Category Archives: Personal History

Mom’s INfluence- post-election

My deceased mother has had an influence on my view of the present moment turmoil in the USA.  Here’s a little background.

On Sunday, Jan 22, 2017, I was listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during the Music and the Spoken Word program on byutv.  The choir was singing a  song my mother loved, THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.   Because she loved it, in my early years, I began to love it and it’s message, too.  She even bought the sheet music for me, so I could learn the song on the piano when I was in my early teens. When we were gifted tickets to attend the play Man of  La Mancha in downtown Long Beach, CA, I was thriled.  It was a very precious time together for me and my mother. The character Don Quiote, sang this song in the play.

Considering the last few days, amidst all the division and contention in our country which has manifested itself with the election of our 45th President, Donald Trump, I took time for INtrospection.  I refuse to let chaos rule in my heart or mind, and the events of the campaign, election and post-election opposition has caused great unrest in the hearts of so many good people.   I reflected on the fact that I had already known what I stood for (Christ and true principles), and I knew and had been actively working on what I feel called to do, which is to help deeply discouraged men and women understand and rise above childhood or relationship distress or trauma- including divorce. I then saw and read a couple articles from Apostles in our church, and then I heard the choir sing, THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.  I renewed the clarity in my mind and heart in order to press forward with focus and determination.

I believe each of us thrives when we do what we feel in our own heart matches our own purpose here on earth.  Contention creates such chaos that it is imperative that each of us rebalance withIN and find the harmony there to be able to progress.  These are quite extraordinary times, full of uncertainty.

Before including the lyrics to the song I love (which came from the stability of heart that my mother helped me create), these are a few of my thoughts:

There will always be opposition in life.  Even Jesus Christ was born in humble circumstances to a loving family in a world filled with hatred.  He brought help, healing and love to the world.  It was quite a change for people who had learned to live by the “letter of the law” rather than the “spirit of the law”. Yet those who were drawn to listen to and be taught by Christ while he lived, could feel the truth that resonated within them–for it was INnately planted in their hearts. They remembered those truths from learning them before they came to earth. When we hear INspiring messages, such as in the lyrics of this song, there are those of us who still feel called to help and serve people–in spite of obstacles or the turmoil in the world. We remain true to the calling and purpose that is planted in our hearts.  There are people positioned in countries all over the world who will continue to point the way to rational conversation and who will help create principle-centered solutions.

What I’ve found is:

We must take heart, not fear and not lose hope.  We must not get caught up in hatred of other people or contention.  We are all in God’s hands.  He knows the end from the beginning.  We must each discern what we can do, then simply do our part as we stay anchored to Christ, who IS the way, the truth and the life.

This year, I will help deeply discouraged men and women fill their highest priorities with full purpose of heart.  I will help them learn, with certainty, how to build on a safe, secure, solid foundation as they turn their stress, anxiousness, sorrow and dyfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace in themselves, their families and family lines.

If you happen to be  looking for some guidance and support in 2017, check out my upcoming
ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles by CLICKING HERE.

This is a video with a popular singer from my early childhood.
Andy Williams – The Impossible Dream (The Quest)

https://youtu.be/-KufFjcWOUQ%20
Lyrics

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where
The brave dare not go.

To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar.
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star.

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march,
March into hell
For that heavenly cause.

And I know
If I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart
Will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be
Better for this
That one man, scorned
And covered with scars,
Still strove with his last
Ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable,
The unreachable,
The unreachable star.

And I’ll always dream
The impossible dream
Yes, and I’ll reach
The unreachable star.

Songwriters: Joe Darion / Mitchell Leigh
The Impossible Dream lyrics © Helena Music Company
******

Let us not get so caught up in practices that we forget principles.  Let us doubt not and fear not.  Let us remember that by small, yet deliberate deeds, great things come to pass.

To your happiness,
Carolyn

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

What’s Your Story- Life’s Journey Prompt #1

This year I am participating in the #52Stories Project from FamilySearch.org. in order to become a positive INfluence on my family’s inter-generational narrative. Will you join me?

The idea is to follow a weekly prompt to write down just one story every week for a year.  By the end of the year, you will be 52 steps and 52 stories closer to having written your personal history.

I use Personal Historian 2 Software to record and organize my personal history by topic as well as my journal entries.

Challenge:  Write down the details of your life to “define the dash” that exists between your birth date and death date.

