Mothers who actively choose to remember important experiences and stories from the past and share these memories with their children have great power to shape their children's emotional well-being. In a 2003 General Conference talk, Susan W. Tanner told about a little journal she wrote for her 17-year-old daughter. Almost three years ago, one of our daughters got married and immediately left with her husband for medical school in a distant city. She was leaving the security of the nest to begin a family of her own. I wondered: “Did I teach her everything she needs to know? Does she...
Mothers are at the heart of family. Researcher Marshall Duke found that family stories are primarily transferred by mothers and grandmothers and that these stories give children personal strength and moral guidance. Mothers are often the memory keepers of the family. We honor our mothers and their influence in society each Mother's Day (May 14, 2017 in the United States). Let's celebrate them by remembering the advice, memories, and stories they passed on to us, and the positive effect this has. What to share: -tips for preserving mom's stories -advice passed on by mom or grandma -an inspirational story that...
At the recent LDS General Conference, general authorities of the LDS church spoke about worship, Jesus Christ, faith, and family. Like last time, I listened specifically for guidance relating to family history. Here are six talks that give nuggets of inspiration to help us go forward in our family history efforts. 1 - No Greater Joy Than to Know That They Know By Elder K. Brett Nattress Of the Seventy Elder Nattress asked us to ponder about the greatest gift we can give our children. There are many things I would like to give my children - an upbringing full of love and learning, a financial inheritance,...
Today I'm interviewing my friend, Dafney Murray. She shares interesting insights into how her love for history has helped in her research, the benefits of sharing stories with her teenagers, and tips for researching enslaved ancestors. Tell us about yourself. Hi Nicole! I would describe myself as LDS for 25 years, an American of African descent, wife of 20 years, full time homemaker, mother of 2 teens and crazy about Family History! How did you get started in family history? Do you remember an initial "spark" or incident that inspired you? Did you have any experiences as a child/teen in school...
As a young girl I often admired this sampler that hung in my Grandmother Florence’s bedroom. I didn't know anything about it, only that I loved the intricate, colorful flowers against the black background. When she passed away my mother brought it home and hung it in her bedroom. It became a fixture, but every so often I’d read it and think of Grandma’s patience in working the needle and embroidery floss. The sampler came to rest in my home three years ago when my mother downsized. I hung it next to my computer desk, above a colorful fan chart...
In honor of mothers everywhere, this month we're reading Terry Ryan's memoir: "The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less." Growing up as the middle child in a family of ten, Terry watched her mother scrape together milk money by entering the jingle contests of the 1950s and 60s. Evelyn Ryan's knack for rhyme enabled her to win one out of every four entries. Her husband's drinking habit used up most of the family budget so when Evelyn discovered that she could win everything from a toaster to a car by writing advertising...
As part of the Family Locket Book Club, we'll be featuring a children's book each month. Please share your comments on the books in our Goodreads group or in the comments section! The criteria for the children's books we share will be: books that are about someone's ancestors books that give ideas for writing family history stories for children books that teach about genealogy and family history books that inspire young people to learn more about history, especially as it pertains to their own family *This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, we...
Do you have a quilt in your closet with no clue who made it or why? Or maybe you have a stack of clothes from a loved one that you'd like to make into a quilt? Either way, a quilt can be a lasting way of preserving memories. I have a rich heritage of quilting in my family. Four generations of women snipped and sewed to create colorful and practical quilts that are a piece of our family's history. Starting with my great grandmother's, here are four different quilts and the lessons I've learned from each one. Quilt #1...
This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and purchase the item, we receive a small commission. This doesn't change the price of the item. Homeplace by Anne Shelby, 1995 A Grandmother tells her granddaughter the story of the home she lives in, starting 100 years before with the girl's 4th great grandfather who built the house. The Jan Brett-like illustrations with lots of farm imagery invoke a very homey, country feeling. Each generation builds onto the "homeplace" and improves the property. Each generation is introduced by saying "ONE of the babies was your..." This book is filled with planting...
Elder Holland's beautiful talk about mothers today made me think of all the generations of mothers that have gone before me. It is staggering to think about the lifelong carrying that all of them have done throughout time to make my existence possible. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering feat. Speaking directly to mothers, Elder Holland said: Thank you to all mothers everywhere for giving birth, shaping souls, forming character, demonstrating the pure love of Christ. Thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity. Be peaceful, believe...
