The Genealogy Gap

Here we are, another new year and an opportunity to press the reset button and begin anew as we set new schedules, routines, projects, and new research assignments, all in the hopes of becoming more organized and more productive in our personal and professional lives.
As the holidays and 2016 came to an end, I began my annual evaluation of personal and genealogical goals and assessed any new mechanisms I might use to achieve those goals.

As long as I can remember, I have always been a calendar and goal-oriented person, and throughout the years, I have used several types of planners to keep track of a multitude of ever-changing details. There were not many out on the market in the early 1980's, unlike today, where there is a wide variety of options.

One system that I relied on was Daytimer. I would refer to it as my piece of mind on paper.
I found there was something soothing and therapeutic about writing ideas and plans down and creating a 'To-do' list, which of course lead to checking those items off the list when completed, giving a sense of accomplishment.

I tried several of their yearly planner versions. The first consisted of a month overview with a 2-page per week format and additional pages for projects and running to do lists. Another was the 1-page per day format with a monthly overview and extra pages as well. I found both to work well for many years.

Then, about 10 years ago, I heard about another system called Planner Pads and decided to give it a try. It is a three-part calendar system that helps you organize tasks and projects into categories, then prioritize and schedule daily activities, project categories and appointments.

I enjoyed this system and found it helpful in managing and keeping track of current projects; however, I found myself re-writing the same information over and over from week to week when I was unable to complete certain tasks. As a result, I created a separate page with projects,

breaking them down into more manageable components and entering them as scheduled tasks.

After the recent holidays, I decided to try the Bullet Journal after seeing several posts from DearMyrtle, who was using this method and chronicled each step as she assembled her own Bullet Journal. I was intrigued by the process and really didn't know much about the system, but as I watched her wonderful posts and video on her blog, I thought I would give it a try. I have added the links to her posts which include Parts 1-8, and if you scroll down her page, you will see 2 videos about bullet journaling that I think you will find helpful. DearMyrtle Bullet Journal, Part 1

As I researched further, I also, found another wonderful blog called Boho Berry by blogger Kara Benz, on how to set up a bullet Journal including one using a Filofax. She also has several instructional videos on YouTube, such as Filofax Bullet Journal Setup , which I found to be very helpful in setting up my own Filofax, which I decided as my binder of choice. She gives a thorough overview of the types of covers, pages, pens, etc., and I was inspired by her own beautiful and creative pages.

I decided on a Filofax as my Bullet journal because of the flexibility of moving and adding pages as needed.
In addition to my Planner section, I have a Collections section that I use to place all my routine lists, chores, etc. Also included is a Projects section for Home projects and a Genealogy section for all my Genealogy research projects.

I use these only as an overview to track genealogy projects. However, for details on each project, I use my computer spreadsheets which are also accessible through all my devices. This eliminates the continual re-writing of same information as well as the ability to track and search information as needed.

I use the Daily Task Tracker to log all repetitive daily tasks, and the Time Log to track Personal and Work hours for the week and month, which I then enter into a Weekly and Monthly Pie Chart. I use Google calendar and create many of my own digital lists since I appreciate the ability to search and re-arrange on the computer. So I am still testing and tweaking as I go and using the best of several methods as I work. The beauty is that you make it work for you by making it your own, as you like.

Overall, I think the Bullet Journal is a beautiful and creative expression for anyone who has an artistic bent or is simply creative at heart. I like the simplicity of the true Bullet Journal, where you use a Notebook with an index at the front and continually move forward in the notebook, but for my needs, I like the flexibility of the Filofax.

My priority as I began this process was to learn the set up, and how to use the system without it becoming a time-consuming project in itself. After all, I felt it would defeat the purpose to use a system that required a lot of upkeep or repetitive writing of information from week to week.

My goal is to streamline the workload and prevent things from falling through the cracks.

Diminish distractions from the overall goal -- to study, learn and become more productive and proficient in Genealogy, helping others, and using DNA in my research and break through any of my numerous brick walls. :):) And of course, commit to writing about my family history, life and research experiences as I go along. It's been too long and life is too short to worry about writing everything perfectly. We can only aspire and work towards excellence realizing that perfection will halt any of our forward progress... we are only human, after all.

Hopefully, 2017 will bring us all new opportunities to help one another, be more productive and successful in breaking down our brick walls, advancing our family history research and best of all diminish the family gaps by discovering unknown extended family -- new cousins. :) 🌎

As the day to honor all Mothers is here I think of and honor my own mother who, I am sad to say is no longer here. I sing just a few of her many praises as I join others in honoring their Moms on this day.

The day she passed, I lost my greatest champion, my greatest encourager and a large part of my heart. I often think of her presence and my father in that great cloud of witnesses cheering me and our family on, through all the trials and joys we walk through in our daily lives.

Maria del Carmen Matos-Trujillo Valuja

Her quiet strength, perseverance and grace was evident throughout her life. Wisdom and grace, always...

Through her, I learned the importance of kindness and grace towards others, since we never really know their circumstances... and to always let those you love, know your heart.
She lived through her heart, in kindness and love, evident as she gave to others often out of her own need.

I know that my deep love for family and family history came from my mom and dad.

My parents came from Cuba to this country, separately and met through mutual friends, who would later become my aunts and uncles. Throughout my life they shared family stories about their lives in Cuba and how their families originally traveled from Spain and the Canary Islands.... oh, how I wish, I had asked many more questions than I did.

As many of our ancestors, they left everything behind and arrived in this country in the 1950's. A world that was more disconnected, as on-existent technology as we know it today, made a decision to emigrate from another country more pronounced and absolute.

I am deeply thankful and humbled by their lives, sacrifices and all that they imparted to me and my sister through their life and love for us.

On this Mother’s Day, I honor my Mom, Grandmother to my children and my sister’s children....
~ Maria del Carmen Valuja
~ Maria del Carmen Matos-Trujillo de Valuja (Spanish-style)

I love you for always and infinity, Mom!!

Happy Mother’s Day!