This year of 2020 has been a very difficult year for businesses, churches, families and individuals all over the world. With much of our lives Shut Down by the COVID19 pandemic, a lot has changed. I know that for our family, since we are retired, it started off being just a little inconvenient to not be able to get out. We really don't get out much anyway! But, now that we have been in "Lock Down" for 10 months (since March 15), it is getting harder and harder. We would really like to be able to go out to eat and go to a movie! And we really missed our family reunions this year!
From the beginning our church offered online services and we have participated in them almost every Sunday. Christmas Eve service was a recorded, blended service that we enjoyed from our recliners. And this will continue into the new year for an undetermined time. So, in the matter of continuing to stay home, avoid crowds, wearing masks and social distancing, 2021 will at least begin the same as it has been since March. We will hope and pray for an end to the pandemic, so that life can, eventually, return to some sort of "normal"! Our family 2021 Resolution will be to Keep Safe!
Another difficult part of this year was that one of my best genealogy buddies, Miriam Butler Sloan, passed away in July. She was 94 years old and we had worked together more than 10 years. She was one of my biggest fans for sharing these blog posts and her absence has been difficult to work through. We did complete a small book of her genealogy work and she was very proud of getting that accomplished. I miss her.
One of the things that I dedicated a lot of time to this year was learning about and using several tools for doing genealogy using DNA, or Genetic Genealogy!
I had my DNA analyzed and basically, the results confirmed my traditional genealogy research. There have not been any surprises - so far!
I also had my adopted son's DNA analyzed. We have some biological family information from his birth parents and their families, but there are some gaps. His biological mom's father is an Unknown. So, that has been the focus of a LOT of digging and researching.
In the early days of this DNA work, I connected with one of his cousins - the closest one at the time. Her name is Alice and their DNA is telling us that my son's biological unknown grandfather is Alice's first cousin. Alice's grandparents (father's parents) are my son's great, great grandparents. But Alice also has an unknown which has made the search more difficult, but also much more rewarding. Alice's unknown is her father. Her mother is Japanese and was very young when she got pregnant with an American she only knew by the name "Mac". But, the fact that Alice was such a close match, really was a HUGE clue to get us started on finding the shared family.
With the help of several DNA matching cousins, we have narrowed down the family that my son's unknown grandfather comes from. We have connected with more cousins and learned more. We have learned who the parents of this unknown grandfather were, but are still working on determing which of their four sons is the actual biological grandfather.
For privacy reasons, I will not share more about this family and my son's ties to them, except to say that it has been a very interesting and fulfilling journey. I have learned a lot about DNA tools, websites and terminology. And I really enjoy reading and learning more each day.
So, for 2021, I have two genealogy Resolutions. One is to get back to writing weekly about my family and the research I have done. The other is to pin down who my son's biological unknown grandfather was AND to identify who Alice's father was. It will be an interesting year to be able to fill in these blanks that have been there for a very long time.
So, 'til next week!
Happy New Year!
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