to search, however, leading genealogists to spend countless hours in fruitless inquiry. Many of the lists, for instance, have not been put into indexes and lay moldering in some obscure or unreachable archive. At other times, even when genealogists do find their ancestors on a ship manifest, only their name and country of departure are listed; no other exciting information, such as birth date, country of origin, or occupation, is included. Such warnings aside, however, there are ways genealogists can increase their chance of success in finding their ancestors on passenger lists. First, remember that your ancestors may have been included on a number of lists, not just the ones made upon arrival in their new country. Lists were made when they first got on the ship and whenever they stopped along the way. Newspapers and organizations that may have paid for their journey, such as aid societies, would also have kept lists. Even passport applications and naturalization papers can provide valuable clues to your ancestor's journey.After becoming aware of the variety of places in which you can look for your ancestors, try and keep the time period in which they arrived in consideration. Passenger lists made for immigrants arriving in America before 1820, for example, are particularly difficult to search for because they were not standardized or carefully preserved and either do not exist anymore or are extremely difficult to find. The search for immigrants arriving between 1820 and 1891 is slightly less difficult but information is still limited. Finally, in 1891, the Immigration and Naturalization Service came into existence in the United States, and passenger lists were greatly improved, becoming more reliable, informative and well-preserved. Before you begin searching passenger lists, you need to know your ancestor's complete and original name, the date of his arrival in America, and the port at which he arrived. It is also helpful to know his age; the port from which he departed; his country of origin; his ultimate destination in the United States; and the names of his ship or of any fellow travelers. You can find this information through a piece memorabilia, such as a letter or ticket; through previously researched family history; through census records, which are available on the internet and on purchasable computer programs; through naturalization records, which are actually more informative than passenger lists for immigrants arriving after 1906; and through passport records, if your ancestor applied for one to visit his country of origin.If you discover that your ancestor arrived before 1820, there is no centralized place to search for passenger lists. Many ships did keep lists, which they left at the ports of arrival, but since the government did not require these lists to be kept or saved, they were lost, destroyed, or scattered in different libraries or private collections. Many of the surviving lists have been published on the web or in books, so these are the best places to search. Newspapers from the time which have been microfilmed are also valuable resources. Finally, the government does have records in the national archives for arrivals in New York from 1789 to 1919, in New Orleans from 1813 to 1819, and in Philadelphia from 1800 to 1819.If your ancestor arrived after 1820, then your main job will be in consulting the variety of resources available. Customs Passenger Lists, compiled by ship captains from 1820 to around 1891 and indexes for these lists can be found at the National Archives; in libraries, including the comprehensive genealogical archives of the Church of Latter Day Saints; online in images, transcripts, and indexes; on purchasable CD-ROMs; and in books. The archives and other resources contain notable gaps in information and errors, so it is best to search in a variety of indexes.Beginning around 1891, Immigration Passenger Lists replaced Customs Passenger Lists due to the flood of immigrants to the United States and the establishment of a Superintendent of Immigration. Immigration Passenger Lists are much more detailed and two pages long by 1906. They can be found in the National Archives, in the Latter Day Saints library, on the Ellis Island on-line database, and on other on-line sites. Once again, errors were made in microfilming lists and a variety of resources should be consulted. In the end, genealogy is like a scavenger hunt where you must use the clues provided to you and search in a variety of places before you find what you are looking for.

Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

Family Legends and Myths

Family Legends and Myths
by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, CG
Watching Out for Red Flags
Many families have cherished myths and stories about their immigration to America or other pivotal events and people. Sharon DeBartolo Carmack shos you how to determine which family legends are true, and what to do if you prove one false.
"Great-grandma was a Cherokee Indian princess, you know." At the family reunion or while interviewing relatives, you might hear family stories like this or other lore about your forebears. Nearly everyone has a story that has been handed down about their ancestors. Some of these legends may be quite factual; others are myth. Almost all family stories have some grain of truth, however. Family legends aren't usually created out of thin air, and that tiny grain of truth may be the clue that leads you to genealogical success. There are many myths that have worked their way into family stories, and perhaps you've already heard some of these. Often, they are about ethnic origins or how the family came to America. If you haven't heard any of these common legends yet, make yourself aware of some of the most common ones, since you may eventually hear variations as you talk with family members.
The Cherokee Indian Princess Myth
It's always a Cherokee princess, almost never Navajo or Apache or Pueblo or Lumbee. Native American ancestry is an extremely common family story, and it seems it is always to an Indian princess. The Cherokee, of course, are a large tribe with a diverse culture, divided by the Trail of Tears. They intermarried widely, perhaps increasing the likelihood of Cherokee/white ancestry.
One reason this princess myth may have evolved is prejudice. For those who frowned upon a white male ancestor marrying an Indian woman, elevating the woman's status to princess made the truth easier to swallow. Keep in mind that any story that says you have Native American ancestry — often Cherokee — may in itself be a myth. Even though it's currently an "in" thing to have Native American ancestry, just a few decades ago, it might have been the skeleton in your family's closet. Proving certain ethnic ancestry can be difficult because of prejudice or popularity toward a culture at any given time. Throughout history, some people who were victims of prejudice may have tried to hide their native origins by changing their name or claiming a different ethnicity.
The Three Brothers Myth
It's always three brothers who immigrated to America, never two or four or five or six. Sometimes one is lost at sea during the voyage over, or one went north, one went south, and one headed west, never to be heard from again. There are never any sisters involved in the big move across the ocean. Be wary of the brothers myth, and always keep an eye out for additional siblings both in America and once you start foreign research. You also want to confirm through your research that there were, in fact, three brothers, that the three brothers were indeed brothers and not two brothers and an uncle, for example, or that the three brothers weren't just three men with the same last name.
The Stowaway Myth
For some reason, it is so much more romantic to have an ancestor who came to America as a stowaway rather than a paying passenger. While there are cases of people who actually did sneak aboard ships, this was not common practice. If the stowaway was discovered enroute, typically, he will be recorded on the last page of the passenger arrival list. I deliberately use "he" because you almost never hear a story about great-grandma being a stowaway. Even if you have the family story of a stowaway, still check for a passenger arrival list, since if he was discovered and recorded on the passenger list, he'll likely be on the index, too.
The Claim-to-Fame Myth
Everyone who has the surname Bradford or Alden is related to William Bradford and John Alden of Mayflower fame, right? And everyone with the last name of Boone is related to Daniel. And if your last name is James, you're related to Jesse, of course. If you do have Native American ancestry, then you must be descended from Pocahontas. Is that a red flag I see flying? We all want a famous person to hang on our family tree, but we may not find that person. I'm supposedly related to Robert E. Lee. My research revealed that I really am. He's something like a ninth cousin, twenty times removed.
The Wrong Ethnic Identity Myth
All Germans are Hessians who fought in the American Revolution. All French are Huguenots. All Hispanics are Mexican. Of course, none of these broad statements is true. We tend to lump certain groups of people incorrectly into one category. "German" is not a distinct enough identifier in genealogy any more than "Indian" or "Hispanic." If family stories indicate that your ancestors were German or from Germany, were they Germans from Imperial Germany, Alsatians, Austrians, Swiss, Luxembourgers, Germans from Russia, or Poles from Germany? Even the records you uncover may not tell you more than "Germany." This is why it is so important to learn the unique cultural traits — customs, traditions, folkways — about the ethnic group.
Names, too, may be inaccurate indicators of ethnic identity. Just because the name sounds Italian, is it? The name you are accustomed to may have been changed or inadvertently corrupted over time, obscuring its ethnic origins.
The Ellis Island Baptism Myth
This is the myth that an immigrant ancestor's surname was changed by officials during processing at Ellis Island. No evidence whatsoever exists to suggest this ever occurred. During its operation as an immigrant receiving station (1892-1954), Ellis Island was staffed with hundreds of interpreters who spoke more than thirty different languages. Inspectors compared the names the immigrants told them against what was recorded on the passenger lists. These lists were created at the ports of departure. There was no reason to record or change anyone's surname once they arrived on the island. More likely, immigrants themselves changed their names after they settled in America to avoid prejudice and to blend more easily into American society.
Handling the Myth in Research and Writing
Now that I've shattered your favorite family story, how do you tell Grandpa? Or should you? And how do you handle ancient family legends that you've discovered through your research are false? Family legends are part of your family history and should never be ignored or taken lightly. As mentioned earlier, there is usually a kernel of truth to the family story. Rather than bursting Grandpa's bubble with the facts, try to find out how the story originated. When you write your family history, include the family story as it was told to you, noting it as family "tradition" or "lore" or "legend." Then explain, if you can, how the story originated, followed by a discussion of your research findings. You may reveal that some elements of a story were true and some were false, or that a story was totally false. Even if you have not been able to prove or disprove the story, acknowledge the lore and say it has yet to be proven. These family stories give color to your family history, so record and share them as what they are.About the Author
Sharon DeBartolo Carmack is a Certified Genealogist, editor of Betterway Genealogy Books, contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine, and the author of eight books, including A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Female Ancestors. Sharon also teaches online courses in personal/family memoir writing. This how-to article was adapted from Sharon's book A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Immigrant and Ethnic Ancestry. Topics include how to get your research started, the history of major ethnic groups in America, and how to turn your research into a family narrative.

Old Family Traditions And The New Generation

Carried forward through the years by each new generation, old family traditions are a powerful means of strengthening the bonds that hold families together. Old family traditions often serve to connect the older generation with the new Generation, encouraging interaction through shared activities, and can also offer a way for families separated by distance to feel close.
Many of the most meaningful old family traditions revolve around food, with families gathering to eat and celebrate together. Often the foods served at the meal are determined by tradition, with recipes passed down from generation to generation or specific family members preparing their specialties year after year.
That food should serve as a centerpiece for so many of the old family traditions that are passed to the new generation comes as no surprise. Food is essential to survival, and being grateful for the success of its production, whether through agriculture or the hunt, is at the base of not only many old family traditions, but also many of the world’s ancient religions.
Celebrating the abundance of the harvest is done throughout the world, with each culture giving rise to a particular set of old family traditions. However, as different as these cultures may be, the foundation of these celebrations is the gathering together of families to feast, to share food, to break bread.
There are many old family traditions designed specifically to celebrate the new generation. Some are as lighthearted and fun as the yearly birthday gathering for cake, ice cream and gifts. Others are built upon meaningful, often symbolic, rituals marking the milestones along the path to maturity. In each, it is the older generation celebrating the progress of the new generation, as one day that generation will do for its own children.
Even when families cannot gather together, which is increasingly common today as families find their members scattered throughout the nation and even the world, old family traditions can help to maintain family ties. Knowing that thousands of miles away, other family members are engaged in the same activities can help keep that feeling of closeness among family members.
Often the new generation uses old family traditions to honor those who have passed before them. Many children learn the history of their families in this way, listening as family members share memories of those who are no longer with them and of their own childhood remembrances. Sometimes it is the old family traditions that hold a family together, the adult siblings continuing to gather with their children after their parents have died.
Participating in the old family traditions builds memories that will last a lifetime, and serves to build relationships, not only between the old and new generations, but also amongst those that will be continuing the families as the elder members pass away. Teaching the new generation to honor old family traditions can help to preserve the family through the years, even through the times when its members cannot gather together, fostering a sense of belonging that will be a source of joy for years to come.

