Quick Summary: Meet the genealogist behind Our Growing Family Tree. I’m continuing the #52Ancestors challenge in 2026, researching Irish, Slovak, Polish, and Swedish immigrant ancestors. Learn who I am, what drives my research, and what you can expect from this genealogy blog throughout the year.
Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, I wanted to take a moment to re-introduce myself—whether you’ve been reading this genealogy blog since day one or you just discovered Our Growing Family Tree. After a year of sharing weekly ancestor stories, it feels like the perfect time to step back from the research and tell you more about the genealogist behind the blog. Who am I? What drives my passion for family history? And what can you expect from this blog in the year ahead?
Who I Am: A Genealogist’s Journey
I’m a genealogy enthusiast who caught the family history bug back in elementary school when a teacher assigned a family tree project. That simple assignment, complete with interviews of my parents and grandparents, opened a door I’ve never closed. My fascination deepened when I discovered that my maternal great-grandmother, Anna Hurkala, immigrated from Litmanova, Slovakia, to the United States in 1901 at just 14 years old. The courage and resilience of that teenage girl crossing an ocean alone continues to inspire my research today.
I officially dove headfirst into serious genealogy in December 2000 when I discovered Ancestry.com. Suddenly I had access to census records, passenger lists, and military documents—it felt like being Nancy Drew (my childhood idol!). That was over 25 years ago, and I haven’t stopped researching since.
When my son started college in 2016, I went “back to school” myself, attending webinars, workshops, and connecting with distant relatives who’ve generously shared their research. I’ve built a methodology that combines traditional records research with modern DNA analysis, and I continue learning every single week.
What You’ll Find on This Genealogy Blog
As a genealogy blogger, I’m passionate about sharing not just names and dates, but the full stories of my ancestors—the research methods I use to find them, and the breakthroughs (and brick walls) I encounter along the way. My primary research focuses on four great-grandparent family lines: Dubinsky/Knysz, immigrants from Poland (Carpato-Rusyn); Marcisak/Hurkala, immigrants from Slovakia (Carpatho-Rusyn); Dowling/McAuliffe, immigrants from Ireland; and Plunkett/Smith, also immigrants from Ireland. But genealogy has taught me that every search leads to unexpected connections, so you’ll find stories spanning from the hills of Ireland to the villages of Eastern Europe, from immigrant ships crossing the Atlantic to the streets of Brooklyn.
I don’t just share names and dates. I believe our ancestors deserve to have their stories told with care, context, and creativity. Each post aims to balance solid genealogical methodology with engaging storytelling, making the research process accessible while honoring the people who came before us. I follow the Genealogical Proof Standard in my research and cite sources using Evidence Explained format, ensuring accuracy and transparency in everything I share.
My Go-To Research Resources and Methods
Over the years, I’ve developed a toolkit of resources that keep my research moving forward and help me break through genealogy brick walls.
Online Databases and DNA Tools
Ancestry.com remains my go-to for records and DNA connections. I’ve found invaluable information through church records (especially for my Slovak ancestors), FamilySearch for international records, city directories, and newspapers. DNA testing has opened doors I never expected, connecting me with potential Swedish cousins and helping solve family mysteries.
The FAN Principle in Action
I’m a firm believer in the FAN principle—researching Friends, Associates, and Neighbors to understand my ancestors’ communities. This approach has helped me break through numerous brick walls by examining the broader context of where and how my ancestors lived.
Building Ancestor Timelines
Timeline construction has become one of my most valuable research methods. Building detailed chronologies helps me spot gaps in the record and ask better questions about what happened during those missing years. Some connections remain unproven, and I always distinguish between documented facts and promising leads. I verify findings with other researchers and welcome corrections from cousins researching the same lines.
2025 Breakthroughs: A Year of Discovery
What a year! I committed to the #52Ancestors challenge, writing a blog post every week about a different ancestor or theme. It wasn’t always easy—some weeks ran late, some research took longer than expected—but I showed up consistently. That discipline transformed me as both a researcher and a writer.
The year brought major breakthroughs, including finally learning what happened to my great-grandmother Julia Knysz Dubinsky, a mystery that had haunted our family for generations. I also made exciting DNA connections pointing to my great-great-grandfather Sven Mattisson in Sweden—still not confirmed, but full of promise for 2026.
A highlight I’ll never forget: my blog post about Letitia Plunkett was selected for inclusion in Robin Stewart’s GenStack 2025 Anthology. That recognition validated what I’d been working toward all year—learning to craft genealogical narratives that educate while they engage.
My 2026 Genealogy Goals and Plans
I’m continuing with the #52Ancestors challenge in 2026! Last year taught me that I’m capable of more than I thought, and I want to keep building on that momentum. My specific goals for this year include:
Swedish Research Deep Dive
Those DNA connections deserve thorough investigation, and I’m ready to tackle Swedish church records more systematically. I’ll be learning more about Swedish naming patterns and immigration patterns to piece together my Sten/Svensson line.
Solving Family Mysteries
Every family tree has its brick walls, and I have several I’m determined to break through this year. Using combination of traditional records, DNA triangulation, and the FAN principle, I’m committed to finding answers.
Connecting with Cousin Researchers
Some of my best discoveries have come from collaborating with relatives I never knew I had. If you’re researching Dubinsky, Knysz, Marcisak, Hurkala, Dowling, McAuliffe, Plunkett, or Smith families, please reach out! We might be cousins.
Improving My Documentation
I want to be even more meticulous about citing sources using Evidence Explained standards and explaining my reasoning, making my research helpful to others researching the same families.
Continuing to Grow as a Storyteller
I want to keep refining my ability to make genealogical research accessible, engaging, and educational. Each ancestor story deserves to be told in a way that brings history alive while teaching solid research methods.
Looking Forward Together
As we begin 2026 together, I’m committed to sharing not just my ancestors’ stories, but the research journey itself—the methods that work, the dead ends that teach us, and the breakthroughs that make it all worthwhile. As the genealogist behind Our Growing Family Tree, my goal is to inspire you whether you’re just starting your genealogy journey or you’ve been researching for decades. I hope this blog encourages you to keep digging, keep learning, and keep honoring the people who made our lives possible.
So buckle up—2026 promises to be another year of discovery, learning, and honoring the ancestors who made our lives possible. Thank you for being part of this journey!
What are your genealogy goals for 2026? I’d love to hear what you’re working on—leave a comment below!
New to the blog? Check out my favorite photo post to see what makes genealogy so personal and powerful, or browse my latest posts to dive into recent discoveries.
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