Simply Jaimie

When we think about family history, we often think about preserving stories, photographs, and important life events. While those things are valuable, sometimes the most meaningful details are the simple ones. What was Dad's favorite food? What did he always say? What made him laugh? What was his job? These ordinary details help paint a picture of who a person really was. The truth is, children often notice things that adults overlook. They remember the funny sayings, the routines, the inside jokes, and the little moments that make someone special. Taking a few minutes to record those memories can create a keepsake that families will treasure for years to come. That is why I created the All About My Dad activity page. It gives children an opportunity to reflect on their relationship with their dad while preserving a snapshot of who he is right now. The completed page becomes more than a simple worksheet—it becomes a record of a father's influence and a child's perspective. ...

Imagine being twelve years old and attending your first evening party with friends. You have a great time, but now it is time to go home. While everyone else is climbing into their parents' cars, your dad is waiting outside on his Royal Mail postman bike. Yep. I got to ride home in the front basket normally used to carry his mailbag. Secretly, I loved riding on Dad's post office bike. The basket stayed perfectly still when he turned, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. My dad worked for twenty years with the Royal Mail in England. He would leave the house at half past four in the morning to collect the post and begin his route. After a few rounds, he would come home to walk us to school before heading back to finish the day. Three evenings a week, he worked overtime. Ironically, those were also the nights my Nan came over for dinner. As a child, I didn't fully understand how demanding and physical his job was. It wasn't until I was older that I realized just how...

On Sage's thirteenth birthday, her best friend is struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking to Sage's house. In an instant, Sage's world is forever changed. Alongside her grief, she carries an overwhelming sense of guilt, wondering if things might have been different had she not insisted her best friend spend the entire day with her. All the Blues in the Sky is not a story about getting over loss. Instead, it is a story about learning to move forward with grief. It explores the reality that loss does not simply disappear with time. Rather, grief becomes a companion that can show up unexpectedly—in a memory, a place, a song, or an ordinary moment—and must be carried alongside the joys and challenges of everyday life. One of my favorite moments in the book occurs when Sage tells her aunt that she misses her best friend all the time. Her aunt's response is both beautiful and honest:  "You always will... You will miss her everyday of your life. Sometimes, the ...

COME AS YOU ARE AND ALLOW THE LORD TO USE YOU  "... Go, and the Lord be with thee. And Samuel armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17: 37-40 One of the things I love most about David's story is that he didn't try to become someone else before the Lord could use him. When David arrived at the battlefield, he wasn't a soldier. He wasn't trained in warfare. He wasn't the biggest, strongest, or most experienced man in Israel. In fact, Saul tried to solve that probl...

There are some books that tell a story, and there are other books that invite readers to see themselves as part of a much larger story. Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar is one of those books. As parents, we often want our children to understand where they came from and to feel connected to the generations who came before them. Yet it can be difficult for children to grasp that their story did not begin with them. It is part of a chain of people, places, sacrifices, and experiences stretching back through time. This is one of the reasons I chose to spotlight Across So Many Seas . Spanning more than five hundred years, the novel follows four girls from the same family as they navigate life in different countries, cultures, and time periods. Beginning in Spain during the expulsion of the Jews in 1492 and continuing through Turkey, Cuba, and the United States, each generation carries forward pieces of the family's story while adding a chapter of her own. What I love most about this b...

 One of my favorite places to find family history inspiration is the children's section of the library. Every week, I come home with a stack of books, hoping to discover stories that spark conversations about family, identity, memories, traditions, and the people who have shaped our lives. As a family historian, I am always looking for books that help children connect with their own story. Some books inspire meaningful conversations. Some introduce important family history concepts. Others are simply wonderful stories that help children see themselves and their families in new ways. That's what inspired this new series: Library Roundup: Buy, Borrow, or Leave on the Shelf . In each roundup, I'll share recent library reads and give my verdict about whether I would: buy, borrow again from the library , or leave on the shelf next time . Along the way, I'll highlight the family history themes, discussion opportunities, and activities that each book might inspire. Whether yo...