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Coming Back to the Paper Trail Last time, we stood inside a gap, ten years of a man's life with no clear paper trail. No neat answers. No satisfying explanation. Just silence, the kind that shows up in family history more often than most people expect. Today, we return to the records, not to force a conclusion, but to listen again. Because sometimes the past does not speak louder. It simply speaks later, and when it does, it changes the work you need to do. When Samuel Carter reappears in the 1860 census, the shift is immediate. He is no longer a young laborer living in someone else's household. He is a husband, a father, and a farmer. The census does not tell us how he got there, but it does tell us that he got there, and that difference matters. In genealogy, a reappearance is not a clean ending to the mystery, it is a new starting point. It gives you fresh facts that can be used to tighten the timeline, refine the geography, and test the theories that might have been tempting during the silent years... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/when-the-records-begin-speaking-again/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

There are times in genealogy when the records speak clearly. Names line up, dates behave, and places make sense. You can follow a life forward with little resistance. Then there are times when the trail stops. Not with a dramatic ending. Not with a warning. Just silence. That silence is not rare. It shows up in nearly every serious family history project, and it is where many family trees start to drift away from evidence. This story sits inside that silence. It is about a man named Samuel Carter, a name common enough to create its own challenge. When a name is shared by many people, it becomes easier to attach the wrong records to the right person, especially when there is a gap and you want to close it quickly. The goal here is not to invent what happened in the missing years. The goal is to learn how to handle missing years without turning guesses into facts... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/between-the-lines-missing-years-genealogy-records/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Genealogy has ruined me in the best way. I can be perfectly content all day, and then I see a hint, a record index, a cemetery photo, or a single line in a probate packet, and my brain flips a switch. Next thing I know, I am down a rabbit hole, zooming in on handwriting that looks like it was written during an earthquake, trying to decide whether that squiggle is an "S" or a "J." I have learned to accept this about myself. I am a genealogist, which means I do something most people only do once in a while, and I do it on purpose. I chase names. I follow families across counties and decades. I compare sources that disagree with each other like they are arguing relatives. I build timelines, map migrations, and try to figure out why somebody disappeared from the records in 1900 and reappeared in 1910 with a different first name and the same three children. And when I get it right, when the evidence stacks up, and the puzzle clicks into place, it gives me a kind of satisfaction I do not get anywhere else... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/why-i-love-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Compassion, Civility, Conviction, and Courage. Then...start to speak! This is part of a year-long focus on the heart of the Christian faith so that we can share with our neighbors the faith of a Christian heart.The sermon today is titled "What Insiders Need To Know." This sermon is the second installment in our series "Back To The Basics." The Scripture reading is from John 4:27-39 and John 9:25 (NIV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 11, 2026. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under SERVE: Announcing The Kingdom.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Greg Laurie, “Evangelism Jesus-Style: Winning Hearts for Christ.” A New Beginning Podcast. Dec 26, 2025.  Jonathan Storment, “Show and Tell: Let Your Life Speak.” Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. May 18, 2025. Matt Smethurst, “How To Become an Evangelist: 7 Ways To Be Evangelism Ready.” The Gospel Coalition. August 4, 2021. Rick Atchley, “What One Thing Can You Share?” The Hills Church. January 13,2025.Nightbirde Music, “America's Got Talent—Nightbirde ‘It's OK' Golden Buzzer Performance.” Performed in 2021. Posted July 3, 2025.Talent Recap, “Nightbirde Tribute Choir Makes Simon Cowell CRY on AGT 2023!,” June 5, 2023.  I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Federal homestead records sit in a sweet spot between law and lived experience. They were created to document a legal transfer of public land into private hands, yet they often preserve day-to-day details that do not survive in many other federal record groups. In plain terms, the government asked settlers to prove they did what the law required, and the paperwork produced by that proof can be unusually rich for family history. The phrase "homestead records" is used loosely, so it helps to define terms. A land patent is the final instrument that conveys title from the United States to an individual. Many patents are indexed online and are easy to find. A homestead land entry case file is different. It is the administrative case created during the process of gaining that patent. The case file is typically what researchers mean when they talk about the "bundle" of homestead papers. For genealogical work, the bundle is often more valuable than the patent, because it contains the reasoning, testimony, and timing behind the final transfer... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/homestead-case-files-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When you first start researching your family, it is easy to believe every question has a record waiting somewhere. A birth certificate, a marriage entry, a census line, a grave marker, a neat little document that answers what you want to know and lets you move on. Then, sooner or later, you run into the place where the paper trail stops. The courthouse burned. The church book vanished. The county did not keep records yet. A person lived in the gap between two jurisdictions and left almost no footprint. In that moment, genealogy changes. It stops being a hunt for one perfect document and becomes the slower work of building a case from whatever survives... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/no-records-no-problem/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

