Talk About It Tuesday Writing Prompt and What Family Tree Gal’s Talking About

I’m using the Family Tree Gal Daily Prompts to continue writing my personal history this year.  Talk About It Tuesday is especially great for Generational ChangeMakers (GCMs) who are writing their own ChangeMaker story.  Comment below and let us know how YOU are making a difference in your family line.  Twitter hashtag for Talk About It Tuesday= #taitues

WRITING PROMPT:

Talk about specific things you are doing this week to meet your family history goals or tell what you are doing to meet any one of the three goals of Family Tree Quest, to 1) Glean Wisdom from the Past, 2) Live Mindfully in the Present, or 3) Prepare Confidently for the Future.  You may wish to record this in your journal (history-in-the-making) or personal history records.

Here’s what’s on my mind today:

I recently got home from a wonderful 7 weeks with my daughter's family in Utah.  I was there to welcome our 7th grandchild into the world.  I had a great time playing with my 4-year-old granddaughter and helping her parents by fixing the afternoon meal each day.  

I loved listening to my son-in-law read from the family history of his well-loved grandfather and grandmother.  My grandson was named after a man that helped save the life of this grandmother (whose history he was reading).  

While there we watched an outstanding video about family history which included the author, David McCullough.  I was able to see some hardbound books containing thousands of family names on her father's side of the family.  (My daughter received these in the mail after making a connection from comments left on RootsWeb.) Then, on the 24th of July, I read a more complete history than I had ever seen before of one of my favorite ancestors.

Now that I'm home, I have to get organized again.  In living mindfully in the present, I am preparing ahead for the upcoming holidays.  I want both my business and personal life to be orderly, so I'm making room on my calendar for extra events and fun times with family.

Do you do anything special to plan ahead?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Check out these personal growth resources:

Create your Ideal life Vision.
Mind Movies. Visualize your future.
Find the perfect journal at Amazon.or Galison and Mudpuppy
Family Tree Quest Bookstore.  Self-awareness, Family History, Journals.  
Family Tree Quest’s Generational ChangeMaker Personal Growth Specialists  
Family Tree Quest’s Generational ChangeMaker Personal Growth Products
A 14 day Free Trial at Ancestry.com  
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am the Phoenix Genealogy Examiner.  To see my articles click here.

What are YOU talking about on this fine Tuesday?  Thanks for leaving your comment below.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” As founder of Family Tree Quest [dot] com, I am an affiliate of Ideal LifeVision, Mind Movies, affiliates listed as Personal Growth Specialists and Personal Growth Products links, Amazon [dot] com and Galison and Mudpuppy.

Memory Lane Monday: Weddings

I want to leave my OWN story in my own words so my posterity will be able to know me a little better. Perhaps you’d like to do the same.

I’m using the ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’ series authored by Amy Coffin (see “CREDITS” for link) as an aid in starting my personal history throughout the year.  See the entire challenge on my Examiner.com article.

Here is the beginning of my memories about Weddings.

I have attended many weddings in my life.  I look at them as sacred events and absolutely soak in joyful feelings of seeing couples at their best—in love and that love shining through their countenances.  I appreciate having many fine models of happy family living.  Since we all have human failings, the pain of disillusionment follows most marriages.  Since the tests and trials of life come through the commonplace, everyday events we’re faced with, I know working out relationships in marriage can be the seedbed of extraordinary personal growth and development.  100% commitment to fidelity in marriage is something I admire. 

I appreciate having countless models in my life of people who don’t quit or give up on making their marriage comfortable and joyful and who commit to the hard work of developing consistently loving relationships in their home and family.

What was your wedding like?  Please comment below..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As founder of Family Tree Quest, people sometimes ask what tools I recommend for organizing and recording personal and family history.  Here are my highest recommendations.

Heritage Collector Suite- Complete Family History Management System
Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner - Portable, easy flip-and-scan-technology.
Personal Historian Software- I love it’s timelines and personal history prompts. 

