that keeps being told.
She became my tour guide through the Sweden she was getting to know. My daughter Sara was studying abroad and invited me to join her for a whirlwind mother-daughter experience.
While we made new memories together, she was sharing her perspective on the moments she had already added to her growing list of life snippets before my arrival.
Sure, I could have just read in a tour book about the places and people she had become acquainted with, but it was HER personalized “take” on it all that made it so interesting that it captivated my attention.
I wanted to know MORE.
There’s more to the story than our genealogical facts and photos are capturing…
What really matters is OUR perspective, our unique way of looking at and feeling about what we have been learning.
That’s what brings our family’s history to life, and makes it even more fun and fulfilling to preserve.
That’s what will make our family’s mini-stories collection interesting to reminisce around now and for generations!
So you have some data, some photos and want to start or add to your collection of family stories…now what??
1. Use Your Imagination
Weaving a story together is much more than just the who, what and where. So feel free to imagine being with your ancestor(s) when they were still living.
Perhaps you envision them sitting around a table, working in the fields, worshipping, at the port, entering their new home, welcoming children, celebrating holidays, traditions and their loved ones’ lives well lived.
~How are they interacting and what are they chatting about?
~If you were one of them, how might you be acting and what would you be feeling?
2. Notice Themes
Finding threads of connection between generations is one of the joys of going down the genealogy trail. Discovering that you share more than your name may provide a sense of belonging, groundedness and even a contented chuckle.
~What’s something you’ve uncovered that’s similar to any of your own life experiences?
~Are there mannerisms, interests or beliefs that family members have in common like I found to be true for my grandson Oliver and his great grandfather Barker, my Dad Creston. They both have a habit of Topping It Off captured in a mini-story last year.
3. It’s Your Story Too
We may think that we’re telling someone else’s story. We want our children, grandchildren and future generations to know where they came from.
If we stop before sharing what has been making US who WE are, however, they won’t have a complete view of their family tree.
~What moments of your life so far matter to you and why? Paint a picture with your words first and then add some photos to enhance your mini-stories.
~Include your HeartStories…those brief moments that light, choke or crack you up with laughter or tears with each remembering. Others will want to catch a glimpse of your unique way of experiencing life, so they’ll feel like you were someone they would have loved to know.
What memories are already starting to flow? Here’s to more storyjotting your way to an exciting, multi-layered collage of family history, moments that matter and deeper family connection!
JOYfully jotting,
Katie Chambers
Family PhotoStory Organizer
Mini-Stories Writing Coach
Your Legacy of Memories Mentor
Memories to Legacy
Capturing Moments that Matter…
Energizing & Connecting Families for Generations!
About Katie Chambers
Katie Chambers is a memory keeping writing coach who specializes in helping sentimental Moms and Grammas playfully capture personal & family moments that matter…resulting in energized, more deeply connected families for generations.
With her unique approach to Family PhotoStory Organizing, she teaches a step-by-step mini-story writing system so her clients set family memories free, jot down MORE of the STORY than photos are capturing, build a collection of moments that matter and leave a fulfilling legacy of memories and family connection, with ease.
Katie is a certified teacher of curriculum based on the Turning Memories into Memoirs program and PhotoScribe method of the Memoir Lifestory Network. She has been facilitating JOTTINGS for Generations workshops and mini-retreats for 15 years.
Katie lives in Kentucky with her husband, within thirty minutes of their children and eight grandchildren. She loves walking in the woods, journaling with God, and mint chocolate chip ice cream.
***Download my FREE GUIDE 3 Simple Steps: Start Your Family Mini-Stories Collection at https://mailchi.mp/memoriestolegacy.com/freeguide. It’s a great framework to jumpstart going from a memory to creating a legacy…a collection of family moments you can reminisce around with family now & preserve for future generations to enjoy.
Annika is a Swedish genealogist and the owner of Find a Swede. The goal of this blog is to share the little things from Sweden that make sense of your research. Always backed up with data.