For those of you who don’t know me very well, I’m a bit of an over-achiever. I like that feeling of saying, “YES” to new experiences and helping others accomplish things. The problem with this? Well it sure doesn’t leave much breathing room for life. So 2016 became the year of me crossing things off my to-do list. It was a long list of obligations and I must say that there were many days that I thought, “Will I ever get caught up?” My husband has always been a good one to help me stay focused. He’s very observant and often reminds me that if I say, “YES” to something it means I need to say, “NO” to something that’s already on my list of responsibilities. After all, there are trade-offs. Working a full time job as a Civil Engineer is a big responsibility. Especially if I want to KEEP that job. So that’s a top of the list priority. I want to stay married to the great guy who helps me keep sane… so I need to make time to do fun things like go to movies, take road trips together, and have meaningful talks with him.  My immediate family is a priority and so I need to find the time to visit with them, talk on the phone, Skype with my sister in North Carolina, and take a road trip to see my dad. Lots of important things and people in my life. Oh and my corgis too. I can’t forget quality time with them.

With all that in mind I tried to approach 2016 with a more focused approach. Overall I would say that I did a pretty good job. I accomplished a lot and I’m headed into 2017 with a fairly clean slate of responsibilities that are quite manageable.  It’s a great feeling.  I thought you might appreciate what a challenging year it was by getting a monthly recap of 2016. Here goes!

January

• As part of The In-Depth Genealogist (IDG) I kicked off the year by publishing a new issue of Going In-Depth magazine.
• Helped wrap up my last FGS Forum magazine issue.

February

• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.
• For the second time I traveled to Salt Lake City for RootsTech.  It was an amazing time and made many new friends.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine.
• Spent some quality time with my sweety for Valentine’s Day.

March

• I presented a Google Hangout to the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society on “The Basics of Land Records”.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. And released 5 new research guides written by Jennifer Holik.
• I completed a small research project for a client.

April

• I traveled to Fairfax, Virginia where I presented four sessions on land records at the Fairfax Genealogical Society Spring Conference. While in the area I stayed with my friend and business partner, Shannon. I also had a wonderful afternoon visiting my college friend, Talya, and her two darling children.
• Attended a Lighting class hosted by Holophane. It was very cool to see where they make the glass globes for street lights!
• Attended the Indiana Genealogical Society’s conference for a quick trip to Fort Wayne.
• At the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference I spoke on “Jewish Genealogy on the Internet” and “7 Ways to Use the Cloud”
• Celebrated my nephew’s second birthday!
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. And released 3 new research guides written by Christine Woodcock and Shannon Combs-Bennett.
• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.

May

• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine.
• Took a road trip with my sweety to Pittsburgh.
• Attended the Eastern European Genealogy Boot Camp webinar taught by Lisa Alzo.

June

• The Ontario Genealogical Society hosted a webinar where I spoke on “What Else is in the Newspaper?” It was cool that I was able to attend their Annual Conference remotely as part of their webinar series.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine.
• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.
• I wrote a guest blog post for GenBiz Solutions.
• Babysat for my nephew!
• Went to a farewell party for my youngest sister as she prepared for her move to North Carolina.

July

• Delaware County (Ohio) Genealogical Society kindly invited me to present “We’re Here in America, Now What?”. I loved hearing the immigrant stories that each of them have unearthed in their own families.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. I also released two new books that compiled the first two years of our magazine.
• I presented at Midwestern Roots and did my first computer workshop and three presentations to a great group of genealogists in Indianapolis, Indiana. Afterwards I took a short trip up to South Bend to visit my dad and many other relatives. It was a short, but nice time.

August

• Ashland County (Ohio) Genealogical Society (Ashland, Ohio) invited me to present “What Else is in the Newspaper?” What a great group of people were in attendance! I particularly enjoyed the very helpful nature of the attendees. They kept coming up to me with ideas for additional newspaper finds and help with my own family research.
• Marion County Area (Ohio) Genealogical Society (Marion, Ohio) asked me to present “Getting the Most from FamilySearch”. The society members were lovely to meet and I appreciated the many excellent questions.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. I also published “A Genealogist’s Guide to Springfield, Illinois” by Jane Haldeman.
• I completed writing a course on Jewish Genealogy for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.
• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.

September

• Minnesota Genealogical Society hosted me as I presented “7 Ways to Use the Cloud for Your Genealogy Research” via a webinar.
• Montgomery County (Ohio) Genealogical Society had me present “How Land Records Can Open Doors in Your Research”. It was a great group of inquisitive

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  genealogists and they asked many excellent questions.

• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine.
• Visited my mom for a long weekend!
• I wrote a guest blog post for GenBiz Solutions.
• Road trip to Fort Wayne to visit my APG friends!

October

• Sadly, my great Aunt Mary Biamont Morse died on October 6, 2016 at the age of 89 years old. She had a great laugh and always made me smile. She will be greatly missed.
• Allen County (Ohio) Genealogical Society hosted me for “What Else is in the Newspaper?” It was a great venue and group of genealogists.
• Road trip to meet my friend (and bonus sister) Katherine for dinner.
• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. I also released the third book of our compilations of our magazine.
• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.
• Attended the Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference and got some education and met up with many engineering friends.

November

• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine.
• Had a lovely visit with family for Thanksgiving.

December

• As part of IDG, I published a new issue of the magazine. I also released “A Genealogist’s Guide to Boston, Massachusetts” by Jacky Gamble.
• I published an issue of the Indiana Genealogical Society newsletter.
• Finished a gift that I started two years ago!
• Created three oil paintings for my family and wrote up a narrative of our Morse family’s history.
• Visited with family for Christmas & Hanukkah.