tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91761472858662945762024-03-13T17:55:21.985-04:00Preserving HeritageCreative Genealogy and Family History help you tell your stories and those of the ones that came before you in order to preserve your heritage for generations to come.Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-45837296291529633952023-01-06T09:12:00.006-05:002023-01-06T09:14:20.411-05:00La BefanaOne of the way we preserve our heritage is to keep our traditions alive. <br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When I was little I always looked forward to the Befana.. <br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftFFnJVVms_Cq9-rGY53Hk8JQwRjHg4pdqNDNNCpNXzNxGp6ocMtgMdgW4xjudhJ5_5gxH1nixCmwVLr_5z4isEvd4QHQ9fKoM6AcS2hTTILpBKFOXAf5BmCLk5UNzJ07KsHC2Del7vdgB1g5fG45iv7V2YFHl6VeGqmdOfQYzDF2J-zkzBAtjy-i/s1200/La%20Befana%20-%20shutterstock_1585794067_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1200" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftFFnJVVms_Cq9-rGY53Hk8JQwRjHg4pdqNDNNCpNXzNxGp6ocMtgMdgW4xjudhJ5_5gxH1nixCmwVLr_5z4isEvd4QHQ9fKoM6AcS2hTTILpBKFOXAf5BmCLk5UNzJ07KsHC2Del7vdgB1g5fG45iv7V2YFHl6VeGqmdOfQYzDF2J-zkzBAtjy-i/s320/La%20Befana%20-%20shutterstock_1585794067_Fotor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch who brings good children treats on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6. while noty children could end up with a lump of coal.</div><div><br /></div><div>The witch has been in the Italian tradition at least since the eighth century, as part of the Epiphany.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Italy, the Epiphany marks the official end of the Christmas season, commemorating the day when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts. Every year, the occasion is celebrated with living nativity scenes, a great procession through the city center, and finally the arrival of La Befana.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to the story, the four figures’ fates were intertwined when the Magi happened upon La Befana early on during their quest. She charitably hosted them for an evening in her humble but cozy cottage; the next morning, they invited her to accompany them to Bethlehem. Busy cleaning her home, La Befana declined at first – but then, after they carried on their way – she had second thoughts. She quickly filled a basket with gifts for the baby Jesus and set off alone. Although she followed the same star, she was unable to find the manger before the Wise Men did on January 6, the Epiphany.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, La Befana continues to travel the world on Epiphany Eve, searching every house for the child and leaving candies and chocolates for the good children – just coal for the bad – in her wake. </div><div><br /></div>Being born in Italy, this was what I always looked forward to: that stocking full of candy and sugar coals, and sometimes gifts. <br />My parents budget was very limited, so we would often end up with a few candy and soap. <br />As I would grow up, wishing to have toys like my friends, I would go up in my attic the night before and take some of my old dolls and go hide them in different places of the house, so that the morning of the Befana I could be "surprised" to find those gifts. <br />As I got older the stocking tradition kept being a must; once I came to America, almost 20 years ago, I knew I wanted to keep this tradition for my future children.<br />So, every year, I would look for the best candy, and hide them until the night of the Befana, when I would stuff all the stockings for my kids to find in the morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzLh1JFogN9psluFRbIJGFK9zP5DajsWJNnfelwMNysm4g8vm4ziMuI62TJg1cVSJxlh8EauRdFGcKP6TAExQIggxevZ24y0L4DyaqHiL0UZZ3_ApsFsf-BGWRc58wQNcVifuwKh4c0-a19ZaiEGkgLJm5VwmdtD5mJEUsP1JweAGzX6FvrpnMz6A/s2048/322487810_702081814837087_3053596484642119280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="2048" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzLh1JFogN9psluFRbIJGFK9zP5DajsWJNnfelwMNysm4g8vm4ziMuI62TJg1cVSJxlh8EauRdFGcKP6TAExQIggxevZ24y0L4DyaqHiL0UZZ3_ApsFsf-BGWRc58wQNcVifuwKh4c0-a19ZaiEGkgLJm5VwmdtD5mJEUsP1JweAGzX6FvrpnMz6A/s320/322487810_702081814837087_3053596484642119280_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br />Being blessed by a Nana that would give them plenty of toys for Christmas, I did not feel my kids needed more toys for the Befana, so I started adding the tradition of putting socks inside their stockings.<br />This new tradition has become part of our heritage, now every year with the candy, they get their socks. <br />My husband always loved to support me in keeping my Italian traditions.<br />He immediately made them his, and enjoyed his own stockings while watching our boys emptying theirs with bright eyes.<br />This year he won't be with us, at least not in his mortal body, but I still keep a stocking for him, because he will always be in our hearts and minds, and because I know he is watching over us.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWv3OUWBrAyI32-Jq3sTySZE08sdBiW2CRDnvtAULbfpusLtNk0CtThQCX_RXJh45SFHkMlUm5ceeP21zs8q4DhF0i1KSYD4A_vViaXuVui2kt0wh6g4FXNZtnzmhiO_-nTdsV8z6CBr1M9a5WwM3C_sIa6N-t5up_EQdbhTYeZNp62MrroFMWA7j/s2048/323297156_1158401488370271_8681025520930638138_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWv3OUWBrAyI32-Jq3sTySZE08sdBiW2CRDnvtAULbfpusLtNk0CtThQCX_RXJh45SFHkMlUm5ceeP21zs8q4DhF0i1KSYD4A_vViaXuVui2kt0wh6g4FXNZtnzmhiO_-nTdsV8z6CBr1M9a5WwM3C_sIa6N-t5up_EQdbhTYeZNp62MrroFMWA7j/w152-h320/323297156_1158401488370271_8681025520930638138_n.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><div></div>I hope my kids will keep this tradition alive, as one day they get to have kids of their own, and tell the story of the Befana and how this tradition evolved with us.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RJe8REeMRnhQiAAX6r-yOeAnNLTmbp9fHU7ZOMyq2ya9ii4C5FOth3NiYIP55r1yrM9hCdhlf1dajG4UmbytwK8IkGn6xVkpUYhiJZLvF1LcT9PlTK3c5ZRCInFNH7HurY5_uSt3HTjCU4IO7RPqQB9bGr1nIlDTbMMbjU401QQ3O2CEuZnfB0bY/s960/533645_10151274942662632_1250888731_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RJe8REeMRnhQiAAX6r-yOeAnNLTmbp9fHU7ZOMyq2ya9ii4C5FOth3NiYIP55r1yrM9hCdhlf1dajG4UmbytwK8IkGn6xVkpUYhiJZLvF1LcT9PlTK3c5ZRCInFNH7HurY5_uSt3HTjCU4IO7RPqQB9bGr1nIlDTbMMbjU401QQ3O2CEuZnfB0bY/s320/533645_10151274942662632_1250888731_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhNigKD2s2Kr2Ks4o4tea43dA5a0WdcxDHHYqP9Fa2Vfr56PKfy5w3UgGeFLuVm8aXrOg3A8icL-komDmTNMYt3tgbae_hN0ct6WfLFX5T9dU6FF9tZS4rwubu_cgXn6lUygGnSMoUx7MGgf1YGIGT4CpPZK82qS19i9YrZz1uWRRS3XhXR1WkhkW/s2048/15844078_10154402214372632_7357764139608571053_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhNigKD2s2Kr2Ks4o4tea43dA5a0WdcxDHHYqP9Fa2Vfr56PKfy5w3UgGeFLuVm8aXrOg3A8icL-komDmTNMYt3tgbae_hN0ct6WfLFX5T9dU6FF9tZS4rwubu_cgXn6lUygGnSMoUx7MGgf1YGIGT4CpPZK82qS19i9YrZz1uWRRS3XhXR1WkhkW/s320/15844078_10154402214372632_7357764139608571053_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0MX41FX9ULDo85wDY85tH6BuuoXq14Xo2OzOwPTtd6kMZTIfEzeLK2NyMG-Lf-93fqcGJyeb_ljPdG8EOBhNkwV-CAjxovlMlUW1JEp_rvfY8uGmBUGSz8CyX7CaJn3caA6gZB04yfhwCN-oH-wMlO3egar7r1vau96hQ6RmJNgqjUUkpBkQHj7I/s2048/49213060_10156255354497632_8864763184129507328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0MX41FX9ULDo85wDY85tH6BuuoXq14Xo2OzOwPTtd6kMZTIfEzeLK2NyMG-Lf-93fqcGJyeb_ljPdG8EOBhNkwV-CAjxovlMlUW1JEp_rvfY8uGmBUGSz8CyX7CaJn3caA6gZB04yfhwCN-oH-wMlO3egar7r1vau96hQ6RmJNgqjUUkpBkQHj7I/s320/49213060_10156255354497632_8864763184129507328_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-4W4sKbULrSYT7w0zABh1vJEtxKDop5Jtv750AMm_kxO92_eAXMIAzx-ifUK2FJFOUmqQ7fmjSqO3UPqp8PzSkPoWh9u4Zd5El_t1eQQo6RqnRM8IBoC9zeCHI6Q6mRlLQifDHHc6ZM-nAzrgRMZ5anGpWqW-M8vphOFjmd_BHH6bJX5rmr1K5oq/s2048/323462071_5216389791794926_527592791831141498_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-4W4sKbULrSYT7w0zABh1vJEtxKDop5Jtv750AMm_kxO92_eAXMIAzx-ifUK2FJFOUmqQ7fmjSqO3UPqp8PzSkPoWh9u4Zd5El_t1eQQo6RqnRM8IBoC9zeCHI6Q6mRlLQifDHHc6ZM-nAzrgRMZ5anGpWqW-M8vphOFjmd_BHH6bJX5rmr1K5oq/s320/323462071_5216389791794926_527592791831141498_n.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-82074730628285613802016-07-01T12:44:00.002-04:002016-07-01T13:06:46.183-04:00Before you say "If you need anything"Have you ever been going through a difficult trial, and had good friends and family tell you "Let me know if you need anything!".<br />
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How many times have you actually let them know?<br />
Have you been the one saying the same phrase to someone going through a difficult time?<br />
How many times have they actually gotten back to you to let you know what they really needed?<br />
When we learn that a friend or a loved one or even somebody we don't know so well is going through a trial (loss of a loved one, loss of health, loss of means of income...), we would love to do something.<br />
It is natural to say " Let me know if you need anything!".<br />
This is a really nice phrase, but before we say it, especially if we really mean it, we should think about the effect it can have on the person in need.<br />
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When you are overwhelmed by grief, by medical bills that need to be paid, by sleepless nights worrying how you are going to survive, how you are going to make it better for your kids, if you are going to loose your job/business and by any other troublesome thought coming from your trial, having someone asking you to think:<br />
"What can my friend do for me" and also find the strenght and the firmness of mind to actually ask, no matter how much they mean it, it is just another burden to bear.<br />
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So how do you let your loved one(s) know that you REALLY are there for him/her/them?<br />
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<span style="color: red;">First</span> of all, Pray. <br />
Pray like you really mean it. Ask the Lord specifically how He can use you to lift the burden that has been placed on that person, and then be ready to act on any prompting you might have"<br />
<span style="color: red;">Second</span>, let them know you have been praying for them, even more, let them know what you have been praying about.<br />
(If you are not a religious person, you can always think deeply about them, and let them know that they have been in your thoughts)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Third</span>, just be there. Have your eyes, ears, mind, heart open so that you can see a need, fill a need.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyodeabh47BnJrt5_B_m59HSiDqE5zSKHqaPe6_e5tZR3OfIAgnjFk2vHpiDgDbM3WA9rFN4XOo3OzSkXPTpk8aTeKbXYYN7KoDU6Rx35BlBhoofMMpRUlkEw8GorerPDvsDv2t-2DG0c/s1600/idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyodeabh47BnJrt5_B_m59HSiDqE5zSKHqaPe6_e5tZR3OfIAgnjFk2vHpiDgDbM3WA9rFN4XOo3OzSkXPTpk8aTeKbXYYN7KoDU6Rx35BlBhoofMMpRUlkEw8GorerPDvsDv2t-2DG0c/s200/idea.jpg" width="158" /></a><br />
Need some ideas?<br />
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Whether you live closed to them or far away, there is something in this list that you could do:<br />
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- Send a card. Send more than one.<br />
- Write an email. Write more than one.<br />
- Make a phone call (but make sure the person has the desire/strenght to talk with anyone)<br />
- Offer a shoulder to cry on (litterally or figuratively)<br />
- Hug them (but don't overwhelm them!)<br />
- Are they or their loved ones in the hospital? Go visit them, and if they could use the company, play cards with them, bring a movie, share a story, make them laugh. Take care of their mail.<br />
- Is someone having surgery? Be with the loved one in the waiting room, or watch their kids. If you are far away or that person prefers to be alone, send text messages, inspiring thoughts on facebook, keep praying for them.<br />
- Stop by the house and offer to bring groceries (food might be the last thought when you are filled with worries)<br />
- Offer to get the kids out of the house (sometimes you need time to be alone and think, or to be with your spouse and figure out things together without kids being kids, and the kids need time to just be kids and not worry about what the family is going through; knowing that there is someone beside their parent(s) that cares about them can be such a comfort for them!)<br />
- Do their yard work (who has time to mow, trim edges and/or water a garden when there are much higher priorities?)<br />
- Is there anything broken that needs to be fixed? Fences, doors, windows, roof, driveway, if you have the ability and the tools to do it, or if you know who to call for it that could volunteer some of their time and talents, take care of it... Chances are, if that trial has been going on for a while, there was no time to take care of anything else (not to mention the burden that nasty HOA letters bring to the family in need)<br />
- Bring a meal (make sure you know about any food sensitivities/restrictions, and if possible opt for freezer friendly meals and/or fresh fruit and vegetables, and make sure to gather efforst with other people and spread the help through several days/weeks if needed).<br />
- If the person is ok with it, do their laundry, wash their dishes, sweep their floor, change their baby's diaper or anything that might be needed (please respect it when a person kindly declines this kind of help. Some people are just private about their homes, and they might just feel uncomfortable having someone else go throught their dirty dishes, clothes, etc especially if they had not been able to properly take care of them for a long time).<br />
- Put together a care package (if you can, try to tailor it to specific needs: Is your friend a health freak? Is anyone in the family allergic to something? What is their favorite treat/snack? Do they only use natural products or they like anything that smells good? Do they collect something? What books do they read? What kind of movies? Do they like flowers? Do they like them cut or in a pot? Is there any food that is difficult for them to get where they are? Is there anything that could remind them of home? Could a trip to the movies, zoo, cultural even brighten their day? )<br />
- Do their children need a ride to school, to practice, to the dr? If you can, be around enough to know when such needs arise.<br />
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- Do the kids need any school supplies? Offer to get them for them, or get the kids to come out with you and get what they need.<br />
- Does this person or any other member of his/her household have a business? More than likely during this trial they have not been able to focus on it, they might have been loosing customers, or publicity: support them in that business, in any way you can think of (buy their products, bring referrals, share online etc).<br />
- Can that person drive? Maybe because of health condition or car accident that person cannot drive: offer to give them rides, to the store, to the beach, to their job place.<br />
- Is there any burocratic stuff that needs to be taken care of? There is nothing worst, when you are grieving or worrying about your sick loved one, or your own health, than having to deal with medical bills, payments, documents, or any other similar things. If you have any kind of experience with it, offer to do it for them.<br />
- If the person is ok with the publicity, you can start a fundraiser for them. If not, you could collect money and then privately bring it to them, or bring it to their church or community leader (a thoughtful card is always a great addition, and allows the receiver to feel better about receiving money that they did not work for).<br />
- If there is a funeral involved, chances are there are going to be lots of family in town. Bring a meal, bring plastic paper and cups, bring toilet paper, diapers, wipes, toothbrushes! If the house is not big enough for the amount of people that are going to be there, offer to host some of the family members. Offer to go pick them up at the airport! Do you have extra air miles? Offer to get the ticket for a family member that could not otherwise be there.<br />
- When things seem to be getting better, don't forget about them. The situation might be improving, but it could also happen that the person(s) is tired to talk about the trial.<br />
- Offer to run errands for them or watch their kids and/or pets while they get back on their feet, or while they take a much needed break.<br />
- Show that you enjoy their company, they are not just a charity case.<br />
- Don't judge! You will never be able to completely understand why someone is in the situation they are in. Everyone's trial is their own, we only need to be there for them with a open heart, (and closed eyes, if needed).<br />
- Ask: "Can I do anything <u><span style="color: blue;"><b>else</b></span></u>?". Chances are, if the person you have served has been able to see how much you have enjoyed serving him/her, they might actually ask you for help next time.<br />
- If you say that you are going to do something, do it! If for some reason you can't anymore, explain it, and if you can do something else to make up for it, do it. When you are in need, it is pretty heart breaking when you trust someone to help you and then they bail on you.<br />
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There is so much more that can be added to this list, and I will probably add to it as my life experiences grow.<br />
And remember, we might not be able to help everyone, but we can ALWAYS help someone.<br />
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Serving someone in need will not only benefit the receiver, but will bless the giver ten times fold.<br />
A person might not feel like asking you to do a mile with him/her, but if your eyes are open and you are going the second mile anyway, your heart is going to be bigger, and you will be one of the amazing people that make the world a better place by being God's hands in action.<br />
<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-816858637530449622014-11-06T11:04:00.001-05:002016-06-08T20:27:33.362-04:00Essential oils for genealogistsSince I have discovered the therapeutic properties of essential oils I have been using them for every aspect in my life, and since genealogy and family history is a big part of my life, I have figured out which essential oils and essential oils blend can help making our research endeavors more pleasant and rewarding.<br />
<br />
A real genealogist will stay up at night when on the path to discovering a new ancestry line, to decipher documents or even just to organize their research. <br />
I found that these 2 essential oil blends really help me stay focused and energized:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/435807829790558/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Elevation</a> - joyful blend<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/432046940166647/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">InTune</a> - Focus blend<br />
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I put Elevation in my diffuser and roll InTune on my temples and back of the neck, and literally they keep me going. <br />
I used this combo one night when I had to finish the transcription and translation of several vital records, and needed the quiet I only get when my kids are asleep. I was able to get all my translations done, thanks to the clear mind InTune was supporting and the energy and good mood I was getting by smelling Elevation. I was also keeping myself hydrated and keeping my blood sugar balanced by drinking water with a few drops of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/491376884233652/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Slim&Sassy</a> metabolic blend.<br />
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Another oil that I love to use while researching my ancestors, is Frankincense.<br />
Frankincense is the oil of truth, and I feel that it helps me keep in touch with those ancestors that want to be found.<br />
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If like me you find yourself among piles of old, dusty and moldy parish records, you know how you could have some unpleasant consequences.<br />
I put a drop of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.411898338848174.85009.411887168849291/574352845936055/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">lemon, lavender and peppermint</a> under my tongue, and it helps me keep going through dust and more. Now, the taste is not the best, so if you can't stand it, I suggest you put the drops in a capsule and ingest them, or take the already prepared <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.450927011611973.94705.411887168849291/650218498349489/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Triease softgels</a>, which contain lemon lavender and peppermint.<br />
If breathing in all that dust and mold causes me an occasional sore throat, I will take a spoonful of raw honey with a drop of Onguard and while it feels strong at first, it quickly gives feelings of numbness to the area, and helps my body take care of the problem fast. Sometime I will also put 1-2 drops of melaleuca essential oil on the outside of my throat, especially if I feel that the books might have been exposed to mold.<br />
