Genealogy is frustrating

Genealogy can be more than frustrating. I am still looking for information on the Rhea's of Sneedville, Tennessee although I have a pretty good sense of my Rhea family. I would have liked more information on my grandmother, Mellie, who also kept secrets. We are not even sure of her real first name. What is even more frustrating is the Gaulthair family on Gary's side. We think we know about seven of the children. Still, until we can confirm that Lydia was the mother to all of them, we can't be really sure. I am in the process of requesting birth certificates for Patricia and Karolene. Patricia is no longer with us so that is not a concern but apparently Karolene is still out there somewhere. It is not so much a concern since there is no slander and if we are incorrect, someone can let us know. We have pictures of David and Aunt Betty knows about him so we know he is real. We just don't know who the Tom in the pictures is. This is "Davey" and Tom in 1960. Why Gary's mother held on to this picture no one seems to know. It was with the picture of Enrique and Frances. We know that this is the David that Lydia gave to Betty and Lester but how he got to Tom is a mystery. Still, we keep looking and I am going to request his birth certificate too. Gary's mom told me that Lydia used Bill's name on the birth certificate so I am anxious to get it. If she indeed used Bill's name, that muddies the water even more.