On Saturday my sister sent me a link to Ancestry.com. I clicked on the link and found the family tree she started. I didn't realize how much I didn't know about my family. Now I'm hooked and in the fact finding mode so I can help fill in the details. We also got our folks involved, which was absolutely necessary, in helping us fill in the puzzle pieces. They have been such a great help. We still have many blanks to fill in, but are excited at the prospect of finding out more about our ancestry.
My dad says are family originated in Europe, so we will see. There is a town mentioned in Acts 14 and Acts 16 called Derbe. Although I can't prove it, I have often wondered if maybe this is where are family began. The Wikipedia states,
"In ancient times, Derbe was one of a few Christian cities, and was used as a refuge for traveling Christians. Its Christian church was burned and buried under a mountain of soil by the Roman Emperor Diocleitan, during the Diocletian Persecution, this event took place just prior to the year 300 AD. After the destruction of Derbe, there was a mass exodus of the population. Many went to western Europe, settling in modern day France. It is during this time that the last name "Derbes" began to be expressed with the connotative meaning, "man from Derbe". The name is still expressed as a surname to this day." Today, Derbe is an ancient city in the country of Turkey.
Kind of interesting, huh?
If you have never checked ancestry.com out, you should take a peek, but beware, you might get the fact finding bug too.
