Most children grow up hearing stories about the family.
Grandpa left Germany before he could be compelled to join the army.
Maybe your uncle and aunt had an unusual marriage ceremony.
There is often a missing baby story.
Looking into these stories and visiting the areas where your ancestors originated do give greater meaning to your everyday life.
I have a great aunt who was blind since birth and she regained her site the day she died just in time to see the family members.
My aunt revealed this story the first day I was having trouble with my eyes.
Is it true? My aunt would rather have her tongue ripped from her mouth than tell a lie.
One day my husband complained to the same aunt that I did my housework at night.
She is just like her great aunt who does all her work at night, she revealed.
Any and all of these stories bring you closer to your ancestors and enrich your present life.
I love to dig in the garden and visit the places in the state where I can dig for sapphires and quartz crystals.
My uncle told me how I was like my grandfather.
He LOVED mining whether for copper in the mines or gold in his "workings".
He loved to mine? I feel that mucking in the ground is dirty exhausting work, done only to support oneself or ones family, but I can certainly understand my grandfather.
If you are able to visit the former homes of your ancestors, your life will be greatly enriched.
Walking over the same soil and through the same house or church where your family trod years ago gives you goosebumps.
If you are lucky you will meet people who knew your family.
Pursuing the hobby of genealogy will bring you many friends.
Cousins pop out of the woodwork or at least you run into them in courthouses or similar places or they may answer a query online.
Other genealogists are friendly and helpful.
Genealogy is the gathering of vital statistics, the bare bones.
But, family stories, traditions, customs, myths, superstitions and gossip put flesh on those bones.
Pictures of family members are precious memories.
It is so sad that many of them are unnamed.
Talk with anyone you run into on this journey of discovery.
You never know what you will find out.
Save every scrap of information received.
Every family has gone through a war and maybe lost a loved one or has one that was severely injured.
Famines and plagues have impacted many lives.
Time-lines are wonderful fillers for your family history.
The more history you find and the more ancestors you dig up will dramatically affect your daily life in very enjoyable ways.