By Abraham Antony

The fate of the family - Forums delve into two sides of debate

Forums delve into two sides of debate

By Cheryl WetzsteinThe Washington TimesWASHINGTON

The fate of the family is the focus of two major conferences this month. This weekend at the University of Chicago, the Council on Contemporary Families (CCF) will celebrate its 10th anniversary by presenting the most intriguing research on the American family. The 75 new findings "really highlight how the pressures, promises and dynamics of family life have changed over the past 10 years," said clinical psychologist Joshua Coleman, who edited the CCF report, released today. The CCF report indicates that marriage is becoming more egalitarian and more optional, that many women are satisfied living a single life, and that, despite their workloads, modern parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the "golden era" of the nuclear family in 1965. Married mothers spent 12.9 hours a week caring for their children in 2000, compared with 10.6 hours a week in 1965, while fathers more than doubled their weekly child care from 2.6 hours to 6.5 hours, said research by University of Maryland sociology professor Suzanne M. Bianchi. One big reason, she and her colleagues found: less time spent on housework. CCF speakers this weekend include some 30 family scholars, including Evergreen State College history professor Stephanie Coontz and Philip A. Cowan and Carolyn Pape Cowan, both professors emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley.

Parent's Involvement in Children's Education

The importance of parental involvement as an accelerating and motivating factor in their children’s education is a worldwide-accepted fact. This research project provides an in depth explanation along with specific reasons, the importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s education. It also discusses the parenting techniques, their types and their consequences if neglected. It also describes the ways to measure the outcome of the positive parental involvement. Furthermore, it mentions the teachers involvement and the difficulties faced by the teachers in getting parents involved in their children’s (this is further supported by the examples of two teachers who with their deliberate efforts won the parents over to devote their maximum attention towards their children), single-parent involvement, children’s own efforts to improve their academic levels and joint home-school based interventions. A detailed analysis of the different main ideas is given, based on the findings from other research surveys and projects.INTRODUCTION:Parental involvement can be seen to fall into three types: 1) Behavioral, 2) Intellectual and 3) Personal. The research explores the effect of multi-dimensional participation of parents and the resulting progress of children in their studies when different parental resources were dedicated to them. Actively participating parents help their children in their academic development by going to schools and participating in open houses. By keenly observing the behavior of their children they can rightly judge the kind of behavior or the allocation of resources required by their children. Such caring parents can also motivate teachers to become more attentive towards a particular student, thus maintaining the cycle of parent-teacher involvement. Encourage Building up cognitive and perception abilities in a child are a major concern in the upbringing of the child. The way the parents involve their children in cognitive learning is by exposing them to different cognitively stimulating activities and materials such as books, electronic media and current events at home. This helps the child to practice all sorts of language comprehending skills at the school. The results show a remarkably positive behavior at the school and with peers.Two parenting processes namely the Supportive Parenting (SP) and Harsh Parenting (HP) helped a lot in the research of parental involvement in their children’s education. By adjusting the levels of supportive parenting, different levels of successful outcomes were observed. Supportive parenting in even kindergarten students yielded positive results. Four measures of supportive parenting were used in the study, they were:

By Alex Martin

Grandparents Day - Family Tree

Ask any kid: Grandparents rule. They're known worldwide as great companions and often shower their grandchildren with special treats and lots of love. Some kids live far away from their grandparents so they stay in touch by phone, through email, and with letters. Other kids live close to their grandparents, making it easy to visit often. And still other kids - more than 5 million in the United States - live with their grandparents.
Sometimes, the family is sharing the grandparents' house and sometimes the grandparent moves into the family's house or apartment. Maybe your grandmother moved in with your family because she was having trouble living alone. Or maybe your grandparents take care of you in place of your mom or dad.
Being a grandparent is a big job, but grandparents have a lot of experience. They raised and cared for your parent when he or she was a kid! And grandparents have been the heads of households since the beginning of time. In many cultures - Native American and Chinese, for instance - grandparents are looked up to as a source of wisdom.

