Motivation Monday - Summer is Over!

So it's been a while since I posted anything! I always have good intentions during the summer, but my genealogy research and blog tend to get pushed aside in favor of summer fun. And what fun a summer it was - a family reunion (the last one was 38 years ago!), some time away with my darling hubby, and lots of trips and activities while the boys were on summer vacation. We had a lot of fun with friends and family, and the slower pace was wonderful. Especially since my older son is starting high school today ... I'm not sure how much we are going to see him over the next few years.

Even with all of the fun, I did manage to spend a little bit of time on my research this summer:

Over Memorial Day weekend, we enjoyed a family trip to Pittsburgh and were able to make a couple of cemetery visits. I introduced my sons to their 3rd great grandfather, Charles G. Schwenk, who was a Civil War Veteran.

In June, I made my fist trip to a local Family History Center and searched microfilm for the marriage record of my 3rd great grandparents. I have already ordered more microfilm and can't wait for my next visit. [1]

In July I was back in Pittsburgh for the awesome Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. This is a picture of the beautiful prayer garden on the La Roche College campus. You can read about this amazing week here.

In August, I did research on some collateral lines and learned about great grand uncle who was active in the Socialist Party in Montana! [2]

So now that the kids are back in school, I am motivated to get started again. What will I be working on? A goal from my GRIP experience are to get my citations up-to-date, and I'd also like to get working on my application to the First Families of Western Pennsylvania. I am also thinking it is time for the NGS Home Study Course. I learned so much at GRIP, that I would like to continue taking classes and this seems like the best fit for where I am right now. Have any of you completed (or are in the process of) the NGS Home Study Course?

Summer is over and it's time to get back to work!
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SOURCES:

[1] St. Cuthbert's Parish (Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland), Scotland Marriages 1561-1910, Alexander Burd and Main Bingham (1846), FHL microfilm 1066766, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

[2] The Montana News (Lewistown, MT), 22 October 1908, p. 4, col. 2; digital images, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress (http://www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 8 September 2013).