Simply Jaimie

One of the things I love most about family history is that it helps us preserve the moments that might otherwise be forgotten. While we cannot place memories in glass jars like Freda does, we can record them in journals, photographs, voice recordings, and family stories. Many of the memories I treasure most are not major life events. They are ordinary moments: playing board games with my grandma, riding home in the basket of my dad's Royal Mail bike, or gathering around the dinner table with family. At the time, they seemed small. Looking back, they became part of my family's story. Memory Jars reminds us that family history is not only about preserving the big milestones. It is also about capturing the everyday moments that tell the story of who we are and the people we love. Freda loves collecting memories. She carefully stores special moments in jars because she wants to remember everything exactly as it happened. As her collection grows, she begins filling jars with memori...

 One of the first records I recommend to beginning family historians is the United States Census. Taken every ten years since 1790, census records provide a snapshot of a family at a specific moment in time. They can reveal where an ancestor lived, who was living in the household, what work they did, and other valuable details about their lives. Because census records were created regularly and cover much of the population, they are often one of the easiest and most useful records to locate. By following an ancestor through multiple census years, you can watch a family's story unfold as children are born, occupations change, and households grow. If you are new to family history research, learning how to use census records is an excellent place to start. To help you get started, I've created a free printable that explains what census records are, why they are valuable, and how to locate them on FamilySearch. to download/print the census record page simply click here or on the im...

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to know their grandparents beyond the titles of Grandma and Grandpa. Grandparents carry a lifetime of stories, experiences, traditions, and lessons that can help children better understand both their family and themselves. Children's books provide a natural way to begin those conversations. Through stories, children can see grandparents as adventurers, storytellers, teachers, friends, and individuals with dreams, memories, and experiences of their own. These books encourage children to ask questions, listen to family stories, and develop deeper relationships with the older generations in their lives. Whether your child's grandpa is nearby, lives far away, or is remembered through stories and photographs, these books celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren while highlighting themes that connect beautifully to family history. Granpa by John Burningham A young girl and her grandfather s...

When we think about family history, we often think about preserving stories, photographs, and important life events. While those things are valuable, sometimes the most meaningful details are the simple ones. What was Dad's favorite food? What did he always say? What made him laugh? What was his job? These ordinary details help paint a picture of who a person really was. The truth is, children often notice things that adults overlook. They remember the funny sayings, the routines, the inside jokes, and the little moments that make someone special. Taking a few minutes to record those memories can create a keepsake that families will treasure for years to come. That is why I created the All About My Dad activity page. It gives children an opportunity to reflect on their relationship with their dad while preserving a snapshot of who he is right now. The completed page becomes more than a simple worksheet—it becomes a record of a father's influence and a child's perspective. ...

Imagine being twelve years old and attending your first evening party with friends. You have a great time, but now it is time to go home. While everyone else is climbing into their parents' cars, your dad is waiting outside on his Royal Mail postman bike. Yep. I got to ride home in the front basket normally used to carry his mailbag. Secretly, I loved riding on Dad's post office bike. The basket stayed perfectly still when he turned, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. My dad worked for twenty years with the Royal Mail in England. He would leave the house at half past four in the morning to collect the post and begin his route. After a few rounds, he would come home to walk us to school before heading back to finish the day. Three evenings a week, he worked overtime. Ironically, those were also the nights my Nan came over for dinner. As a child, I didn't fully understand how demanding and physical his job was. It wasn't until I was older that I realized just how...

On Sage's thirteenth birthday, her best friend is struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking to Sage's house. In an instant, Sage's world is forever changed. Alongside her grief, she carries an overwhelming sense of guilt, wondering if things might have been different had she not insisted her best friend spend the entire day with her. All the Blues in the Sky is not a story about getting over loss. Instead, it is a story about learning to move forward with grief. It explores the reality that loss does not simply disappear with time. Rather, grief becomes a companion that can show up unexpectedly—in a memory, a place, a song, or an ordinary moment—and must be carried alongside the joys and challenges of everyday life. One of my favorite moments in the book occurs when Sage tells her aunt that she misses her best friend all the time. Her aunt's response is both beautiful and honest:  "You always will... You will miss her everyday of your life. Sometimes, the ...