Shari's journey into genealogy began with childhood curiosity, as she delved into old family photographs and stories. A memorable piece of advice from her father — "Watch out for the first few branches; they might swing back and hit you!" — added humor to her early explorations. As an adoptive parent, her passion for genealogy took on new meaning. She understands deeply how powerful it is to help others bridge the gap to their biological roots and carries that empathy into her work with every … [Read more...]

Terra Costin grew up listening to interesting stories about her family history from various family members, and always wondered which were true and which were embellished. Did her great-grandmother really run away with the circus in the 1930s, never to be seen or heard from again? Was her great-great-grandfather really the founder of Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho)? Did her ancestors really own a farm that provided potatoes to the Lays potato chip company? And more importantly, she always wondered … [Read more...]

Laura’s journey into genealogy didn’t come from family tradition—it came from a longing for connection. Born in New Jersey but mostly raised in New Mexico, she grew up largely detached from extended relatives, with no one in her immediate family showing much interest in tracing their roots. But Laura was different. She wanted to understand where she came from, who her ancestors were, and how their stories shaped the life she knew. That curiosity became a lifelong pursuit. Her greatest … [Read more...]