Find the perfect journal at Amazon or Galison and Mudpuppy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As the Phoenix Genealogy Examiner, I create an article about this series each Monday.  Click subscribe (at the top) if you’d like to get my articles automatically delivered to your email inbox, or click the RSS icon to read my posts via a feed reader. 

CREDITS:  These weekly challenges are authored by Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog and hosted on the GeneaBloggers website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. As founder of Family Tree Quest [dot] com, I am an affiliate of LifeStory Productions, Inc. Flip-pal and Amazon [dot] com.

Thankful Thursday

Just happy to be back in AZ (even though I didn't miss the extreme heat).  I'm grateful to have been able to help my daughter in UT and her family. 

Memory Lane Monday: Nicknames

I’m using the ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’ series as an aid in beginning my personal history this year.  See the entire challenge on my Examiner.com article. These weekly challenges are authored by Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog and hosted on the GeneaBloggers website.

Here is the beginning of my memories about NICKNAMES.

Even though I have red hair and the nickname "red" is common in such cases, there have only been two people who called me that who could get away with it--both close friends.  I DO NOT like being called "red".

For a short time, as a young adult, I was called "Irish".  I loved it.

AND . . . there's a nickname behind the selection of my business name, which is Charlie Ink Productions and Publications.  "Charlie" was a nickname given me when I was about twelve or thirteen years old.  When a friend of mine learned that "Carolyn" was a feminine form of the name “Charles”, I was nicknamed "Charlie".  The nickname didn't stick, but "Charlie" seems to suit me when I think of myself as creative and energetic (which is not always the case). "Ink" was chosen as a "play on words", sounding like the abbreviation Inc. (standing for Incorporated).  Since I was a calligrapher for over twenty years (using ink to write beautiful pen strokes on family tree charts as well as doing other custom work), “Ink” was a natural selection for me.”  Now, the mystery of the name "Charlie Ink" has now been entirely revealed.  To see more about me, click here.                                    

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Please leave a comment and let me know your nicknames.

As founder of Family Tree Quest, people sometimes ask what tools I recommend for organizing and recording personal and family history.  Here are my highest recommendations.

Heritage Collector Suite-  Your complete Family History Management System  (my highest recommendation)  This has everything you need to get your family history clutter into one, orderly place.  Store and retrieve photos, documents, videos, etc.  Create a PDF for a bound book.  Many bonus items such as storybook and GPS modules.

Personal Historian Software-  I love it’s timelines and personal history prompts. 

Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner –  Portable, easy flip-and-scan-technology.  You can even scan pictures in the frame or while they remain in their photo albums!  I sit on the sofa in comfort and scan to my hearts delight.

Find the perfect journal at Amazon or Galison and Mudpuppy

Want to write for Examiner?  To check out their wide-variety of topics Click here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. As founder of Family Tree Quest [dot] com, I am an affiliate of LifeStory Productions, Inc. Flip-pal, Galison and Mudpuppy and Amazon [dot] com.

Resource Wednesday: The greatest resource of all

What is the greatest resource of all?  A human life, full of potential and the ability to make a positive change in the world.

Sooooooooooo, I'm happy to announce the birth of our new grandson, McKay.
8 lbs 5 oz
21 inches long
born yesterday

Memory Lane Monday: Dinner Time

I’m using the ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’ series authored by Amy Coffin as an aid in starting my personal history throughout the year.   I want to leave my OWN story in my own words so my posterity will be able to know me a little better. Perhaps you’d like to do the same.

Here is the beginning of my memories about Dinner Time.

See the entire challenge on my Examiner.com article.

As a child, my mom fixed the dinners and we had dinner every night around 6 pm.  Dad had regular work hours, so this routine was useful to all of us and added stability to our routines at home.

When I was a mother of young children, my husband had varying work schedules.  I still tried to have a regular dinner time, yet I was fine with being flexible, too.  When he wasn’t home, we’d sometimes eat out with friends or bring in meals, if I was tired.

Now, my five children are grown.  Some have families of their own.  We have “Family Dinner” once a month—where all our children, their spouses and their children get together to share a meal and talk and have fun.  It is served buffet style from our counter, and we all sit down at our dining room table and eat as a family.  It has become a beautiful tradition, and is something we look forward to each month.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Leave a comment and tell us YOUR memories of dinner time.