When a Grandparent Moves In

Any change can be difficult to adjust to. So even if you love your grandfather, it may be tough when he moves in. Your grandfather will need a room to sleep in and everyone will have to learn to share the bathroom and the TV. Try to be as nice as you can during this time. Your grandparent may have trouble settling into a house that isn't his or her own.
After the adjustment period, you might find you enjoy having someone else in the house and a new person to spend time with. Grandparents often tell the best stories - interesting tales about when they were kids. You might start by asking them how many miles they had to walk to school each day!
If your grandparent needs help, you might be the one to lend a hand. And your grandparent might be able to help you by playing a game with you or fixing you a snack after school. If your grandparent needs a lot of help or is ill, your parents will help care for him or her. In some cases, a nurse might visit your house.
As your household gets bigger, you may feel left out or decide you need more of your parents' attention. Share your feelings if you feel this way. Maybe your mom or dad can schedule some special time with you. Your parents will appreciate it if you pitch in around the house and do a few more chores than usual. This can be really helpful when there's so much to do.
When You Move In With a Grandparent
Quite a few kids live with grandparents who take care of them in place of their moms or dads. These are often loving relationships, but it can be a challenging situation for both the kid and the grandparent. Kids who live with grandparents may miss their moms or dads and wish they could live with them instead. The grandparent may find it difficult to keep up with a kid and all of his or her needs.
Talk with your grandparent, or another trusted adult, if you have some of these feelings. Often the solution is that both the kid and the grandparent work together. The grandkid can help by working hard in school, staying out of trouble, and helping around the house. The grandparent can try to be understanding about what it's like to be a kid these days. Loving and caring for each other can be the glue that keeps everything together.
And one more thing: You might want to put the first Sunday after Labor Day on your calendar. Why? It's Grandparent's Day!
Reviewed by: Colleen Sherman, PhD

Reclaim Your Family Time for a Happier Home

Reclaim Your Family Time for a Happier Home

From Robin McClure,

Take Control of the Chaos

Is your family becoming almost like strangers, meeting each other coming and going from one activity to another? Slow down, take control, and schedule in family time to foster a well-balanced and all-around happier family. Here's how:

Start with a family meeting. Even young children can participate in a discussion that can be as general as asking what kids and adults would like to see to have a happier family. Ask about their activities, and their commitment to them. Do they love something or are they doing it because either you or their friends expect them to? Is it fun or stressful? Take this time to ask about whether they have other pursuits they'd like to consider, desire more unstructured time, or whether they feel their life is just right as it is. Avoid leading kids into any answers and don't make them feel something is "wrong" with their family life now.
Tell them you just want to check and make sure of everyone's contentment with things and whether they feel the family as a whole is effectively balancing school, family time, work and community.

Pick a family night. Designate one night a week as family time. It can be a movie night, game night, pizza or take-out night, entertainment night (such as karaoke or dance performances), or even a time to exercise together (ride bikes, go for a walk, or go to the park). The point is to be together in a quality fashion. Having a spouse plop in front of the television, a teen playing video or computer games, or young kids relegated to a back room does not bond family togetherness. Do things together, and discuss the coming week's activities to build enthusiasm and momentum for family time together.
Encourage kid friendships. Sure, your food bill may soar, but encourage children to bring their friends over, stay for dinner, and participate in family time. Time with friends in unstructured play helps to build relationships, learn things like give and take and sharing, and also how different families do things differently. For parents, having your kids' friends come to your house means that not only do you know who your child is hanging out with, what he's doing and where he is at, but it helps to foster a greater level of understanding as to what makes your child tick. Just observing kids interact and play helps parents to better understand their child's interests and passions, which in turn can be utilized in future family time gatherings.
Eat together. You've heard this before, but child experts really emphasize that this simple act improves family time with members through conversation and togetherness. Research clearly shows that eating meals as a family is one of the most important things you can do to stay connected, especially with older children and teens. Eating meals together should be seen as a positive experience, important, and a priority. It's a chance to casually ask about a child's day, interests, concerns, needs, and a great way to initiate good ol' talk time.
Share responsibilities. Children really should be active contributors to the household. Get kids involved with taking out the trash, setting the table, cooking meals, cleaning up after themselves, or raking leaves. It's even better if these chores can be done in conjunction with family time so all members contribute in some way. Kids won't always do the same quality job as adults, but they need to start somewhere, and will improve with positive encouragement and reinforcement.
Set reasonable expectations for activity levels. Some kids want to participation in everything, and are perfectly happy to have structured activities each night of the week. With other kids, parents have to push and prod to get them to willingly participate in even a single activity. Balance is the key for happiness and overall family time quality. Consider a child's age and interests and be sure to weigh those against what your own dreams of what you hope your kids will thrive in. Accept that your kid's may not share your passions or interests, and then find out what does make them excel.
Make sure it's possible. Many activities nowadays require an increasing amount of time and financial resources. Consider transportation, practice conflicts that will require juggling to be on time and get picked up on time, and missed games or competitions due to being only one place at a time. Be sure your family finances can afford activities such as all-star cheer, competitive dance, or select sports, which can require traveling, additional uniforms, and equipment purchases.

