Hey, memories! Come out of the closet, will you?

Your memories live in your head and heart, but family photos, heirlooms & mementos sure do call those memories forth—how to use them towards a life story book.

family history, photo legacy, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeJune 22, 2020how to use family photos in life story books, memory prompts, your family archive as a resource for life stories, finding family stories in our stuff, photo stories talk resources, planning tips, course resourcesComment

56 essential questions to ask your parents to capture their personal history

Don’t wait until it’s too late—have meaningful conversations with your parents about their past with questions designed to spark memories and make story sharing easy.

family historyDawn M. RoodeMarch 29, 2020family stories, oral history interviews, family history questions, personal history interviews Comment

“I wish I knew”

The Wall Street Journal reports that a growing number of adult children are interested in hearing more of their parents' stories. Are you among them?

family history, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeMarch 9, 2020professional life story preservation, preserve family history before it's too late, family history storiesComment

Two New Year’s resolutions worth making—and keeping

Imagine New Years resolutions you actually want to keep—we've got two that are not only easy to stick to, but that will make you and your loved ones happier.

family history, photo legacy, the art of listeningDawn M. RoodeDecember 29, 2019curating family photos, meaningful conversation, the power of connectionComment

Most thoughtful holiday host gift

Just in time for Thanksgiving: A Taste of the Past, a family history recipe card set for preserving not only family recipes, but the stories behind them.

food memories, family history, gift ideasDawn M. RoodeNovember 11, 2019family history recipe card set, food memories, the power of food to recall memories, holiday gift ideaComment

The spirit of scrapbooking, elevated

While scrapbooking & personal history share a goal of preserving family memories, key differences include the approach to storytelling and the finished products.

family history, photo legacyDawn M. RoodeOctober 30, 2019scrapbooking to save memories, personal history vs scarpbooking, leaving a legacy, essential readingComment

Are my memories of my mother gone?

As the tenth anniversary of losing my mom approaches, I have been caught up in thoughts of the past—but where are those vivid memories that once flooded me?

remember lost loved ones, memoir & writing, family history, dawn's musingsDawn M. RoodeOctober 3, 2019writing from memories, preserving family memories, writing about difficult memories Comments

Think your grown kids don’t care about your stories?

Ever tried to talk about your childhood with your grown kids only to be met with a lack of interest? They might not care now, but they will one day—I promise.