Do you have a Christmas memory that stands out as particularly significant? Maybe an incident involving a family member or friend or maybe the year you learned giving was better than receiving? It could be a hodgepodge of memories centering around a family tradition. Have you shared that memory about a Christmas past? We’re reading the classic “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote for our December Book Club selection. Capote wrote this short story in...
Have you thought about what it must have been like for your ancestors who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930’s? My dad’s family experienced the Dust Bowl, the era of incredible dust storms that choked the plains of Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas from about 1932-1938. He told of the drifts of sandy dirt on the roads and breathing through a damp handkerchief in the midst of a dust storm. The third in...
Family history stories: research is showing that they contribute to a child’s resilience and strength. But what about adults? What can we gain from a family member’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings? I set out to write this article for Veteran’s Day. I wanted to finally get down in writing my mother’s memories of sending off three brothers to fight in World War II. With almost all of her generation gone, my time for getting the...
The RootsTech Conference is quickly approaching. Are you considering attending? Wondering what all the hoopla is about? After watching streamed classes for years, I finally attended RootsTech 2016 in person and discovered why people come from all over the world to attend the largest gathering of genealogists and family historians around. The keynote speakers, classes, and expo hall combine to give you an experience of a lifetime. If you’ve never attended, what’s holding you back? If it’s the price of...
Why do some stories stand out in our memories more than other? Is it in the content or is it in the telling? Today I’m sharing a fictionalized account of one of my Dad’s favorite stories. Without fail he would start laughing so hard he could barely get the words out. I think we asked for this story mostly just to see him laugh. Second in my series, The Adventures of Cowboy Bob, enjoy this step...
Today I’m pleased to share a guest post written by Beverly Scott. Bev tells about the mystery of her grandfather’s life, her genealogical journey to uncover the truth about him, and her decision to turn the story into a historical fiction novel. She had always wanted to write her family’s story, but as she researched, she realized that it would be best to write historical fiction. Read a little bit about her decision to write her...
Do you have a great family story, one that passes Bruce Feiler’s campfire test with the emotion, the passion, and the pain to endure? Reading and writing about Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls inspired me to try my hand at writing my dad’s stories. Growing up during the depression in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California he had plenty of adventures. My dad found the humor in every story and usually told them with tears running down...
With summer about over are you ready for another great book? Half Broke Horses by best-selling author Jeannette Walls reminds us of the power of family stories. In this “true life novel” Jeannette gives us anecdotes in her grandmother’s voice that prove real life is often crazier than fiction. This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission but it doesn’t change the price of...
Do you have family heirlooms hiding away in a trunk or cupboard? Do you know the stories behind each keepsake and have you recorded those stories? One small artifact might be an important key to understanding an ancestor’s life. Here are some simple steps you can take now to preserve the memories behind each heirloom. I am the daughter of a keeper of heirlooms. My mother has kept jewelry, clothes, dishes, books, pillows, quilts, and...
When is the last time you looked at your family tree chart and thought about the dash? The dash as in: Edward Raymond Kelsey 1886-1972 or Rachel Cox 1827-1870. The dash represents everything between birth and death. You might know a lot about your ancestor’s life or you might know a little. Your family tree chart doesn’t know or care how much you know, all it provides is the dash. It’s up to us as family...