Divorce And Parental Love

Divorce And Parental Love


The discourse, divorce not only alienates parental love and affection to young adults but also intensifies psychological disturbance including personality disorders, pathologically hostile, and socio-economically distress and weakens young adult’s faith in filial and parental obligations. Martial disruptions takes place because of variety of adjustments problems in the family. Late parental divorce are expected to have effects for the lives of his or her young adults and each generations experiences life patterns transitions and these in turn , influence the lives of the other generations. Late parental separation changes the life pattern of both the generations and effects to the value of the relationship—that young adults have with their parents.In social level, the picture of late parental divorce not only hassles the young adult but also stresses to the parents. It disrupts the quality of relationship i.e., obligation, and emotional bonding, and takes time to readjust the family structure. Late parental divorce is linked to lower relationship quality and contact in both the mother-child and father-child dyads. In fact, the effect is much stronger on relations with father than mother.In financial support level, late parental divorce has an absolute negative effect only for sons’ but it is relative to daughters’. In fact, late parental divorce not only effects financially to the young adults but it also affects to the divorce parents. Sometimes, distance also matters i.e., late parental divorce most affects to the father-child relations than mother-child. Basically, mother stays very close with the children than father and the intimacy between father and offsprings decreases. Most fathers’ affection comes from material support to the children but as mother stay very near in everyday life with the offsprings so time also matters in socio-psychological marital life of the family. In general, intensity of late parental divorce not only impacts to familial relationships but it also particularly affects to parents-offsprings concerned.

Author Info
Kate Gardens is a custom essay writing expert writer and UK customers support consultant at Customessays.co.uk. Get more details for education essays writing, history essay writing and find more tips for law essay writing.

Create your Own Traditions with Family to Help Future Genealogists

Have you ever wished you could ask your Great-Uncle George how soldiers felt about World War I or your Great-Aunt Georgina how she weathered the Great Depression? Or perhaps you rue the loss of your Grandmother Gretel's recipe for delicious German strudel? Family traditions and lore can be completely lost in a generation or two if families do not actively take steps to preserve their history. A family history is a legacy, and preserving your legacy for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren can be an invaluable gift. You don't have to sit down and write out a laborious record of your family history, however, in order to preserve your legacy, although that would indeed be an incredible gift. Small projects and new family traditions can instill an invaluable sense of history in future generations.If your house burned down tonight and you could only save one of your belongings, what would it be? A frequent reply to that question is "family photos." As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Nothing is more interesting than realizing you have your grandfather's nose or your great-grandmother's eyes. Photos can become disorganized, scattered, and, in the end, meaningless, however, if you don't take steps now to compile them into some semblance of order and to share them with younger generations. Ask family or friends if you can copy any original photos that you don't own. Describe the people in the photographs, either orally or in writing. Regale your children and grandchildren with anecdotes about your summer trips to the beach or the day you caught the prize-winning fish. Placing your photos in a scrapbook is a particularly powerful way to preserve their meaning and message, and be sure to incorporate captions and other written descriptions of the pictures. Also, don't forget to include other important documents, such as birth certificates, old report cards, or original art work, poetry, or songs in the scrapbook. Even if you are not artistically inclined, the acid-free scrapbook paper and glue will preserve your photographs and memorabilia for years to come, so just slap them onto the paper as best you can. A lovingly-composed scrapbook will really become a family treasure. Another way to capture an image is on video. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, take your home video camera and sit down with an older family member. By asking certain questions, you can mine their memories for gems of wisdom and valuable family anecdotes. You can also help steer the interview so that it is relatively chronological or comprehensive. Perhaps the interviewee may even want to prepare his answers beforehand. Ask about family residences, including physical descriptions or even a room-by-room verbal tour. Sensory descriptions are particularly interesting. Talk about ethnicity and religion and its impact on family traditions or customs. Ask family members about major historical events. Move the discussion from childhood friends to high school events to college, career, and romance. Perhaps you could even interview people from the past, such as old friends or current spouses, about the interviewee. Also encourage your family members to share the disappointments and struggles that they faced as well as the life lessons and wisdom that they gained. A permanent record of not only your family member's memories but also the way they looked and talked is an invaluable gift to future generations.If you don't have a video camera, then use a tape recorder; and if you don't have a tape recorder, then use a pen and pencil to record your family history. Start a journal, and include not only thoughts and feelings but also descriptions of current events and culture. Such a record will be fascinating to your descendants, no matter how mundane it may seem in the present. There are numerous book and internet sites about journaling or writing a memoir that can help you get started.Finally, make your family history an interactive experience for your children and grandchildren. Visit the house where you grew or the country from which your grandparents immigrated. Seeing a place first-hand will give future generations a sense of their background and roots. Permanent edifices also provide valuable clues about the economy, architecture, and culture of the time in which family members lived. In addition, make your grandmother's German strudel with your children, or teach them how to play a harmonica like their Great-Uncle George. Pass your skills and wisdoms down to them in ways they can enjoy. Such highly sensory experiences are not easily forgotten.
Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

Churches reinvent tradition to attract a new generation

Churches reinvent tradition to attract a new generation
While millions of Christians will observe Easter in traditional church settings, many are joining unconventional congregations.
BY ALEXANDRA ALTER
aalter@MiamiHerald.com

