Celebrating Family History Month

I can’t believe we’re already 2/3 of the way through October—a very special October—that marks the 25th anniversary of the first 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉.

I love how this annual tenth-month-of-the-year observance, established by the U.S. Congress in 2001, falls just prior to the holiday-season months when thoughts naturally turn to all-things family. It makes my heart happy to see this observance gaining awareness and enthusiasm each year.

By early September I found my thoughts already meandering towards Thanksgiving. The Dague Thanksgiving Gathering, of my mom’s extended family, that we very much look forward to each year. I’ve spent much of this October contemplating new ways to share and commemorate family history with the four generations that make up the 80+ folks who faithfully gather each November. On the agenda so far . . .

** A bigger, interactive family tree on the wall—find your branch and add your name. . . 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆??

** Additional family history trivia puzzles and cousin word searches. . . 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉.

** Celebrating the new babies born since last Thanksgiving . . . 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒔—𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏—𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔!

My grandparents would be so happy to know that we still get together nearly 40 years after Lela (Baumgartner) Dague passed and 55 years after William (Bill) Dague passed. My mom promised her mom that the family would not stop gettin’ together after she passed. And we haven’t. Since Grandpa and Grandma wed in 1938, their family line has swelled to include just under 100 direct descendants. Much planning and preparation by lots of willing hands go into this special occasion. Translation: it’s a lot of work. But, without a doubt, worth every ounce of effort.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving finds us at the Steury Family Thanksgiving Gathering which hosts my husband’s sibling, their children, grands, and great-grands. It’s the best attended family event of the year with 45+ in attendance. Sister Amee pulls out all the stops, planning and creating a memorable and very enjoyable occasion for all. In addition to a delicious bounty of food, the afternoon brims with activity, including cornhole, cards, and board game tournaments. New to the contest agenda this year: pie baking and table centerpiece competitions. We’re adding a huge family member word search and family history trivia crosswords for those less inclined to work off their lunch with physical activity. Brain power burns calories, too, right?

It will soon be 30 years since Ivan Steury passed and November will mark seven years since Audrey (Bleeck) Steury passed. Rest assured, the gathering will continue. As marriages and new babies expand the family tree, we’re committed to remembering the past and looking toward the future, together.

I challenge you to consider at least one way you and your family can actively pursue family history this October. I’ll shoulder the blame for issuing this challenge late in the month. But worry not if your commemorating spills into November. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎. 𝑵𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅.

** Pull out an old photo album and peruse it with your son or daughter, sister, cousin, or grandchild.

** Consider who of the younger kin have shown an interest in family history and make a plan to fan that interest into a flame.

** Have an intentional conversation with the oldest family member(s) and capture their memories before the passage of time steals them.

** Make a passed-down fall favorite recipe and reminisce about the good times spent with Great-grandma or Auntie Mary who first shared the special dish with the family.

** Continue the work OR launch an effort to fill in the branches of your family tree to document family history for future generations.

The possibilities are endless—from the simplest acts and conversations to huge events—for celebrating your family’s history this October and beyond. Let October’s official observance launch an adventure that spans the weeks, months, and years ahead. Let an attention to and a passion for family history become a year-round endeavor.

I’d love to hear how you’re celebrating family history. COMMENT here or shoot me an email: bethsteury@gmail.com