Looking back on your Ancestry... You may be amazed by what you find.

Even since I was  child I was curious about where my family came from.  Both sides of my family come from different parts of the world.  My mom's side her mom is from Italy and her father is from Norway.   Both her parents are what some may say are " fresh off the boat".  I grew up in a very well rounded environment with both cultures present steeped in food and traditions.  Every family meal was mostly Italian based with some Norwegian sweets, who doesn't love the heart shape waffles & Kringla.  Home made wine was always at family meals and fresh pasta. As well my grandparents where involved in the Sons of Norway.  I was even crowned our sections the " Viking" Queen and board fest queen ( this is between BC and Washington state groups of the Sons of Norway)  I enjoyed being apart of both communities growing up.  I am very proud of my heritage on my mothers side and I am so excited to learn more and share what I may find out.  Asking my Nonna about her family while I am still blessed to have her in my life will be 1st and foremost important as she is able to tell me 1st hand her family history and I so wished I asked my Grandpa while he was alive about his family history, but while I was in my 20's I didn't put much thought into it.  It is sad really.

 My Dad's side his dad is German and his mom is Scottish.  I have just recently learned that my Dad's side is very much steeped in American history which I find so fascinating.  For example, I just found out that my 12th removed grandfather is one of the founders of the city of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.  How cool is that. My dad's father and grandfather fought in WW1 and WW2.  Very proud of them for fighting for our freedoms here in Canada as my Great Grandfather is the 1st in his family to be Canadian.  His family is mostly from the USA but like most families originally from a European country, Germany and Scotland in our case.  I've asked my Grandma about her family history and she is a wealth of stories and has some family tree started already which has lead me to some of the information I've been able to share with you all at this time.  So fascinating her stories and tales.  Our generation has no clue what our forefathers went through to get us to where we are today.

I am looking forward to finding out as much as I can as it is truly eye opening as well as intriguing to finding where I came from, who paved the way for my life as it is today.  The sacrifices they made, the challenges they over came to get where they got to in their lives.  How they may have changed or influenced history, like my 12th removed grandfather on my fathers side.  I can not wait to find out more and I hope I can inspire more of you to want to find out of where you came from. I have friends who do geneology  as well I will be looking things up on the web site  Ancestry.ca as I have heard wonderful things about the site and I know you have to pay to look up a bulk of information.  However to me it will be money well spent.  To have your family tree to pass on to my children will be a wonderful gift  for many generation to come.  May you also have fun finding out your past as well.

Love, NYTS

This is the plaque in Hartford Connecticut with my 12th removed Great Grandfather, Edward Stebbins who is  was one of the founders of that town.