A new year brings a fresh calendar, but for many leaders, it also brings pressure, fatigue, and the fear that this year might just look like the last one. In this episode of the GrowLeader Podcast, Pastor Chris Hodges helps leaders reset their lives and leadership so 2026 doesn't become a rerun of 2025. This conversation goes far beyond goal setting. Pastor Chris walks through a powerful, practical framework built on reflection and planning, showing leaders how to work on their lives, not just in them. Drawing from decades of ministry leadership, personal rhythms, and spiritual disciplines, he explains why clarity comes from review and traction comes from intentional planning. If you're a pastor, church leader, or organizational leader who wants to grow personally, lead intentionally, and start the year with clarity and purpose, this episode will give you a roadmap to lead yourself well, and lead others better.   Episode Resources: Pastor Chris's Podcast Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R7zq4gKJgtBk3XY9wHpVumubXNexQO1g/view?usp=sharing 21 Days of Prayer: https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/ 21 Days of Prayer Resources: https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/resources https://youtu.be/RPTUuKGTy3s?si=gJdV1V8zYJbl36Hn https://youtu.be/x-kdUjOqThA?si=EXUeqPVQ0-rc0Hem https://youtu.be/8jqXLeB-T38?si=VaeGLszNJvCa54MW https://youtu.be/-utE_JsuMnY?si=OapCI4YDDjcjpNo9   All Things GrowLeader: Register for GrowLeader Conference 2026: https://www.growleader.com/conference Join Monthly Mentoring with Pastor Chris: https://www.growleader.com/monthlymentoring Access FREE church resources: https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/resources Develop a Kingdom Builders or Legacy Team: https://www.growleader.com/kbvirtualintensive Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyCNQpi3YxaOeQAIdSpbeVw   Follow along on Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growleader/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growleader

Marriage records are one of the three core types of vital records every family historian should learn to use. Birth, marriage, and death records often work together like a three legged stool. If you are missing one leg, the whole picture feels shaky. A marriage record can connect a woman's maiden name to her married name, link parents to children, confirm relationships you only guessed at, and point you toward a new place to search. Even better, a marriage record often answers questions you did not know to ask. It may tell you where the bride and groom were living at the time, how old they were, whether either person had been married before, what church or official performed the ceremony, who witnessed it, and sometimes the names of parents or even grandparents. In some areas, the record will also name the bondsman, surety, or person who gave permission for the marriage, which can be a close relative and a valuable clue. Marriage records also help you avoid classic traps. Many people share the same name, especially in the same county. A marriage record can separate two men named John Smith by showing different ages, residences, or spouses. It can also help you place the right children with the right couple, because the marriage date gives you a timeline that can be compared with census records and births... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/how-to-find-marriage-records/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

What if we went about "gospeling" as a way of life--the Jesus way? This is part of a year-long focus on the heart of the Christian faith so that we can share with our neighbors the faith of a Christian heart.The sermon today is titled "Evangelism And The Jesus Method." This sermon is the first installment in our series "Back To The Basics." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 4:23-25. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 4, 2026. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under SERVE: Announcing The Kingdom.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):For Barna and Lifeway survey results, see Jonathan Storment, "Show & Tell: The Lord Will Call." May 11, 2025. Pleasant Valley Church, Little Rock, AR.For the 80% return rate on inviting someone to lunch after church, see Thom Rainer interview. "The Real Difference Between Growing and Declining Churches: Thom Rainer on What Reaches The Anxious Generation." The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast. Nov 6, 2025.I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Our King has come, is coming, and will come again. What does it mean to think of Jesus as "our coming King"? In this first lesson of the series, I ask us to consider the conversations before creation.The sermon today is titled "The Return of the King." This sermon is the third installment in our series "The Coming King." The Scripture reading is from Daniel 7:9-14 (NIV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 21, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Loving Christ.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):J. R. R. Tolkein, The Return of the KingN. T. Wright, When God Became KingN. T. Wright, The Old Testament & The People of GodN. T. Wright, Jesus & The Victory of GodI'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

January is basically the genealogist's secret power month. The holidays are over, the calendar is wide open, and you can finally hear yourself think. While winter does its quiet thing outside, you get a fresh start indoors, with coffee, a cozy chair, and a brand new excuse to chase down ancestors. These "10 Must-Do Genealogy Projects for January" are built to kick your research back into gear, tame the paper and digital chaos, and pull you closer to the real stories hiding behind names and dates. Think of each project as one more clue, one more upgrade, and one more step toward turning your family tree into something that feels alive. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-january/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Better Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you're interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RYG Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rygathletics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE RESOURCES & COMMUNITY

