Simply Jaimie

Every family has traditions that become part of who they are. Some happen every Christmas. Others happen every Sunday afternoon. And some are so ordinary that we don't realize how meaningful they are until they're no longer part of our routine. Those traditions become more than things we do. They become the way we remember the people we love. Bread Days by Hannah Chung is a beautiful reminder that even after someone is gone, the traditions they began can continue to bring comfort, connection, and joy. Nara looks forward to bread days with her Papa more than anything. Together they mix, fold, score, and bake fresh sourdough, filling their home with warmth, conversation, and anticipation as they wait for the loaf to rise. When Papa dies, bread days come to an unexpected end. The kitchen feels quiet, and the familiar routine that once brought so much happiness now reminds Nara of everything she misses. But as she begins caring for the sourdough starter she and Papa created to...

Imagine spending weeks rebuilding a city wall only to have people constantly try to distract you. That was Nehemiah's reality. As he and the people worked to rebuild Jerusalem, their enemies mocked them, threatened them, and repeatedly tried to lure Nehemiah away from the work. His response has become one of my favorite verses in scripture: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." (Nehemiah 6:3) Every time I read those words, I ask myself: What is the great work God has given me? As a wife and mother, it's easy to feel like my days are filled with ordinary things—reading bedtime stories, helping with homework, wiping sticky counters, folding laundry, and making dinner. It's also easy to wonder if preserving family stories, interviewing grandparents, labeling old photographs, or writing in my children's journals can wait until life feels less busy. But Nehemiah reminds me that some work is simply too important to "come down" from. Presid...

 As parents, we spend so much time making memories with our children that we sometimes forget to share the stories that came before them. They know your favorite color, what you like to eat, and maybe even your favorite movie. But do they know what you dreamed of becoming when you were ten? Why you chose their name? What your grandparents were like? Or what you prayed for before they were born? The truth is, there are countless things your children will never know unless you tell them. Not because they don't care, but because they don't know to ask. One day they'll wonder what your childhood was like. They'll want to know how you met their other parent, what life looked like before smartphones, what made you laugh, what broke your heart, and what shaped the person who raised them. By then, you may not remember every detail—or they may no longer have the chance to ask. That's why it's worth sharing your story now. These 25 prompts are an invitation to preserve th...

 Every family has things that are passed from one generation to the next. Sometimes it's a recipe. Sometimes it's a tradition. Sometimes it's a story. And sometimes, it's a song. Music has a remarkable way of helping us remember the people we love. Long after conversations have ended, a familiar melody can bring back a face, a place, or a feeling in an instant. That's one of the reasons I loved Holding On by Sophia N. Lee. It reminds us that family history isn't only found in photographs or journals. It's also found in the songs that fill our homes. Lola's house is always filled with music. Sammy Davis Jr. plays in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and old Tagalog love songs drift through the house each evening. Along with the music comes one piece of wisdom that Lola often shares with her granddaughter: "If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs." Her granddaughter treasures those words, tucking both the music and Lola...

It's easy to think our lives aren't interesting enough to write about. We tell ourselves we'll journal when something exciting happens—a big milestone, a family vacation, or a once-in-a-lifetime event. But family history isn't built on extraordinary moments alone. It's built on ordinary Tuesdays, bedtime routines, favorite recipes, inside jokes, answered prayers, and the little moments that quietly shape our lives. Those are often the memories our children will cherish the most. Journaling doesn't have to mean filling pages every day. Sometimes all it takes is one thoughtful question to help you pause, reflect, and preserve a moment that might otherwise be forgotten. These 25 journal prompts are designed to help you do just that. They invite you to capture the season you're in, the lessons you're learning, and the everyday experiences that make up your story. Years from now, these words will become more than journal entries—they'll become a gift to t...

 "My name is my heritage, given by elders to carry their hopes and dreams. It shapes who I am now and who I will become." Before children learn where their family came from or hear stories about their ancestors, they usually learn one thing first, their name. It's one of the first gifts they're given, and often one of the first ways they begin to understand who they are. Whether our name was chosen because it belonged to a grandparent, reflects our family's heritage, or simply because our parents loved it, every name has a story worth telling. My Name Is Ai Lin by Maria Wen Adcock is a beautiful reminder that our names are something to celebrate. Ai Lin loves her name, but she becomes discouraged when classmates and teachers struggle to pronounce it correctly. She begins to wonder if having a different name would make life easier. With encouragement from her family, Ai Lin discovers the beauty and meaning of her name and finds the confidence to patiently teach ...

 One of the things I love most about card games is how easy they are to bring to the table. They don't take up much space, they're quick to set up, and they're perfect for everything from family game night to vacations, camping trips, or evenings with friends. Over the years, we've discovered a handful of card games that we reach for again and again. Some make us laugh until our cheeks hurt. Others have us trying to outsmart each other or wondering whether we should risk one more turn. But every one of them has earned a permanent place on our shelf because they're easy to teach, fun to play, and always leave us wanting another round. If you're looking to add a few modern card games to your collection, these are six that we happily recommend. No Thanks! combines simple decisions with surprising strategy. Every turn presents the same choice: take the card or spend one of your precious tokens to pass it to the next player. Knowing when to take a risk and when to s...