If I have breathing distress, I will use<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/426984430672898/?type=3&theater" target="_blank"> Breathe</a> respiratory blend, applied on my chest and then inhaled directly from my hands.<br />
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I have had situations where touching ancient records brought some kind of redness on my finger. I used <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/428805680490773/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Onguard</a> and melaleuca on site, and took the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.411898338848174.85009.411887168849291/596986717006001/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Onguard+ softgels</a> and was able to take care of it in a couple days. I have no idea what was on those records, but I am glad I solved the problem with natural solutions!!!<br />
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Another problem that seems to be recurrent among genealogist is stomach upset: we are so busy researching that we forget to eat or we eat food that we shouldn't eat just because it is convenient... <br />
Thank goodness for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/428640943840580/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Digestzen</a>, digestive blend, applied on the area of the digestive tract where we feel discomfort, ad it helps bring relief fast.<br />
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How about occasional neck and back soreness from all those hours spent looking at the computer or going through microfilm or original records?<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daterramia/photos/a.426258080745533.88926.411887168849291/427348213969853/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Deep blue</a> soothing blend to the rescue!!! This little bottle has been such a good friend for me, together with the deep blue rub.<br />
At times I have also used <span id="goog_1686734760"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">AromaTouch<span id="goog_1686734761"></span></a>, the massage blend, layered with peppermint, on my neck, and it has really helped.<br />
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Ever gotten occasional tension in your head? <span id="goog_1234443163"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Past Tense<span id="goog_1234443164"></span></a> Tension blend has saved me in many occasions! Just a little bit on temples and back of the neck and I have been able to feel relief in few minutes! <br />
Also, drinking water with a couple drops of lemon essential oil helps keep us hydrated and flush those toxins that might bring occasional headaches.<br />
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Naturally, I need to keep myself healthy to keep taking care of my family and be effective when doing my research, so I always make sure to have these essential oils and blends on hand:<br />
Lavender<br />
Peppermint<br />
Lemon<br />
Oregano<br />
Melaleuca<br />
Frankincense<br />
Onguard protective blend<br />
Digestzen digestive blend<br />
Breathe respiratory blend<br />
Deep blue soothing blend<br />
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As you can see most of the essential oils I use for overall wellness in my home are also amazing for the specific needs of a genealogist, which is simply perfect!<br />
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Want to know where to get these oils?<br />
<a href="mailto:ldsmichelina@gmail.com" target="_blank">Message me</a> so I can help you get a wholesale account and save you 25% or more on your essential oil necessities!<br />
You can learn more on my essential oil facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/daterramia">www.facebook.com/daterramia</a><br />
Once you have tried these oils you will be wondering why you did not find them before!!!!<br />
They have improved my family wellness and been a valid support to my research endeavors, and I know they will help my fellow genealogists!<br />
<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-58923264016614224052014-11-03T17:22:00.001-05:002014-11-06T11:05:24.913-05:00Preserving the past, healing the present, improving the futureHello everyone!<br />
Long time no see! :)<br />
Well, while I have not been posting on the blog for the past couple years, I have not stopped helping others preserve their heritage, and have been answering anyone that would write me with any question.<br />
Why I have not been posting?<br />
The reason is simple. I have been focusing more on my family's present and future. <br />
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There is a time for everything, and these past 2 years have been a time of evolution.<br />
I have discovered how much I enjoy helping people not only preserve their past, but also heal their present, thus improving their future.<br />
I have learned that we can change our family's negative patterns, if we really want. We can be the happy and healthy people we were born to be! <br />
We can improve our health at any time in our life, even for ailments that we believe are hereditary.<br />
We can always learn from our ancestors, and we can put new exciting chapters in our family history that will really help improve our family patterns for generations to come!<br />
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I have dedicated these past 2 years to educating families to empower themselves with natural solutions, and am loving every aspect of it!<br />
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You can read about my family experiences with essential oil by clicking here:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.411898338848174.85009.411887168849291&type=3">My family experience with natural remedies</a><br />
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My blog is already full of creative ideas to help you preserve your past, and I think it is time that I start sharing ideas to help you with your present.<br />
If you are curious, just stay tuned, I will not be posting often, but I promise you will be happy when you read my new posts! :)<br />
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Feel free to <a href="mailto:ldsmichelina@gmail.com" target="_blank">message me</a> if you want to start now on your path to healing your family history!<br />
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<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-58155863585596694312012-12-12T20:57:00.000-05:002012-12-12T21:21:05.455-05:00Finally a Family Tree Bag!I love my Heritage so much that I want to be able to have and show off my Family Tree with me wherever I go...<br />
With this passion of mine I have made books, cards, calendars, flipbooks and more, but while I can bring some of these with me in a bag, I really have to have a "reason" to show them off.<br />
When I saw that Heritage Makers was offering a bucket bag, my heart jumped: I could make one with my Family Tree!!!<br />
I started creating it as soon as I could, and thanks to the import feature, I didn't need to create a tree from the beginning, so I took one of the projects I had made in the past, and modified it to suit the size and shape of the bag.<br />
I wanted one side to have pictures of my kids, my husband and I, and the other one to have our whole 5 generations family tree, so this is what I came up with:<br />
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It took about 3 weeks to receive it, but oh what joy when I could finally have it in my hands!<br />
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Isn't it gorgeous?I have had it for less than a week, and I LOVE it!<br />
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I Love how people will stop me to tell me how much they like it, and ask me if I made it, then we start talking about the similarity between my kids or my husband and their ancestors...<br />
I think this is one of the coolest family Tree projects I have created!<br />
Now I can really say that I have my Heritage with me everywhere I go, and I don't need to really find an excuse to talk about my passion, people come and ask me about it!<br />
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LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!<br />
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I also love that because I am a Club HM member I was able to get a pretty nice discount on this bag, plus, since I had been accumulating publishing points, I did not have to spend my money all at once!<br />
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If you would like to create a bag like this, just <a href="mailto:info@preservemyheritage.com" target="_blank">contact me</a> or make a comment below, and I will be happy to help!<br />It can be made with any of the Family Tree Templates I created, any background, and can be customized to fit your family tree needs.<br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
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My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible host rewards and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-42093185590847229942012-07-25T09:45:00.005-04:002014-09-11T08:49:31.338-04:00Healing the family historyWhen I do genealogy research, whether it is for my own family, a friend or a client, I like to look at every possible bit of information.<br />
One of the ones that are usually overlooked, is the information on the health condition of a person.<br />
This is one of the family history data that can bring a descendant closer to his/her ancestors and can benefit the whole family in so many ways...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yvOTw1YMYZMLR0YZFTN_am5-dgY0Q6EKRW8UGa88-6YVT-BmowYwOD9h7xwmUfoVtmyX59VHpQgzJ4UyjOp136227dT2pW0p6KlDioFiJPv3pprXpBsNXF7rurTAyWRKpm9Pj9mdlg/s1600/medical-history-heart-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yvOTw1YMYZMLR0YZFTN_am5-dgY0Q6EKRW8UGa88-6YVT-BmowYwOD9h7xwmUfoVtmyX59VHpQgzJ4UyjOp136227dT2pW0p6KlDioFiJPv3pprXpBsNXF7rurTAyWRKpm9Pj9mdlg/s200/medical-history-heart-400x400.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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As an example, when I was doing research for this client/friend, I found out that one of her ancestors couldn't go to the town hall because of a very bad case of arthritis, so the mayor had to go to her house to officiate the wedding. When I presented my client with this piece of information, she was amazed at how this health condition had been passed down the family tree, since both she and her mom suffer from arthritis. Even if not a happy thing, knowing about her ancestor's health condition brought her closer to this particular relative.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Have you ever looked at your family history from a health point of view?</span><br />
Do you know how your great grandma died? Do you know your family health history?<br />
Would that be important for you to know? Would this info help you heal your family history?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I am surely trying to heal mine. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Let me tell you how and why.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXqmGvur8X4CeRa74f-scmBOjotzuaSl-Y1SCRBYHZlqC5oxfh95Imjlp9vGUf7kF4SOJIW4clF4hQ5hlB9OODCN5KVavJ-H4-w1_B8fNDVLWeDHsp-NJSvvWQvE2l0tr2iK6D7QIi2s/s1600/familyhealthtreefull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXqmGvur8X4CeRa74f-scmBOjotzuaSl-Y1SCRBYHZlqC5oxfh95Imjlp9vGUf7kF4SOJIW4clF4hQ5hlB9OODCN5KVavJ-H4-w1_B8fNDVLWeDHsp-NJSvvWQvE2l0tr2iK6D7QIi2s/s200/familyhealthtreefull.JPG" height="200" width="153" /></a>My family health history is pretty complex. Looking at it, I feel like my chances of having a life threatening disease is very high, and when I couple my family health history with my husband's, I really feel the need to protect my children from the list of health conditions that has affected our ancestors that could be genetic, or family tradition related.<br />
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We all know about genetics, so let me explain how a condition could be family tradition related with another example.<br />
I remember when I was little, my mom used to slather these bread slices with lard and then fry it in a pan, making some kind of "piadina". To us it was the most delicious thing on earth, but let's face it, it was not the healthiest option for little kids. Thing is, she learned this from her mom, who probably learned it from her mom; especially during time of war, this was something "special" that they used to make. My grandma died of stomach cancer. I was only 12 when I watched her suffer so much, and I heard her last words: "Look what I have become".<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">This was the first time (that I remember) that I was faced with a death in the family, and to make it worse, she was the only grandma I knew, since my dad's mom had died before I was born.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I remember, beside the pain of losing my dear grandma, the fear of the possibility that I would have to suffer and die like that. I was still young, so I did not know a lot about cancer, beside the fact that it could be genetic. Thinking about the diet rich in animal fats my grandma used to eat, I now feel that I could have experienced the joy of having my children listen to their "bisnonna" Michelina's stories if she had known how she could have prevented or at least lived longer through such a disease by watching her diet, and possibly looking into some natural remedies.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Her husband died 6 years later, he had been suffering of senile Dementia and it was really sad for me to see him going down hill... With the knowledge of today, I could have helped by having him try some coconut oil in his food, to help "nourish" his brain, and more than likely with some changes in his diet, he could have been sharper till the end.</span><br />
On my father's side, my granddad died of colon cancer. I know very little about his diet, but I know that he worked in a tobacco factory. More than likely it was the exposure to such highly cancerous substances that caused his illness, and death. You can be sure that I keep my kids away from any tobacco product.<br />
My dad's mom died of childbirth, together with her little one. I know very little about her condition, but since she had already given birth to 5 children, I wonder what could have been the reason for her death... At the same time, this has brought me to be very health conscious (even more than usual) during each of my pregnancies.<br />
My dad died when I was 13. He had 2 heart attacks while doing one of his dialysis sessions.<br />
We used to joke that the list of his health conditions was much longer than a grocery list for a big family.<br />
He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was young, but he didn't take any medicine for it, nor did he really triy to check his diet. By the time I was born, my dad's health was going down hill. He still had diabetes, <span style="background-color: white;">but was checking his diet by having sugar free, whole grain meals, and </span><span style="background-color: white;">was taking medicine for it, but these medicines had countless side effects. He also had arteriosclerosis, myocarditis, arthritis, and had to have laser surgery since he was going blind. Additionally, he had bronchial asthma and ended up in kidney failure by the time I was a teenager, thus the dialysis since he was not eligible for a kidney transplant because of his diabetes. Each of the medicines he was taking for these conditions brought up lots of side effect, so he had to take more medicines to limit them.</span><br />
My memories of my dad are of the many times I would go visit him in the hospital, the times he would put an IV in his arms by himself, hanging it on the dining room lamp, while we were doing homework right by his side, and the last memories are of him in his warm jacket sitting by the wood stove most of the time because he was always cold...<br />
I do have happier memories, like his being very proud of our school achievement, and always defending our right to education over everything else, but his health really limited his ability to play with us and do anything that required energy and strength.<br />
He was a very strong person, both physically and emotionally, but all these illnesses took a lot from him.<br />
I have also been wondering where the diabetes came from in my dad's family tree, since all of his siblings were diagnosed with it also. My thought is that it came from someone further back in time. Talking with a long lost cousin on my dad's side, I discovered that her mom died of child birth, from complications due to diabetes. Could diabetes have been the cause for my grandma's death too, since they descended from the same family tree? I wish I had more info, but for now, this is a plausible hypothesis. As a prevention, I do watch my kid's sugar intake, and offer them whole grains most of the times we have bread or pasta at our table.<br />
My mom suffers from bipolar disease, not sure where in her family tree this came from, but since my cousin is bipolar also, my brother suffers from depression, my sister has suffered from post partum depression, and probably I did too (was never diagnosed though), it must come from someone up in the family tree. The only info I have is from word of mouth, since many in my family say that my great grandma Margherita (nonna Michelina's mom) killed her self jumping from a balcony from this mental facility, where she was put because she tried to kill her husband when she caught him cheating on her. Whether this story is true or not, I do know that there is mental struggling in my family history, so this is another concern for me and my children.<br />
Because of her smoking habit, my mom has struggled all of her life with asthma, episodes of bronchitis, and ended up with an emphysema, which never improved because she keeps wanting to smoke. She also suffer from arthritis.<br />
Because of all the medications she is taking for the other illnesses, my mom has developed diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney problems.<br />
I have had quite a few health problems myself in my "short" 40 years of life on this earth (hoping to at least double them - the years, not the health problems :)).<br />
I believe that some were genetic, some due to family habits and tradition, some due to prescription drug side effects and some plain environmental.<br />
I was diagnosed with rheumatism at age 6. Back then people knew very little about children's rheumatism, and I remember being made fun of by my school friends because they believed I was lying about my condition, and how it hurt to sit on the hard chair in my class after all those penicillin shots I had to have for weeks if not months. To limit the side effects of penicillin, I would be given high doses of vitamin B, but I think that was not sufficient, because I ended up not growing as tall as my sister or brother, I have been facing periods of anemia during my whole life, and experienced many other side effects.<br />
Later in life I have been dealing with respiratory problems, like asthma and chronic bronchitis, first because of my mom's smoking habit which exposed me to second hand smoke, then I experienced even worse asthma attacks after a round of steroids shots I had to have because of a highly painful neck and shoulders condition which kept me out of school for a year.<br />
I have had tachycardia and also suffered from ulcers and reflux in my college years. I was vegetarian, didn't smoke nor drink coffee or alchool, my only weakness was chocolate, so the doctors were very surprised I had all those health problems. Their only thought was that stress was a definite factor, together with the pain killers and the steroids I had to take for such a long time in the past. It goes without saying that I have stayed away from pain killers and steroids since! I was doing all I could to the best of my knowledge to eat healthy and exercise, but the effect of the many prescription drugs I had to take were very difficult to overcome.<br />
It was also possible that I was dealing with the side effects of whatever OTC or prescription drugs my mom was taking when she got pregnant with me, since I was not planned, and she always smoked, and she did like to drink wine and other alcohol drinks. <br />
By the end of my 20s, I was going to the hospital every 6 months to try and fix stomach, heart and other problems that kept coming. Every time I was prescribed new drugs, and the only ones I would say no to were painkillers and steroids.<br />
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Once I came to America and married the love of my life, I knew I wanted to give my children the best chances possible at having a healthy start in life, so I decided to stop taking the few medications I was still taking for my stomach because one of their side effects is birth defects.<br />