In Episode 382 of The Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast, host Adam Miller sits down with Josh Teulker, creator of the Before the Echo YouTube channel, for an in-depth conversation on traditional bowhunting, modern hunting culture, and the ethical challenges facing today's hunters. Josh shares his background growing up in a hunting family and how those early experiences shaped his approach to whitetail deer hunting and eventually led him to transition from compound bows to traditional archery. The discussion covers the differences between traditional and modern hunting styles, realistic expectations for success, and why patience, discipline, and woodsmanship still matter. The conversation dives into e-scouting, hunting pressure, and what it's like to hunt multiple states while navigating changing hunting regulations, access issues, and public land challenges. Josh and Adam also discuss the growing influence of social media on hunting, how technology is reshaping the sport, and whether innovation is helping or hurting the future of ethical bowhunting. Additional topics include Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Michigan's hunting culture, and the importance of protecting hunting traditions while adapting to a rapidly changing landscape. This episode is packed with insight for bowhunters, traditional archers, whitetail hunters, and conservation-minded outdoorsmen who care about the long-term integrity of the sport. 00:00 Podcast Notes 02:19 Introduction02:45 Before the Echo Origin Story05:29 Traditional vs Compound Bow Hunting08:00 Growing Up in a Hunting Family10:41 Transition to Traditional Archery13:10 Bowhunting Strategies & Techniques16:06 E-Scouting & Out-of-State Hunting18:42 Locating & Tracking Whitetail Deer21:21 Expectations & Standards in Hunting23:56 Social Media & Hunting Pressure26:27 Hunting Ethics & Regulations37:37 Changes in Hunting Regulations39:01 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)40:27 Michigan Hunting Culture42:26 Technology's Role in Hunting48:43 Future of Hunting & Access01:01:28 Family Traditions & Hunting Legacy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoEUun2B14oDuAdhWJoSEtA Painted Arrow Outdoors – BHC15 (15% off)https://www.paintedarrow.com Spartan Forge – BOWHUNTER (25% off)https://www.spartanforge.ai Latitude Outdoors -BHC (15% off)https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com Genesis 3D Printinghttps://genesis3dprinting.com BigShot Targets - BHC (10 % off)https://www.bigshottargets.com Vitalize Seedhttps://vitalizeseed.com Zinger Fletcheshttps://www.zingerfletches.com Additional partners:https://huntworthgear.comhttps://waypointtv.com/#podcast Patreon: http://bit.ly/BHCPatreon The Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast – Episode 382Hunting in the Echo Chamber | Josh Teulker (Before the Echo)⏱ Episode Chapters▶️ Check Out Before the Echo

Genealogy has a built-in problem that never goes away. You are trying to rebuild real lives from records that real people created, and people get things wrong. Sometimes the mistake is innocent, like a clerk mishearing a name or a census taker writing down a guess. Sometimes the mistake is intentional, like someone shaving off years, changing a birthplace, or hiding a first marriage. Even permanent things like headstones can be wrong, because the person ordering it may not have known the exact date, or the stone cutter may have carved it incorrectly. Indexes and transcriptions help us find records, but they also introduce new errors. One wrong letter can split a family into two or merge two separate families into one. Online trees can spread those mistakes fast. After enough copying, a guess can start to look like a fact, just because you see it everywhere. So how do you know when your research is accurate, or at least accurate enough that you would feel comfortable publishing it and building on it? You will never get perfect certainty in every case. Genealogy deals with missing records, confusing handwriting, reused names, shifting county lines, and stories that have been polished over time. Still, you can get to strong confidence by using a few basic checks that experienced researchers use again and again. These checks help you spot weak links early, before they become bigger problems... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/check-family-tree-for-errors/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Genealogy teaches you something early. The record is rarely clean. Ink blots. Misspelled names. Ages that shift from census to census. People who appear, disappear, then show up again decades later with no explanation. When you study the past long enough, you stop expecting perfection. You start expecting the truth to arrive a little sideways. 2025 worked the same way. Some mistakes were loud. Others were quiet enough that I did not notice them until later. Most were not dramatic disasters. They were small choices repeated often enough to leave a mark. When you lay them out in order, they read less like regret and more like documentation. I am writing this the way I would study a set of records. Not to shame anyone. Not to put on a show. Just to tell the truth about what happened, so the next year starts with better footing... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/every-mistake-i-made-in-2025/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

All month, we have looked at how different places celebrate the season, with food, songs, family gatherings, church services, and small customs that show up year after year. Today, we are going to close the series by going straight to the center of it. I am going to read the Christmas story. Before I start, here is the simple thought I want to leave with you. Traditions can be beautiful and vary from home to home, but the reason for Christmas does not change. It is the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-story-read-aloud/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Well, two big reasons show up in the history. One reason is a theological calculation that shows up early. A Christian writer named Sextus Julius Africanus (early 200s) argued that Jesus was conceived on March 25 and was born nine months later on December 25.   Another reason is the Roman winter season. By late December, the empire already had major celebrations, including solstice-related festivals such as Sol Invictus on December 25. Some historians think placing Christmas then helped the church speak into a season people already treated as special. By the 300s, December 25 had become the dominant date in the Western church, with firm evidence that Rome was celebrating the Nativity on that date by the mid-300s... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/why-christmas-december-25/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Christmas in Mexico is not usually treated as a single neat day on a calendar. It feels more like a long build that gets louder, brighter, and more crowded as it moves toward Christmas Eve. In many places, the season spills into the street. Neighbors join in. Kids play a role. Food shows up in big batches. Music follows you around like it owns the place. Many Mexican Christmas customs come from Christian traditions, especially Catholic traditions. At the same time, many parts of the season are also community habits, local folk practices, and playful traditions that people keep. They are fun because they are tied to home or because they make December feel like December. If you like quirky holiday traditions, Mexico has plenty... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-mexico/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Christmas in Mexico is not usually treated like one neat day on a calendar. It feels more like a long build that gets louder, brighter, and more crowded as it moves toward Christmas Eve. In many places, the season spills into the street. Neighbors join in. Kids play a role. Food shows up in big batches. Music follows you around like it owns the place. A lot of Mexican Christmas customs come from Christian tradition, especially Catholic life. At the same time, many parts of the season are also community habits, local folk practices, and playful traditions that people keep because they are fun, because they are tied to home, or because they make December feel like December. If you like quirky holiday traditions, Mexico has plenty... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-mexico/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

