Holidays are GREAT for gathering Stories!

Think of all the family gatherings you will be having this Holiday season and make the most of these visits. Take a few minutes to gather old photos and bring them with you to these gatherings and then have fun remembering and recording the stories from the photos.

It is fun to hear what others remember differently about the same events. It is also great to even learn WHO people are in the photos you are pulling out of the back of your closet or your PARENT'S closet. Write down the stories and who the people are before you forget or lose the elderly loved ones in your life that are the last link to these precious ancestors and their stories.

It is fun to see the family resemblances. How looks like whom? and even who acts like whom.

Want to dig a little deeper? Write down questions that will help gather your family stories or just let them talk naturally about people in the photos and as they tell you the information record it (with their permission) or have someone write down the information they share.

Always be respectful of the elderly don't push if they are tired, make it a fun family time of reminiscing. You will be glad that you took the time to record these precious memories.

I have been gathering the stories from my mom and her sisters about their lives growing up on the family farm in southern Ohio in the 1930's and 1940's. It has been so much fun learning about each of them and their different perspectives about life in their family.

I hope you take advantage of the time your family has together over the holidays and begin gathering and sharing your stories.

If you would like help in putting your story together in a beautiful book or just would like ideas for questions and guides to putting together your books visit my website www.SharingYourStories.com and sign up for a FREE account. Once you have your account you can check out the story center and print off questions on a variety of story types: Life Story, Love Story, Baby Story, etc. You can also have fun looking through our Template Gallery for great ideas.

We celebrate Christmas! I hope you enjoy your Holidays and Special Traditions!