Family Ties

I read on CNN.com today that Sarah Palin and Princess Diana were very distantly related- something like 10th cousins once removed- through a John Strong born in England around 1605 and his wife Abigail Ford. Just for kicks, I opened up my trusty PAF program. Lo and behold, I have both of those names in my ancestry. Don't know which side or even if it's a direct line. So, my question is, am I any cooler because of that? I've never lived in a palace or had papparazzi follow me around or goverened a state (except maybe insanity or exhaustion, but they have no political clout) or run for Vice President of the United States. I do happen to be female, but so is 50% of the world. Really, I don't have any desire or need for any of that (except the female part. To me, that's pretty crucial). Does the fact that I'm not doing any of those things lesson my worth as an individual? I think not. The cool part about being here on this earth is that we all have our own roles to play. Right now, mine happens to be doing my best to run a household and be a wife of one and a mother of 5. To be honest, that's more than I feel I can handle some days, but I love my job and won't voluntarily trade it for any other.

I love family history work. There are some really interesting things to learn about others and youself. It always amazes me that if you go back far enough we are all related in multiple ways. I love finding those links. They tie us all together in a more real way to me than just saying we're all children of Heavenly Father. Thing is, He really does have a plan and we really all do have some part to play. Princess Diana played her part and did some very good things. Sarah Palin has done so as well and she has the possibilty(because she's alive not because she's on a ballot) to do more. I hope that when all is said and done I will have done more good than harm. We all have the potential to do great things, whether or not they are noticed by the world at large. I'm glad there are the Dianas and Sarah Palins of the world. Differences in people tend to spice things up. Knowing about your family opens some insight to yourself and maybe some inspiration to what you could be. The question is, though, not so much who you are related to. The real question is, what are you going to do with what you have?