December in South Africa does not whisper in with cold nights and frosted windows. It arrives with heat, long afternoons, and bright skies that can still be blue well into the evening. In many homes, Christmas planning is not about keeping warm. It is about finding shade, keeping food cool, and deciding whether the family gathering will happen inside, outside, or both. The season is still Christmas, centered on the birth of Jesus Christ for many believers, but the setting changes how the day feels. South Africa is also a country of many cultures, languages, and church traditions. That means Christmas is not identical from one home to the next. Some families place church worship at the center of the day. Some treat Christmas mainly as a family and community holiday. Many do both. The shared thread is that Christmas remains a major moment on the calendar, and for many Christians, it is a time to hear the Nativity story again, sing carols, and give thanks for Christ's coming into the world. To understand Christmas in South Africa, it helps to look at the country's history and how Christianity grew across different communities. The earliest European settlement at the Cape began under the Dutch in the 1600s. The Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at what is now Cape Town, and Dutch Reformed church life became part of that early colonial society. As settlement expanded, Christian worship was tied to the structures and priorities of colonial life. Churches were built, sermons were preached, and the church calendar became part of community timekeeping for many settlers... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-south-africa/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in Brazil. In Brazil, Christmas often starts late. The house is full, the table is covered, and people are still arriving long after the sun has gone down. Outside, the air is warm because it is summer. Inside, the kitchen has been busy for hours. Someone checks the clock, not because the day is rushed, but because the meal is usually timed to build toward midnight. This is one of the easiest ways to understand Christmas in Brazil. It is a holiday built for togetherness at night. It is centered on a long Christmas Eve meal, a late exchange of gifts in many homes, and church worship for those who attend Mass. The setting is summer, but the meaning for Christians is still tied to the birth of Jesus Christ. Brazil's Christmas traditions did not grow out of Spain. They grew mainly in Portugal. Portugal claimed Brazil in the early 1500s, and over the next centuries, Catholic Christianity spread across the colony through churches, missions, and parish life. Towns formed around churches. Religious holidays were placed on the calendar and taught through worship, sermons, and community practice. Christmas became one of the most important seasons because it proclaimed the Nativity, the birth of Christ. In the earliest colonial period, Christmas in Brazil would have looked different from modern celebrations. Life was harder, travel was slower, and communities were smaller. Even so, the church calendar shaped public life. Priests led services, Scripture was read, and worship followed the Catholic pattern that settlers brought from Portugal. Over time, as cities grew and rural communities became more established, Christmas became a season where church worship and family life joined together... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-brazil/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in the Philippines. In the Philippines, Christmas is not squeezed into a few days. It spans months and fills homes, churches, streets, and entire neighborhoods. People begin talking about Christmas early, and once it starts, it stays in view for a long time. The heart of it is still the same. Christians gather to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, and many of the best-loved customs are built around church worship, family, and community. The Philippines is one of the most strongly Christian nations in Asia, and most Christians there are Catholic, with Protestant communities as well. That Christian foundation matters because it explains why Christmas is not only widespread but deeply rooted in church life. To understand Christmas in the Philippines, you have to know how Christianity became part of the country's story. Before Spanish rule, the islands had their own local religions and customs. Trade connected the islands to many parts of Asia, and Islam had already taken root in the southern Philippines, especially in Mindanao and the Sulu region. Then, in the 1500s, Spanish exploration reached the islands. In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan arrived and made alliances with local leaders, and Christianity was introduced in that early period. Spanish rule expanded more fully later, and over the following centuries, Catholicism spread widely across the islands... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-the-philippines/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in Australia. Christmas in Australia arrives in summer. The days are long, the evenings stay warm, and the sun is strong. That changes the look of the season right away. There is no snow. There are no winter coats. Instead, you see beaches, backyard shade, cold drinks, and families planning how to gather without melting in the heat. Even in the summer, Christmas in Australia has deep Christian roots. Churches, carols, and the Nativity story have been part of the Australian Christmas from the beginning of European settlement. Over time, the country built its own Christmas habits around those roots, shaped by the climate, the calendar, and a mix of cultures that grew larger with each generation. Christmas traditions in Australia are tied closely to the early colonial period. British settlement began in 1788, and the settlers brought their church life and holiday calendar with them. In the earliest years, Australia was still a harsh place to live. Many people were convicts, soldiers, or workers under strict control, and supplies were limited. Even so, Christmas was still marked, especially through church services and whatever simple meals could be managed... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-australia/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're taking a look at Christmas in Japan. In December, Japan looks like it is ready for Christmas. Cities light up at night. Store windows fill with trees, ornaments, and Santa Claus. Christmas music plays in shopping areas, train stations, offices, and restaurants. Bakeries line their shelves with seasonal cakes, and signs advertising special meals appear weeks ahead of time. To someone visiting from another country, it can look like Christmas is everywhere. At the same time, daily life keeps moving. Offices stay open. Schools stay open. Trains run on schedule. There is no national holiday connected to Christmas, and there is no long break from work. Christmas fits into everyday routines instead of stopping them... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-japan/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Our King has come, is coming, and will come again. What does it mean to think of Jesus as "our coming King"? In this first lesson of the series, I ask us to consider the conversations before creation.The sermon today is titled "Old Testament Promises." This sermon is the second installment in our series "The Coming King." The Scripture reading is from Isaiah 11:1-10. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 14, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Loving Christ.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Andrew T. Abernathy & Gregory Goswell, God's Messiah in the Old Testament: Expectations of a Coming King.I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

