Simply Jaimie

One of the best parts of family history is discovering the little details about our ancestors that you would never know unless someone took the time to write them down. Birth dates and census records tell us where they lived, but it's the small stories that bring them to life. Thankfully, my great-grandpa Norman wrote his life history. He shared memories of his childhood, losing his mother, and eventually meeting my great-grandma, Elva. Just as they had started "going steady" and became engaged, Norman was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leaving Elva behind. At the time, Elva was a single mother working to provide for herself and her young son. During his mission, they wrote letters back and forth. In one of those letters, Norman wrote that Elva told him she had learned to fix beans fourteen different ways. Now, Norman didn't like beans. That one sentence tells me so much about both of them. I can almost picture her smili...

My mum loves to play games as the evening is winding down. They're a relaxing way to spend time together away from screens. Growing up, our family favorites were Cards and Marbles (a version of the game, Sorry!) and Mexican Train. Recently, the game she plays more than any other is Yahtzee. Over the past few years, I've wanted to gently push her out of her comfort zone by introducing a few modern board games to add to her rotation. For a game to earn Mum's approval, it has to meet a few important requirements. First, it needs to be simple to learn and easy to play. She has no interest in sitting through a 20-minute explanation of the rules. She'd much rather learn as we go. Second, it needs to be light enough that she doesn't have to think two or three moves ahead. She enjoys making interesting decisions, but she doesn't want game night to feel like homework. Finally, it can't drag on for hours. If a game takes too long, she'll lose interest before it...

 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...

What family gathering do you remember most? What made it special? One of my favorite books about family is The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. The story follows a family who travels a long distance to spend the summer with their relatives. The house becomes full of laughter, shared meals, late-night conversations, and children playing together. Although the visit eventually comes to an end, the memories remain long after everyone returns home. Family history isn't just about preserving names and dates. It's also about remembering the moments that brought us together. Family reunions, holiday celebrations, Sunday dinners, birthdays, and summer visits often become the stories we tell again and again. They strengthen relationships and create memories that future generations will cherish. For me, one of those memories is from the summer of 2008 when my aunt and cousin came to visit us in California. They were traveling to spread my uncle's ashes at one of his favorite vacati...

 "fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." 2 Kings 6:16 Elisha's servant believed they were alone. All he could see was the enemy surrounding the city. But Elisha knew there was another reality that his servant could not yet see. When the Lord opened the servant's eyes, he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire protecting them. I wonder how often we feel the same way. Family history has taught me that our family extends beyond those who are sitting around our dinner table. Because of the Savior, families continue beyond the veil. While we cannot always see them, I believe our ancestors are deeply interested in our lives. They rejoice in our successes, care about our struggles, and desire for us to come unto Christ. President Joseph F. Smith taught: "We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever... They see the temptations and evils that beset us ...

One of the greatest regrets in family history is not asking the questions while we still had the chance. We often assume there will always be another family dinner, another holiday, or another visit with a parent or grandparent. Then one day, we realize there are stories we never heard, memories we never recorded, and questions that can no longer be answered. The good news is that it doesn't take a formal interview to preserve a family story. Sometimes one thoughtful question is all it takes to unlock a memory that has been waiting to be shared. These 25 questions are designed to help you start those conversations today. Ask one question over dinner, during a phone call, or while looking through old photographs together. You may discover stories that become some of your family's greatest treasures. to download/print the 25 questions simply click here or on the image below