Simply Jaimie

Summer has a way of creating memories that stay with us long after the season has ended. The simple moments—eating popsicles on the porch, taking a family road trip, or staying up late just because—often become the stories we tell for years to come. I created this Family History Summer Bucket List to help families find simple ways to weave family history into everyday life. My prayer is that each activity will help strengthen family connections while creating lasting memories together. You do not need to complete every item on the list. Choose one or two that spark your interest, adapt them to fit your family, and enjoy the conversations and connections that follow. After all, family history is not just about discovering the past. It is about strengthening the relationships we have today, preserving the moments we are living right now, and helping future generations understand where they come from. I hope this bucket list inspires your family to create meaningful memories this summer,...

 For some people visiting a cemetery may seem morbid or depressing. However, cemeteries can be some of the most peaceful and meaningful places to connect with the past. One of my favorite activities on FamilySearch is the Cemetery Activity. Using your location, FamilySearch can identify nearby cemeteries where your relatives are buried. With just a few taps, it transforms family history from something you do behind a computer screen into a meaningful experience you can share as a family. 1. From your homepage, click on activities  2. Click on all activities  3. Scroll down (and maybe over) till you find Cemetery Search 4. Enter your location 5. View your results 6. From there you can view their profile, your relationship, go to another website to find more information which could include their location within the cemetery We visited the gravesite of my grandmother's sister, Renee. She was my grandmother's older sister, and of the four sisters, Renee and my grandma lo...

Our senses have a way of unlocking memories we didn't even realize we still carried. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of sprinklers on a hot afternoon, or the sight of a grandparent's garden can instantly transport us to summers gone by. These small sensory details often become the threads that connect us to our family stories and the people we love. In When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, readers are invited into a summer filled with family traditions, gardening, cooking, and time spent with a beloved grandmother. Through rich sensory details, the story reminds us how ordinary moments can become treasured memories that stay with us long after summer has ended. My favorite part of summertime was hearing the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck. Every day, we would rush outside to meet Tony and beg him to give us an ice cream. When that didn't work, we would happily hand over 99p for a 99—a soft-serve vanilla ice cream in a cone topped with half a Flake bar. Some...

Life does not always go according to our plan. Sometimes we experience loss, disappointment, loneliness, unanswered prayers, or seasons where we feel empty. Naomi, Ruth, and Hannah understood these feelings. While Naomi and Ruth were empty due to loss, Hannah felt empty due to unfulfilled desire.  However, their stories did not end in emptiness.  As we read their stories, we see a pattern repeated throughout scripture and throughout our own family histories: the Lord sees His children in their struggles and fills what feels empty in His own time and way. One way we can help future generations know the Lord is by recording those experiences. In my freezer sits a one-pound roll of stew mix. It has stayed with us through eight years and two moves. To most people it would seem insignificant, but to me it is a reminder of how the Lord filled my family during a season of emptiness—both literally and spiritually. Our first winter in Utah was rough. My husband was self-employed, and w...

 “...and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10) It wasn’t until I began taking family history classes through Brigham Young University–Idaho that I discovered I had pioneer ancestors. Even more astonishing, I learned that some of my ancestors were endowed and sealed in the Nauvoo Temple before heading west. For generations, these stories went untold because no one had passed them on. Knowing that my ancestors crossed the plains gives me strength and confidence that I can do hard things. Understanding the sacrifices they made to receive temple covenants before leaving their homes helps me better appreciate the importance of those sacred ordinances. They were willing to face persecution and uncertainty in order to follow the Lord with faith and devotion. What courage they displayed. What faith they had in the Lord they loved. If we are not intentional about passing down the stories of ou...

Names are often the first gift we receive from our families. They become part of our identity and the beginning of our story. Some names honor ancestors, reflect traditions, or capture a moment in time. Some parents carefully choose a name years in advance, while others wait until they meet their child face to face. No matter the circumstances behind how we received our name, there is usually a story waiting to be told.  Alma is frustrated. She feels her name is simply too long. One day, while trying to fit her full name onto a piece of paper, she shares her frustration with her father. The story unfolds as Alma learns about the family members she was named after and the reasons those names were chosen. As she begins to see herself reflected in the stories of her ancestors, she starts to feel honored to carry their names forward. When learning about her first name, Alma, her father tells her, “I picked the name Alma just for you. You are the first and the only Alma. You will make y...