On a recent Sunday morning at the Cobb Theatres multiplex in Miami Lakes, about 300 people crowded into a darkened movie theater and prayed before taking in a preview. Black-and-white movie images of Jesus on the cross appeared on the 56-foot screen, interspersed with images of famous martyrs.
''Abraham Lincoln, a hero who lived for freedom. Gandhi, a hero who lived for peace. Martin Luther King, a hero who lived for justice. Jesus Christ, the Hero above all heroes,'' the flashing titles read, accompanied by a swell of drums. ``On Sunday, April 8. Celebrate Christ's resurrection.''
Every week, the movie theater is transformed into a sanctuary for members of Calvary Fellowship -- one of a growing number of ''emerging'' or alternative churches that often bring film, visual and performing arts and a more casual worship setting to their services to draw believers, many of them young, who find traditional services uninspiring or alienating.
This Easter, hundreds of emerging congregations across the country will mark Christianity's holiest day in creative ways, with interactive public-art installations that tell the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. They will gather in movie theaters, art galleries and coffee shops, and in homes and rented spaces, to reflect on Jesus' suffering.
DIFFERENT APPROACH
Pastors say they hope to translate Christianity's core message into language the YouTube generation can appreciate.
''There wasn't a real dynamic community reaching out to young people,'' said Calvary's pastor, Bob Franquiz, who is 34, sports a goatee and tends to interrupt his ruminations on the Bible with self-deprecating anecdotes. ''You tend to attract what you are,'' he says.
Five years ago, Franquiz began to rent space at Cobb Theatres on Sunday mornings because the church, which had begun as an informal gathering in the pastor's living room, couldn't afford a building. Now, the setting has become part of the church's persona.
The multiplex's halls are lined with ''Now Playing'' posters that promote the church's sermon series. Franquiz punctuates his talks with brief TV and movie clips, including scenes from the TV show The Office and snippets of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Services kick off with a trailer promoting a spiritual message and end with a teaser for next week's services.
''A movie theater is neutral ground,'' Franquiz said. ``Some people are put off by a church building.''
Since the emergent-church movement started in the mid-1990s in response to the conspicuous absence of 18- to 35-year-olds in most churches, the trend has grown both more prominent and more diverse, pastors and scholars say. Emergent congregations now include megachurches with thousands of members and tiny home churches with just a handful of adherents.
Women, Hispanics and blacks have launched their own alternative congregations. College students have created art collectives and coffee-house worship meetings. Baby boomers have set up congregations in living rooms.
GROWING SEGMENT
An estimated 50 million people worship outside of conventional churches, according to a 2005 report by the Barna Group, a marketing-research firm that follows faith trends in America. Barna estimates that the percentage of Americans who worship in alternative communities will grow to 35 percent by 2025.
Liz Rios, pastor of Grace Fellowship, a small Pentecostal congregation that meets in a rented church space in Hallandale Beach, said she started her own church because she wanted a less rigid and more spiritual worship experience.
''I was tired of the church status quo, and I was interested in the emergent movement and different ways of doing church,'' said Rios, who launched the congregation in her living room in 2005. She now has 25 members who are mostly black and Latino and include artists, students and young singles.
''People need to reevaluate why they go to church,'' she said. ``If it's for transformation, it can happen in communities that are not traditional. Success is being redefined.''
While Rios says her church is firmly rooted in the Pentecostal tradition, other new Christian communities in South Florida attract people who consider themselves to be Christian but don't agree with most denominations.
Two years ago on Easter, Emily Cardenas, 43, a senior communications manager at Miami-Dade's Children's Trust, helped launch All Souls Miami because she didn't feel comfortable in other congregations.
She contacted Kenneth Claus, a professor of religious studies at Miami Dade College and a former United Church of Christ minister, who agreed to host an Easter service. Dozens of people showed up.
The church, which meets in a rented conference hall, now has about 50 members. About 60 percent are college students, and many are former Roman Catholics. Some, like Tahira Kassam, 20, a psychology major at the University of Miami, are not even Christian.
''I kind of liked the fact that it was very open and welcoming, there's no judging,'' said Kassam, who was brought up Muslim and does not currently affiliate with any faith. ``That's not how I usually thought of Christian churches.''
UNEASY REACTION
Open-ended worship services where people freely question the foundations of their faith make some conservative Christians uncomfortable, however.
John Hammett, a professor of systematic theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said that while many leaders of the emerging-church movement affirm traditional Christian beliefs, a branch of the movement has taken postmodern beliefs too far by questioning the Bible's claims.
''When they talk about changing the message itself, people get very upset and cautious,'' Hammett said. ``They do seem to be too quick to adopt postmodern ways of thinking.''
The growth of emerging churches has sparked vigorous debate in the Christian community about whether the church should tailor its message to appear more culturally relevant, said Dan Kimball, author of They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations.
But traditional churches risk losing a younger generation if they fail to adapt to changes in the culture, said Kimball, who heads a 500-member Santa Cruz, Calif., church where 70 percent of the congregants are younger than 30.
ON EASTER SUNDAY
During today's Easter celebration, church members will be given nails that symbolize Jesus' suffering. Toward the end of the service, worshipers will enter a giant tomblike sculpture, where they can leave the nail and pick up a flower, Kimball said.
''Preaching is one form of communicating, but it is not the best way,'' he said. ``We want to be teaching people more holistically, engaging culture, engaging art, engaging the different senses.''