I also learned about high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats and stayed away from them. We gradually took soda out of our home and introduced even more vegetable and fruit in our diet.<br />
While I had lots of pain from my back because of a degenerating condition in my spine that would get worse with the progressing pregnancy, I did not have any ulcer or related symptoms during each pregnancy, besides the occasional heartburn or nausea.<br />
I never took pain killers, and took as little prescription drugs as possible for a couple very bad asthma attacks.<br />
Besides my first child (for whom I ended up having to give birth in the hospital because after 24 hours from my water breaking I was not having real contraction, and was given drugs even if I did not really want them to), my children were all as healthy as they could be when they were born (naturally, with no drugs!), and I have worked hard to help them avoid or at least postpone as much as possible, any of the illnesses in their family history. My first born child has had behavioral issues, and I can't help but think that the drugs I was given might have had a part in this.<br />
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I am not going to analyze my husband's family history in detail, it should suffice to say that his "family health heirlooms" include diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnea, Alzheimer, stroke, skin cancer, periodontal disease, kidney disease and more, so you bet I am constantly searching for ways to heal our family history, and with all the experience I have had with conventional drugs side effects, I am continually looking for a more natural approach to healthcare.<br />
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I do realize that my natural approach is something that also comes from my immediate family history. One of the reasons my dad did not take medicine for his diabetes in the beginning was that he thought he would be able to take care of himself. I still remember the many books in our house talking about healing with herbs, studying the human body, and much more. I think he was on the right path, just did not have enough information to completely heal himself naturally. Nowadays, I not only have many more books I can read, but also a huge source as the internet and many more natural healing experts and practitioners to ask counsel to than my dad ever had.<br />
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I have been searching even more after last January, when both my husband and I ended up in the hospital for a surgical procedures within 8 days from each other. I had shoulder surgery, he had to have a stent placement to save him from a heart attack due to a clogged artery. We later discovered that he had kidney problems that would only get worse, and each and every prescription he has to take will just speed up the process.<br />
For a moment I felt like I was living my mom's life, and I got a greater understanding of all the suffering she went through both while my dad was still alive, but sick, and after we lost him.<br />
Thankfully, my husband is still alive, and I am doing all I can to keep him with us :)<br />
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My research has brought me to discover the benefits of <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/preservemyhealth/essentialDefinition.html" target="_blank">essential oils</a> , and we have started using them on a daily bases for our family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5jKZY89qm668A5Iw7fc0eXvf5mVXmxbuZdXB36EXXXkgWpXW8eUzSY9pHizEWP_Tini89V8Yw1RUoCqxVqkYYfvrD631WlruKw98A2DuYMdKIO2JcMaYQ25e2FlJC8VgMKkBiH65O9c/s1600/essentialoilspicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5jKZY89qm668A5Iw7fc0eXvf5mVXmxbuZdXB36EXXXkgWpXW8eUzSY9pHizEWP_Tini89V8Yw1RUoCqxVqkYYfvrD631WlruKw98A2DuYMdKIO2JcMaYQ25e2FlJC8VgMKkBiH65O9c/s320/essentialoilspicture.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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They have helped me recover from my surgery and gain the use of my shoulder back. They have helped take care of seasonal illnesses and allergies, and keep us healthy when there were viruses going around.<br />
I find myself wondering how using essential oils could have changed my family's health history, especially fantasizing to be able to meet my grandparents on my father's side. Could they have lived longer? Would their quality of life be better?<br />
While I cannot go back in the past, I surely can learn from the past.<br />
Knowing my family health history helps me learn what the illnesses are that we are genetically predisposed to, and knowing the environment and family traditions of my family also help me get a better pic<span style="background-color: white;">ture.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">For example, my rheumatism could have been due to living in a cold and humid environment, also, since I remember a good bunch of baby bottles in my home, it is possible that my mom did not nurse me for long time (she wouldn't tell me, and even if she did, sadly it is pretty difficult to get much truth from her anyways...)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Bronchitis and asthma were exacerbated from being around smokers, but also around a not so well ventilated fireplace, or just in a room with the heat turned on. </span><br />
I have learned that most times taking care of pain is not really worth the many side effects of a drug, and there are many natural alternatives to conventional medicine.<br />
With this piece of information, I know I need to keep my kids away from humidity and at the same time to limit the heating in our home especially at night. We prefer to use extra blankets.<br />
I have nursed all my kids until they were 15-18 months old, which should have strengthened their immune system. They don't get sick so often, and when they do, I now use essential oils to help them overcome their illness, thus avoiding undesirable side effects.<br />
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I know there are things that even with all my efforts my children will still have to deal with, but I feel confident I am giving them the best chance and the best tools I know to face and possibly overcome any health issue that they may encounter in the future.<br />
I not only love to preserve our heritage, but our health also. I will always do all I can to preserve and heal our family history.<br />
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No matter how you feel about healthcare and natural remedies, knowing your family health history can be a great help in preserving your health and that of your loved ones.<br />
If you don't know much about the health issues in your family, I encourage you to do your research. Start by asking your parents, their siblings, your grandparents. You will not only add pages to your family history, but will be on your way to a better health.<br />
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If you would like to know more about the essential oils and natural remedies mentioned in this blog post, you can check this facebook page.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/daTERRAmia">https://www.facebook.com/daTERRAmia</a>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/doTERRAmia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQw1FNdMvvurAZKLmNbfekPf4FPlAVB3L1dpFYzQf08ssgqbsykfAXMRIXU22-BRwy_eeF8ntdcGORzG2cN_ICN02O6McSFauWKTEgg_3d0DkTBUth82np8dmw3XdkLtyIxbDQG8rmH4/s200/greatest+health+copy.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/hostRewards.pdf" target="_blank">incredible host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-24215149747622764772012-06-05T16:22:00.001-04:002012-06-05T16:22:23.956-04:00Family Reunion idea from the Template GallerySummer is just around the corner and many of you are going to have a family reunion soon.<br />
If you are the one that is helping putting it together, I have found a project in the Template gallery that you might want to try.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCIFxsHTchVsMf6-eEw-bSkQImSvMzqISznVMasc7FcKGevfFWp9zAXG5xS358l60CKFXgtdTQxp2CCjKPKlArIIq9qWfj2hDD2C10QJgpbWCXTZTV9PXVq_Ympn0p3Nm38k6TzLkKW4/s1600/HMreunion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCIFxsHTchVsMf6-eEw-bSkQImSvMzqISznVMasc7FcKGevfFWp9zAXG5xS358l60CKFXgtdTQxp2CCjKPKlArIIq9qWfj2hDD2C10QJgpbWCXTZTV9PXVq_Ympn0p3Nm38k6TzLkKW4/s320/HMreunion.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's a really well thought 8.5x11 booklet/magazine that outlines events and shows off a little of the family heritage, it even gives space for notes and family recipes and mig<b style="font-weight: normal;">ht help you</b> increase your family reunion attendance.<br />
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You can give a look at the whole template by <a href="http://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectID=2270524&productId=445&sponsorID=236440" target="_blank">clicking here</a> , it will also give you the option to make your own.<br />
As with any other template, you can change it any way you want it, to suit your needs. <br />
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You are going to love it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible host rewards and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-35852782175545916902012-05-30T12:25:00.001-04:002012-05-30T12:25:17.720-04:0040 RAOK (Atti di gentilezza casuali) per il mio grande 4-0.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sabato scorso e' stato il mio compleanno il mio grande compleanno 4-0, e volevo che fosse diverso.<br />
Da un sacco di tempo stavo pensando di far si che il mio compleanno fosse un giorno di "dare" invece che di "ricevere"...<br />
Dopo gli svariati problemi di salute che sia mio marito che io abbiamo dovuto affrontare all'improvviso, e praticamente allo stesso tempo, dall'inizio di quest'anno, e dopo tutti gli atti di gentilezza che abbiamo ricevuto da familiari, amici, persone che conoscevamo solo un poco, ed anche completi sconosciuti, sapevo che dovevo assolutamente fare qualcosa per ricambiare.<br />
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Ho deciso che il mio compleanno sarebbe stato un giorno di RAOK= "Random Act of kindness", il che vuol dire appunto atti di gentilezza casuali, possibilemte almeno uno per ogni anno della mia vita.<br />
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All'inizio volevo che fosse giusto qualcosa fra me, mio marito e i miei figli, poi ho pensato che sarebbe stato ancora piu' meraviglioso se amici e familiari potessero unirsi a noi in uesta avventura.<br />
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Un paio di giorni prima del mio compleanno, avevo deciso. Ho creato un <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/240113459424239/" target="_blank">evento su facebook </a>ed ho invitato quanti piu' amici e familiari potevo, o almeno coloro che pensavo sarebbero stati piu' disposti a farlo.<br />
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Ho proceduto a dire a tutti che non volevo una festa, non volevo regali, quel che desideravo veramente era che compiessero almeno un piccolo atto di gentilezza (RAOK) nel giorno del mio compleanno.<br />
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Delle 300+ persone che avevo invitato, solo 50 circa hanno accettato l'invito, ma io ero contenta lo stess che almeno loro erano disposti a farlo!<br />
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Avevo iniziato un paio di atti di gentilezza qualche giorno prima, perche' non sapevo se sarei stata in grado di portare in giro i miei 4 super-energetici bimbi per tutto il giorno, cosi' ho fatto qualche "consegna", giusto nel caso che mi ritrovassi a corto di tempo.<br />
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Ancor di piu' visto che sono nata in Italia e stavo invitando anche i miei amici italiani, ho considerato l'inizio del mio compleanno alla mezzanotte italiana, che erano le 6 di sera del girono prima qui in Florida.<br />
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Dal momento che avevo promesso ai miei amici e familiari che averei dato un resoconto dei RAOK che fossi stata in grado di compiere, eccolo qui:<br />
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1) Ho scritto una lettera di ringraziamento per la mia meravigliosa terapista, per tutto cio' che ha fatto e sta facendo per aiutarmi a recuperare l'uso della mia spalla.<br />
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Anche i ragazzi hanno creato delle dolci cartoline di ringraziamento:)<br />
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(Ho inoltre ringraziato in modi diversi la mia dottoressa chiropratica, il mio chirurgo e la mia amica che mi ha fatto conoscere gli <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/preservemyhealth" target="_blank">oli essenziali doTerra</a> perche' insieme hanno contribuito alla mia continua guarigione).<br />
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2) Proprio mentre stavo preparando la cena, la mia cara zia dall'Italia, mi ha chiamato, ed io ho offerto "le mie orecchie" (e il mio cuore) per ascoltare tutto quello che desiderava dire. Era passata la mezzanotte in Italia, lei non poteva dormire. Sono stata felice di ascoltare le sue storie su suo marito (il mio caro zio...) che ci ha lasciati quasi 2 anni fa, e anche riguardo i suoi figli. Mi manca infinitamente! Abbiamo parlato per circa mezz'ora. La cena e' avvenuta un po' piu' tardi del previsto, ma ne e' valsa la pena.<br />
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3) Abbiamo messo un piccolo regalo per la nostra postina nella casella della posta, con una cartolina per ringraziarla per tutto il suo duro lavoro:)<br />
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Anche il mio bimbo che ha 5 anni ha voluto creare una noticina per lei.<br />
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4)Ho portato biscotti alla stazione di pompieri piu' vicina, per ringraziare queste persone meravigliose per mantenerci al sicuro.<br />
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5) Ho ritagliato queste piccole cartoline per le insegnanti dei miei bimbi, e loro hanno scritto quanto sono fortunati ad averle come maestre.<br />
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6) Ho incartato varie cartoline di Natale direttamente dalla mia collezione di cartoline e le ho lasciate davanti alla porta di una amica, con una nota, che ogni membro della famiglia poteva usarne una il prossimo Natale.<br />
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7) Ho messo delle piccole note di ispirazione/conforto su varie macchine nel parcheggio del supermercato. <br />
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8) Appena mi sono svegliata la mattina del mio compleanno, ho iniziato a scrivere messaggi individuali di una buona giornata a 40+ amici e familiari su facebook. Ho prestato particolare attenzione nelle parole, perche' avessero un significato per ognuno, e non fossero giusto 4 parole casuali.<br />
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Sono rimasta piacevolmente scioccata quando ho capito che molti di loro hanno veramente apprezzato questo gesto, ed alcuni sembravano aver veramente bisogno di quelle parole in quel giorno.<br />
<br />9) Abbiamo portato del pane e cereali alle paperelle nel laghetto del vicinato.<br />
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Le paperelle non c'erano, cosi' abbiamo dovuto tornare la sera, ma ci si siamo riusciti!<br />
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10) Abbiamo portato delle belle bottiglie di acqua fresca con noi al parco, da passare a chiunque fosse accaldato o assetato. <br />
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C'era una signora anziana che stava lavando la macchina, lei e' stata molto felice di ricevere la bottiglia d'acqua. Un altro signore stava scavando forse per aggiustare qualcosa, sembrava esausto, ma ha rifiutato l'offerta. Povero il mio bimbo di 3 anni, era molto triste che quell'uomo non avesse accettato la sua acqua. <br />
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11) Al ritorno dal parco, c'e'ra questa intera famiglia che sembrava molto stanca dopo una mattinata di lavoro nel loro giardino. Tutti avevano bibite fredde, quindi non avevano bisogno della nostra acqua, cosi' abbiamo dato loro una busta piena di biscotti. Che sorpresaper loro quando hanno capito che potevano avere l'INTERA busta, e non ci conoscevano neanche!:)<br />
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12) Ci siamo anche fermati alla casa di un poliziotto nel nostro vicinato, e abbiamo consegnato la nostra ultima busta di biscotti, per ringraziarlo per il suo servizio. Non era a casa, ma abbiamo trascordso un po' di tempo a parlare con suo suocero, che aveva recentemente ricevuto un trapianto di fegato. Sono stata contenta che stesse relativamente bene.<br />
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13) Ho pregato per ogni persona che ho visto sulla strada all'andata e al ritorno dal parco.<br />
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14) Ho portato il mono pattino del mio bimbo di 3 anni sulla spalla al ritorno a casa, anche se gli avevo detto che se sceglieva di portarlo, avrebbe dovuto usarlo sia per andare al parco che per tornare a casa, poiche' dovevo gia' spingere il triciclo del suo fratellino. Il poverino sembrava cosi' stanco, non me la sono sentita di lasciarglielo portare fino alla fine... Fortunatamente la mia vicina mi ha vista a meta' strada, ed ha offerto di portare il monopattino nella sua macchina fino a casa. :) Anche lei ha fatto il suo RAOK:) <br />
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15) Una volta a casa, visto che i miei tesori (specialmente il bimbo di 3 anni) avevano chiesto che facessi una torta per tutto il tempo, anche se non era nei miei piani di farne una, ho fatto la torta di compleanno.<br />
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16) Poi ho deciso di farne un altra da portare a qualcuno che avesse bisogno di esser tirato/a su!<br />
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17) I bimbi ed io abbiamo scritto 40 note per il papa', le abbiamo attaccate sulla porta della nostra casa, cosi' da fargli una sorpresa quando sarebbe tornato dal lavoro.<br />
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E' stato decisamente sorpreso e si e' commosso quando le ha viste :)<br />
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(Questo tesoro di marito ha poi proceduto a sostituire alcuni dei bigliettini gialli con dei bigliettini rosa, per me, mentre io ero praticamente in sonno profondo dovuto allo sfinimento dei primi 2/3 di giornata:)... Li ho notati all'uscita dalla porta quando ci stavamo accingendo a compiere altri RAOK tutti insieme. Mi son dovuta sforzare di mantenere le lacrime prima che scorressero dai miei occhi!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMOuh5D15IVdCj3MbM62Mqz4Kd0GLTr7fPXCzrYZSQZDG4tbpyuyxtxmK9S4VUd0GPAnmVda2wiQhECECRFcpBQomSgkBOBfZ6qaAA1aTKfeFr4lVrKg-T5GJItauAIYo3lvYu7mdq3s/s1600/IMG_7079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMOuh5D15IVdCj3MbM62Mqz4Kd0GLTr7fPXCzrYZSQZDG4tbpyuyxtxmK9S4VUd0GPAnmVda2wiQhECECRFcpBQomSgkBOBfZ6qaAA1aTKfeFr4lVrKg-T5GJItauAIYo3lvYu7mdq3s/s320/IMG_7079.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfupriOa3DnMpg8Mxx9rFRHUeBzJ9Ldx0uN9wmylMNbO0XF2kKBj85STKxKFBcxFn2-UljP_go05ihpzPci8Jk7Ntnp81YMFR1Hmea6P5Tkq0ZvW7P6-cwwqRN2U3Rxmkw5oJw-KrZvQ/s1600/IMG_7080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfupriOa3DnMpg8Mxx9rFRHUeBzJ9Ldx0uN9wmylMNbO0XF2kKBj85STKxKFBcxFn2-UljP_go05ihpzPci8Jk7Ntnp81YMFR1Hmea6P5Tkq0ZvW7P6-cwwqRN2U3Rxmkw5oJw-KrZvQ/s320/IMG_7080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Questo in particolare, mi ha fatto sorridere:)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPpA7Wro94WgD_NwYdqmtIoXqqaR9RNSnVP1tPgQw863rmb6OVPtzYto5lRo2XCIDwtWyg-54CVK5_rEws4DBPgrQ6idwAu9RF3eSSJvovK7O-PnesTwrfw9o2uXCMjdD1qSSFVNtQfY/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPpA7Wro94WgD_NwYdqmtIoXqqaR9RNSnVP1tPgQw863rmb6OVPtzYto5lRo2XCIDwtWyg-54CVK5_rEws4DBPgrQ6idwAu9RF3eSSJvovK7O-PnesTwrfw9o2uXCMjdD1qSSFVNtQfY/s320/IMG_7092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
(Sembra che i miei tagli di capelli siano apprezzati:p)<br />
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Dal momento che mi erano rimasti bianchi d'uovo dalle due torte, ho cercato una ricetta che ne richiedesse l'uso, e ho fatto i miei primi pasticcini al cocco. Son venuti decisamente piu' grandi del dovuto, ma erano buoni, per cui ho deciso che avrebbero potuto ravvivare la gironata di qualcuno. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW_nDogL-KNfdO8fHGQXyXnjUe2gWXOLXIOWrjcLIN9Bux4CkT_gGYoeoDcCTHbfSVW43l5X-86c1edxQ3fdKgmrWfATCqDkery5R_mZld0gILD6G6Z18FJbynataS_qnbv6iFuuG8tc/s1600/IMG_7059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW_nDogL-KNfdO8fHGQXyXnjUe2gWXOLXIOWrjcLIN9Bux4CkT_gGYoeoDcCTHbfSVW43l5X-86c1edxQ3fdKgmrWfATCqDkery5R_mZld0gILD6G6Z18FJbynataS_qnbv6iFuuG8tc/s320/IMG_7059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
18) Ho portato questi pasticcini (oni) al cooco ad una cara vicina (la stessa che mi ha aiutata con il monopattino del mio bimbo.).<br />