The common advice for new and aspiring photographers is to take as many photographs as you possibly can – every day of the week if possible. For many, that means starting on a photo-a-day or 365 project. This is terrific advice, but I don't necessarily think it is limited to beginners. Even professionals can benefit from something like a photo-a-day project. Especially professionals, since I think the tendency to get involved in the business side of photography means we don't always make time to create images each day. The best part about photo-a-day projects (aside from the ability to polish your skills even further) is that they don't need to be a year-long commitment. And, you don't need to wait until January 1 to start your project. You can get started right now! If you're having trouble settling into a daily photo project, I'll show you some of the benefits that you could be missing... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/improve-skills-photo-day-project/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #PhotographyPodcast

Michael Kosir and Rosemary Wang (developer advocates at HashiCorp, an IBM Company) recap AWS re:Invent and discuss Terraform 1.14, including the query CLI command. Podcast Notes: - https://www.hashicorp.com/en/blog/re-invent-2025-how-hashicorp-and-aws-are-simplifying-cloud-operations - https://www.hashicorp.com/en/blog/day-2-infrastructure-management-with-terraform-actions - https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/releases/tag/v1.14.0 - https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/v1.14.x/import/bulk

Today, let's step into Ukraine during Christmas. Ukraine is a country where Christianity has been part of daily life for more than a thousand years. In the year 988, the rulers of Kyivan Rus accepted Christianity, and from that point on, Christian worship became part of how families lived, worked, and marked the year. Christmas grew out of that long history, shaped by church life and home life together. Because of this, Christmas in Ukraine is not something that appeared later or was added on. It has always been there. The birth of Christ has been remembered in churches, villages, and homes for centuries. Ukraine follows the Julian calendar for church holidays, which is why Christmas Day falls on January 7. The church has used this calendar for a very long time. Keeping it meant that Christmas remained closely tied to church tradition rather than changing with modern calendars. For many families, this helped keep the holiday centered on worship rather than schedules. Preparation for Christmas begins weeks before the holiday itself... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-ukraine/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When you arrive in Iceland in December, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Snow sits on the hills like a thick blanket, steam rises from hot springs, and the cold air feels crisp but clean. Towns look small against the vast landscape, and most homes glow with warm lights by mid-afternoon. The short daylight makes every window feel like a beacon, and families across the country lean into these warm touches to brighten the long season. Walking through Reykjavik or any of the small towns, you see people with bags of baked goods from local shops, children bundled in thick coats, and families gathering indoors before the evening chill settles in. Icelanders handle winter with simple routines that make the season feel friendly. Nothing here rushes. People enjoy the slow build toward Christmas, with lights, books, treats, and old traditions that help them get through the cold months. December in Iceland feels like an invitation to slow down and enjoy the season alongside everyone else... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-iceland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Here's something I've mentioned before, and I believe that I've spoken of it in terms of how organization and trip planning is a good thing. Because that is the truth—none of us wants to spend a lot of money and time on a trip only to come home with no photographs to show for it. This time around, however, I want to argue the opposite. Conflicting opinions, I know, but as with everything, I believe that there is a balance to strike. Sometimes planning out your photographic excursions down to the last detail is a good thing... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/wandering/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #PhotographyPodcast