This week’s #52Stories life journey prompt is:

Why write down your experiences?

Your experiences as TODAY’s ChangeMaker™ are of great worthBe sure to write them down.

Ordinary events help people know who you really are from the INside out and how you think and operate in the world.  Happy times uplift us. Many of us have come through or are coming through some real rough patches along the way, too. The steps you take and courage you muster to do the almost-impossible has value for those who may follow in your footsteps as they traverse their own path in life.  Never underestimate the value of lessons learned through experiencing difficulty, adversity and personal trials.  Also, sharing happy times brings hope to others when they see that there’s more to life than drudging through it.

Through writing down your life experiences and observations, it may become crystal clear to you and others how an individual can become their best, most happy and capable selves.  You may learn what personal character traits contribute to strong, safe, secure family relationships, and in contract, you can see what detracts from and destroys them.  This knowledge can help you develop a healthy concern about contributing positively to the future of your family line.  It can become a major driver for living a purpose-filled life.  It can help bring direction to the course of life. You may be able to see thought patterns, habit patterns and family patterns through writing things down that help you see what helps you stay strong and, on the other hand, you will be better positioned to identify what is destructive so you can take steps to help change it.

Ready, Set, GROW!

Heal the heartbreak of dysfunction and stress in yourself and your family line.
End the isolation of feeling alone in your journey to create positive change with these helpful classes, coaching and small group connections.
Check out our ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles.

Personal History Tool Tip of the Week
JOURNALriffic– Use the journaling method—the 4 Steps of Discovery—in the ebook I authored.  It was written specifically for TODAY’s ChangeMakers like you. It will you how to put an end to negative thinking and destructive tendencies in yourself or your family line in order to enjoy more peace-of-mind and happiness.

*****
Note:  TODAY’s ChangeMakers™ are sincere, determined men and women who do not give up on creating positive change—in spite of obstacles.  If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to officially JOIN THE QUEST at Family Tree Quest.com.

*****
Disclosure of Material Connection: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising,” I am disclosing that I am the owner or a compensated affiliate of the hyperlinked companies, websites, ebooks, classes and membership circles mentioned in this post.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompts 19-24

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s a few days of prompts for writing your personal holiday history:

December 19 – Christmas Shopping
How did your family handle Christmas Shopping? Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?

December 20 – Religious Services
Did your family attend religious services during the Christmas season? What were the customs and traditions involved?

December 21 – Christmas Music
What songs did your family listen to during Christmas? Did you ever go caroling? Did you have a favorite song?

December 22 – Christmas and Deceased Relatives
Did your family visit the cemetery at Christmas? How did your family honor deceased family members at Christmas?

December 23 – Christmas Sweetheart Memories
Do you have a special memory of a first Christmas present from a sweetheart? How did you spend your first Christmas together? Any Christmas engagements or weddings among your ancestors?

December 24 – Christmas Eve
How did you, your family or your ancestors spend Christmas Eve?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompts 12-18

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s a few days of prompts to help you write your personal holiday history:

December 12 – Charitable/Volunteer Work
Did your family ever volunteer with a charity such as a soup kitchen, homeless or battered women’s shelter during the holidays? Or perhaps were your ancestors involved with church groups that assisted others during the holiday?

December 13 – Holiday Travel
Did you or your ancestors travel anywhere for Christmas? How did you travel and who traveled with you? Do you remember any special trips?

December 14 – Fruitcake – Friend or Foe?
Did you like fruitcake? Did your family receive fruitcakes? Have you ever re-gifted fruitcake? Have you ever devised creative uses for fruitcake?

December 15 – The Holiday Happenings!
Often times December to mid-January birthdays and anniversaries get over shadowed by the Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year holidays. So we’re going to shine a spotlight on those family members and ancestors this time around. Select one or more December to mid-January birthdays and/or anniversaries on your family tree. Write a short tribute to or memory of those birthday guys and gals and write a toast to the anniversary couples.

December 16 – Christmas at School
What did you or your ancestors do to celebrate Christmas at school? Were you ever in a Christmas Pageant?

December 17 – Grab Bag
Author’s choice. Please post from a topic that helps you remember Christmases past!

December 18 – Christmas Stockings
Did you have one? Where did you hang it? What did you get in it? Do you have any Christmas stockings used by your ancestors?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompts 9, 10, 11

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s a few days of prompts for writing your personal holiday history:

December 9 – Grab Bag
Author’s choice. Please post from a topic that helps you remember Christmases past!