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19) Abbiamo portato questi pomodori biologici coltivati nel mio giardino ad una degli amici di uno dei miei bimbi e la sua famiglia. Son rimasti piacevolmente sorpresi :).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EC6HnpOO6yBIwu9NKsEqwofSf4Lx9_o9HqeAtRh04HM5ERXLF2BirVZhyphenhyphenwGhqmrnWjFXZwOoj19vKvVly3ra8jyvPn47JUxBGUlmBf785DN2NiJphB0iEeDR9nheNyD_UkJ458WWzTY/s1600/IMG_7076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EC6HnpOO6yBIwu9NKsEqwofSf4Lx9_o9HqeAtRh04HM5ERXLF2BirVZhyphenhyphenwGhqmrnWjFXZwOoj19vKvVly3ra8jyvPn47JUxBGUlmBf785DN2NiJphB0iEeDR9nheNyD_UkJ458WWzTY/s320/IMG_7076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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20)Abbiamo portato i pasticcini al cocco ad un altra familgia di amici di scuola. I bimbi si son divertiti a fare tutte queste consegne:)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfExz58qLxExU4Rq_HbCc0L_0GSV10rTzAWMPTG9jZ-WRZJo6ZXRSLX8_Ojv6oJnlwEAeyMMzNO58jkJn0-GL1YpcQR2dTHa-vfbB1S8wYHn1cYoY31FfsgkSSh9endKzwVLov4U9ENp4/s1600/IMG_7077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfExz58qLxExU4Rq_HbCc0L_0GSV10rTzAWMPTG9jZ-WRZJo6ZXRSLX8_Ojv6oJnlwEAeyMMzNO58jkJn0-GL1YpcQR2dTHa-vfbB1S8wYHn1cYoY31FfsgkSSh9endKzwVLov4U9ENp4/s320/IMG_7077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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21)Ho lasciato dei buoni sconto su alcuni prodotti al supermercato<br />
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22) Abbiamo lasciato qualche dollaro nascosto fra giocattoli del valore di un dollaro o meno in una drogheria.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTLMreQJpaHRUPv8gPPe70FrYyBGIIx23fcHjnSursoZFEAeV5G42gwFmvNhCaS76LzyeyhEChaRZpL9vkHtZByCrF5rLBce1e5mEUbfooBctkjBBLP6ZW7Hf6ZbqpDetaiJ8qsu5vIg/s1600/IMG_7085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTLMreQJpaHRUPv8gPPe70FrYyBGIIx23fcHjnSursoZFEAeV5G42gwFmvNhCaS76LzyeyhEChaRZpL9vkHtZByCrF5rLBce1e5mEUbfooBctkjBBLP6ZW7Hf6ZbqpDetaiJ8qsu5vIg/s320/IMG_7085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0Eljy3MO5gD8nd-0u6fVQaMDklE4bTmBqOubhovQc1QVhf87KFRvAOaoRqCi3RXv1tCTIUaoSrSNXBMK5yACGLnqlduNue3j5kjoZkpUnmH4PIJs1uIXknTAsC08lQ2gYUUvw6F1l8s/s1600/IMG_7086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0Eljy3MO5gD8nd-0u6fVQaMDklE4bTmBqOubhovQc1QVhf87KFRvAOaoRqCi3RXv1tCTIUaoSrSNXBMK5yACGLnqlduNue3j5kjoZkpUnmH4PIJs1uIXknTAsC08lQ2gYUUvw6F1l8s/s320/IMG_7086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Mi piace pensare che saranno altri bimbi a trovarli ed immagino la loro faccia sorridente:) <br />
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23) Ho rifatto il letto dei miei bimbi, anche se quello e' compito loro. Meritano un RAOK anche loro ( a parte la torta!)<br />
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24) Abbiamo sorriso a chiunque abbiamo incontrato, e ci siamo sforzati di salutare e/o chiedere "Come stai" e dirlo sul serio.<br />
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25) Ho chiamato il Tempio per avere il nome di due persone che stanno avendo seri problemi di salute sulla lista delle preghiere del Tempio stesso. <br />
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26) Ho cliccato "mi piace" sulla pagina facebook commerciale di un amica, per mostrarle il mio sostenimento.<br />
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27) Abbiamo tolto le erbacce dal prato di un vicino. Son sicura che qualche altro vicino avra' pensato che il nostro prato aveva molto piu' bisogno del nostro lavoro :)<br />
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28) Abbiamo portato delle lattine di aranciata rossa ad un amica che mi aveva chiesto di comprargliele, cosi' non ha dovuto venire fino a cas amia per prenderle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKQllTM3JGJsSFagnDz1KaqHrRV1p3ZpryUYzqskB1tkCDFir9lCwu9hVw_m2WVamcXgVOQyTFYCwRzLTsY6rTg6MtD1nlWyB0UoHgk6u6JUJb1ltzqqTMh_BztnsacTnUcPIBS8GvBQ/s1600/DSCN0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKQllTM3JGJsSFagnDz1KaqHrRV1p3ZpryUYzqskB1tkCDFir9lCwu9hVw_m2WVamcXgVOQyTFYCwRzLTsY6rTg6MtD1nlWyB0UoHgk6u6JUJb1ltzqqTMh_BztnsacTnUcPIBS8GvBQ/s320/DSCN0501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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29)Abbiamo raccolto immondizia per terra ovunque siamo passato: parco, negozi, chiesa ecc.<br />
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30) Ho riportato alcuni carrelli che erano stati lasciati in giro per il parcheggio, nell'apposito spazio all;uscita del supermercato, cosicche' non fossero un pericolo per altre macchine.<br />
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31) Ho chiamato mia mamma per ringraziarla di avermi dato la vita. Lei e' stata particolarmente felice di sentire i miei figli sforzarsi di dire in italiano:" Grazie per aver fatto nascere mamma!"<br />
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32) Mi sono assicurata di riconoscere ogni singolo atto di gentilezza che la mia famiglia ed io abbiamo potuto ricevere. A volte tendiamo a far passare sotto il radar le piccole azioni che altri fanno per noi, and non ci rendiamo conto che anche le piu' piccole cose possono richiedere tanto alle persone che le offrono. Far sapere a queste persone che le apprezziamo fa bene a tutti.<br />
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33) Ho dato alcuni dei miei oli essenziali ad alcuni amici per alcuni problemi di salute che avevano.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/preservemyhealth" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58zqkISh8_KBVq7IwTJAesEtBpjk8EZGzT4Tqhv2a9hQCJY12nOVYtRdiaOe6hSAw6LRDQuvb6ALOGYs6yjrYN09k7bFYSio1BK0-Srw_1ckpxvwAxY0RLI6QhV6OJFB2HfgUb7IfUFU/s320/DSCN0500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Si stava facendo tardi, e in piu' un insetto fetentello mi ha punto proprio sull'occhio destro, cosi' ho deciso di estendere il mio compleanno all'intero fine settimana. Siamo tornati a casa, e direttamente a letto!<br />
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34) Ho lasciato una borsona della spesa piena di pagine di buoni sconto per una buoni sconto-dipendente come me.<br />
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35)Ho lasciato dei pannolini e tovagliette imbevute nella stanza delle mamme in chiesa. Se c'e' anche una sola mamma come me, sara' felice di scoprirle quando si accorgera' di aver finito pannolini o tovagliette!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KgtilXCwYHey2HmIqqpzC3GmhXB6_vNgLRCQYqRjKRFpyRNyHLuUOO5y-sIKuUUXY7ADqX5OVsWTD9Y_YlcFWhD8ITAXlfVyUJAiReArWK2G4RslaNq1PHbyv_nUhzhyphenhyphenavLgxIneRM8/s1600/IMAG0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KgtilXCwYHey2HmIqqpzC3GmhXB6_vNgLRCQYqRjKRFpyRNyHLuUOO5y-sIKuUUXY7ADqX5OVsWTD9Y_YlcFWhD8ITAXlfVyUJAiReArWK2G4RslaNq1PHbyv_nUhzhyphenhyphenavLgxIneRM8/s320/IMAG0217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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36) Ho datto un "buono per babysitting per un giorno" ad un amica che penso possa trarre beneficio da un po' di tempo sola con suo marito, specie durante un momento difficilissimo per la sua famiglia.<br />
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37) Ho portato una piantina del mio basilico biologico ad un amica in chiesa, visto che aveva espresso il suo desiderio di averne una, ma non era ancora riuscita a venirsela a prendere a casa mia.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmsrGU2fTRTahZRdQbCPf6m-5xG4m8iNTriqByRIo3JN2vw_dJVG-1hfx5h2HXdd4QleDbtduLvKlmAMBrfd6y_6L9tUiGFl8_jXtueKaTNO-7fKnwKz3vi8ZtpkPHx5ZrNAvaMKAYZw/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmsrGU2fTRTahZRdQbCPf6m-5xG4m8iNTriqByRIo3JN2vw_dJVG-1hfx5h2HXdd4QleDbtduLvKlmAMBrfd6y_6L9tUiGFl8_jXtueKaTNO-7fKnwKz3vi8ZtpkPHx5ZrNAvaMKAYZw/s320/IMG_6773.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
(Non era questa, ho dimenticato di fare la foto, ma questa e' una delle mie tante piante di basilico:))<br />
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38) Siamo riusciti a portare la cena (e la torta) alla cuginetta di 3rzo grado dei miei figli. LEi ha 3 anni ed e' in una clinica per la riabilitazione a 30 minuti di macchina da casa nostra. Ha avuto un operazione al cervello per risolvere il suo porblema grave con le convulsioni. Questa e' stata la cosa che abbiamo amato di piu' fare, ed eravamo tutti particolarmente felici che avevamo l'opportunita' di vederci senza che dovesse essere un funerale, una volta tanto! La sua mamma e la sua nonna erano proprio felici di vederci e i bimbi si sono innamorati della piccolina, infatti continuano a chiedere quando torniamo a visitarle, e presto torneremo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRzE3V6lL7jK0armwBHkOxPCcoXWuqp-yGfux2n56NwBMWb4QrKRLE8uVX2sg77dVTIZj03H_42-b10_L0AdNjlG_ypBv1YhY2L3BJC2K1IHkDPjX0CBMdF2B32gGcxE5B0qaKDaA45A/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRzE3V6lL7jK0armwBHkOxPCcoXWuqp-yGfux2n56NwBMWb4QrKRLE8uVX2sg77dVTIZj03H_42-b10_L0AdNjlG_ypBv1YhY2L3BJC2K1IHkDPjX0CBMdF2B32gGcxE5B0qaKDaA45A/s320/IMG_7057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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39) Al ritorno a casa, ci siamo fermati ad una stazione di servizio e ho lasciato delle tovagliette disinfettanti nel bagno delle donne. Qualcuno sicuramente ne avra bisogno!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfD_Rhtv5vxDWt6qf0-mg5newoLRXLJZJWl-3_3vnHRGmH8QS3EVM_utS1_VYOKOOiOqI_4ype7rr0hEnNz5J0LFrzZNJAnz34PwRSf_CwE1i4i2c8sWrwHMdBqaNwZvfQyabQdeRMM0/s1600/DSCN0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfD_Rhtv5vxDWt6qf0-mg5newoLRXLJZJWl-3_3vnHRGmH8QS3EVM_utS1_VYOKOOiOqI_4ype7rr0hEnNz5J0LFrzZNJAnz34PwRSf_CwE1i4i2c8sWrwHMdBqaNwZvfQyabQdeRMM0/s320/DSCN0475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
40) Ho fatto delle tortine all'ananas per il bisnonno dei miei piccoli, che e' in una casa di riposo e che ha perso sua moglie, con cui e' stato sposato per 63 anni, 2 anni fa. Lei faceva queste torte all'ananas buonissime, quindi sapevo che le mie tortine gli avrebbero fatto piacere.<br />
Abbiamo trascorso un po' di tempo con lui il "giorno della memoria" . A lui fa piacere vederci, specialmente vedere i pronipoti, e va da se, noi amiamo fargli visita!<br />
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Anche se non sono riuscita a compiere tutti i miei diversi atti di gentilezza in un giorno solo, e non sono riuscita a fareproprio tutti i vari atti di gentilezza che avevo previsto, per un motivo o per l'altro, credo di essere stata in grado di toccare almeno 40 vite il giorno del mio compleanno, e questo mi basta per essere felice.<br />
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Ho anche cercato di fare atti di gentilezza che non richiedessero di spendere chissa' quanto, poiche' volevo ispirare proprio tutti, e in questi periodi di magra, a volte si puo' pensare di non avere nulla da donare, mentre invece ognuno di noi ha cosi' tanto!<br />
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Voglio veramente ringraziare mio marito per il supporto che mi ha dato, e i miei figli per il loro buon cuore, e perche' no, per le piccole sfide che mi hanno presentato mentre cercavo di dare vita a questo progetto.<br />
<br />In particolare voglio portare l'attenzione dul alcuni dei RAOK con cui mi hanno benedetta:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Joseph(7anni)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ha ordinato il soggiorno</div>
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Ha donato un suo dollaro</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Jacob(5 anni):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
E' venuto nel mio letto e ha aspettato che dessi segni di vita prima di dire " Buon compleanno mamma!" ... alle 6:10 del mattino!<br />
Ha donato un suo dollaro. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luca (3 anni)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ha cercato di essere extra gentile con i suoi fratelli<br />
Mi ha dato un sacco di abbracci</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mattia ( 1 anno)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mi ha dato tanti abbracci, ha condiviso il suo bicchiere e la sua copertina-giraffa con me.<br />
Mi ha donato dei sorrisi enormi.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris (mio marito)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ha cercato di rassettare la cucina per me prima di andare al lavoro<br />
Mi ha scritto una lettera meravigliosa<br />
Ha messo i bigliettini sulla porta.<br />
Mi ha lasciata dormire quando ero sfinita<br />
Mi ha aiutato con i miei RAOK, senza mai lamentarsi, pronto a fare qualsiasi cosa fosse necessaria</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mi ha dato parole di conforto quando mi stavo stressando troppo poiche' non tutte le persone per cui volevo fare un gesto carino volevano accettare il mio aiuto</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Non so cosa ho fatto per metitare questi "tizi", ma il Signore ha deciso di benedirmi con loro, e spero di riuscire a benedire la loro vita ogni giorno di piu'.<br />
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Sono inoltre grata per i miei meravigliosi amici e familiari che hanno condiviso questa avventura con noi, e voglio menzionare alcuni dei RAOK che mi sono stati riferiti:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Nilla: "Ho portato la cena ad una famiglia la cui madre ha appena avuto un operazione"<br />
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Mary Lou: "Ho fatto dei brownies per dei vicini"</div>
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Mariantonia (mia sorella): "Ho portato il cane di una amica a spasso"</div>
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Heidi: "<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> HA! L'ho fatto! Ho donato 7 bottigliette di olio essenziale di arancia selvatica e ho detto loro che era per il tuo compleanno!</span></div>
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Sabrina: "Ho trascordo gli ultimi 3 giorni ad aiutare due mie cognate a pulire e riorganizzare il loro appartamento. C'e voluta un sacco di fatica, ma ne e' valsa la pena, e alla fine loro erano felicissime del risultato!"</div>
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Timalee: "<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Qualcosa di molto semplice. Mentre passavo, ho notato una persona che sembrava aver bisogno di aiuto, e l'ho aiutata.".</span></div>
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Phil: " </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Ho spalato la neve... il che e' una cosa triste da fare con l'estate cosi' prossima, ma l'ho fatto comunque!"</span></div>
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Una lontana cugina: " </span>Mia figlia vuole fare i 40 RAOk per tutta la sua estate... e scriverle tutte in un diario durante tutta l'estate." ("Cosi' dolce...)</div>
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Alessandro :" Sono andato a prendere una vecchietta e l'ho aiutata a fare la spesa e poi l'ho riportata a casa. E' un buon RAOK?" (Certo che lo e'!!).</div>
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So che ci sono stati molti atti di gentilezza silenziosi, e sono immensamente grata per ognuno di essi.<br />
Spero che possano essere contagiosi, cosi' come sembrano esserlo per i miei figli, poiche l'ho visto compiere dei RAOK ogni giorno, dal pulire la macchina all'improvviso, al donare il proprio palloncino al fratellino disperato che aveva perso il suo, al pulire il bagno, all'essere semplicemente piu' gentili l'un l'altro.<br />
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Basta veramente un piccolo atto di gentilezza casuale a migliorare la giornata di qualcuno, e quel qualcuno potrebbe esserne cosi' felice da essere gentile con qualcun altro, e questo potrebbe iniziare una reazione a catena che beneficera' molte vite!<br />
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Il mio compleanno e' stato il piu' lungo, il piu' estenuante, il piu' impegnativo, il piu' pazzo che ho mai avuto, ma e' stato probabilmente il compleanno piu' memorabile, e spero che possa restare specialmente nella memoria dei miei 4 ometti per gli anni a venire.<br />
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<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-28141229084022461422012-05-30T01:23:00.000-04:002012-05-30T14:37:38.895-04:0040 RAOK for my big 4-0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Saturday was my birthday, my big 4-0 birthday, and I wanted it to be different. For a long time I have been thinking of making my birthday a day of giving instead of a day of receiving...<br />
After the various health issues my husband and I have had to face all of a sudden and practically at the same time, from the beginning of the year, and after all the acts of kindness we have received from family, friends, people we just knew a little, and even complete strangers, I just knew that I needed to do something to give back...<br />
I decided to make my birthday a day of Random Act of kindness, possibly one for each year of my life.<br />
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In the beginning it was going to be just something between me, my husband and my children, but then I thought that it would be even more wonderful if friends and family members could join us in this adventure.<br />
A couple days before my birthday, I decided. I created an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/240113459424239/" target="_blank">event on facebook </a>and invited as many friends and family as I could, at least the ones I thought would be more willing to do it.<br />
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I told them I did not want a party, I did not want a gift, what I really would have appreciated was that they would do even one little RAOK on my birthday.<br />
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Of the 300+ people I invited, only about 50 joined, but I was really happy that they were willing to do it.<br />
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I started a couple of my act of kindness a couple days before, because I did not know if I would be able to haul all my 4 energetic boys around all day, so I made some of the acts that required some kind of "delivery" during the few days preceding my birthday, just in case I run out of time.<br />
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Also, since I was born and raised in Italy, I considered my birthday to start at midnight, Italy time.<br />
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Since I promised my friends and family that I would give a report of the RAOK I was able to do, here it is:<br />
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1) Wrote a thank you card for my wonderful therapist, for all that she has done and is doing in helping me recuperate the use of my shoulder.<br />
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The boys made some sweet thank you cards too:)<br />
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(I also thanked in different ways my chiropractor, my surgeon and my friend who introduced me to <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/preservemyhealth" target="_blank">doTerra essential oils</a> because they all contributed to my ongoing recovery).<br />
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2) While I was making dinner, my sweet aunt from Italy called, and I offered her my listening ear (it was past midnight in Italy, she couldn't sleep). I truly enjoyed listening to all of her stories about her late husband and her children. I miss her a lot. We spoke for about 1/2 hour. Dinner was a little later than planned, but totally worth it.<br />
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3) We put a gift for our mail lady in the mail box, with a card to thank her for all of her hard work:)<br />
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My 5 yr old made a little card for her too.<br />
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4)Brought cookies to the local fire station, to thank these wonderful firemen for keeping us safe.<br />
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5) Cut these cards for my kids teachers, and they wrote how lucky they are to have them as their teachers<br />
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6) Wrapped several Christmas cards from my card collection with some magazine paper and left it with a note on a friend's front door, for each member of the family to use next Christmas<br />
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7) Put little uplifting cards on various cars at the grocery store parking lot and in the neighborhood<br />