If you visit Denmark in December, the first thing you notice is the season's softness. Winter comes early, and daylight is brief, so the Danes respond with warm lights, quiet streets, and homes that glow through the dark. It feels like the whole country leans into comfort when the cold settles in. Walking through a Danish town at this time of year, you see people moving at an easy pace, carrying small bags from local shops, and heading toward warm houses where family and friends gather. The season builds slowly. Homes begin placing small candles in windows. Trees outside town halls are lit with strings of white lights. Cafés bring out warm drinks and pastries that feel made for winter. The Danish idea of keeping things cozy stays at the center of it all. Nothing is rushed, and nothing feels forced. The whole month has the steady, welcoming rhythm that Denmark is known for. As December begins, families start preparing for Christmas in ways that seem simple at first but carry profound meaning. Children open Advent calendars. Parents unpack boxes of handmade ornaments. Town squares start setting up outdoor markets, where people meet friends for warm drinks while a light snow drifts through the air. Denmark feels peaceful, and the season unfolds in a way that makes visitors want to slow down and enjoy it with everyone else... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-denmark/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Winter settles early in Finland. Snow drifts across roads and fields, covering the ground in a thick white layer that stays for months. Days grow short, with the sun rising late and setting early, sometimes leaving only a faint glow in the sky before darkness returns. These long nights shape the pace of December. Finnish families respond to the darkness by filling their homes with light, warmth, and steady traditions that guide them through the season. As December begins, homes across Finland start preparing for Christmas in simple, peaceful ways. People place candles or small lamps in windows so the warm glow shines into the snow-covered streets. Children open the first doors of their Advent calendars. Parents plan meals and gatherings for the days ahead. Even the coldest towns begin to feel warm inside as families settle into routines that have been part of Finnish life for generations. The month is shaped by quiet evenings indoors, warm kitchens, and small traditions that give December a steady rhythm. In Finland, Christmas is not a single event. It's a long stretch of winter comfort, built slowly one day at a time... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-finland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Norway enters December with early sunsets, cold mornings, and towns covered in snow. Families across the country settle into routines that feel steady and comforting. The winter can be long, so people bring warmth into their homes. Windows glow with lights, ovens fill with baked goods, and families take out decorations that they store away the rest of the year. The season feels more like a shared tradition than a single holiday, and it grows day by day through simple moments. Most families begin getting ready weeks before Christmas. Snow often falls early, so streets look bright and clean as December starts. Some families visit small winter markets. Others stay home to set up lights and prepare for the season ahead. Children begin talking about the customs they look forward to most. Adults make lists for meals, gifts, and gatherings. The long nights create an easy pace that helps everyone slow down and settle into winter. In the countryside, families sometimes enjoy the quiet sound of snow falling outside their windows. In the cities, people walk past shops decorated with wreaths, lights, and small trees. Norway's winter creates a backdrop that shapes the whole season. It carries people from the first days of December to the weeks that follow Christmas Day. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Our King has come, is coming, and will come again. What does it mean to think of Jesus as "our coming King"? In this first lesson of the series, I ask us to consider the conversations before creation.The sermon today is titled "Before All Worlds." This sermon is the first installment in our series "The Coming King." The Scripture reading is from John 17:4-5 & Ephesians 1:4-5. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 7, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Loving Christ.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Augustine, Confessions 11:12.Mark D. Roberts, Ephesians (Story of God Commentary Series)Joseph Mangina, Revelation (Brazos Theological Commentary Series)I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Ansel Adams said, "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept." As photographers, this is our greatest struggle — to produce images with a meaning that is immediately evident and warrants a deeper examination of the subject material. So how do we produce images like this? One way to create a powerful collection — a meaningful portfolio — is to seriously zero in on your concepts. Take your subject material and distill it until only the most resonating elements stand out. However, this isn't the only thing you'll need to consider as you strive for a striking collection of images. I'll show you a few good ways to approach this task... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/four-ways-create-powerful-portfolio/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #PhotographyPodcast

Christmas in Sweden unfolds during one of the darkest times of the year. Days are short, nights are long, and much of the country sees only a few hours of daylight in December. These conditions gave shape to many Swedish Christmas customs. Families learned to bring light into their homes through candles, soft decorations, warm food, and long held habits passed down through generations. The season begins in late November and builds slowly toward Christmas Eve. Homes decorate with star-shaped lights in windows, which brighten the early sunsets. Families place candles on tables and shelves to give the house a warm glow. Churches hold services during Advent, and towns host small events that help people enjoy the season even in the deep cold. Sweden's winter weather encourages families to gather indoors. People look forward to evenings spent together, warm drinks, quiet conversations, carols, and simple traditions that feel steady and calm. This slow build is a key part of Christmas in Sweden. Nothing feels rushed. Families enjoy each step, from Advent to Christmas Day, with a sense of rhythm shaped by the long Swedish winter. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

What can I learn from the story of Joseph? That God gives hope, wisdom, forgiveness, and family.The sermon today is titled "God Gives Family." This sermon is the fourth installment in the series "Joseph's Journey." The Scripture reading is from Genesis 46-50. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 17, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Biblical Studies.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Walter Brueggeman, Genesis (Interpretation Commentary Series)I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Christmas in Scotland has a long history shaped by home life, local customs, weather, church traditions, and the slow return of daylight after long winter nights. Scotland is known for cold Decembers, early sunsets, and quiet towns lit by warm windows. These things give the season its feeling. Families have passed down habits for hundreds of years. Some came from church. Others came from farming life. Others grew from the way people gathered each winter to stay warm and stay connected. The weeks before Christmas are filled with steady routines. People decorate their homes, listen to carols, attend church events, and walk through towns lined with small shops. Many areas install street lights to brighten the long, dark evenings. Some villages host small outdoor markets where people buy simple gifts, baked goods, and warm drinks. Scotland's winter weather often brings cold winds or snow, and families enjoy spending time together indoors as they prepare for the holiday. Christmas in Scotland feels calm and steady. Families and communities look forward to the season because it brings a break from work, school, and long hours outdoors. People gather in warm rooms, share meals, and enjoy seeing loved ones they may not see often during the year. The season builds slowly through December. Each week offers small moments of togetherness that guide families toward Christmas Eve. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-scotland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

What can I learn from the story of Joseph? That God gives hope, wisdom, forgiveness, and family.The sermon today is titled "God Gives Forgiveness." This sermon is the third installment in the series "Joseph's Journey." The Scripture reading is from Genesis 42:6-44:34. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 3, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Biblical Studies.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Walter Brueggeman, Genesis (Interpretation Commentary Series)I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Christmas in France has deep roots. Families across the country have kept customs that date back centuries, and many of those customs still shape the holiday today. The season grows slowly from late November through early January. People decorate their homes, visit outdoor markets, attend church events, prepare special meals, and spend time with their loved ones. Each part of France adds its own touch. Some regions hold on to older customs. Others mix older habits with new ones. Together, these pieces form a season that has become an essential part of French life. The feeling of the season begins during Advent. Towns decorate streets with lights. Homes bring out small displays and decorations passed down through the years. Outdoor markets open in many regions, giving people places to walk, shop, and enjoy food made for the colder months. Children take part in simple activities, such as opening Advent calendars with small treats inside. Parents prepare for the coming weeks by planning meals, visiting shops, and gathering ingredients that appear only during this time of year. Advent gives the season a slow start. People take their time. Families look forward to the days ahead. The weather cools, and the streets become brighter. Church bells mark the passing of the weeks. The steps toward Christmas are steady, and each one leads the country toward the most important evening of the season. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-france/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