The Importance Of Family And Tradition - A Family Tree of Living People

The Importance Of Family And Tradition

I believe in traditions and listening to those grandma stories is the best way to grow the children which norishes the heart and Brain of every child. Are we able to get that luxury today? Can we find that in a modern way - A family tree as at www.generationdb.com ? A strong Family relationship can make changes in anyones life!!! Any family has its share of challenges in life – the children grow up, move out, change jobs, move to different communities. Other routine events are various births, deaths, marriages, and illnesses etc. that restructure the family. The aged need care. Only families whose members stay in touch manage to cope successfully with these shifts in relationships whenever it is necessary. It is a fact that families are a major force in the development of society. But with today’s busy lifestyles, somehow the family members tend to drift apart and these bonds become less strong. However, it is still possible to be in touch – through family traditions and, of course, intention. Family traditions cement the bond between members of a particular family and nurture positive feelings READ FULL

Communicating Better with our children

Effective communicating methods are essential when wanting to communicate with your child. Your job as a parent is to listen aggressively and not passively to your child request and concerns. I find it quite necessary to give my daughter my undivided attention when she wants to talk to me. I have to catch myself sometimes because I occasionally do not be listening with my ears as I should all the time while she's talking to me. I have to stop what I'm doing especially if it's something of importance. I let my daughter share her daily activities to me, and I ask her how her day at school went. If she says o.k. then I ask what she'd learn for the day.
Oftentimes once settled in from school and giving her something to either drink or eat; she revives herself and often speaks of the episodes of the day. By just listening and not asking more questions I learn about her whole day at school and everything else that took place with her and her classmates, teachers, and coming events. The more you let your child talk; the more you will find out about there day at school or when they go and be with other people. Listening to your children is one effective communicating method you should learn to master. This way when your child or children are ready to communicate with you they will trust you more; and will not hesitate or mind sharing there feelings with you because they know you will give them your undivided attention with a listening ear. more

Older friends in New Spain

Older friends in New Spain

Please note that the information provided in this article is of a general interest nature and intended as a basic outline only. You are well advised to contact a professional for advice specific to your circumstances. Nothing contained in this article should be seen or taken as the writer or publisher providing legal or financial advice.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my three kids what they missed most about the UK.

My eldest said she missed "Shortbread" and my middle child reported that she would prefer a more regular supply of "Percy Pigs", a jelly sweet from M&S. My youngest decided that the lack of "Fruit Winders" – which any parent or grand parent will know have a permanent supergluing effect to the normal seat fabric of any car built after 1990 - was his greatest regret. Then again, he is only 4.

Rarely, thank God, are we confronted with events of such overwhelming tragedy that they threaten the very fabric of our ways of life. A year ago yesterday, 07/07, as part of a cynical terror plot to destabilise the morale of the British people, acts were committed of the most heinous kind. Lives were lost and shattered. Despite the carnage the morale, I believe, still remains intact.

Being aware of the date but going about my busy tasks in Gibraltar, after a couple of early meetings, and a trip to M&S, I found myself in Morrison's Supermarket. The tannoy announced that it was 1.00 (CET 12.00 GMT), and in line with the act of remembrance being held in the UK, a one minute silence would be observed.

The effect was startling. In that vast supermarket, the World stopped. Several hundred shoppers, who moments before were going about their hectic trolley filling, stood with their heads bowed. The sense of common grief is most profound. A dropping pin could easily have been heard.

At 1.01 PM the tannoy thanked their customers for their observance and the clatter of trolleys started again.

I confess that I am, not in any prurient sense, a bit of a people watcher. At the check out, which by the time I got their, was perhaps ten deep I spent some quality day dreaming time looking at my fellow shoppers.

This was Friday lunch-time, so the great and good of Gib who were not eating at Sacarellos, off Main Street, were topping up the family's fridge for the weekend. In addition to the local shoppers, the vast majority were expats getting their hit of McVities' Digestives and Heinz' salad Cream.

What is interesting about this group is the diversity of ages.

The local International school's, of which there are at least 8 within a 50 km strip from Gib, broke up either yesterday or the previous weekend. As a consequence there were a number of Mum's with a range of little ones. The majority have that healthy glow about them, born out of an intensive first week at the pool side. Pester power was in full swing and I thanked my lucky stars that I had left my brood at home in San Pedro - otherwise we'd probably still be shopping!

However, the majority of expat shoppers are in the 60 to 80 age group. They live, I expect, within a 100 km radius of Gib which covers much of the Costas de la Luz and del Sol and the inland regions from Antequera to Ronda, Jerez to Arcos de la Frontera.

They are a very interesting crowd. The ladies are clearly enjoying their retirement very much. Their trolleys are full with high fibre, low calorie products and plastic trays straining with the best fruit and vedge available. Their health and well being are clearly a priority and let's be honest it's paying off - they look great. A number of their reluctant male shopper partners have deep golf tans and wear a variety of shorts and polo shirts. They are shot dark looks when they linger a little too long near the pork pie counter and can only dream of returning on their own to stock up on Melton Mowbray's best.

A recent report carried on the excellent New Sky's site has told us that the UK Civil Servant's at the Department of Work and Pensions has calculated that over 1million Britons retired abroad over the last decade. Spain has been identified, as the most popular European retirement destination was Spain, with 74,433 pensioners moving here since 1996.

Additionally, Mutual Assurance has reported that one third of those approaching retirement hoped to buy property abroad. Overall, we are told, there has been a 50% rise in 'overseas OAPs'.