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8) As soon as I woke up in the morning, I started writing individual messages of a blessed day or "buona giornata to 40+ friends and family members on facebook. I made sure that I wrote something meaningful, not just some casual generic words.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOQEoMF5mc6IO7nR32VU_qFYQcnbX_G8yqfZ4txZsovzjjsKnWQuVC0MkuhG_Wx8858OrcCb8oZ7SlIp1E2E8UM0j-2AHAlX04w5yUkSQ3tyVxuXNiOaki2CQdRqJ1iRsS3qq1yQcBmw/s1600/blessed+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOQEoMF5mc6IO7nR32VU_qFYQcnbX_G8yqfZ4txZsovzjjsKnWQuVC0MkuhG_Wx8858OrcCb8oZ7SlIp1E2E8UM0j-2AHAlX04w5yUkSQ3tyVxuXNiOaki2CQdRqJ1iRsS3qq1yQcBmw/s200/blessed+day.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtTzntD1jLG6AtMAWpzJdpp1BfO8VigxOP4ry3bYcDEZ9y4gyKBuxL_2dXdQrfyJg-xhvSg0dqJlcEkX_POi7WMa0eMvlXBIofI5tfFIpoAd3fiFKPTnlQujkPxcEdAwjRS4e9h76k_Q/s1600/buonagiornata.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtTzntD1jLG6AtMAWpzJdpp1BfO8VigxOP4ry3bYcDEZ9y4gyKBuxL_2dXdQrfyJg-xhvSg0dqJlcEkX_POi7WMa0eMvlXBIofI5tfFIpoAd3fiFKPTnlQujkPxcEdAwjRS4e9h76k_Q/s200/buonagiornata.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I was surprised at how many of them really appreciated this gesture, and some really seemed to need those words that day.<br />
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9) Brought some bread and cereal to the ducks in our subdivision's pond.<br />
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They weren't there, so we had to come back in the evening, but we did it! :)<br />
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10) We brought nice cool water on our way to the park, to give to anybody that seemed too hot and thirsty. <br />
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There was an old lady washing her car, she was very happy to accept the water. Then a man digging a huge hole, he looked exhausted, but he refused it... My poor 3 year old was pretty sad that man didn't want his water. <br />
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<br />
11) On our way back from the park there was this whole family looking very tired from working on their lawn all morning. They all had some big jugs full of iced drinks, so no need for the water bottles, but we gave them a bag full of cookies. They were very surprised that we would give them the WHOLE bag, and we didn't even know them :)<br />
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12) We also stopped by the house of a policeman in our neighborhood and delivered our last bag of cookies to thank him for his service. He wasn't home, but we took time to talk a little with his father in law, who recently received a liver transplant. I was glad he was doing relatively good.<br />
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13) I prayed for everyone I saw on our way to and from the park.<br />
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14) I brought my 3 year old's scooter on my shoulder on the way home, even if I had told him that if he chose to bring it, then he would have to go on it all the way to the park and then home, since I had to push the baby's trike. He looked too tired, my heart just couldn't bear seeing him like that. Nice thing, my neighbor saw me half way, and offered to haul the scooter in her car the remaining way home:) So she got to do her RAOK too:) <br />
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15) Once home, since my boys (especially the 3yr old one) had asked about the cake non stop all morning, even if I wasn't planning on making one, I made a birthday cake.<br />
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16) Then I decided to make a second one to bring to someone that needed some "cheer me up"<br />
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17) The boys and I wrote 40 post-it notes for their daddy, and stuck them on the front door, so that he would be surprised when he came home from work.<br />
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He was indeed surprised and moved when he saw them :)<br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(He then proceeded to substitute some of the yellow post-it on the door
with pink ones for me, while I had crashed exhausted for about an
hour... I noticed them when we went out of the door to do more RAOK all
together, and I had to strive to keep the tears from flowing down my
eyes...)</div>
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This one in particular made me smile:)<br />
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Since there were egg whites left from making the 2 cakes, I looked for a recipe requiring egg whites, and made my first ever coconut macaroons. They came out a little big, but they tasted pretty good, so I decided they could brighten somebody's day. <br />
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18) Brought coconut cookies to a sweet neighbor (the same that helped me with my boy's scooter). <br />
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19) Brought organic home grown tomatoes to one of my kid's friend and her family. They were pretty surprised :)<br />
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<br />
20)Brought more coconut cookies to another school friend's family. The boys really loved doing it.<br />
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21)Stuck coupons on products at the grocery store:)<br />
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22) Left dollar bills on toys that were a dollar or less at a drug store.<br />
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I like to think that it will be kids that will find them, and can imagine the huge grin on their face!<br />
<br />
23) I made my boys' bed, even if that is their chore. They deserve a RAOK too :) (beside the cake).<br />
<br />
24)We smiled at everyone we saw, and made a conscious effort to say hi and/or ask "How are you doing?", and mean it.<br />
<br />
25) I called the Temple to have the names of two people that are having serious health problems on the temple prayer roll. <br />
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26) I clicked "like" on a friend business page, even if she didn't ask me too, to show her my support.<br />
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27) We pulled weeds from a neighbor's yard. I am pretty sure some other neighbor might have thought that our yard was the one that really needs some weed pulling! :)<br />
<br />
28) Brought some Italian soda to a friend that had asked us to buy it for her, so that she didn't have to drive to our house to get it.<br />
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<br />
29)We picked up trash everywhere we went, park, store, church etc.<br />
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30) I pushed a few carts that were left around in the parking lot back to the store, so that they wouldn't be a hazard for other cars, since the cart boy was not out there.<br />
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31) Called my mom to say thank you for giving me birth. She loved especially hearing the boys striving to say in Italian" Grazie per aver fatto nascere mamma!" (thank you for giving birth to my mom).<br />
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32) I made sure to acknowledge each and every act of kindness my family and I would receive. Sometimes we tend to overlook what others do for us, and we don't realize that something that might seem small to us, was indeed important for the person that did it for us. Letting everybody know that we appreciate them, does good to everyone.<br />
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33) Gave a couple friends some of my essential oils to help them with some health concern they were having. <br />
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<br />
It was getting too late plus I got stung by some bug on my eye, so I had to extend my birthday to the whole weekend; went home then straight to bed.<br />
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34) I left a huge grocery bag full of coupon inserts for another coupon-aholic like me :)<br />
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35) Left some diapers and wipes in the mother's lounge at church. If there is any mother like me, someone will find that they have no diapers left in their diaper bag, and will be relieved to see that there are some right there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KgtilXCwYHey2HmIqqpzC3GmhXB6_vNgLRCQYqRjKRFpyRNyHLuUOO5y-sIKuUUXY7ADqX5OVsWTD9Y_YlcFWhD8ITAXlfVyUJAiReArWK2G4RslaNq1PHbyv_nUhzhyphenhyphenavLgxIneRM8/s1600/IMAG0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KgtilXCwYHey2HmIqqpzC3GmhXB6_vNgLRCQYqRjKRFpyRNyHLuUOO5y-sIKuUUXY7ADqX5OVsWTD9Y_YlcFWhD8ITAXlfVyUJAiReArWK2G4RslaNq1PHbyv_nUhzhyphenhyphenavLgxIneRM8/s320/IMAG0217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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36) Gave a babysitting for a day coupon to a friend that I feel could use some time with her husband during a very difficult time for her family.<br />
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37) Brought an organic home grown basil plant to a friend at church, since she expressed her desire for it, but never made it to my home to pick it up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmsrGU2fTRTahZRdQbCPf6m-5xG4m8iNTriqByRIo3JN2vw_dJVG-1hfx5h2HXdd4QleDbtduLvKlmAMBrfd6y_6L9tUiGFl8_jXtueKaTNO-7fKnwKz3vi8ZtpkPHx5ZrNAvaMKAYZw/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmsrGU2fTRTahZRdQbCPf6m-5xG4m8iNTriqByRIo3JN2vw_dJVG-1hfx5h2HXdd4QleDbtduLvKlmAMBrfd6y_6L9tUiGFl8_jXtueKaTNO-7fKnwKz3vi8ZtpkPHx5ZrNAvaMKAYZw/s320/IMG_6773.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
(it wasn't this one, I forgot to take a picture, but this is one of my basil plants nonetheless)<br />
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38) We were able to bring dinner (and the cake) to my kids' 3 year old 3rd cousin, who has had brain surgery to fix her seizures and is now in a rehabilitation center 30 minutes from our home. This was the dearest thing we have been able to do, it has done so good to our heart to know that we could help them, and that we didn't have to see each other at a funeral for once! Her mom and grandma were really happy to see us, and the boys fell in love with the little girl, in fact they have been asking to go visit them again, and we soon will.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRzE3V6lL7jK0armwBHkOxPCcoXWuqp-yGfux2n56NwBMWb4QrKRLE8uVX2sg77dVTIZj03H_42-b10_L0AdNjlG_ypBv1YhY2L3BJC2K1IHkDPjX0CBMdF2B32gGcxE5B0qaKDaA45A/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRzE3V6lL7jK0armwBHkOxPCcoXWuqp-yGfux2n56NwBMWb4QrKRLE8uVX2sg77dVTIZj03H_42-b10_L0AdNjlG_ypBv1YhY2L3BJC2K1IHkDPjX0CBMdF2B32gGcxE5B0qaKDaA45A/s320/IMG_7057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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39) On the way home, we stopped at a rest stop and I left a package of disinfecting wipes in the women bathroom. Somebody will surely use them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfD_Rhtv5vxDWt6qf0-mg5newoLRXLJZJWl-3_3vnHRGmH8QS3EVM_utS1_VYOKOOiOqI_4ype7rr0hEnNz5J0LFrzZNJAnz34PwRSf_CwE1i4i2c8sWrwHMdBqaNwZvfQyabQdeRMM0/s1600/DSCN0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfD_Rhtv5vxDWt6qf0-mg5newoLRXLJZJWl-3_3vnHRGmH8QS3EVM_utS1_VYOKOOiOqI_4ype7rr0hEnNz5J0LFrzZNJAnz34PwRSf_CwE1i4i2c8sWrwHMdBqaNwZvfQyabQdeRMM0/s320/DSCN0475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
40) Made pineapple upside down cupcakes for my boys' great grandaddy, who is in a nursing home and who lost his wife of 63 years almost 2 years ago. She used to make him pineapple upside down cake, and I knew that even if I will never make them as good as she did, he would enjoy them. We spent some time with him on memorial day, he really enjoyed seeing us and his 4 great grandchildren, not to mention that we just love seeing him.<br />
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While I wasn't able to do all my different acts of kindness in one day, and I didn't get to do all the possible acts of kindness on my list, for a reason or another, I believe that I was able to touch at least 40 lives on my birthday, and that is enough to make me happy.<br />
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Also, I made sure that these acts of kindness did not require spending a huge amount of money, because I wanted them to inspire anybody else to do the same, and in this economy, I know many people think that they don't have the means to help others. <br />
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I really need to thank my husband for all the support he has given me, and my children for their good heart, and why not, for the challenges they have given me while trying to bring this project to life.<br />
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In particular I want to mention some of the RAOK I have been blessed to receive from them:<br />
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Joseph(7yrs old)</div>
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picked up in the living room</div>
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Gave his dollar</div>
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Jacob(5 yrs old):</div>
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Came in my bed and waited for me to give signs of life to
then say “ Happy birthday mamma!”… at 6:10 in the morning!</div>
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Gave his dollar</div>
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Luca (3yr old)</div>
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Tried to be extra nice with his brothers</div>
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Gave me lots of hugs</div>
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Mattia ( 1yr old)</div>
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Gave lots of hugs, shared his cup and giraffe blanket with
me. </div>
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Gave me big cheesy smiles</div>
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Chris (my husband)</div>
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Tried to tidy up in the kitchen for me before going to work</div>
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Wrote me a beautiful letter</div>
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Put cards on the door in place of the ones we put for him</div>
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Let me sleep when I was exhausted</div>
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Helped me with my RAOK, never complaining, ready to do everything that was needed.</div>
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Gave me words of comfort when I was getting too stressed because not all the people I wanted to do something for were accepting my offer to help.</div>
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I don't know what I did to deserve these guys, but the Lord has seen fit to bless me with them, and I hope to be able to bless them every day more.</div>
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I am also glad for my awesome extended family and friends that shared this adventure with us, and I want to mention some of the RAOK that have been reported to me:</div>
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Nilla: brought dinner to a family whose mother had just undergone surgery</div>
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Mary Lou: made brownies for a neighbor</div>
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Mariantonia (my sister) walked a friend's dog for the day</div>
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Heidi: "<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> HA! I did it! I gave out 7 bottles of wild orange EO and told them all it was on behalf of your birthday!"</span></div>
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Sabrina: "Spent 3 days helping 2 of my sisters in law clean and re-organize their apartment. It took a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it, and they were thrilled at the result!"</div>
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Timalee: "<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Something simple. In passing I noticed a person who looked as if they could use a little help, so I helped."</span></div>
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Phil: " </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">I shoveled snow....which is a sad thing to be doing so close to summer, but I did it anyway."</span></div>
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">A long lost cousin of mine: " </span>My daughter wants to make the 40 RAOK her summertime thing.. and write down each one in a journal throughout the summer" (Isn't she the sweetest?)</div>
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Alessandro :" I went and picked up an old lady , helped her do her grocery shopping, and brought her back home. Is that a good RAOK? " (Sure it is!).</div>
<br />
I know there have been many silent acts of kindness, and I am immensely grateful for those too.<br />
I hope they might be contagious as they seem to be for my children, since I have seen them do some RAOK each day, from cleaning the car on the spur of the moment to giving up a balloon to give it to a crying little brother who just lost his, to cleaning the bathroom to just being a little nicer to each other.<br />
<br />
It really takes a little Random Act of Kindness to make someone's day, and that someone might be so happy that he/she will be kind to someone else, and that could start a chain reaction that will benefit many lives.<br />
<br />
My birthday has been the longest, most exhausting, busiest, craziest birthday ever, but it has been probably the most memorable one, and I hope it will especially stay in my 4 little boys' memory for years to come.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6INSqkf7GjQjrU9E282WjAPACEM-jW7rilm9hOK2nODS6B_li5yN1MJrCcHvmnorJAJDzv_-ZXDZSiGIWtJGKwBQgluUUuE0Bq3TtrHNTv0yMDxXUOt5bn2Izq3u9uy47boexNanSL0/s1600/RAOK+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6INSqkf7GjQjrU9E282WjAPACEM-jW7rilm9hOK2nODS6B_li5yN1MJrCcHvmnorJAJDzv_-ZXDZSiGIWtJGKwBQgluUUuE0Bq3TtrHNTv0yMDxXUOt5bn2Izq3u9uy47boexNanSL0/s320/RAOK+it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbv8K3k8S-GgtUGv0pCG1Bxau9Be-5bZStMA6cswGy2NgKsrebrg-4RAuqu3G9DYc_1OHX-w7Mz8TmVTPmlumEENlEUCu10C_cXrP64YA73jKFsKns80bhvXqmHGJo4cf9ggMq-7NN9gU/s1600/RAOK+ticket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbv8K3k8S-GgtUGv0pCG1Bxau9Be-5bZStMA6cswGy2NgKsrebrg-4RAuqu3G9DYc_1OHX-w7Mz8TmVTPmlumEENlEUCu10C_cXrP64YA73jKFsKns80bhvXqmHGJo4cf9ggMq-7NN9gU/s320/RAOK+ticket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-31538981847039612182012-05-13T08:04:00.001-04:002012-05-15T08:34:47.664-04:00A genealogist's view of a motherThis morning, I was sitting on the chair while my husband was making my mother's day breakfast, and I started to think that I wanted to make a mother's day quote that could be also used as a genealogy quote... A few minutes later, this is what was created:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MdNNyK7R8jAwzJEiDHKB0WjCEVHvng5AtewORVs8b0Jf399pd9lKokz9XHDY4NBitcHD9zefu6TqvtTwWgcacSkP8pTsdcPWt9dq8MuZ6Iu_KDtTlZf3f7aWQnqbfzYwsyqVieDHtPU/s1600/mothersname.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MdNNyK7R8jAwzJEiDHKB0WjCEVHvng5AtewORVs8b0Jf399pd9lKokz9XHDY4NBitcHD9zefu6TqvtTwWgcacSkP8pTsdcPWt9dq8MuZ6Iu_KDtTlZf3f7aWQnqbfzYwsyqVieDHtPU/s320/mothersname.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Then another one came to my mind, and I feel that it really shows how important mothers are in a family tree.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-TwqwvQ93JpCUX15DjgyzAc7XfnLGmImSRi1YVWwYR6miqmizhN_l-ZXyI1vYOdoDIYM4Q3N8ykf7Hw3-aYEIk9vTXzFE_SB1q26qwDMcv4B_TR9U0ZY_2t_mKrUc5vC56lnDpBohVI/s1600/mothersnamelove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-TwqwvQ93JpCUX15DjgyzAc7XfnLGmImSRi1YVWwYR6miqmizhN_l-ZXyI1vYOdoDIYM4Q3N8ykf7Hw3-aYEIk9vTXzFE_SB1q26qwDMcv4B_TR9U0ZY_2t_mKrUc5vC56lnDpBohVI/s320/mothersnamelove.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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I know that to us genealogists, a mother's maiden name can be frustrating when not found, because it means slowing down our researches, pulling our hair, sleepless nights, but we carry something that will not show on the paper. </div>
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It is a love that gets carried down from generation to generation and defines us much more than a last name could.</div>
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It took just a couple minutes to make these 2 pages (it took more to think of the quotes:)).</div>
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I just love how putting a quote on a page and beautifying it with images just enhances the whole meaning of it.</div>
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I just want to wish a happy mother's day to the mother that were, the mothers that are, and the mothers that will bless the lives of children all over the world!</div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-51046646744522087482012-03-30T14:09:00.000-04:002012-03-30T14:09:51.462-04:00Featured Templates: generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Every now and then, I like looking at what other Heritage Makers have created that can be used for genealogy and family history projects. Today I looked for projects with keyword "generation" or "generations"</div>