What can I learn from the story of Joseph? That God gives hope, wisdom, forgiveness, and family.The sermon today is titled "God Gives Wisdom." This sermon is the second installment in the series "Joseph's Journey." The Scripture reading is from Genesis 41:1-57. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 27, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Biblical Studies.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Walter Brueggeman, Genesis (Interpretation Commentary Series)I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Let's walk into the Christmas season in Portugal, where the holiday season settles over villages and cities with a sense of familiarity that has lasted for centuries. Instead of rushing toward Christmas Day, Portugal eases into it with a pace that feels natural, steady, and deeply rooted in family and faith. The country's December days carry a blend of devotion and homegrown warmth, shaped by church bells echoing through narrow streets, fires burning in stone hearths, and handwritten recipes brought out only once each year. In many places, the season begins the same way it has for generations: with neighbors greeting each other in the street, homes slowly preparing for the Nativity scene, and families drawing closer as the nights grow longer. For those in the United States whose roots trace back to Portugal, these traditions reveal the ordinary rhythms that once shaped the lives of their relatives. Portuguese Christmas customs grew from small rural villages, fishing towns along the Atlantic, and mountain communities where people depended on one another to get through the cold season. The foods, songs, and rituals preserved through those years became the foundation of the Christmas season we see today, and they often survived immigration more strongly than any other tradition. Many families who crossed the ocean kept their Christmas ways almost unchanged, because these customs reminded them of who they were and where they came from. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-portugal/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