As founder of Family Tree Quest, people sometimes ask what tools I recommend for organizing and recording personal and family history.  Here are my highest recommendations.

Heritage Collector Suite- Your complete Family History Management System  (my highest recommendation)
This has everything you need to get your family history clutter into one, orderly place.  Store and retrieve photos, documents, videos, etc.  Create a PDF for a bound book.  Many bonus items such as storybook and GPS modules.

Personal Historian Software- I love it’s timelines and personal history prompts. 

Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner –  Portable, easy flip-and-scan-technology.  You can even scan pictures in the frame or while they remain in their photo albums!  I sit on the sofa in comfort and scan to my hearts delight.

Find the perfect journal at Amazon or Galison and Mudpuppy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As the Phoenix Genealogy Examiner, I create an article about this series each Monday.  Click subscribe (at the top) if you’d like to get my articles automatically delivered to your email inbox, or click the RSS icon to read my posts via a feed reader.  These weekly challenges are authored by Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog and hosted on the GeneaBloggers website.

Want to write for Examiner?  To check out their wide-variety of topics Click here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. As founder of Family Tree Quest [dot] com, I am an affiliate of LifeStory Productions, Inc. Flip-pal and Galison and Mudpuppy and Amazon [dot] com.

An Ancestor's Example - How to Overcome the Storms of Life

I loved this video about a woman who had suffered through divorce.  Hope you like it, too.

Memory Lane Monday: Grandparents’ House

I’m using the ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’ series as an aid in beginning my personal history this year.  See the entire challenge on my Examiner.com article  THIS WEEKS ARTICLE INCLUDES A HILARIOUS MEMORY OF A TOAD at Lori Wiser’s Grandparents home!  These weekly challenges are authored by Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog and hosted on the GeneaBloggers website.

Here is the beginning of my memories about my Grandparents’ House.

I loved the small farmhouse of my grandparents in Santaquin, UT.  Most of my memories of it are vague.  I value the pictures I have of me (about age five) riding on a horse in the fenced side-yard with my dad holding the reins and leading me forward.  Dad and I had smiles on our faces, and, because of pictures, this memory still lives in my heart.

Their home was a very small, two story home.  I can’t imagine raising eleven children there. I’m told my grandmother fed the hobos that would hop the train and get off in her small town.  I remember her kitchen being very small.  My Aunt Norma would tell me stories of sweeping weevils out of the flour bin.

I had an aunt (Eva) and an Aunt, Uncle and cousin that lived across the street (Blanche, Denzil and Jana Lee).  When I was really little, another Aunt lived across the street from my grandma.  I mostly remember Aunt Eva’s house because that’s where we would stay when we’d visit.  My aunt was warm and welcoming.  My grandfather had been mayor of the town, and he died when I was two.  After my grandmother broke her hip, she stayed at Eva’s.  I loved the large porch.  The weather was often cold and crisp.  A dramatic change from my home in Southern California.

I appreciate using these posts to get a start to my personal history.  I can see that they stimulate additional memories that I will work on more at a later date.  I really appreciate Amy putting these prompts together.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As founder of Family Tree Quest, people sometimes ask what tools I recommend for organizing and recording personal and family history.  Here are my highest recommendations.

Heritage Collector Suite-  Your complete Family History Management System  (my highest recommendation)
This has everything you need to get your family history clutter into one, orderly place.  Store and retrieve photos, documents, videos, etc.  Create a PDF for a bound book.  Many bonus items such as storybook and GPS modules.

Personal Historian Software- I love it’s timelines and personal history prompts. 

Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner –   Portable, easy flip-and-scan-technology.  You can even scan pictures in the frame or while they remain in their photo albums!  I sit on the sofa in comfort and scan to my hearts delight.

Find the perfect journal at Amazon or Galison and Mudpuppy

Please leave a comment and let me know YOU stopped by for a visit to my blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. As founder of Family Tree Quest [dot] com, I am an affiliate of LifeStory Productions, Inc. Flip-pal and Amazon [dot] com.