How do you record you life story? Does the thought of writing each experience out seem daunting and overwhelmeing?
Jeri Franz has found a unique way to hold on to those special memories, thoughts, pictures, and emotions.
Below are a few of her most recent poems. Her poetry helps her record her feelings and memories as she tells of her tender experiences in life.
Grief is a poem about her sweet baby boy who died at a very young age of a brain tumor.

Grief
Time can stand still now…it couldn’t before.
From the minute they called with news of his death
To when I left him, hurried into a car at the cemetery,
Looking longingly back at his tiny coffin near the grave.
Let me just sit and feel and be with myself and my hurt.
Let me process my love and my tears and my grief.
But it was too new then…I prayed for time to pass
And now it has..38 years of it has passed.
And I sit and look out at the snow, the whiteness
And I remember, and I grieve, and I praise.
And my heart, this same heart feels the pain,
But it is not so intense and so I can sit.
I can sit with Jakob and the memory of him,
The look of him and the smell of him,
The pain and the joy and the holding of him
And the letting go and I can be filled.
February Fifteenth
They say time means nothing to God,
But this day, this day….
Baptism,
Living water, renewal of life
for Karen, for me.
Jakob, taking his last breath,
so young, so tired, so sick.
Renewal of life for him,
now free from earth’s pains.
Sealing families together –
renewal of bonds.
Healing
Forgiveness
Uniting
A sacred day of renewal, of healing, lovingly given by God to man.

Below is a conversation I had with Jeri about how to take my old family photos and create some beautiful collages, just like the examples in this photo..
Now let’s learn how to do what she has done. Jeri teaches us how to Add Emotion and Color to Your Ancestors Life in this video.

Studies show that doing Family History can help in dealing with anxiety and depression click here to read the following article:
Diane Rogers will help you cultivate your family history.
Family History Memories
Preserving fruits and vegetables keeps them alive for future enjoyment. Preserving memories will keep our family alive in our hearts and minds and bring not only enjoyment but often a strength.
Watch her zoom class on how to add Memories (photos, documents, stories to a family tree at FamilySearch.org. in the process you will learn some new tricks, as well

When it comes time to harvest fruits from a tree who loves to pick the
Download
Descendant Research PDF Click Here

When starting a garden, it is always helpful to have a plan of action. What should be done first, second, third, etc. in order to grow the most abundant, delicious, or beautiful crops. It’s the same with genealogy research. It is helpful to know where to search first, second, third, etc. in order to have the best chance for success.
Downloads
Simplified Strategies Part 1 Click Here
Simplified Strategies Part 2 Click Here
Try this game that Diane’s son, Spencer created just for this event.

Searching for roots is also like searching for pearls. When you find an ancestor, it is a treasure hunt underwater. Click on this game
This is a fun way to help you become familiar with FamilySearch.org

Learn the Tools
To create a beautiful and even useful garden takes a little effort and it is helpful to learn how to use the gardening tools. Try this Study Guide to help you learn how to use the tools of Ancestry.com.

Garden of Roses – Journaling
Journaling is like a garden of roses. There are many vibrant hues, scents, petals, and even thorns. Individually roses are beautiful and together they are breath-taking. So, is the story of your life. Each day is beautiful and the whole (thorns and all) is breathtaking. Learn the many different ways of recording your breath-taking life.

Be the Tree and tell their stores
Trees can live anywhere from less than 100 years to more than a thousand years. Can you imagine the stories they could tell of your ancestors? If only they could talk and tell us all the tales. Most of us don’t have ancestors who have left journals and diaries for, so learn how to be the tree and put together the stories of old.

Harvest Fun
After all the work of planting and cultivating a garden comes the harvest. This can be a time of feasting and fun. Harvesting a family tree can also be fun. Learn some ways of having fun with your family doing family history.
BONUS: Thanks for the MEMORIES
Diane Rogers created these short videos to show you
She asked me to put a disclaimer 🙂 Amateur at work – this was Diane’s first attempt at recording a video.

Diane is giving a wonderful consulting price to the members and visitors of the village. She can guide you one-on-one for only $25.00.
Thank you, Diane, for the great savings. I know the price of a professional consultant.
Legacy and Light – bringing light to your legacy
Do you love to do your own family history research but often feel up against a brick wall? Try Legacy and Light’s consulting service for $25 an hour.
Send an email to legacydiane@gmail.com with your
challenge and I will send a list of ideas of what to do and links of where to search.
Are you frustrated with learning how to use FamilySearch or fixing problems that appear there? Try Legacy and Light’s FamilySearch service for $25 an hour. You can have a one on one via phone and
internet or send an email with a problem to be fixed.