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These are the beautiful Templates I found:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OlVJbjm4PAf3-HdFWSK9cpELHLhPXp3Oo4EOVsKGUDIoUOA_QnUBoozfVJDrBezMxuzTI1L2-z2K-gc756kMhBSBs5VD0dOxaK5RD2qDYazP8aPkNdHzhuqjOrN3gbetTmCDzoFYUS0/s1600/generationslove4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OlVJbjm4PAf3-HdFWSK9cpELHLhPXp3Oo4EOVsKGUDIoUOA_QnUBoozfVJDrBezMxuzTI1L2-z2K-gc756kMhBSBs5VD0dOxaK5RD2qDYazP8aPkNdHzhuqjOrN3gbetTmCDzoFYUS0/s320/generationslove4.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTzIq82fRFOFQ8Xh0kne9RXXyWK9OWS3QH8G-FnP5THmrmGlsw4rN0rcc2Iqwgj3UwJFHltISheXfvU-uJrGe36_H7Gw_L_DcTuGyQ19g_D_PzcyKsbUzQAOELPh_GYBTg941_fhmjmk/s1600/generation3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTzIq82fRFOFQ8Xh0kne9RXXyWK9OWS3QH8G-FnP5THmrmGlsw4rN0rcc2Iqwgj3UwJFHltISheXfvU-uJrGe36_H7Gw_L_DcTuGyQ19g_D_PzcyKsbUzQAOELPh_GYBTg941_fhmjmk/s320/generation3.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1grROcGkfEhk8YSCeX-0eUAJ_lZdj5Qa4XlYF9Xa9lzPmuOFDP9751PBUnoZI4MAAh9qsYrc57Wj9gYSvmvdB3FeIeq5i4EO1QFxKcO3qx2TkYlclHE9LJSg52iheaeJGn67xVEPEd-s/s1600/generationcanvasp.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1grROcGkfEhk8YSCeX-0eUAJ_lZdj5Qa4XlYF9Xa9lzPmuOFDP9751PBUnoZI4MAAh9qsYrc57Wj9gYSvmvdB3FeIeq5i4EO1QFxKcO3qx2TkYlclHE9LJSg52iheaeJGn67xVEPEd-s/s320/generationcanvasp.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOsOT7OrRkegl46NL22m_vYl8Onv5KECb4dDrQkBzmfEAIXQIrR5L8LXZr5Q9F0zzAeugIW2m85IFtmRE8mFx7r11MSo7WI8HNQSBvapXWKgOfK7LZ75rgUuumUa66yTdu2Ilh032vO8/s1600/generations5sm.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOsOT7OrRkegl46NL22m_vYl8Onv5KECb4dDrQkBzmfEAIXQIrR5L8LXZr5Q9F0zzAeugIW2m85IFtmRE8mFx7r11MSo7WI8HNQSBvapXWKgOfK7LZ75rgUuumUa66yTdu2Ilh032vO8/s320/generations5sm.PNG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90TtH-ARyiSTTziJR0UQkn72_FMD4iA8-oiso1R-OMCpmpbyp_kQAC7ejdGWOYVK1iZNELN_zRDVXTg8o7KhZWzJheR4s8U3qoY5-qqJanUown3h6bmGVgVS-oi2vnU15n0uODV9tRtM/s1600/generationswed.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90TtH-ARyiSTTziJR0UQkn72_FMD4iA8-oiso1R-OMCpmpbyp_kQAC7ejdGWOYVK1iZNELN_zRDVXTg8o7KhZWzJheR4s8U3qoY5-qqJanUown3h6bmGVgVS-oi2vnU15n0uODV9tRtM/s320/generationswed.PNG" width="319" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFVlXCRbeTbaiyOjMpr4K9Bw-m6AvxJ9RYQ6X0laPUPqQBd6ezLKfJI3QFKVzs4Ud5mVpSGq8AA8wac-kq-rGX8Pb69EBuTfIOvi2Wvr6Ss_27n8be2ozRmdNUBQvkY8XAsxKsuwbRDw/s1600/genrationslove.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFVlXCRbeTbaiyOjMpr4K9Bw-m6AvxJ9RYQ6X0laPUPqQBd6ezLKfJI3QFKVzs4Ud5mVpSGq8AA8wac-kq-rGX8Pb69EBuTfIOvi2Wvr6Ss_27n8be2ozRmdNUBQvkY8XAsxKsuwbRDw/s320/genrationslove.PNG" width="319" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK88bz9JEFphvtscKM0WrjsdnCxQHqvVCnDkN3gVtVVqBPJSopbfI7skvuAgWtYOcNm8D8Vtv6G-E57dSGn2maT08jJ0DsKeQ1e-8JzWcwXR-KU90qtUJJyeeza8_oMPErr-SsUqxZ_A/s1600/generations6sm.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK88bz9JEFphvtscKM0WrjsdnCxQHqvVCnDkN3gVtVVqBPJSopbfI7skvuAgWtYOcNm8D8Vtv6G-E57dSGn2maT08jJ0DsKeQ1e-8JzWcwXR-KU90qtUJJyeeza8_oMPErr-SsUqxZ_A/s320/generations6sm.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvB6skFxq7PpgO2JsU7A4N6QbuOlpdGipmBI2MJ6Af-F6Lk6GixFGsQnYGERcJxtp31LP0lZd7IX8ca9JS4t0NwjIDi8KF5eSodfNXKdlOsu6bp1RL-CjKUeFhgy4MUo7X3aHcNbJal8/s1600/familytreealtsm.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvB6skFxq7PpgO2JsU7A4N6QbuOlpdGipmBI2MJ6Af-F6Lk6GixFGsQnYGERcJxtp31LP0lZd7IX8ca9JS4t0NwjIDi8KF5eSodfNXKdlOsu6bp1RL-CjKUeFhgy4MUo7X3aHcNbJal8/s320/familytreealtsm.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Which one is your favorite?<br />
I am sure that more templates with keyword generations will be added in the future, so be sure to search for them yourself, as there might be more than the ones I displayed.<br />
Don't forget that while these templates were created in a particular format, you can always convert them in a different format (i.e.: from a scrap page to a greeting card or a canvas) using the <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/importing-old-genealogy-projects-into.html" target="_blank">import feature</a>.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-74648301819599893412012-03-27T15:04:00.000-04:002012-03-27T15:04:58.636-04:00Improving a free genealogy TemplateLast week I was presenting my class on Creative Family history at the New England Family history conference, and I had a workshop to help the attendants realize how easy it is to modify a template.<br />
This was the Template I used:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNxWxclfgTxw-xleAzLNCqUDw7jr1FN4XVyrQvtsusHahLpYhlWmnOL9xrOMXQfGpRbZYJckirVpooYeedznGoGlzEjFnRtLb8BxK1pHcL8okfqRbznd6QgrfG5zGcCyv0FWsNzu5aqc/s1600/pedigree.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNxWxclfgTxw-xleAzLNCqUDw7jr1FN4XVyrQvtsusHahLpYhlWmnOL9xrOMXQfGpRbZYJckirVpooYeedznGoGlzEjFnRtLb8BxK1pHcL8okfqRbznd6QgrfG5zGcCyv0FWsNzu5aqc/s320/pedigree.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To choose the Template, I went to the Template gallery and entered the keyword "pedigree" in the search box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ1bdIN5bSeKA45qTpjzLjylT-39N6p6tQWDbfEjrF3aGWkv06BGB6D1jEuvi_8KmOCZvXWOpqRSBYoIqfEi8wYnLXmtskW1HlgqQFMtdORol1j-4NWoW6Jzd9kQRSZU1AXljc5sR2wE/s1600/pedigreesearch.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ1bdIN5bSeKA45qTpjzLjylT-39N6p6tQWDbfEjrF3aGWkv06BGB6D1jEuvi_8KmOCZvXWOpqRSBYoIqfEi8wYnLXmtskW1HlgqQFMtdORol1j-4NWoW6Jzd9kQRSZU1AXljc5sR2wE/s320/pedigreesearch.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
There were 11 templates with this keyword<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdYutgHkZPrtDX8tJU5egLbCJCqQVpO1tD52QVlynUxItRmWM1Vl8BBhLPlBMtPwch15Gsf21NetrhAjwnPgnpN8a8-gMgpp_jhOO6_glRh1ya0RIMlAUmVykZKGQJ4VfVbjii2CQo4g/s1600/pedigreelist.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdYutgHkZPrtDX8tJU5egLbCJCqQVpO1tD52QVlynUxItRmWM1Vl8BBhLPlBMtPwch15Gsf21NetrhAjwnPgnpN8a8-gMgpp_jhOO6_glRh1ya0RIMlAUmVykZKGQJ4VfVbjii2CQo4g/s320/pedigreelist.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, since none of the attendants had a premier membership yet, I narrowed my search to only the basic templates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTOEWibjYqjqUtKNkCH9IvebAybOoWf5k6zkK-60f3ygw9nSG7emzrsBzz4RZed-uYCQaFwSg1hCSY5FTTVg9P_36C57thBmwZ73v-0Sgw4TKX1-CpqBE4iwBJW8q7AhKdEIHXlUGrA/s1600/pedigreebasic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTOEWibjYqjqUtKNkCH9IvebAybOoWf5k6zkK-60f3ygw9nSG7emzrsBzz4RZed-uYCQaFwSg1hCSY5FTTVg9P_36C57thBmwZ73v-0Sgw4TKX1-CpqBE4iwBJW8q7AhKdEIHXlUGrA/s320/pedigreebasic.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
In this case there was only one template that was in basic, thus completely free, but it was sufficient for our needs.<br />
I chose this Template which was a little bland, and using the free basic digital art available in studio,<br />
I transformed it in this new pedigree chart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1wWxg4jFRieD2BXMHfihz80hiZ2pLgVEP3ZniyKaUjsMKzUT_vPFNoh8mz35FWAxeta_FtoqlmGOUX8zrXhqY78h8mF0o1mj41aT0GPTqqfi8otJqVH-oCz24_W3Vbl99iiz6yUdbY/s1600/HALL+FAM+PEDIGREEc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1wWxg4jFRieD2BXMHfihz80hiZ2pLgVEP3ZniyKaUjsMKzUT_vPFNoh8mz35FWAxeta_FtoqlmGOUX8zrXhqY78h8mF0o1mj41aT0GPTqqfi8otJqVH-oCz24_W3Vbl99iiz6yUdbY/s320/HALL+FAM+PEDIGREEc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
All I did was:<br />
1) Swap the pictures with the ones I needed.<br />
2)Delete the ones I didn't need.<br />
3)Add 2 more pictures for more children<br />
4)Change the background, (I used keyword "green paper" and "pink paper" to find them in the art collection)<br />
5)Add frames (I used keyword "frame" to find them)<br />
6)Add a flower (I used keyword "Flower"to find it)<br />
7)Add leaves (I used keyword "Leaf" to find them) <br />
7)Use ribbons to decorate the chart (I used keyword"Ribbon" to find it)<br />
I dragged and dropped these elements, re-sized them to my needs, and put them in place.<br />
If you were attending my class, you would have been able to see everything step by step, but if you weren't able to be there, no worries.<br />
<br />
You can learn how to modify a template through one of our easy tutorials, like this one:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QfDbBrHlqYI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Since the Template I used was BASIC, anyone can try and modify it according to their own taste and need.<br />
<br />
I want to challenge you to experience for yourself how easy it is to modify a template.<br />
Once you do, if you like, send me a copy. I will show it on the blog and/or on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cavagenealogy" target="_blank">CavaGenealogy facebook page.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-64940139578627461502012-02-14T13:16:00.000-05:002012-02-14T16:58:22.487-05:00A genealogist's reflection on Valentine's dayLove is in the air...<br />
This morning my boys went to school all happy because they were going to exchange their valentines with their friends at school.<br />
Due to some health problems we have not been able to do anything fancy this year, so they just wrote on some hand trimmed card stock hearts I made for them.<br />
While I do not enjoy the consumist aspect of Valentine's day, I do like having an extra excuse to do something nice for someone I love.<br />
The tradition I have started a few months ago to have a different family tree background for our <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/11/magnetic-family-tree-game-revised.html" target="_blank">magnetic family tree</a> has come in handy in a period in which all that we are really focusing on is recovering from our health issues. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpn0xCNE1NC5_2QpOBSLovXRj713oobPjchIQXjhCP391o4JMBfEYSg9JbagVlktQrUXdEw8hJANqSoybEnXuz_ZDAIfpW9hA9VmfpoREYZ8I_elXb3O3NLHRMe4beKpCQ3Bm3nNQ-Vk/s1600/valentine2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpn0xCNE1NC5_2QpOBSLovXRj713oobPjchIQXjhCP391o4JMBfEYSg9JbagVlktQrUXdEw8hJANqSoybEnXuz_ZDAIfpW9hA9VmfpoREYZ8I_elXb3O3NLHRMe4beKpCQ3Bm3nNQ-Vk/s320/valentine2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I just had to change the back ground to the heart shaped tree, and then I picked <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2010/01/best-valentine.html" target="_blank">the books</a> we had made a couple years ago about the reasons we love each other.<br />
<br />
We are thinking to read them tonight, after the kids go to bed, or even better, we will read them to our children as their night night story.<br />
What better way to tell your children that you love them than to show them that you love your spouse, and why? I feel so blessed for the Love in my life...<br />
<br />
Sometimes I find myself thinking twice before posting a happy Valentine's day wish on somebody's facebook wall, or just uttering those words to anyone whose story I don't completely know. I am always worried about possibly hurting somebody's feelings.<br />
I know that not everyone has a Valentine, and I know that some are really hurting about it, maybe they lost their loved one, maybe they haven't found the one yet, maybe they are just coming out of a bad experience, and this is possibly the worst day of the year for them.<br />
<br />
If any of you is reading this post, I would love to share this thought that came to my mind while I was looking at my Valentine family tree.<br />
<br />
We are all the fruit of Love, and as such we are all entitled to celebrate Love today, and everyday.<br />
<br />
We come from an Heritage of Love. Because 2 people fell in love, we were born.<br />
Even if you grew up in a orphanage, and think that you are a mistake for your parents, even if you think there was no love there, let me tell you, you are still the fruit of love.<br />
It might have skipped a generation, you might find it in your grandparents, even if you will never know them in this life, you are still the fruit of their love.<br />
Because they fell in love, and their child gave birth to you, you are the fruit of their love.<br />
<br />
As you can see, you can choose to be hurt on Valentine's day, or you can choose to celebrate.<br />
I am thankful for the Love that brought each and everyone of my ancestors together, and I hope and pray to continue this heritage of Love through my children, grandchildren and all of my descendants.<br />
<br />
So, if you think you have nobody to celebrate Valentine's day with, how about you spend it with the ones that came before you?<br />
<br />
You can call your parents, your aunt, or anybody that could tell you a little more about someone in your family line, and make today the day that you add one more person to love in your family tree, or one more reason to love that family member you want to know more about.<br />
<br />
You can look for a blog or facebook group for your family surname, or you can create it, if you don't find it.<br />
<br />
You can follow my example and tell the story of your Love to your children tonight.<br />
<br />
You can write your story, because remember, LOVE is in your DNA.<br />
<br />
<br />
The choice is yours!<br />
Happy Valentine's day!<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/424476_345844992103635_100000344115978_1242209_1918595541_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/424476_345844992103635_100000344115978_1242209_1918595541_n.jpg" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-36644300737614815932011-12-20T14:41:00.000-05:002011-12-20T14:42:16.002-05:003 generations of Love TemplateI was just looking into the <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/" target="_blank">template Gallery</a>, and I found this cute three generations of Love canvas Template.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgIYWb-Y85cmniv2Hq0ERgGnkFiUajui6rrnc-QIVT92aKVYSWJs3k4vyE7hv4qhGd77FguiD474lXzrPoqXdJvaxdHggiqUAsb9MB5UHQ10QrKzX3RpCZaVzryegpdMdmht53H1eDWM/s1600/3generationsoflove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgIYWb-Y85cmniv2Hq0ERgGnkFiUajui6rrnc-QIVT92aKVYSWJs3k4vyE7hv4qhGd77FguiD474lXzrPoqXdJvaxdHggiqUAsb9MB5UHQ10QrKzX3RpCZaVzryegpdMdmht53H1eDWM/s320/3generationsoflove.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It made me think of my mom and her mom, and I thought this canvas template would be perfect to honor them.<br />
It took me only 5 minutes to switch the pictures and change a couple things, and I am now really in love with the result.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggckOyIKtAiMrK7espWJMsiG_LDu-kZEucFXOinYTL1ceVGDoR-Z8cxsZsr7aRKKj7DeymLdr8orID6xME7Wa0N205AunKyD-Ly6EQIJSgjq5Vrjg63JwOPPAmcqm2LZhD24nEInF2Lo/s1600/Three+Generations+of+Love%2528%25232084154%2529-F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggckOyIKtAiMrK7espWJMsiG_LDu-kZEucFXOinYTL1ceVGDoR-Z8cxsZsr7aRKKj7DeymLdr8orID6xME7Wa0N205AunKyD-Ly6EQIJSgjq5Vrjg63JwOPPAmcqm2LZhD24nEInF2Lo/s320/Three+Generations+of+Love%2528%25232084154%2529-F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am my nonna Michelina's namesake, and I am pretty proud of it... I had been wanting to do something that was specific to me and her, but life has been taking its toll, and didn't quite find the time to make it from scratch, so I am very grateful for this template!<br />
I lost my grandma to stomach cancer when I was 12. It was so heartbreaking seeing her go through all that suffering... I was with her when she passed away, and the memory is still vivid nowadays...<br />
I miss her very much, especially now, during Christmas time, because we used to all go to her house, and enjoy our time together...<br />
<br />
I hope this template will help many of you remembering and honoring your grandparents.<br />
<br />
May you have a Christmas full of good old memories to remember and new beautiful ones to create.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-44268665519638990012011-12-09T19:54:00.001-05:002012-03-27T15:05:38.834-04:004x8 family circles tree cardI was working on last minute gifts and I just couldn't resist but making a family tree out of the 4x8 photocard format.<br />
I also had been wanting to make a family tree out of simple circles, and I did.<br />
Here is the final result:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i7q-9K6Fzl_F9wfgkQhwMXVsFWsXFS883xHxG70psumIqWKvjy4HGFBFqeRrNGqmjaykulkNvPyFdkA_DCZQdMRADkItkzUqjYGlUflmr8PVU19dRE4NDPVqgea13WoUNrb75vqKkZU/s1600/4x8+familytree+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i7q-9K6Fzl_F9wfgkQhwMXVsFWsXFS883xHxG70psumIqWKvjy4HGFBFqeRrNGqmjaykulkNvPyFdkA_DCZQdMRADkItkzUqjYGlUflmr8PVU19dRE4NDPVqgea13WoUNrb75vqKkZU/s320/4x8+familytree+copy.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
This is a cute little gift that I can give not only to my husband, but also each of my kids, and it will cost me less than $1 each!^_^<br />
I like it so much that it has become my facebook profile picture! <br />
<br />
My husband is also getting this cute calendar, to display on his desk at the office:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dq9ypI5nE190oIm5DtWHJTsuIh91oZwYzNsWIJz__JkXS3PMBMXapRsWL2SqMIoXR-oQ5N0sGmwFMs95_qJne9w5EpfT9UZJEu0FwXSDGg0cgB9kVupXBa_rMCgCqmLXdaSIaAxY81w/s1600/Family+calendar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dq9ypI5nE190oIm5DtWHJTsuIh91oZwYzNsWIJz__JkXS3PMBMXapRsWL2SqMIoXR-oQ5N0sGmwFMs95_qJne9w5EpfT9UZJEu0FwXSDGg0cgB9kVupXBa_rMCgCqmLXdaSIaAxY81w/s320/Family+calendar.JPG" width="160" /></a></div>
I am debating if I want to put them back to back and laminate them, or just give them to him separately...<br />
Either way, He's going to love them!<br />
This would make a cute little gift to have at each table at the family reunion dinner, or for each member of your family. If you don't have the pictures, you can just use the names, and maybe birth dates, and they will look great too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-80997872189421688102011-11-29T10:56:00.001-05:002011-12-01T17:49:54.136-05:00Is facebook the only source your future generations will rely on?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXNoGBHB40XxkW3SylQ_coeDGqGbYfu3aHFfCu-f_Fql9FpJ1fYStjfObWCpoae-h_dv3eXl2IkSUfg3kV_N8yH4YBNfuxHxJooEnteeBP4uh2604n02hmXybEspa-PDQbHqPfCbT_Ls/s1600/future-generations1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXNoGBHB40XxkW3SylQ_coeDGqGbYfu3aHFfCu-f_Fql9FpJ1fYStjfObWCpoae-h_dv3eXl2IkSUfg3kV_N8yH4YBNfuxHxJooEnteeBP4uh2604n02hmXybEspa-PDQbHqPfCbT_Ls/s320/future-generations1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image source: <a href="http://www.shoebox.com/" target="_blank">shoebox.com </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This vignette is fun and sad at the same time, but it inspired me to a few reflections...</span></span><br />
Today we find ourselves struggling to find info about our ancestors; each and every little bit we find is extremely valuable to us. We look at pictures and we wonder where they were taken, unless we are lucky enough to find info on the back of it, or to have a family member that remembers the story behind it. We try to understand who our ancestors were through the pictures, through their heirlooms, if lucky, through their diaries...<br />
Still, it always feel like we don't have enough information.<br />
Will our descendants feel the same about us?<br />
Many of us share pictures and stories through facebook, blogs and other social networks, but how many of these pictures and stories tell who we really are? <br />
<br />
By the time our descendants will come along, there will be so much information that they might actually get overwhelmed if not bored in the end and not be so interested in our story after all.<br />
Even if they are really eager to know more about their ancestors, and will go through our whole facebook account, what will they find? Thousands of links shared? Copy and paste of other people's status? Games played? A gazillion pictures?<br />
Which of these incredible amount of data will really tell what we think?<br />
How will they know what was really important to us? How will they learn from our experiences?<br />
How will they know our testimony?<br />
<br />
Even in the cyber era, a book will be the true and tested means to pass our heritage on.<br />
When our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their descendants will find and go through it, they will understand that if we took the time to put it together, it must have really been important to us. <br />
Whether it is a hardbound book you publish once a year or every 5 years, a scrapbook with pages to update from time to time, whether it is a collection of your traditions, of your recipes, of your achievements, of your very own spiritual thoughts, or all of these and more, I urge you to start writing your personal story, and take a few minutes every week to describe at least the most important pictures of your life so that your descendants will not have to rely on the cyberspace to know who you are.<br />
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<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-11512879692552181332011-11-22T15:54:00.000-05:002011-11-22T23:16:32.270-05:00Gingerbread Christmas card templateEvery now and then among the thousands of already beautiful templates available in the Template gallery on my <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, I happen to find one that is just too gorgeous not to share.<br />
This Christmas card is one of them:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6OUS-PrVCtzRsbG03bYtIaISPpIkdIGV16KTebZPGq9nqYNKvxHoXTqcVj3lCaxVZo0QoJL5iQRZsj8Lhu7ULtCjwgpFeeOkeXbdztgJjCtlitd-_LeRSFlAflUkzQpAJhtyHzXkemE/s1600/gingerbreadletter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6OUS-PrVCtzRsbG03bYtIaISPpIkdIGV16KTebZPGq9nqYNKvxHoXTqcVj3lCaxVZo0QoJL5iQRZsj8Lhu7ULtCjwgpFeeOkeXbdztgJjCtlitd-_LeRSFlAflUkzQpAJhtyHzXkemE/s400/gingerbreadletter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I just love it!<br />
I love the colors, I love the style, and I love that has the space to write a full Christmas letter!<br />
This is a 7x5 Greeting Card, <span class="smalltext">Template ID: 74266.</span><br />
<span class="smalltext">You can give a better look at it <a href="http://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectID=2019287&productId=12&sponsorID=236440" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
<span class="smalltext">How about a supercute matching address label?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5ytt6eO3gA3huG17X-cAiXE9kWR2971hGxcXV9KQB4g1Q0b5tGAFPtLy_-QXu1WZjVwONri3-LNDBzKxQjzfqTE8yuTeI1baSRVrGSMovBX7-U-IMcSljPxMHkMhJrVaMHp-mqfLVAQ/s1600/gingerbreadaddresslabel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5ytt6eO3gA3huG17X-cAiXE9kWR2971hGxcXV9KQB4g1Q0b5tGAFPtLy_-QXu1WZjVwONri3-LNDBzKxQjzfqTE8yuTeI1baSRVrGSMovBX7-U-IMcSljPxMHkMhJrVaMHp-mqfLVAQ/s1600/gingerbreadaddresslabel.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="smalltext"> Template ID #63375</span><br />
These are premier Template, so you will need PREMIER to edit them.<br />
<a href="mailto:info@preservemyheritage.com" target="_blank">Contact me</a> to ask how you can get a FREE month of PREMIER and you will be able to create this wonderful Christmas letter/card in no time!<br />
And remember, these templates are fully modifiable, so if you need more pictures, you can add them, re-size them, change embellishments, background and add as much text as you like! <br />
If you want to save when you order this cards, you need to have them ready to ship before the 20% off cards offer ends, at the end of November.<br />
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<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3cGsiXGWroGhiE22FBm-TdYfYtAK46cXkWWrS6vK_SOrONBIVBq7oX2QeWRNo7tCE3YkmElR9VaCN5-3yABo0mxUsrvi3TRZG_q82WpoS_CmfpRZBoF98a1uVGW5reR7Qv5V9ORXWgk/s400/CARDOFFER.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This are the holiday deadlines for publishing and ordering your projects in time for Christmas:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJeekwMzKltDBQRodGYnsezczj183-8-7ZPASrYhQeTv0vn4Knh2GDyTGMWtp8clHWK8nwxv4xRG4nv0HdI1cP4x3ZvZsoNQ6zx_OGbqQyTQ5gzCtjZCPR9pkW5PZKMxD6PFyTycseDM/s1600/HOLIDAYDEADLINES.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJeekwMzKltDBQRodGYnsezczj183-8-7ZPASrYhQeTv0vn4Knh2GDyTGMWtp8clHWK8nwxv4xRG4nv0HdI1cP4x3ZvZsoNQ6zx_OGbqQyTQ5gzCtjZCPR9pkW5PZKMxD6PFyTycseDM/s400/HOLIDAYDEADLINES.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-2228486844392249742011-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:002011-11-22T15:07:43.843-05:00Family heirlooms in a virtual Shadow boxIf you have one or more family heirloom, you are one lucky person! Family heirlooms can be any object left from any of your ancestors whether they have been passed down from generation to generation or you plan on passing down to your children.<br />
One characteristic of family heirlooms, though, is that they are unique, so it is impossible to pass the same object to each and anyone of your descendants.<br />
While this is true, there is something that can be done. You can take pictures of the family heirlooms you own, and put them together in a virtual shadow box, that you will be able to share with any other member of your family.<br />
I think this would be a great Family reunion idea.<br />
Each member of the extended family can take pictures of the family heirlooms they own, and they can be shared with everybody else, so that the person in charge can create one or more shadow boxes that will be available for each family member.<br />
One great and private way to do it, is to have a "Family Reunion" free account on <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and have everyone upload their pictures online, so they don't have to stress in case they forget to bring them at the family reunion. You just give each relative login and password, and everybody can have access to it, or anyone can have their own personal account, and then share the pictures with everyone else they desire to share them with.<br />
If you look in the <a href="http://www.heritagemakers.com/templategallery.cfm?sponsorID=236440" target="_blank">template Gallery</a>, you will find quite a few shadow boxes ideas, like these ones:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6jvB6M1j_wRBZ4bi-CUVbpv6RUnHMiAZiIWV1XGaH-O9TdAto6BQyBa7Hz5i_54LQYNQt9x1-XbodNOSnApyHJt87ZgI3jLz_p_4xMy9HqSHVYaTjc6W0cglNWtvcOs2V4gG_J6xeZo/s1600/shadow+boxes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6jvB6M1j_wRBZ4bi-CUVbpv6RUnHMiAZiIWV1XGaH-O9TdAto6BQyBa7Hz5i_54LQYNQt9x1-XbodNOSnApyHJt87ZgI3jLz_p_4xMy9HqSHVYaTjc6W0cglNWtvcOs2V4gG_J6xeZo/s320/shadow+boxes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, the persons that created these shadow boxes, created them mostly to display pictures of people, but I really think they would really fulfill their purpose with actual family heirlooms.<br />
In each shadow box, there could be the picture of the family that owns the heirloom(s), a picture of the original owner, and a picture (or more) of the object.<br />
If this shadow box is intended to be part of a whole "Family Heirloom" Post bound album", then a second page can be created with the memories connected with those family heirlooms.<br />
<br />
This would be surely a priceless heirloom in itself that can be "multiplied" for as many members of the family as there are that would love to have it, since you can just make copies of each page and of the post bound album.<br />
This is my first attempt at a family heirloom shadow box:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3axBfIghtAEcpSgYwepbouE2JbfJ0cKLSS5e1B1-sl-J3dcumwTZPQqNmuUMqrnpQqWLSvYMGYyKKfx8wBRRg9JX9UCQGLm8J3QUVPqQ5CYK63aMxh0RUddh3D9FjAw7Q-QWASOAQFNQ/s1600/heirloomshadowbox.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3axBfIghtAEcpSgYwepbouE2JbfJ0cKLSS5e1B1-sl-J3dcumwTZPQqNmuUMqrnpQqWLSvYMGYyKKfx8wBRRg9JX9UCQGLm8J3QUVPqQ5CYK63aMxh0RUddh3D9FjAw7Q-QWASOAQFNQ/s320/heirloomshadowbox.gif" width="316" /></a></div>
In case the image above is too small, here is a detail:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxjirChxH_TYa7olwGWBjpG-ZdmfWfoGNPiaH8_iQRt4AcdcpdOP-qgQT6HUAu2oDfocrNEiOaznDrZxm3mSBoJpkgGEv_1Qn6K3qLzL_YL3BuWK_Iey5FWXgXVCg6pMZ44xC5KMXFAU/s1600/shadowboxdetail.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxjirChxH_TYa7olwGWBjpG-ZdmfWfoGNPiaH8_iQRt4AcdcpdOP-qgQT6HUAu2oDfocrNEiOaznDrZxm3mSBoJpkgGEv_1Qn6K3qLzL_YL3BuWK_Iey5FWXgXVCg6pMZ44xC5KMXFAU/s400/shadowboxdetail.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I just realized that I have quite a few more family heirlooms that I can display like this...<br />
Taking pictures of your family heirlooms will help your descendants better understand who you are, and what really mattered to you. Start your shadow box today!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Tip</span>: As many of us gather at the grandparent's house this thanksgiving, why not ask your loved ones to show off their heirlooms and offer to take pictures of them to put in a scrap page or a book with the story behind them? If the family members that are coming prefer not to take their heirlooms out of the house, they can just bring or email a picture and share the story with everybody.<br />
What a better way to celebrate the people we are thankful for than preserve their memories!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-73241526621507662442011-11-19T22:51:00.001-05:002011-11-21T12:25:26.151-05:00A facebook family history storyGod bless facebook!<br />
Why this exclamation, you might ask; <br />
Well, I have many reasons, and some of them include:<br />
1) Living on the other side of the ocean from my homeland, I have been able to keep in touch with my family and friend.<br />
2) I have found long lost friends from school<br />
3) Through the creation of last name facebook groups and hometown related facebook groups, I have been able to connect to many distant cousins that I would have never found otherwise<br />
4) It allows me to share pictures with my family and friends in a user friendly way.<br />
5) It has been the means through which I got back in touch with a few of my cousins in Italy.<br />
This last point is what is making me jump for joy right now because I have finally been able to have all the pictures and birth dates of the descendants of my maternal grandparents.<br />
Here is the story.<br />
I left Italy for the USA in 2003, and already hadn't seen this cousin of mine for a while as she
had left for the North of Italy a few years before,
and when she would come to visit her family in my town, she would stay
too little for us to get together, so once I left for America, we
totally lost track of each other.<br />
Even if I came back to visit a few times, it was never when she was there.<br />
After years and months of patient waiting for her or her siblings to join facebook, it finally happened last year, it was actually her nephew first, and then his father.It took one more year for me to come to the point where I was finally able to get in touch with the one cousin I had been wanting to talk to for more than 10 years!<br />
<br />
The first time I asked her nephew for her email address, even if she had one, it was not a working one, so she never responded to the emails I sent her because she never got them!<br />
I also created a facebook group for the descendants of our common grandparents, but that wasn't moving the waters fast enough. <br />
Finally last week I decided to ask again as I was finishing the 2012 calendar for my mom, and the only pictures missing were the ones of this cousin and her sister's family. Luckily her sister had joined facebook the week before, so it was a matter of asking for her FB friendship, and she already had her family pictures posted on facebook.<br />
This one cousin, the one that I really wanted to find, the one that we had so many things in common, and who was born only 11 days before me, as it turns out, she really doesn't like facebook, but fate (or should I say Somebody up there) wanted that her husband had been working in Brazil since September, so they were using Skype to communicate.<br />
Can you imagine me as soon as my cousin's nephew gave me her Skype username?<br />
I was on Skype in 2 seconds!<br />
I sent her a message, the next day she answered, and finally a day later, we were having an hour plus long video chat talking like these 10 years never went by!<br />
But the pictures, no, she didn't have them on her computer, so she got me in touch with her husband and finally, TONIGHT, he sent me his family pictures!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCobdR0ycVnbEVe2gBp_QzJ5amfwtPl04fJZUvKUSjzauzy0YcoZWQIXSf3r4_0j3HhffWuaYda2jfZXcGODrQxk2yNvjjntIbzlnMWas826B_fB4qwesrn7Psw80B2XNMzkCXqGFmg4/s1600/facebookskypec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCobdR0ycVnbEVe2gBp_QzJ5amfwtPl04fJZUvKUSjzauzy0YcoZWQIXSf3r4_0j3HhffWuaYda2jfZXcGODrQxk2yNvjjntIbzlnMWas826B_fB4qwesrn7Psw80B2XNMzkCXqGFmg4/s320/facebookskypec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yeah!!! It's complete!!! I can publish the calendar for my mom (and mine too)<br />
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<a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/10/2012-calendar-plus-family-tree.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsLvCg9QFxSwDA-38f8Nl2YuH6VIl174_C4DQa8nxZuWEQRRaJaPp99ArKZFliFB50tRNnetTklL4Wz59C8lt_QFKenJIIX_GI6p7yXN3SEqwCU_NU7BCvPsYZwBxHCSyPLrNVAHSa5o/s320/calendariomammaalberoc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Sorry, cannot show the pages inside the calendar to respect her privacy)</span></div>
and then, after I get a little of my cousin's family stories, I can complete the descendants book I have been working on too!<br />
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<a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/10/fruits-of-their-love-aka-descendants.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmidQGfz9bO_BiAyx4Do_UwBWSzcu3pijrh-kTHlaxprn98vFezxNNSRf-2wUSojmDmgcDUmgTQkw_Ya2FUzoNWri8fxKbdxOPWQa7ORVKBcB4u4BZwIo29s0ajsJ1PrA2vCV59fOSUA/s200/Gerardo+e+Michelina+copertina+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Now you can understand why I love facebook so much(starting today Skype too;)).<br />
While sometimes it can get people frustrated, I really believe that facebook has done so much for genealogy and the more people realize how to use it in its full potential, especially using groups for people with the same last name, or that come from the same town, the more long lost cousins will be connected.<br />
<br />
Do you have a facebook family history story?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-71437043533601766692011-11-19T07:30:00.000-05:002011-11-21T12:25:26.064-05:00I am a child of GodI am a child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear...<br />
I just love this hymn, and so do my children.<br />
It can be appreciated at any age, as it is my belief that we are all indeed children of our Father in Heaven. <br />
I love it so much that I have been captured for a few hours playing with my kids pictures and some of my friend's little girl pictures, around those beautiful words.<br />
Here is the fruit of my work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAeV_osMrti55gcmYzp6cDLzl2t4LNJSuyhC6n9ByDAc9sdS2avyXQQi9tR3vtmBb9o7nTNy8o6sjZ4l_2b7sssyix5MVBPtb2VQMvHkcliqtVQ1O7huLb5xVDrsUSOIOk2HWbl07fek/s1600/childofgodannouncgirlc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAeV_osMrti55gcmYzp6cDLzl2t4LNJSuyhC6n9ByDAc9sdS2avyXQQi9tR3vtmBb9o7nTNy8o6sjZ4l_2b7sssyix5MVBPtb2VQMvHkcliqtVQ1O7huLb5xVDrsUSOIOk2HWbl07fek/s320/childofgodannouncgirlc.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
Before I show you more, I need to shout a huge THANK YOU to my good friend Becki that has allowed me to use the beautiful pictures she has taken of her gorgeous little girl for these projects, as my boys really wouldn't look so good in "pink";).<br />
Now we can continue...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPDiygyV2PYna4UGIFYtpMh_dBcUhUjq03iawxak8b5m8RBSXcd88ZOKAHyAUUkT9YUk82R6N-2Tg07JIdlapWnpygOXa2wxOMcDCSEcVeD3K5KPnKDb9DAgi9588Fa9oaDWBjFuTTC0/s1600/childofGodMattia.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPDiygyV2PYna4UGIFYtpMh_dBcUhUjq03iawxak8b5m8RBSXcd88ZOKAHyAUUkT9YUk82R6N-2Tg07JIdlapWnpygOXa2wxOMcDCSEcVeD3K5KPnKDb9DAgi9588Fa9oaDWBjFuTTC0/s320/childofGodMattia.gif" width="229" /></a></div>
These can be printed on a 5x7 or 4x6 as birth announcement, or framed and hung in the nursery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDzRQEZt-aT2iMJVX4tRC3n-hs9QGvfGTjN1LoGQ8lcRGbrk4jE3TCD3znaOPyr39Yw1roOrpQ7cARlGX9sI-yeb7Ib1eH3IkkjBuC3Fhr2KT_UaSSRw2WXoMT7Baxs6DMhWc46ylSho/s1600/childofGodboy11x14c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDzRQEZt-aT2iMJVX4tRC3n-hs9QGvfGTjN1LoGQ8lcRGbrk4jE3TCD3znaOPyr39Yw1roOrpQ7cARlGX9sI-yeb7Ib1eH3IkkjBuC3Fhr2KT_UaSSRw2WXoMT7Baxs6DMhWc46ylSho/s320/childofGodboy11x14c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgj5kpmT3k9bDV4kpKm9US1HW0C4JlhzVfc0y3A_il0IBKZ02VuNobQCCRZhB5cv2NxlkoWa3zNvUqsdbRCvwMTateRRAl7hJN8w8FNJeG0SLY8YeBcM81sniOw_gbJ8FaYMcFx40MQc/s1600/childofGodboy14x11c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgj5kpmT3k9bDV4kpKm9US1HW0C4JlhzVfc0y3A_il0IBKZ02VuNobQCCRZhB5cv2NxlkoWa3zNvUqsdbRCvwMTateRRAl7hJN8w8FNJeG0SLY8YeBcM81sniOw_gbJ8FaYMcFx40MQc/s320/childofGodboy14x11c.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwUEqMFZ1KXOW5xyHQTmq1TbaHIcKN-Lowh93zzIx18zsSWhjJNS2KClzdgtoc5PrrNWv-_dZBMXH35Y8q23sOgc67Jj9eeCSPkj-qBBRu1zaU3gA2XKinhG_YypBsUesaRH9Bs19w60/s1600/childofGodgirlpnk11x14c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwUEqMFZ1KXOW5xyHQTmq1TbaHIcKN-Lowh93zzIx18zsSWhjJNS2KClzdgtoc5PrrNWv-_dZBMXH35Y8q23sOgc67Jj9eeCSPkj-qBBRu1zaU3gA2XKinhG_YypBsUesaRH9Bs19w60/s320/childofGodgirlpnk11x14c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodYajzMwqDOPWbk8Fk4qxMiVvYZ749UHCj1MistBi549WsEdKDnhwN1mBE69Kz_kynDQCG3JXJjAM2LTGVd9whYjUStlwrNrCRGXq7mLu2vohDRTtvumMwDxynp2BLlOE0XEjb1MGNqE/s1600/childofGodgirlpnk14x11c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodYajzMwqDOPWbk8Fk4qxMiVvYZ749UHCj1MistBi549WsEdKDnhwN1mBE69Kz_kynDQCG3JXJjAM2LTGVd9whYjUStlwrNrCRGXq7mLu2vohDRTtvumMwDxynp2BLlOE0XEjb1MGNqE/s320/childofGodgirlpnk14x11c.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZf8havx7EdXkD2WdJMc4DV1ypbR_xxU8trbDdJxX-x-Xy27awvwgs5yrHB8mgi9LDsP9H5KX7xkjvipRgQ4vHY5PYA7F7fh6WC15sqFKbDmDkxkDJVEr3WgPOyMaMo_vdFDvVafsOVc/s1600/childofGodgirl12x12c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZf8havx7EdXkD2WdJMc4DV1ypbR_xxU8trbDdJxX-x-Xy27awvwgs5yrHB8mgi9LDsP9H5KX7xkjvipRgQ4vHY5PYA7F7fh6WC15sqFKbDmDkxkDJVEr3WgPOyMaMo_vdFDvVafsOVc/s320/childofGodgirl12x12c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FZCtEkusLC0jx613WMtbEoVnZQEcR9lzPn-1l-6JpwQr5wGluoPU4BY9Mg6Jh0JjueHELFEuwLIincsWe4NQ8PCVXNH0buIpVy4JmdQLFJ9C2TEx8c4AylO3KLuJrWBmdRzn0ZEMxnA/s1600/childofGodgirl12x12pnkc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FZCtEkusLC0jx613WMtbEoVnZQEcR9lzPn-1l-6JpwQr5wGluoPU4BY9Mg6Jh0JjueHELFEuwLIincsWe4NQ8PCVXNH0buIpVy4JmdQLFJ9C2TEx8c4AylO3KLuJrWBmdRzn0ZEMxnA/s320/childofGodgirl12x12pnkc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(isn't she just adorable? You can understand why I couldn't stop making more and more of these!)<br />
I also decided to make them in Italian:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX8WU0Oud0s8nOe_rdzmJpfkG9b2UIjiBn4cbhAn5uOX8bgmfMaOTGQ4pbpuHyhrpGHMwCNTiEWiSLeWJZ_O3GxxWxzKLFwBoY_k1q2ZLwsRqerq8eXWnnB1V7p-DURb-VqTTlezOD1M/s1600/childofgodboyitalian12x12c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX8WU0Oud0s8nOe_rdzmJpfkG9b2UIjiBn4cbhAn5uOX8bgmfMaOTGQ4pbpuHyhrpGHMwCNTiEWiSLeWJZ_O3GxxWxzKLFwBoY_k1q2ZLwsRqerq8eXWnnB1V7p-DURb-VqTTlezOD1M/s320/childofgodboyitalian12x12c.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
but then I was like "Why not in Spanish?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJWW2VpGoeGtBUvWHdsxk_OT1AKWF7CvtZZepwYAxFT6Ivy1aPjhAOxnGWuW61V1ElKdy8E4NUdsAc3z8qHvW15i3XbT0N4L3ykuhNukCOWkYR8Lr5Wc1EMFk5T5dHaSwgDg8U1Z8r9o/s1600/childofGodboyspanish12x12+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJWW2VpGoeGtBUvWHdsxk_OT1AKWF7CvtZZepwYAxFT6Ivy1aPjhAOxnGWuW61V1ElKdy8E4NUdsAc3z8qHvW15i3XbT0N4L3ykuhNukCOWkYR8Lr5Wc1EMFk5T5dHaSwgDg8U1Z8r9o/s320/childofGodboyspanish12x12+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XLEdUBaYCRs2ioIHECQmVZLquhYz0aOV_L09AKzDa8nre6chrV-nvgelpnGjqZgqS-Nz0tgR1jax2urBk_adoAupUBwrhqA9u83rbLNhsjxAOxDkM0vrEzrhViGuvdiFbTJr52M2ofE/s1600/childofGodboyspanish12x12green+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XLEdUBaYCRs2ioIHECQmVZLquhYz0aOV_L09AKzDa8nre6chrV-nvgelpnGjqZgqS-Nz0tgR1jax2urBk_adoAupUBwrhqA9u83rbLNhsjxAOxDkM0vrEzrhViGuvdiFbTJr52M2ofE/s320/childofGodboyspanish12x12green+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
and then French seemed just perfect for this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice2tejlj9POGnNIDAcUySeRqjvn9mNxHFGsgpeq-vyFVLD2nnU0HmA1gMGB2jUw8HoDq1Uw7Cx1khZhRXzdReUeml3R8HV9tviGuxPJedfXOjvNR5k2slzCVlZepD3L6r0AvP756gC4s/s1600/childofgodgirl12x12frenchc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice2tejlj9POGnNIDAcUySeRqjvn9mNxHFGsgpeq-vyFVLD2nnU0HmA1gMGB2jUw8HoDq1Uw7Cx1khZhRXzdReUeml3R8HV9tviGuxPJedfXOjvNR5k2slzCVlZepD3L6r0AvP756gC4s/s320/childofgodgirl12x12frenchc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
These are so cute they would look stunning on a canvas too!<br />
Ok, I will stop (for now)^_^<br />
Thinking of someone you would love to give these to as a gift? I can help!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
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<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-32143204292067824592011-11-18T08:05:00.000-05:002011-11-21T12:25:24.641-05:00Kids family tree placemat games ideasMy kids have been dieing to be able to use their <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/01/kids-family-tree-placemat-keep-their.html" target="_blank">family tree mats</a>, poor babies, their mamma has been so much busy doing so many things, she hasn't had time to put her ideas into action for a long time.<br />
<br />
I finally got around to doing it, and I must say, I am pretty proud of the final result!<br />
Here it is:<br />
A world map where they can point where their ancestors were born, lived or got married.<br />
Since my husband's family was established in USA for at least 4 generations, and mine was all from the same area in Italy, I created 2 games.<br />
