What to Do With Aging Photo Albums
When was the last time you looked through a photo album? No, not on a screen. A physical book - where the pages crinkle when you flip them. Where the edges are yellowing and the colors don’t look quite as vibrant. Or, perhaps they are in black and white. Whether it’s your parent’s photo albums or yours (I’m looking at you Gen Xers), the pictures (and you) are not getting any younger. It’s time to address this reality and put a picture preservation plan into place. These photos preserve the memories woven into our family’s fabric. They allow us to reconnect with loved ones, past and present. And they need to be passed onto future generations.
This is a big task. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take baby steps, because every action you take to better restore, preserve and/or organize these photos goes a long way in increasing their longevity. Here are three ways to preserve those precious memories:
Your Questions About A Family Legacy Video -Answered!
What is in a Family Legacy Video?
Why should I do a Family Legacy Video?
What would I talk about – I don’t have an exciting story?
How does the process work?
All of your questions and hesitations are addressed here!
INCLUDING: how both the interviewees and their family will love and benefit from this
Quick, Easy & Fun (& Free!) Holiday Games For The Family
As if the holiday season wasn’t asking too much of us, the kiddos are home for school for (what seems like) a very long time! While there are many activities and distractions throughout the week(ish), there is always the inevitable lulls in the action. Perhaps, even the gaming gets old? Or, you need to lore them away from the gaming is more like it. Here are a few simple, short and fun (and free) games to break the boredom or tension or away from the cookies or as dinnertime conversation…anytime games.
10 Incredibly Thoughtful, Unique Gifts You (Probably) Never Knew Existed
Back by popular demand: 10 Incredibly Thoughtful, Unique Holiday Gifts That You(Probably) Didn’t Know Existed. I’m posting a little earlier this year, as some of these ideas may take a little prep. But I promise you – they are awesome! While I stuck with my original standards from last year, I added 2 more requirements when gathering my list; 1) The gift must support a small business, either directly or indirectly. 2) The gift helps, in some way, to preserve family history.
Spending Meaningful Time with Grandparents
Every member has unique talents and skills that they bring to the family. Skills that, if we were to lose a family member tomorrow, we would be losing all that knowledge, a portion of our family’s library. And grandparents, being the most experienced at life (and wisest), have a bundle of life’s tasty tidbits of knowledge and passion to pass on. Here’s how to make this Grandparent’s Day super meaningful.
Ask These Questions At the Family Dinner Table!
One of the most important locations in a family’s home is the dining table! It is here that we share food, but more importantly our stories - from the day, our lives. Every family has stories. Stories that need to be told, heard and passed down. Here are the questions you should ask!
Fun Ideas for Family Reunions that Help Build Your Family History
The Last Message You Leave
What would my last message be? How would I sum up a lifetime of love and experiences into a single message?
When listening to seniors bearing their souls, they are not thanking their employers or boasting about job accomplishments. They are not raving on about their possessions. Or ranting about regrets or grievances.
When revealing their raw vulnerability for their family (with a complete stranger behind the camera), I find these messages come down to 3 important life concepts…
5 Incredibly Thoughtful, Unique Gifts
These 5 ridiculously thoughtful gifts will impress any recipient. They are original, can’t be outgrown, they won’t lose interest and can be passed on. (P.S. - they aren’t just for the holidays either!)
What Would You Miss the Most? Here's a List:
Are you missing anyone right now? Whether they are gone from earth, still here but not physically near or maybe their memory is fading.
What is it that you miss most about them? Maybe that cannot be answered with one word or concept. Relationships are complex like that. If they were sitting right beside you on that bench, what words would you speak or what actions would you take? What if you knew it would be the last time you see them?
Write it down. Here are your prompts…
What is A Senior Film?
Why Grandparents Need to Record Their Story
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 65 and over make up 16.5% of the population. That’s over 54 million people. That’s over 3 billion years of history. Of brave beginnings and happy endings. Billions of years of reunions, lessons and loves.
It’s time to record all of it! Your story, your history, wisdom, all of it…with your personality, your humor and your facial expressions. Don’t hold onto history – pass it on!
Here are 9 reasons why grandparents should record their life story…
12 Story-Worthy Moments for the Holidays
Make this holiday story-worthy - not just store-bought! Because, come January, the store-bought decorations and presents will be put away. But the memories will continue to warm our hearts for years to come! Here are some suggestions for story-worthy moments....
A Thanksgiving Conversation Everyone Agrees On
Oh if these chairs could talk! What would the empty ones say? This is one of the most important conversations to have around the Thanksgiving dinner table this year. The time to capture, to record, to document…is right now.
What Family Interviews Can Reveal
I was expecting ordinary answers to ordinary questions, but that never happened…What came out of this interview was so much more than I ever expected. Nothing is more valuable than having them on film, forever.
How do we end a school year like THIS one?
Make This Year a "Record" Year.
The one year Covid anniversary is upon us. We’ve had to reflect on the last year - the sacrifices, the need for a larger pool of patience, but also more time with family, to start new hobbies and to rest. Yes, it was a year that will be remembered. Generations will give their perspective on the pandemic that rocked the entire world.
Now that a new year has circled around - I have promised myself to make it a record year. Not record like World Guinness or the black disc carrying music. Record as in - press the record button.
You see, like many of you, I inched my way around the house cleaning out, organizing and rearranging. And I mean inched - I still have miles to go after a year! Upon my discoveries in each room, I came across old printed photos and other memorabilia. How many years have gone by without me even thinking about these? How many more will go by? And, when I leave this earth - who will know the stories behind them?
And made me realize - as nice as pictures are to have and cherish…isn’t it even better to have voices? Laughter?
How many of us have lost a loved one, not only this past year, but ever? What would we do to hear their voice again? To see and hear them being happy?
Press record. I am going to be pressing that button as often as I can this year. Yes, I will continue to irk my family taking still shots of them. But I will be pressing the video button more often.
Also get a list of interview questions to ask family members about the pandemic!