What can I learn from the story of Joseph? That God gives hope, wisdom, forgiveness, and family.The sermon today is titled "God Gives Hope." This sermon is the first installment in the series "Joseph's Journey." The Scripture reading is from Genesis 39:20-40:23. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 20, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Biblical Studies.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Walter Brueggeman, Genesis (Interpretation Commentary Series)I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Let's explore the Christmas season in Spain, a celebration shaped by faith, family, and a sense of continuity that feels both ancient and vibrant. While American Christmas traditions tend to revolve around a burst of excitement on December 25, the Spanish holiday season stretches across weeks, layered with rituals that wind through Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Epiphany. In many ways, Spanish families see Christmas not as a single day but as a long path of reflection and joy, filled with moments that bring communities together and call back to centuries of tradition. For readers whose ancestors came from Spain, these customs offer a glimpse into the rhythms their families once lived by—rhythms that often endured even after crossing the Atlantic. Spain's Christmas roots run deep into its Catholic heritage. Churches glow with candlelight and echo with hymns that have carried through generations. Families gather for quiet meals on Christmas Eve, attend midnight services, and continue celebrating into January. Yet the season is not solemn from beginning to end. It bursts with color and festivity when the Three Kings arrive, turning Epiphany into a joyous event centered on children. The mix of devotion and delight creates a holiday that is uniquely Spanish, where the story of the Nativity shapes the season just as strongly as local customs and regional identity. Across Spain's diverse regions—from the rugged hills of Galicia to the coastal villages of Catalonia, from the plains of Castile to the streets of Andalusia—Christmas feels slightly different in each place. These local variations hold clues to ancestry. Everything from the foods served at Christmas Eve dinner to the style of Nativity scenes displayed in homes reflects regional history. When families emigrated from Spain, they often carried these traditions with them, adapting them gently to new cultures while quietly preserving the memory of their homeland. The Spanish Christmas season unfolds slowly, drawing people into its meaning step by step. Let's follow this path from Advent to Epiphany and see how faith, folklore, and family come together to shape a celebration that has endured for centuries. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-spain/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Let's explore the richness of Italian Christmas, a season that unfolds with a sense of reverence, warmth, and continuity that has carried families through centuries. In Italy, Christmastime is not compressed into a single day, nor is it built around swift gift exchanges. It begins early in December and extends deep into January, stretching across Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the Epiphany. Devotion, family gatherings, local rituals, regional flavor, and the enduring story of the Nativity shape this long season. For many people in the United States whose ancestors came from Italy, these customs represent a living connection to the towns and villages their relatives once called home. Whether your family roots trace to the hills of Tuscany, the crowded streets of Naples, the valleys of Lombardy, or the sunlit shores of Sicily, Italian Christmas traditions preserve memories that reveal both place and identity. Italian Christmas is anchored in a profound sense of spiritual meaning. The Nativity is not simply a decorative theme; it is the heart of the season. Families build elaborate presepi—Nativity scenes that may include not just the Holy Family but entire villages crafted with details reflecting local landscapes, trades, and customs. In some homes, making the presepe becomes a weeks-long project, with children and adults adding figures day by day. These scenes are treated with care and are often passed down for generations, carrying regional craftsmanship and family history. Understanding how Italian families constructed and displayed their presepi can even offer genealogical clues, since the materials, styles, and figures often correspond to distinct regions. But Christmas in Italy is not only devotional; it is deeply communal. Streets fill with music during Advent as shepherd musicians known as zampognari wander into towns playing flutes and bagpipes. Their melodies echo folk traditions that stretch back centuries, particularly in rural areas of central and southern Italy. For immigrants who carried these memories across the ocean, recalling the sound of these musicians often became a way to remember their childhood towns long after they had settled in new countries. This blend of village life, seasonal music, and Christian anticipation gives Advent a distinctive Italian feeling—one of quiet excitement that grows day by day. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-ireland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Ireland celebrates Christmas differently from anywhere else in Europe. The season is gentle and warm, shaped by faith, storytelling, and a sense of home that runs far deeper than decorations or gifts. Many Irish traditions were formed under hardship — centuries of poverty, political turmoil, and emigration — yet the Irish Christmas never lost its sense of light. It carries a tone of quiet welcome, a belief in hospitality, and the feeling that Christmas should gather everyone, living and gone, around the same hearth. For many families in the United States with Irish roots, pieces of these traditions survived immigration: a candle glowing in a window on Christmas Eve, a special loaf of bread, a midnight walk to church, or even a song older than the towns their ancestors left. To understand Irish Christmas customs is to understand something tender and resilient about the Irish people themselves... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-ireland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Christmas calls up images of Santa Claus in a red suit, reindeer gliding across snowy rooftops, and gifts opened on Christmas morning. But in the Netherlands, the Christmas season unfolds in a way that feels both familiar and strikingly different. Dutch families do celebrate Christmas, but the heart of their gift-giving and childhood wonder arrives weeks earlier — with the arrival of Sinterklaas, one of the oldest gift-bringers in Europe. If your ancestors came from the Netherlands — or New York back when it was still New Amsterdam — their December rituals looked very different from what we now see in the United States. The Dutch customs that survived immigration left deep marks on early American culture, and they remain some of the clearest examples of how a tradition can travel, settle, and transform. Here, we'll walk through the history, the folklore, the religious practices, and the genealogical clues carried within the Dutch December season. Along the way, you will discover how the story of Sinterklaas grew into the modern Santa Claus — and why Dutch families continue to observe both spiritual reverence and playful traditions throughout winter... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-the-netherlands/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Christmas in Germany carries a depth and detail that shaped many of the world's most familiar holiday customs. From Advent wreaths glowing on winter evenings to the aroma of spiced markets and the gentle presence of Christkind, German Christmas traditions reflect centuries of Christian devotion, regional identity, and storytelling. Many of the images that Americans and other nations now consider "classic Christmas" took root in German homes long before crossing the Atlantic through immigrant families. For genealogists, these customs are especially revealing. The German-speaking world is not a single cultural block; it is a set of regions with their own rituals, dialects, and gift-bringers. Whether an ancestor came from Bavaria, the Rhineland, Saxony, or one of the historic kingdoms or principalities, their Christmas practices offer clues to where they lived, what they believed, and how they observed the Nativity. Germany's Christmas traditions did not emerge suddenly. They formed through centuries of Christian worship, household customs, artistic craft, and local practice. In this article, we explore these traditions with attention to the Nativity story, the gift-givers who visit German homes, the importance of Advent, and the genealogical hints preserved in these cultural details... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-germany/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Christmas in England is a holiday defined by contrasts — sacred hymns drifting through ancient stone cathedrals while mischievous spirits lurk in old folktales; roaring hearth fires glowing against midnight frost while wassailers roam the village lanes singing for warmth and blessing; feasts that echo medieval banquet halls side-by-side with quiet, candlelit reflections on the Nativity. English Christmas is both solemn and lively, reverent and hearty, holy and haunted. And for millions of American families, its echoes pulse through recipes, carols, and customs handed down across generations. To understand Christmas in England is to understand the root system that fed much of the English-speaking world's celebration — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Yet the English Christmas we know today was not shaped all at once. It evolved through Roman influence, medieval pageantry, Puritan suppression, Victorian reinvention, and twentieth-century nostalgia. Each era left traces in family traditions, many of which migrated wherever English-speaking people carried their memories. For genealogists, England's Christmas traditions offer a rare window into family identity. The style of worship, the foods served during the Twelve Days of Christmas, the songs sung on Christmas Eve, and the presence or absence of certain rituals can reveal an ancestor's place, class, denomination, or even the region they called home. Christmas in England is not a monolith — it is a mosaic built from centuries of theological debates, seasonal folklore, local customs, and literary imagination.This entry explores the origins, folklore, Biblical meaning, and genealogical insights of Christmas in England — a land where holly crowns pagans and Christians alike, where spirits are said to wander at Christmastime, and where a humble manger story birthed some of the world's most enduring holiday traditions. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-england/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

With the holidays coming up, now is the perfect time to think of the genealogy projects you want to complete in December. With so much going on this month, such as parties, family get-togethers, holiday celebrations, religious celebrations, and more, it may seem like there isn't much room for genealogy work in the middle of all of that busyness. Yet, December is, surprisingly, the ideal time to tackle some essential genealogy projects, and you can work them into your otherwise busy end-of-the-year schedule. You'll be glad you did. Here are ten "must-do" genealogy projects for December. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-december/  Genealogy Clips Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips