Your Family Preserves

Wow! How did I think I was all done with my PRESERVATION ideas when I didn't even present one of the most important PERSERVES of all? The ANCESTOR preserve... I was raised to pay careful attention to those who've "gone before" me. Both my parents preserved many items from their lives, as well as inheriting their parent's preserves upon their passing. For some reason, dabbling in genealogy, collecting (mostly by reproduction) pictures of my ancestors, recording their stories, visiting those that were still alive, etc. has always been very important to me. I must have understood what it meant to come from all these people, and it intrigued me.  The preservation of "all things ancestral" became my BIGGEST hobby. I wonder if some of my passion for this type of thing came from having my Great-Grandmother (my mom's grandmother) live with us from the time I was 9 years old, until I was 21.   She was a wealth of childhood stories f

Going through some of the kid's scrapbooks not too long ago while looking for something, I came across a number of letters that I'd written to each child. A lot were written during the early months of their life, chronicling their achievements and the dates of the big events. As they grew, the letters became further apart. Mostly on their birthday - I'd write as many achievements, adventures, events, talents, and interests that I could think of that made up their past year. I thought to myself that I would like a copy of those letters to keep for myself in a little preserve as they represented all the above listed items, but especially my love for them and how I felt about them at that time. You may already have done / are doing this small act, and will in time realize the importance that it is. But if you haven't started yet, do so while they are young and your thoughts are fresh in your mind. I'm sure you can attest to the fact that details quickly fad

I can't believe it! ANOTHER idea - the fog must be lifting for a brief moment in time...quick, I'll take advantage of the clarity... The PRESERVE that I share now is not uniquely mine. I do not take credit for it. Many people record and preserve the cute and amazing things that the little ones in their life say and/or do, so, all I'm doing is putting the bug in your brain to do just that. When you hear or see something that just tickles your funny bone, or warms your heart said or done by a special little one in your life - TRY, TRY, TRY, to write it down and preserve it. Anything and everything you do, to preserve and share with your loved ones as they grow, can only strengthen their sense of self and build their confidence as they see that what they do and say matters to you. It is worth the effort. Here are a few ideas I used that made this preservation possible (nice illiteration)... We will call this preservation: "KIDDIE CUTES" (as in cute things they say a

Thinking once again that all my ideas for "alternate" family history preservation had been exhausted and not having anything more to share - I remembered something that I can't believe I forgot about.  I remember it being my daughter's idea (I don't know why I write as if someone is reading these postings, and the need to protect the identity of those I write about, but I do),  however, my daughter says that I gave her the idea...whatever the case, she is the one who created and perfected the idea, so I give her all the credit. The idea is a wonderful, fun collection of a family member's favorite things, creatively preserved each year as one of that person's birthday presents.  It gives such a great glimps into that person at their special time of year - and changes as the years change.  Hil would "interview" her brothers, asking them all sorts of very interesting and varied questions - then preserved their answers on a sheet to be placed in the

So, during the six years that my children were born - I really liked to cross-stitch.  Therefore, I cross-stitched a sampler for each one, complete with: name, birth date, pound-age, etc. (Some of the info. was covered up to necessitate quick frame-age), but, nonetheless, you get the picture. Of course I didn't create the patterns for each of the samplers, I merely purchased cross-stitch books with the patterns already inside.  I just chose a pattern that I particularly liked, and that I thought fit my child.  As the youngest ones were born, I got more creative - I think anyway... They are a long-lasting, time consuming labor of love that you will be able to give to your child "someday". A creative heirloom for them to take with them, whether they want to or not...:) It will always remind them that you were spending a lot of time thinking about them when they were tiny and putting those thoughts into action. This is just one more idea on a PRESERVE that will always h

Is sewing yours or your own children's clothing a lost art or interest?  Do many people do that anymore? This "PRESERVE" may only appeal to those who may be older, unless there are more "sewers" out there than I think... I learned to sew in my "tween" years - a skill that was horribly frustrating at first, but then (as "they" so often tell you) became of great value and enjoyment as I grew older. I sewed A LOT of my children's clothes and therefore had a lot of fabric remnants. The remnants from the dresses I sewed for my daughter were the prettiest by far and held the most nostalgia. We would even name her dresses depending on what style they reminded us of.   She had a Pollyanna dress, an Alice in Wonderland dress.  She had a Sleeping Beauty dress, an American Girl dress etc.  You get the picture... It's amazing how certain things in your life can recall vivid memories - material scraps can do that for me. I personally have a shoe