Growing up, some of my best memories were going to visit my Grandma and Grandpa in
Escanaba, MI. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a beautiful area full of beautiful forests and
sandy beaches. It was a home away from home for me and it felt like I belonged there. In a way, I did
very much.
While visiting, my Grandma would always sit with me and tell me stories about the family and
we would look at old pictures. She would also bring out her genealogy books to show me just exactly how we were related to everyone. I grew to love the time we spent looking at everything and stories
she would tell. It made our family history come alive and I always wanted to learn more.
As I approached my pre-teens, and with advances in internet research, I was able to finally start
helping my grandmother with her research on our family’s past. The stories of our ancestors dating as
far back as the 1200s interested me, and I would spend hours on the computer with my notes in front
of me, verifying and finding new information. As French-Canadians there were several stories about our
family living in France and our part in settling New France (modern day Quebec region). Each story
brought light on not only European history but also on North American history and how notable events
shaped the world we live in today.
Now that I have children of my own, I continue this tradition with my girls. Often, we pull out old
family photos and I will tell them stories that I have learned over the years. We have even opted to use
the Ancestry DNA Kit that is available for children as well. The wonderful thing about this kit is that it
strictly comes with just a genealogy report and the kids can access their own profiles and read
information about their ancestors. My girls absolutely love being able to show others where they came
from, and it ties a lot of the stories together with the history they are learning in school.
So many people I have talked to have said that they believe genealogy seems so complicated.
They believe it must be completed “a certain way,” but it is important to remember that it begins with
family stories. It can be as simple as looking at pictures, reading books, going on one of the many
genealogy research sites, or taking a DNA test that shows information about where you came from. It
can be exciting and fun! It is also a timeless gift that can be passed down for generations to come.

Ashton G