December 10 – Christmas Gifts
What were your favorite gifts, both to receive and to give? Are there specific gift-giving traditions among your family or ancestors?

December 11 – Other Traditions
Did your family or friends also celebrate other traditions during the holidays such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa?  Did your immigrant ancestors have holiday traditions from their native country which they retained or perhaps abandoned?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompt #8- Christmas Cookies

christmas-remembranceprompt-9

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s TODAY’s prompt:

December 8 – Christmas Cookies
Did your family or ancestors make Christmas Cookies? How did you help? Did you have a favorite cookie?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompt #7: Holiday Parties

christmas-remembranceprompt-10

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s TODAY’s prompt:

December 7 – Holiday Parties
Did your family throw a holiday party each year? Do you remember attending any holiday parties?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompt #6: Santa Claus

christmas-remembranceprompt-6

Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s TODAY’s prompt:

December 6 – Santa Claus
Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

Christmas Remembrance Prompt #5: Outdoor Decorations

christmas-remembranceprompt-3
Cultivate remembrance this Christmas with personal history prompts organized by Thomas MacEntee.  For many years, his online community of over 3,000 family history GeneaBloggers enjoyed using his Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories which ended in Christmas 2015.  With special permission to post here, it is still possible for you to write your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during twenty-four days in December!

Here’s TODAY’s prompt:

December 5 – Outdoor Decorations
Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?

This is a great way to record part of your personal history.  You may want to use these prompts with your Personal Historian software, and you’ll be a step ahead in documenting your personal history and preserving it for your posterity. I also enjoy scanning pictures with my Flip-pal mobile scanner. and storing the pictures in collections with my Heritage Collector Suite software.  Since Christmas is coming, it would be a delight to find these items under your tree this year.

For family-centered gift-giving ideas, CLICK HERE.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Join me on my Facebook Page at Family Tree Gal.  Let’s stay connected!

******
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 do not receive a commission from Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers for writing these posts.However, I have taken great care to select many affiliates who I believe offer a great service to my web visitors. I am an affiliate of Amazon, Flip-pal Mobile Scanner and LifeStory Productions (Heritage Collector Suite.  I am also an affiliate of the companies found on my FamilyTreeQuest website where you will find family-centered gift giving ideas.  I make a small commission from sales made by clicking links in this post.  There is no extra charge to you.  This helps me to continue my work on the Internet. Thank you for using these links when making purchases.

 

About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.

God did hear our cries and answer our prayers.

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TIP:  Learn from the faith-promoting experiences of others–especially from those who are a member of your own family line.

I was reading this morning about a people who were living a fairly ordinary life, and then they were attacked. (Interesting how life sometimes goes when all is going well, and we are slow to remember the Lord.) These people remembered that they could be delivered “out of the hands of their enemies” because of THIS. They said, “for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers. And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might.”*

Even though these people lived thousands of years ago, the records they kept and the stories passed down from their forefathers helped them awaken to the source of strength and INsight and deliverance from their enemies that could help them beyond their own capacity.  How many of us, when times get tough, remember something we may have forgotten about the strength, fortitude, resilience amid great obstacles or trials, that a family member of our own went through and rose above.  There are countless stories of faith and fortitude waiting to be discovered within our own family history.

Last night I was watching the show 17 Miracles. Among my heritage are many Mormon Pioneers.  The particular company of pioneers depicted in this movie left for their destination late in the season, and they endured hardships beyond comprehension.  They were all just mortal men, women and children who were trying to do the best they could for their families.  They faced extreme and severe circumstances with hunger, fatigue, death, deprivation, equipment failure, and so much more that called for extraordinary faith and endurance.  Amidst it all, there were miracles.

During a time of extreme hunger, one woman obtained beef jerky in a miraculous way.  She returned to the camp and shared with her children and others.  No doubt this saved lives.  At the end of the show, it tells of how one of her family members did not believe this story–even though she had sacrificed so much and endured much hardship. Later, thankfully, someone else from the company mentioned it in the presence of the one who did not believe it.

After watching the show, it seemed so sad to me that her own family member wouldn’t understand or believe which must have been life-saving and such a blessing to her. I think many faithful parents in today’s world may somehow relate to this–even though our times and unique challenges are very different.   In my own way, I identify with the feeling of sacrificing your all for the sake of your family members, only to be often misunderstood or criticized for the very thing that kept you and them alive–physically, emotionally or spiritually.

