We have arrived at the last day of 2015 – the end of the year and the end of Week 52 in the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

When I set the optional theme for this week as “Resolution,” I said, “A resolution can be something that you resolve to do. It can also be the end or conclusion of something.” Though I hadn’t made a decision about the future of 52 Ancestors at that point, I think deep down I knew it was time for the Challenge — at least in its current form — to come to an end.

2015 has been intense, for lack of a better word. My career took a new direction, which presented challenges, but many, many opportunities. My mom has been fighting Stage 3C colon cancer. She had surgery, followed by months of chemo (with some radiation thrown in for good measure). Through it all, she has been a pillar of determination.

Many of you have reached out to thank me for the 52 Ancestors Challenge. But I want to thank you. It has been wonderful reading the stories of your ancestors and how you discovered them. It has been wonderful getting to know you through your writing and through your dedication to genealogy and family history. You inspire me to learn more and discover more.

Many of you have said that you intent to keep writing, but that it feels like time to move on from the Challenge. That’s how it feels to me, too.

I’m not stopping writing by any stretch of the imagination, but I will be doing it over at my other site AmyJohnsonCrow.com. (You can click on the link to the blog near the top of the page.) I hope you will join me over there.

Don’t forget to leave a link to your Week 52 Ancestor in the comments below. (And take a look at the posts from Weeks 50 and 51: Naughty and Nice. There are some fun posts there!)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support and encouragement.

My apologies for not getting Week 50 posted. I guess that fit in with the optional theme of “Naughty.”

Who did you write about in Weeks 50 and 51 (whether or not you used the optional themes)? Leave a link in the comments below.

If you’re looking for some good reading this weekend, take a look at the posts from Week 49!

Seasons Greetings to everyone!

It’s a busy time of year, so let’s cut to the chase. It’s Week 49. Only 3 more to go!

The optional theme this week was “Holidays.” (I’ll let you in on a little secret…  I’ve barely started my Christmas shopping.)

Who did you write about this week? Leave a comment with a link to your post. And curl up with some hot chocolate and take a look at the entries from Week 48.

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 50 (December 10-16) – Naughty
• Week 51 (December 17-23) – Nice
• Week 52 (December 24-31) – Resolution

Only 4 more weeks in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. (If you’re outside the US, I hope you had an enjoyable week )

The optional theme for Week 48 was “Thankful.” Please leave a comment with a link to your Week 48 post (whether or not you used the theme).

December Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 49 (December 3-9) – Holidays. What ancestor do the holidays put you in mind of?
• Week 50 (December 10-16) – Naughty. We all have an ancestor who probably received coal in their stocking.
• Week 51 (December 17-23) – Nice. Define “nice” however you want to
• Week 52 (December 24-31) – Resolution. A resolution can be something that you resolve to do. It can also be the end or conclusion of something. What ancestor do you resolve to find more about in 2016? What ancestor have you resolved conflicting evidence about?

Week 47. You know what this means, don’t you? Only 5 more to go!

The theme for Week 47 was “Sporting.” Football players or baseball players in the family? How about an ancestor who was a good sport about things? Or did you do your own thing last week?

Whoever you wrote about, leave a link in the comments below. Also, while you’re recuperating from the food coma (it was Thanksgiving in the U.S. yesterday), take a look at the posts from Week 46.

Since it is a holiday weekend (at least here in the U.S.), you might be diving into some family history projects. If you’re going to be doing some scanning, take a look at my easy, low-tech tip for labeling photos as you scan.

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 48 (November 26-December 2) – Thankful

Watch for December themes coming soon!

There’s something about this time of year. The days are short, the trees are bare, and north wind reminds us that winter will soon be upon us. It makes me want to curl up with my laptop and dig even more deeply into my history.

(Ok, I’ll admit it. I feel that way all the time. But at this time of year it is even more pronounced.)

Also starting to think ahead to next year. Another 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge? I don’t know. Maybe something new? What are your thoughts?

While you’re thinking, leave a link to your Week 46 post in the comments below. I’d love to see how you approached the theme of “Changes” or whatever theme you chose to tackle. (Take a look at Week 45 while you’re here.)

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 47 (November 19-25) – Sporting.
• Week 48 (November 26-December 2) – Thankful.

Week 45. Do you realize that means there are only 7 more weeks?!

The optional theme for Week 45 was “Free” — basically pick your own theme! (So if an optional theme is “pick your own,” is that really “optional”? I’ll let you ponder on that one )

Leave your links to your Week 45 posts in the comments below. Also, be sure to look at the posts from Weeks 43 and 44!

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 46 (November 12-18) – Changes.
• Week 47 (November 19-25) – Sporting.
• Week 48 (November 26-December 2) – Thankful.

It’s funny how the themes sometimes work out. Week 43 was “Oops.” Week 44 was “Frightening.” Considering that the Week 43 recap fell off my plate, so to speak, and Week 44 has been frightening, it seems to fit.

Please feel free to leave links to your Weeks 43 and 44 posts in the comments below.

Also….  <drumroll, please> …the optional themes for the rest of November!

November Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 45 (November 5-11) – Free. (Pick your own theme!)
• Week 46 (November 12-18) – Changes. Highlight an ancestor that went through many changes or that you had to change your research strategies to find.
• Week 47 (November 19-25) – Sporting. Do you have a relative who was involved in sports?
• Week 48 (November 26-December 2) – Thankful. November 26 is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Interpret the “thankful” theme however you’d like.

The leaves in my area are reaching the peak of their fall color. There have even been reports of snow just north of here. I’m definitely not ready for snow…

Someone asked me the other day if I’ll be doing “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” in 2016. I haven’t decided yet. There have been so many changes in my work, plus the challenges with family health issues, that I need to decide what I can devote my time to — and what I can do well.

The optional weekly theme for Week 42 was “Proud.” Many of us have an ancestor that we are proud of — or that we’re proud of our efforts to find them!

Who did you write about this week? Leave a comment with a link to your post. Also take a look at the entries from Week 41. There were definitely some “colorful” tales!

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 43 (October 22-28) – Oops
• Week 44 (October 29 – November 4) – Frightening

The air has definitely turned colder. In fact, we had a frost that killed some flowers last night. I’m not quite sure why, but I love this time of year.

The optional weekly theme for Week 41 was “Colorful.” (I seemed to time it right with how the leaves look right now!) Who did you write about in Week 41? Regardless of if you used the theme or not, leave a comment with a link to your blog post. We’d love to read it!

These cool days and nights are a good time to do some reading. You can find some good things to read back in Week 40.

Upcoming Optional Weekly Themes:

• Week 42 (October 15-21) – Proud
• Week 43 (October 22-28) – Oops
• Week 44 (October 29 – November 4) – Frightening

By the way, if you’re looking to improve your genealogy, I invite you to take a look at “31 Days to Better Genealogy,” a free guide with some of my favorite tips, tricks, and resources.