Roots, Roads & Revelation: A Journey Begins

Retirement has not meant slowing down for me. It has meant renewal.

One of my personal commitments in this season is to sharpen my skills as a genealogist—deepening my research, refining my storytelling, and equipping myself to help others uncover their family narratives. At the same time, Tamara and I are committed to what we call purposeful travel.

In our January 2026 edition of The Driver Dispatch, we introduced our guiding framework for the year:

Faith + Knowledge + Senses = Experiences

Next week, we put that framework into motion.

Leg One: Faith

We begin in Phoenix, Arizona, at a church leadership gathering focused on vision and calling. It’s the kind of environment where dreams are clarified, and purpose is strengthened. But before we move on…

We will stand on the edge of one of America’s most breathtaking national parks.

Which one?

I’ll let you guess.

Let’s just say it has carved history into stone.

Leg Two: Knowledge

From there, we head to Salt Lake City for the world’s largest genealogy conference—
RootsTech.

For those who know, you know.

RootsTech isn’t just a conference. It’s where DNA discoveries, archival breakthroughs, and storytelling collide. Every time I attend an event like this, I return sharper, more focused, and inspired to dig deeper into the Driver, Mapp, Jackson, and connected lines.

This year, I’m going with intention.

And I’m expecting breakthroughs.

Leg Three: Senses

Then comes the road trip.

From Salt Lake City to Boise…
From Boise to Walla Walla…
Through the Willamette Valley…
Ending in Portland.

Wine country. Culinary experiences. Landscape. Reflection.

Every place has a story.
Every story has roots.
And I’ll be paying attention.

Why I’m Going Quiet (Sort Of)

To fully immerse myself in this journey, I will not be publishing full blog posts for the next three to four weeks.

But I won’t disappear.

I’ll be sharing live moments, reflections, and behind-the-scenes insights on:

• Facebook
  

• Instagram

If you want the deeper reflections, the research breakthroughs, and the stories that don’t make social media…

You’ll want to be on our combined newsletter:

The Driver Dispatch
(Travel + Genealogy + Purpose in one place.)

When I return, I’ll be unpacking:

• What I learned at RootsTech
  

• Any DNA or research surprises
  

• Lessons from the road
  

• And how Faith + Knowledge + Senses truly shape experience

Some discoveries are already unfolding… but I’m saving those for subscribers.

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of global movement and meaningful milestones.

Now I’ll leave you with this:

What roots are you ready to explore in 2026?

And… which national park do you think we’re visiting first?

Stay tuned.

— Wayne
Driver Research Group