It was encouraging to remember that the awareness of the value of our faith in God and fortitude amid trials and obstacles may even jump a generation or two before being rediscovered, yet our sacrifices are not lost.  It may be the very thing that helps one of our posterity to be strong and encouraged amidst their own trials with faith, family, friends or circumstances.

Whose story in your family line is waiting to be known or rediscovered?

Gordon B Hinckley shared this account of the rescue of those spoken of in the movie 17 Miracles.

“It was in … desperate and terrible circumstances—hungry, exhausted, their clothes thin and ragged—that [the handcart companies] were found by the rescue party. As the rescuers appeared on the western horizon breaking a trail through the snow, they seemed as angels of mercy. And indeed they were. The beleaguered emigrants shouted for joy, some of them. Others, too weak to shout, simply wept and wept and wept.

“There was now food to eat and some warmer clothing. But the suffering was not over, nor would it ever end in mortality. Limbs had been frozen, and the gangrenous flesh sloughed off from the bones.

“The carts were abandoned, and the survivors were crowded into the wagons of the rescuers. The long rough journey of three hundred, four hundred, even five hundred miles between them and this valley was especially slow and tedious because of the storms. On November 30, 104 wagons, loaded with suffering human cargo, came into the Salt Lake Valley. Word of their expected arrival had preceded them. It was Sunday, and again the Saints were gathered in the Tabernacle. Brigham Young stood before the congregation and said:

“‘As soon as this meeting is dismissed I want the brethren and sisters to repair to their homes. …

“‘The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to … prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them. …

“‘Some you will find with their feet frozen to their ankles; some are frozen to their knees and some have their hands frosted … ; we want you to receive them as your own children, and to have the same feeling for them’ (quoted in Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, p. 139)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 76–77; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 54).

Francis Webster, a member of the Martin Handcart Company said, “Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes! But I was in that company and my wife was in it….We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities!”

In 1996, Gordon B. Hinckley, referring to the suffering of the Martin and Willie handcart companies,  said:

“I am grateful that those days of pioneering are behind us. I am thankful that we do not have brethren and sisters stranded in the snow, freezing and dying… But there are people, not a few, whose circumstances are desperate and who cry out for help and relief.

“There are so many who are hungry and destitute across this world who need help. … Ours is a great and solemn duty to reach out and help them, to lift them, to feed them if they are hungry, to nurture their spirits if they thirst for truth and righteousness.

“There are so many young people who wander aimlessly and walk the tragic trail of drugs, gangs, immorality, and the whole brood of ills that accompany these things. There are widows who long for friendly voices and that spirit of anxious concern which speaks of love. There are those who were once warm in the faith, but whose faith has grown cold. Many of them wish to come back but do not know quite how to do it. They need friendly hands reaching out to them. With a little effort, many of them can be brought back to feast again at the table of the Lord.

“… I would hope, I would pray that each of us … would resolve to seek those who need help, who are in desperate and difficult circumstances, and lift them in the spirit of love … (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 118; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 86).

INspired Action Steps:  It’s now your turn on earth.  Who will you lift and serve?  What will be your story of faithful obedience to God?  There are those in your family line who follow you.  Rejoice that we live in a day of opportunity.  Rejoice that we have the opportunity to choose living a life with faith in Christ being fully planted in our hearts.  There are and will always be miracles.  I INcourage you to faithfully use your INfluence for good, and, in doing so, you will see the hand of God unfold in your life and in the lives of others in unlimited miraculous ways.

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* Mosiah 9: 14-19
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About Family Tree Gal, Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Serving people who have hidden heartaches and unresolved personal struggles, Carolyn Calton is the founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com and HealingYourFamily.com. As a ReNEW YOU Self Worth and Relationship Revitalization educator and coach, Carolyn teaches individuals and families how to turn from heartache to happiness in themselves, their families and family lines by understanding how to live true to who they really are as TODAY’s ChangeMakers. Those who join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles learn how to turn stress, anxious-thinking, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace. She is a teacher and facilitator of principles that can set the hearts of men and women free from the pain and chains of guilt, toxic shame and the effects of oppression. Her students are then empowered to walk forward with courage and confidence as they fill their highest priorities with stability and full purpose of heart.