With properties in the South of Spain ranging in price from the very affordable to the uber expensive many former UK residents have seen that they can sell up even the most modest house "back home" and buy in this marvellous part of the World. In addition to their existing pension arrangements, these more mature settlers often find that they can often bank a sizeable chunk of residual equity - making life just that little bit sweeter.

For mature clients, as for the majority, the advice is the same. Obtain as much background information as you can obtain before making the jump. An old adage from the commercial world "failing to plan is planning to fail" is particularly apt. Such a move is far too important to fail to take into account of all aspects. Location is essential. The proximity to health, preferred leisure facilities and communication links are also high priorities.

A friend of ours in Marbella was this week admitted to hospital for tests. He speaks a very small amount of Spanish and was obviously concerned by his care. The hospital retains a bank of official translators to ease the stress on non Spanish speaking patients seeking comfort at such a worrying time.

Old Spain was very much about "Mañana" but it is no longer backward looking. New Spain is much, much more about "Tomorrow". It is fast realising that the influx of new residents of all ages have a wholly different set of requirement to the bucket and spade brigade of the 1970's.

http://www.generationdb.com

Family Unity and Relationship Enhanced on a Family Tree

If you would take a Poll Titled: “What is the most important “thing” in your life?” you would get an 80% or higher return with the Number 1 answer being: Family Unity. In an Age, where Generations no longer are only divided by age but also by distance, Family get together, the sharing of Traditions are now largely lost. The strong sense of Identity that comes with strong family Bonds is mostly a thing of the Past.

GenerationDB.com has made it their focus to give a modern day way to bring Family back together. Think of it as the 21st Century Version of Family Reunions. Their unique system, enables all who join, to reach even to most displaced Family Members thousands of miles away. Grandparents clear across the Ocean, can now share their family traditions, wisdoms and pass along those loved Recipes.

Photos of Family members are easily stored in their Databanks, uploaded and shared. Profiles are simple to create and browse. Family Anecdotes about Ancestors are no longer condemned to be forgotten. Once again, they can be revived, and told with the gift of the Family Storyteller. Siblings, Cousins, Parents and more can once again form that Bond, which will survive Family Trials and Tribulations.

Think of all those that are no longer in their Homeland and can not explain what produces in their Bloodline the unique individuals they are. Every Person has wondered at one time or the other about their Background and History. Here it is. A Community of not only the close family but extended universally. Neighbors and Friends, a global Village at your disposal. Family Unity and Relationship Enhanced on a Family Tree.

The good People at GenerationDB.com, have made it their Mission to create a warm family atmosphere. To give you the tools to grow a living, breathing Family Tree. To allow you to once again reach deep into your Roots and experience a long forgotten sense of Pride in who you are.

Think of it as a Calender of Events. It is no longer necessary to spend endless hours sending letters and emails announcing Birthdays, Marriages, Divorces and Death. It is all there in one simple Entry.

Find a Family here, within the Community at GenerationDB. Likeminded People create and “adopt” you into their Family. Learn from each other, share ideas, show your concern.

Create a Group of your own. Prayer Groups, the universal knitting society, tea drinkers’ unity, belly dancing through the generations… The Options are as varied as your imagination can produce.
You are responsible to share as much or as little of your-self and your Branch as you feel comfortable. GenerationDB has a very strong Privacy Policy and are available to answer any of your Questions. You have a choice to make your Information public or private. Only Data marked as Public will be displayed. Your Information will be treated with the up most respect and discretion.

Finally think of our Troops deployed in the war torn Countries. What a wonderful way to send Photos of the Newborn Babies of our Service Man, to give our Support, be there for each other in this torn Society.

Visit GenerationDB and become a Member of our Family. You will enjoy and delight in the Bonds that form, reducing Miles / Kilometers to mere seconds in the click of a Mouse. All right there at your Fingertips. Read about the News that you can not find on any Radio or TV Station. Learn the History that can not be found in any Schoolbook. A Piece of the old Values, couple with a slice of modern Communications without hassle or difficulties.


Source: Articles on www.generationdb.com

Family Tree Website Generationdb.com

WWW.GENERATIONDB.COM TO BE LAUNCHED ON 15TH aPRIL 2007

A Data Base website that creates Family Tree of living people which links every individual who is registered on the site with his immediate family members - MEMBER is linked with his/her parents, spouse, siblings, children and every registered member on every Family Tree is linked to another family tree. It's beyond words to explain!!! You have to see it for yourself.... But you have to wait... it will be ready for you to use only on 15th April 2007...Wait for the Launching day!!

· Generationdb leads you to your roots; it’s a feeling of pride.

· Generationdb is a communication platform which bring family members together and thus strengthening the bonds.

· Generationdb is a place of meeting for family members wherever they are on the globe.

· Generationdb provides an album for every one where family events photos can be shared, (family events video sharing is on the process)

· Generationdb will show Birthday celebrates on a daily basis.

· Generationdb helps you to Announce your marriage to the whole family

· Generationdb helps you to Find your family members celebrating wedding anniversary

· Generationdb can help you to find missing people

· Generationdb helps you to publicize demise of your family member or friend and send a condolence

· Generationdb gives you an email id and an email account.

· You are able to make groups of your own…may be school mates, club members, prayer groups, parish members, big joint family members etc.