Elizabeth O'Neal

Do you remember where you were when Apollo 11 landed on the moon? I was still pretty young, but I think I recall watching the landing on TV with my family. As a kid, I was a huge “space nerd,” and at one time, I wanted to be an astronaut (until I discovered that I was claustrophobic). Today, I’m married to a rocket scientist, so that’s as close as I’ll ever get to space! How about you? What do you remember of the Apollo 11 moon landing? What did you think our space program would look like today? #Apollo11 #memories #space #Apollo11MoonLanding #apollo11anniversary

We adopted Murphy 10 years ago from a dog rescue in Thousand Oaks. He had been picked up as a stray in the desert of Kern County, and they estimated his age at about one year old. So, to celebrate Murphy's presumed 11th birthday, he got a "spa day" complete with a bath, mani-pedi, a spritz of strawberry fragrance, and a cute citrus bandana! He also got lots of treats, snuggles, and naps. Despite being a "senior" with a nasty cataract in one eye, he still loves walks, chasing birds (he never catches them, but he tries), and playing with his squeaky toys. He's still a pup at heart. 💗 Here's to my little buddy Murphy: may you have many more birthdays to celebrate! #dogs #rescuedog #dogbirthday #rescuedogs

My most recent eBay book purchase came with a bit of a surprise. It arrived in a box from someone named "Christmas" in New Mexico. Inside the box, my book was neatly wrapped in pretty Christmas paper! When I unwrapped the book and opened it up, there was this cute, homemade bookmark inside. I have to say, this was a whole new level of eBay customer service for me. Whoever you are, eBay seller "Christmas," your extra touch was appreciated and made my day! 😊💕 #eBay #eBaySeller #genealogy #FamilyHistory #InheritanceInAmerica

Happy to get a little research time in yesterday! P.S. I’m not really as grumpy as I look. I just suck at taking selfies. 😊 #rootstech #familysearch #genealogy

Are you planning to attend the RootsTech Conference next week? I'll be teaching two classes at the in-person conference: * Research at the Library… Without Leaving Home! * What You Can Learn from Lineage Societies… Without Being a Member! Neither of these classes will be live-streamed or recorded, but you can grab the syllabus from the class links at the RootsTech website if you're interested. If you're attending the in-person conference in Salt Lake City, I would love to meet you! Please drop by either (or both!) of my classes or find me at the Media Hub in the Expo Hall. 😊 #rootstech #genealogy #FamilyHistory #remember #ancestors

Happy Presidents’ Day to my U.S. friends! 🇺🇸 I am distantly related to President Zachary Taylor via my ancestor Leroy Taylor. That’s the only presidential cousin I can claim at this point. How about you? Are there any U.S. presidents in your ancestry? #genealogy #FamilyHistory #PresidentsDay #ancestors

AND… it’s raining! Perfect combo for a genealogy research weekend. 💕💻 You? What are your Presidents’ Day plans? #genealogy #FamilyHistory #PresidentsDay #WeekendMotivation

Ready for RootsTech? Here are 5 things you need to do now with the Relatives at RootsTech tool before it goes away on 31 March 2024! Get the link in my bio ---> @elizabeth_oneal #genealogy #RootsTech #ancestors #FamilyHistory #blog #BloggersOfInstagram

Wishing you a year of connecting generations, bridging gaps, and preserving the precious family legacy that is uniquely yours. Happy New Year! #genealogy #FamilyHistory #NewYearsDay #ancestors #2024

Shopping for the genealogists in your life doesn't have to be hard. Check out our list of the 6 BEST gifts for family historians and grab a copy of the FREE Guide! Get the link in my bio ---> @elizabeth_oneal #genealogy #GeneticGenealogy #ancestors #FamilyHistory #gifts #holiday #christmas

Zoom has avatars! And boy, are they awful! 😬🤣

Bad hair day? Use a Zoom avatar! Yep, Zoom is now on the avatar bandwagon. In addition to the usual dogs, cats, rabbits, polar bears, etc. that we've seen on other apps, Zoom now lets you create your own avatar... and boy are they AWFUL! 😆 Let's see what YOUR Zoom avatar looks like! #Zoom #ZoomAvatar #IDontLookLikeThat #yikes

Happy Independence Day! 🎇🧨 Did you have an ancestor who fought in or aided the American cause for independence? Tell us their story in the comments! P.S. Be sure to check out the GRS database at dar.org to research your Rev War ancestors. Even if your ancestors don't go back to Colonial times, you may find information in the Descendants section. #history #4thofjuly #independenceday #revolutionarywar #ancestors #usa

"Those who do not look upon themselves as a link, connecting the past with the future, do not perform their duty to the world." ~Daniel Webster Most of you reading this are probably already "doing your duty to the word" as family historians. But HOW are you doing it? Please share your thoughts. #genealogy #FamilyHistory #StoryTelling #ancestors #ancestry #family