A novice's first attempt

Hello list,
I joined this group several weeks back and have enjoyed reading your postings since then. My name is Michael Lopez, I live in San Diego County, I am recently retired and have decided to search for some genealogical history on my parents now that I have the time. My family of origin was "different" than most families in the sense that my parents came to America without any other family and never went back. Hence, I grew up without ever meeting any grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My children gave me a xmas gift of participating in National Geographic's genographic project and I have become fascinated with the whole idea of genealogy and DNA. In any event here is what I know about my mother. Maria de Jesus Bravo was born in 1906 at a small ranchito named El Zapote, which was located about a mile or so outside the small village of La Ribera, Jalisco. La Rivera Jalisco is immediately adjacent to Yurecuaro, Michoacan and are separated by the Rio Lerma. So while mom
was born on the Jalisco side of the Rio Lerma, I think she was baptized in the Michoacan side at Yurecuaro. Mother's father was named Ladislao Bravo and her mother was named Maria ( Margarita?) Tinoco. Mom's maternal grandmother was named Estefania Rizo. My mother had 3 sisters whose names were Juana, Carmen and Luisa. She had one brother named Trinidad who married someone also named Trinidad. The families from El Zapote were "concentrated" to La Ribera during the Cristiada and I believe they remained there for most, perhaps all of their lives. My uncle Trinidad was killed during the Cristiada leaving a widow and (I think) one young son. I look forward to receiving your comments/suggestions/etc. I would like to thank Alicia of your group for the sincere encouragement she gave me to write this posting.
Michael

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.