Simply Jaimie

THE LORD FILLS WHAT IS EMPTY 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 hus...

SEEING THE LORDS HAND IN YOUR STORY  “...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 ...

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...

Come Follow Me: Joshua 1-8, 23-24 In Joshua 4, after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, the Lord commanded twelve stones to be taken from the riverbed and then set them up as a memorial. These stones were not simply markers of history. They were reminders of God's power, protection, and miracles. The Lord said that one day their children would ask, "What mean ye by these stones?" and then the miracle would be shared again.  In many ways, family history can serve the same purpose in our lives today. The journals we keep, the photographs we preserve, the heirlooms we pass down, and the memories we share can become modern stones of remembrance. They remind us not only of the people who came before us, but also of the miracles, faith, sacrifices, and tender mercies that shaped their lives and ours.  Sometimes miracles are large and easy to recognize. Other times they are found in quiet moments. When these stories are preserved, they become a testim...

Family history does not have to begin with records, charts, or long hours of research. Sometimes it begins with a simple story shared through a children’s book. These books gently introduce themes of memory, identity, family connections, traditions, and belonging in ways children can easily understand. They can open the door to meaningful conversations and help families begin sharing the stories that connect generations together! Enjoy your free printable (simply click on the pdf below) with a list of six books that easily start conversations about our story and those who came before us. Happy Reading!  Books Featured  (affiliate links) Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho Granpa by John Burningham

A few weeks ago, I presented a workshop to a local family history group about researching in the England region. My presentation focused on 1837 to present day. This is because civil registration began at this time. This was a new requirement from the government to record a person's three vital events: birth, marriage, and death. These records included more information than previous records. If you are beginning research in the England area this is where I would begin.  1939 Register.  Taken at the outbreak of World War 2, the 1939 register recorded the population and was used eventually to issue identification cards. This record would become even more important because the 1931 census was burned in a fire. and the 1941 census did not take place because of the war. This is the only "census like" record that exists between 1921 and 1951. What a blessing this record has become for family history work.  Included in this document are exact birth dates, occupations, addresses,...