This is for the American side:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gRv9OeZ9Hlam7yVwD-yJ84EIeQY5Y6kgmxs1DW7KpC5aHZu97CMHxfhwrRBxVb3wSd09vv09BSDE1TV0GU1gVCwPTyrPfYN66hPY3bCHiLtpWvuj0hUYACSgwc2feiPLDlFyNdiFIVY/s1600/placematusacr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gRv9OeZ9Hlam7yVwD-yJ84EIeQY5Y6kgmxs1DW7KpC5aHZu97CMHxfhwrRBxVb3wSd09vv09BSDE1TV0GU1gVCwPTyrPfYN66hPY3bCHiLtpWvuj0hUYACSgwc2feiPLDlFyNdiFIVY/s400/placematusacr.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is the version for the Italian side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX_sVUp_lYLuEimugpm_O0kH38Gh7rNsUJ_ByNgemgzSV1InQjwBKZ1QNFPthp8a5exGvYuXHmrUQ4mMr4YpaPogq_lwrQSCqaPUFcoYe3PELC2E5WSxa5PngQNeoi17jKzrGDvcrVW4/s1600/placematitalia.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX_sVUp_lYLuEimugpm_O0kH38Gh7rNsUJ_ByNgemgzSV1InQjwBKZ1QNFPthp8a5exGvYuXHmrUQ4mMr4YpaPogq_lwrQSCqaPUFcoYe3PELC2E5WSxa5PngQNeoi17jKzrGDvcrVW4/s400/placematitalia.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Family names word puzzle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKW_R31uhyc5vkV5MYhyphenhyphen1KqT2Cql_AWUWiB6ZFHitz_QBcMhyphenhyphenUc1R71BY9paoCq_ngR_67Oom_omNHZT0KRe3li_H7kXLBL1s-FlQDu-rhwv5hgmPhBsh_3XCO-8tyirEOUnIQ2JoTZ4/s1600/placematpuzzle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKW_R31uhyc5vkV5MYhyphenhyphen1KqT2Cql_AWUWiB6ZFHitz_QBcMhyphenhyphenUc1R71BY9paoCq_ngR_67Oom_omNHZT0KRe3li_H7kXLBL1s-FlQDu-rhwv5hgmPhBsh_3XCO-8tyirEOUnIQ2JoTZ4/s400/placematpuzzle.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
These are the ones I already created for my kids, and I am going to publish in the next few days.<br />
Once I receive these prints, I will match them with each of my <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/01/kids-family-tree-placemat-keep-their.html" target="_blank">kids family tree placemats</a> and then laminate them, so that they can use washable dry erase markers to play the games<br />
A couple more ideas:<br />
<br />
Match the couple game, where the child needs to trace a line to connect each husband to his wife.<br />
<br />
A family traits matching game, where the kid connects his eyes, nose,
mouth, hair etc to his parents and grandparents, to see who looks more
like him. <br />
<br />
What ideas have you come up with to keep your kids entertained at dinner/lunch time and at the same time nourish their love for their family history? <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-36105098245074567782011-11-16T00:03:00.001-05:002011-11-22T15:08:24.246-05:00Personalized Children's Christmas storybookTraditions are a very important part of a Family Heritage. It is very important to pass them on from generation to generation, but it is also important to create a new one.<br />
We have quite a few Christmas tradition, some from my Italian Heritage, some from my husband's America Heritage, but I really feel that we need to have a tradition that is peculiar to our own little family. <br />
This year I want to start the tradition to read my children a very special book, a Christmas story where they are indeed the protagonists.<br />
I found this template in the <a href="http://www.heritagemakers.com/templategallery.cfm?sponsorID=236440" target="_blank">Template Gallery</a>,<br />
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</div>
and I thought this was just perfect for what I wanted to create.<br />
This book is a 8x8 hardbound storybook, which is pretty, but I decided to make mine a soft bound one.<br />
I took picture from the past year, so that the kids will enjoy it even more since they remember a good deal of the experiences we shared in the last 12 months.<br />
I am so glad I found a template that suits my needs, since lately seems like not even a 48 hours day would be enough to accomplish all my tasks and obligations!<br />
The hardest part was choosing the pictures, then I just dragged and dropped them in the Template, tyoed my kids' names, et voila'!<br />
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Here is a taste of what my book is going to look like<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ7wpDYzLHV3vY0CemtfHBc8zzJLQ7MFoHw-ItmaAjlAttIxf_APAwa3ij-P8vUzeiCH5KEuTjRZux7T8uNnkstN5oZI4Xrnu9uYmnEf1Jc4vppez9nFNfxk-MSuUyzKWW1G8lrRrCxU/s1600/twasthenight-before-christm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ7wpDYzLHV3vY0CemtfHBc8zzJLQ7MFoHw-ItmaAjlAttIxf_APAwa3ij-P8vUzeiCH5KEuTjRZux7T8uNnkstN5oZI4Xrnu9uYmnEf1Jc4vppez9nFNfxk-MSuUyzKWW1G8lrRrCxU/s1600/twasthenight-before-christm.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
The boys are going to be so surprised when I will read it to them on Christmas morning!<br />
And a new tradition for the Hall family will be born...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-70943479081256987472011-11-07T09:24:00.000-05:002011-12-09T13:22:14.558-05:00Magnetic Family Tree game, revisedAfter playing so much with their <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2009/11/family-tree-worth-fighting-for.html" target="_blank">4 generations magnetic family tree</a>, I feel that my kids are ready for their 5th generation, which now calls for a bigger board.<br />
So here is a 12x12 page version of it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIEP5nRIdqGtgwF6sBE8fmnwrtljid3SbYbg5DlHTl8zes1hRWlT4PJSPiKPr-Mpwv8z8Dv65WgtaH5gxg8mnxd2Ik3_YYwSAAFQbNI07mt5QCZVld1-TEGJSBDGd7mlIUMEhg2C_KJk/s1600/Magnetic+tree+bkground7+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIEP5nRIdqGtgwF6sBE8fmnwrtljid3SbYbg5DlHTl8zes1hRWlT4PJSPiKPr-Mpwv8z8Dv65WgtaH5gxg8mnxd2Ik3_YYwSAAFQbNI07mt5QCZVld1-TEGJSBDGd7mlIUMEhg2C_KJk/s320/Magnetic+tree+bkground7+copy.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
I have also decided to have a different board for each holiday, just to spruce things up a bit.<br />
Kids and grown ups will love playing with a magnetic family tree whose theme can be changed according to each holiday. The more they will play, the more their heart will be drawn into the desire to know more about their ancestors. <br />
Here is a possible Halloween Background:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChsFdOZocDiVIMiWPRQafAopmMquDfkwLJBWeg8HNxfjV36KtJngyeuvi4_ESilppSQ3kRMUglWusXVlC2-QXfmueMnMVUa031D1mXYGy40kgK-uPOo46nnvs3MzwjvK-Bcmb7AdvjS8/s1600/halloweenfamtree-cpr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChsFdOZocDiVIMiWPRQafAopmMquDfkwLJBWeg8HNxfjV36KtJngyeuvi4_ESilppSQ3kRMUglWusXVlC2-QXfmueMnMVUa031D1mXYGy40kgK-uPOo46nnvs3MzwjvK-Bcmb7AdvjS8/s320/halloweenfamtree-cpr.gif" width="319" /></a></div>
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Thanksgiving background<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgk0e4p70TI4Kp1H9MTP6mzVsMcKkHQ_cUowytDr50ruGHeGJQGzAHHZKMnSHME4FQU_jusfXlCrov3cS5l316iOMnbFx9xMX-ZCCK6AQE7Rvwldj6if5d2IlszT2HYVdGuFoVAL8vk/s1600/thankful-familytree.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgk0e4p70TI4Kp1H9MTP6mzVsMcKkHQ_cUowytDr50ruGHeGJQGzAHHZKMnSHME4FQU_jusfXlCrov3cS5l316iOMnbFx9xMX-ZCCK6AQE7Rvwldj6if5d2IlszT2HYVdGuFoVAL8vk/s320/thankful-familytree.gif" width="317" /></a></div>
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Christmas background:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUG5iA5MopjV9bbNm88VVWAky8ch0kUnycliLDMFhR_fEUQ8rKxNO1S_khJwlMLg6K5GGv6_5Emw7PPNXTyrSJSxXYhdf6PQSSHS6LtyNS-geEd0fQjsoJLnu3rivjpRC62L0Dfor7T0/s1600/christmas-tree.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUG5iA5MopjV9bbNm88VVWAky8ch0kUnycliLDMFhR_fEUQ8rKxNO1S_khJwlMLg6K5GGv6_5Emw7PPNXTyrSJSxXYhdf6PQSSHS6LtyNS-geEd0fQjsoJLnu3rivjpRC62L0Dfor7T0/s320/christmas-tree.gif" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
Valentine's day back ground<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25hVH9ZzG0Ssq-JRG6QbianJecGsD8ngPEKwZn1KrueBB6Ib_DMt5GMApT1AbAwDnOkVWDH-Wb8L4ttX_FumQaMZAeCIj5dhWvqCEj5cSMIwJjK-_MnkfZOYQsyBzr7qXZshWEqwth-o/s1600/valentine-familytree2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25hVH9ZzG0Ssq-JRG6QbianJecGsD8ngPEKwZn1KrueBB6Ib_DMt5GMApT1AbAwDnOkVWDH-Wb8L4ttX_FumQaMZAeCIj5dhWvqCEj5cSMIwJjK-_MnkfZOYQsyBzr7qXZshWEqwth-o/s320/valentine-familytree2.gif" width="319" /></a></div>
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St. Patrick day background<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmINa-6NYl7lk-2MztjvodxAIa187wX7_8BuzjhIKk-m3yDZDXs09VyBfkRnaeZCyYDgaA3iLwjlRn3V9Zwqd0I9Il98xawcRmijd-Nww9m2Lrp8wSYItMREGR5h1RaYP0xo2uwAbWKW4/s1600/Lucky-family-tree.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmINa-6NYl7lk-2MztjvodxAIa187wX7_8BuzjhIKk-m3yDZDXs09VyBfkRnaeZCyYDgaA3iLwjlRn3V9Zwqd0I9Il98xawcRmijd-Nww9m2Lrp8wSYItMREGR5h1RaYP0xo2uwAbWKW4/s320/Lucky-family-tree.gif" width="319" /></a></div>
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Easter back ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTUyqmVrCQg3HVQ1lPH1tL4FAWmt7oXTa-khJ3ixsszicKevGQPgl3mUfLrWG1h5P10SF_K9e_JEY8o2SEqdjWe_JtbDTfCrtLjYkSdDDGN7hTWfRZ4SS3amBwynX7Kcle8jwp1q9spo/s1600/easter-Family-tree-cpr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTUyqmVrCQg3HVQ1lPH1tL4FAWmt7oXTa-khJ3ixsszicKevGQPgl3mUfLrWG1h5P10SF_K9e_JEY8o2SEqdjWe_JtbDTfCrtLjYkSdDDGN7hTWfRZ4SS3amBwynX7Kcle8jwp1q9spo/s320/easter-Family-tree-cpr.gif" width="318" /></a></div>
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<br />
Independence Day background:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaTwrTNBKBBzC8vdyJpIVULkoja0nfFMIcAhWm1PaJpaSucOwQpPxhfxqs_9MBA7nc7kSmKUhGoaYoz8uw-QQakfH3q8PPGd99Ypk2yApXpFgbNx5NXremc6V0r41comPE3DAuDMFUyM/s1600/indipendence-famtree-cpr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaTwrTNBKBBzC8vdyJpIVULkoja0nfFMIcAhWm1PaJpaSucOwQpPxhfxqs_9MBA7nc7kSmKUhGoaYoz8uw-QQakfH3q8PPGd99Ypk2yApXpFgbNx5NXremc6V0r41comPE3DAuDMFUyM/s320/indipendence-famtree-cpr.gif" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I thought to put together a tree with the flag where each ancestor came from. It just so happens that my ancestors are all Italian and my husband's first 4 generation ancestors were all already established in USA.<br />
<br />
Another idea is to have an identical family tree with actually the pictures already on them, so that the kids can compare and see by themselves if they matched all the right ancestors with their place in the family tree.<br />
I will post more backgrounds on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cavagenealogy">CavaGenealogy facebook</a> page, so be sure to like it to know first hand when I make more!<br />
<br />
These12x12 pages can be switched back and forth on a magnetic sheet inserted in a shadow box<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfVzXUC5Ag5RKuLUUVdxCdhPO3E-sOR954QB3lQ7qCWDw4ed1kdU9oEXu9MWybEhE8_JJ5Ds5ReKF0CjGhJOJsggp-_P9Z6QdyKvo55SvkGZKp0TP562IlUMst_US4RO8CPTn9UEXSSg/s1600/magnetic+shadow+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfVzXUC5Ag5RKuLUUVdxCdhPO3E-sOR954QB3lQ7qCWDw4ed1kdU9oEXu9MWybEhE8_JJ5Ds5ReKF0CjGhJOJsggp-_P9Z6QdyKvo55SvkGZKp0TP562IlUMst_US4RO8CPTn9UEXSSg/s320/magnetic+shadow+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
or on a 14x14 magnetic board.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlVAapsEd-s7VBRISeBIx_jihR-LZ1az4Qry32fr9JLqCj2ioF1Ie8a9dlFcyBhQ150qm0z1uNBco5n6AUWOQ1nnwIujPQmNbCSvwJmFtfJkyiTGqzRa7HaamLCRIPEQYgEfA-FMoQfU/s1600/magnetic+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlVAapsEd-s7VBRISeBIx_jihR-LZ1az4Qry32fr9JLqCj2ioF1Ie8a9dlFcyBhQ150qm0z1uNBco5n6AUWOQ1nnwIujPQmNbCSvwJmFtfJkyiTGqzRa7HaamLCRIPEQYgEfA-FMoQfU/s320/magnetic+board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can find the shadow box ready to decorate and the 14x14 magnetic board at Micheal's for $4-$5 if you have a 50% coupon.<br />
The magnetic sheet can be found in any hardware store like Home Depot or Lowe's, but also online in various craft stores for about $6.<br />
I haven't put mine together yet, since I am creating more family tree pages to go with the magnetic tree and I will print a few of the ones that fit my family style most, but I wanted to give you an idea of how it would look inside the shadow box, so I used one of the 12x12 family tree pages I already created and the magnets I had from the old magnetic tree and here it is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7kkUU2VTjHfM89XAkQMJ_8YfBZmFeeV2Ckvgrw97SuHIOeaHSaPdRpFvRMYtFLO9XEvSj1LOf5ucC2pol3-DNnBQbzsrtSIeJ2JgIzVq3xT3bMUQjyMcUhAtxY86lE84E0v7HmdWyuc/s1600/magnetic+family+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7kkUU2VTjHfM89XAkQMJ_8YfBZmFeeV2Ckvgrw97SuHIOeaHSaPdRpFvRMYtFLO9XEvSj1LOf5ucC2pol3-DNnBQbzsrtSIeJ2JgIzVq3xT3bMUQjyMcUhAtxY86lE84E0v7HmdWyuc/s320/magnetic+family+tree.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
It will need some decoration, maybe I could spray the frame of the shadow box with magnetic paint so that it will hold more magnets, or I could modge podge something related to the various holidays or a quote about genealogy.<br />
I guess I will have to post again when I finally complete my work of art!^__^<br />
<br />
Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiVs_csNVwAc92S-dsYqUF-zIfda-IMgMHthouhqWpHcidONKWe5zEcV0BINAZ4HNSbKubiuGUIY1mkI3cUrTpnCPsl268WUcR-ixiru814BhyphenhyphenwP2sPS7RMNRz5hkeVNkj5JFVl1g7IE/s1600/magnetic+tree+papers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiVs_csNVwAc92S-dsYqUF-zIfda-IMgMHthouhqWpHcidONKWe5zEcV0BINAZ4HNSbKubiuGUIY1mkI3cUrTpnCPsl268WUcR-ixiru814BhyphenhyphenwP2sPS7RMNRz5hkeVNkj5JFVl1g7IE/s320/magnetic+tree+papers.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
EDIT: my shipment just came in! The pages are gorgeous! vibrant colors, high quality papers (not to mention acid free and archival quality)... As soon as I add the next generation magnets and paint the shadow box, I will post more pictures!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-40178737482057281972011-11-05T08:54:00.000-04:002011-11-21T12:25:24.952-05:00Easy, fun crafty: Notebook covers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TT8UnxcK-0TGagzec_pNTf0oJXmNILv7tZCLXrGzjsycVcinnQtDN8hMqIX4a61u_SXxhFCUOyJB7-rxYdM0yJhaLME4zNxv5tRxgWQGE9gHDNfph7RAxtlDCm946DpEgwiL7NWKkkQ/s1600/10-3-2011+8-42-39+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TT8UnxcK-0TGagzec_pNTf0oJXmNILv7tZCLXrGzjsycVcinnQtDN8hMqIX4a61u_SXxhFCUOyJB7-rxYdM0yJhaLME4zNxv5tRxgWQGE9gHDNfph7RAxtlDCm946DpEgwiL7NWKkkQ/s320/10-3-2011+8-42-39+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajon3FaW2ocQXcK7QGavbuis7QYnsPZopvL0PRUINcQYc1aVIVEBBhEu_Mq4th2kDrdzpoUsoEbhAkeOPTp2mSKmMF-wdysRfZuCUCZcD-rPOmqOxoxoNSmh6szBtDKTfs44yCwWUDpQ/s1600/10-3-2011+8-43-08+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajon3FaW2ocQXcK7QGavbuis7QYnsPZopvL0PRUINcQYc1aVIVEBBhEu_Mq4th2kDrdzpoUsoEbhAkeOPTp2mSKmMF-wdysRfZuCUCZcD-rPOmqOxoxoNSmh6szBtDKTfs44yCwWUDpQ/s320/10-3-2011+8-43-08+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The things you can do with a greeting card!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC-ko2ECW4vMk_cAvNFEVPSqfFWjoRtI2pRB6AtSoTm-ankrPLRZn3o0NuOrGDyuj4X3L9Bg26mha9Qn9VeiXUe8SfM120jtU_ux6kDW-7-rF5jhHiXbFBY3UL7LrVJ9VM0us2Q3v7iA/s1600/10-3-2011+8-44-05+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC-ko2ECW4vMk_cAvNFEVPSqfFWjoRtI2pRB6AtSoTm-ankrPLRZn3o0NuOrGDyuj4X3L9Bg26mha9Qn9VeiXUe8SfM120jtU_ux6kDW-7-rF5jhHiXbFBY3UL7LrVJ9VM0us2Q3v7iA/s400/10-3-2011+8-44-05+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
If you look in the template gallery you will find these template to create 3x5 notebook covers.<br />
Each greeting card will make 3 notebook covers! Easy, fun, crafty and inexpensive, especially if you publish them when they are on sale!<br />
Never underestimate a greeting card!!!
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176147285866294576.post-57687160737645624282011-11-03T08:30:00.000-04:002011-11-21T12:25:25.530-05:00A family tree for every seasonI was looking at this acrylic 5x7 photo holder, I have been saving it for I don't know how long for a future project, and decided it was time to do something with it...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LFe-C6GxsG4yAxpnSnDcijSrq02mzKGAVtjW6SYtDZZHQpvGeXocixIepcYnl-py60lqQXk2I7zIlppEOmQrA407wtJble6IsiwvacW73EoBLf6qcxumlPeEY77UrXQCLvzb0abe3D4/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LFe-C6GxsG4yAxpnSnDcijSrq02mzKGAVtjW6SYtDZZHQpvGeXocixIepcYnl-py60lqQXk2I7zIlppEOmQrA407wtJble6IsiwvacW73EoBLf6qcxumlPeEY77UrXQCLvzb0abe3D4/s320/IMG_2198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The idea came to my mind that it would be cool to use it as a small family tree holder, with family trees that change with the season.<br />
Here is the first card that I created:<br />
<br />
Fall/thanksgiving: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVivCIt0aVQRPWaljM0M4A9FK1ZY6mkW7ODav5Ri3hQSgEnqfpZB0wyDAIh5MOtzMWkFA9rOYrkXb6oDI4lH1wwBr_UM636vh2bMEbNS6kXByVN2sm7H2yjLAjGBbNSYDI2viJPNX5Y8/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVivCIt0aVQRPWaljM0M4A9FK1ZY6mkW7ODav5Ri3hQSgEnqfpZB0wyDAIh5MOtzMWkFA9rOYrkXb6oDI4lH1wwBr_UM636vh2bMEbNS6kXByVN2sm7H2yjLAjGBbNSYDI2viJPNX5Y8/s320/IMG_2196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I thought having our family name on the back would be nice</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq90rXPQ_FPtJ_irn5Mid4jvxUUUh7Ta9LBmy0smVZVpuxFPylhIXqcvvR3joJdbltRroyjvM5iTUPg289RicLuIHMPCbC-7yD06BY7CnPoO7EvIGeX4tlziZAHm8qrsGnHyepDuidhY/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq90rXPQ_FPtJ_irn5Mid4jvxUUUh7Ta9LBmy0smVZVpuxFPylhIXqcvvR3joJdbltRroyjvM5iTUPg289RicLuIHMPCbC-7yD06BY7CnPoO7EvIGeX4tlziZAHm8qrsGnHyepDuidhY/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and here are the cards I am going to publish soon:<br />
Winter:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXnPczEsbPFii4W2QPhSB1tetuTl1_a_GPwwchXgRtlms2856ZrQ7CWx-6jYlc7WJNT0p6ewqD7BzgGXMMMZNTAl-EtLgaJKDF8X2rwVp4LYFr939Bg8XL5QyVcD0FoAqxXJQhv4TI8/s1600/familytreefolded%2528%25231960690%2529-.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXnPczEsbPFii4W2QPhSB1tetuTl1_a_GPwwchXgRtlms2856ZrQ7CWx-6jYlc7WJNT0p6ewqD7BzgGXMMMZNTAl-EtLgaJKDF8X2rwVp4LYFr939Bg8XL5QyVcD0FoAqxXJQhv4TI8/s320/familytreefolded%2528%25231960690%2529-.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Spring/Easter:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguthsb4lNmfP8jbdkTY6nIYXzW3M7kBMRo2VVL518dcUz0sGgxml5wgQWi9Du697TH9zvJbr5nmfXnfTKUq417n40f63u6feEjZwTMwbDonlJlkWvAjWLnrlvLVtWGKaPJg8pK1vXnrew/s1600/familytreefolded-easterft.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguthsb4lNmfP8jbdkTY6nIYXzW3M7kBMRo2VVL518dcUz0sGgxml5wgQWi9Du697TH9zvJbr5nmfXnfTKUq417n40f63u6feEjZwTMwbDonlJlkWvAjWLnrlvLVtWGKaPJg8pK1vXnrew/s320/familytreefolded-easterft.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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a possible back of the card:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsyjSHhqT-rDzpHL80ZNnbcCM__-EwdxUzv-7gQTR8qGO2gBfmqwMnsW54GzCPC9PvUS1eBUmrIw_VUO7MgaS8K5x_zqGs6RRPJeul-XCLr0Zx4Qcg0tDKll58-covriTP3yPJwvxR-Y/s1600/familytreefolded-easterbk.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsyjSHhqT-rDzpHL80ZNnbcCM__-EwdxUzv-7gQTR8qGO2gBfmqwMnsW54GzCPC9PvUS1eBUmrIw_VUO7MgaS8K5x_zqGs6RRPJeul-XCLr0Zx4Qcg0tDKll58-covriTP3yPJwvxR-Y/s320/familytreefolded-easterbk.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Summer:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudgUkkVLGQUbhOxBPqM2w_XwsLJEmRzW3QdfvoHaN7tAOQFA7ojlNvlDQL00I1IScv8-ccrYnm2Lvy5TUcXdcKDZ6IXVHckIAKxsY07Ay89nuCeI8oFyC4oX_IoD72yKW9bzgK3GQBV0/s1600/familytreefoldedsummercr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudgUkkVLGQUbhOxBPqM2w_XwsLJEmRzW3QdfvoHaN7tAOQFA7ojlNvlDQL00I1IScv8-ccrYnm2Lvy5TUcXdcKDZ6IXVHckIAKxsY07Ay89nuCeI8oFyC4oX_IoD72yKW9bzgK3GQBV0/s320/familytreefoldedsummercr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
possible back of the card:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFJohDJQAGyciQUck4937jqUSjoR1yyRw8blSdlGIKU6vv_6-sMJJN_WoV1sKwEXafLY0qttVXcu5oeSmkQHReJIBJ8yG5vOYBaZ5Jhb7ZBBl37eoFI6Cu2HE7VGv2J-Of6017pG0ca4/s1600/familytreefoldedsummerbkcr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFJohDJQAGyciQUck4937jqUSjoR1yyRw8blSdlGIKU6vv_6-sMJJN_WoV1sKwEXafLY0qttVXcu5oeSmkQHReJIBJ8yG5vOYBaZ5Jhb7ZBBl37eoFI6Cu2HE7VGv2J-Of6017pG0ca4/s320/familytreefoldedsummerbkcr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Being able to change the season your family tree is represented in allows you to keep the interest alive in everybody that lives in your home and also in anyone that comes visit!<br />
Think, if you are going to a family reunion, you have a very portable 4-5 generations family tree!<br />
Creating these cards is so easy! And if you publish them during the month of November, you can take advantage of the 20% discount on cards, making them even more inexpensive!<br />
You can get the acrylic frame at any store, I like to get it at JoAnn's or Michael's when I have a 50% off coupon, to save even more! <br />
This would make a very unexpected and appreciated gift for any one this Christmas (not to mention pretty affordable)!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
</span>You can get a <span style="color: #cc0000;">free</span> Publishing account by signing up at <a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/">http://www.preservemyheritage.com</a> and start creating unlimited projects at once!<br />
<span style="color: red;">Love my Creative Genealogy templates and ideas</span>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">HM club members</a> can have their favorite template transferred to their account for personal use, or can have it completely personalized by me for them for a reasonable fee. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Want more for less</span>? Check out our incredible <a href="http://hm.myvoffice.com/pdf/en/HostingGeneric.pdf">host rewards</a> and <a href="http://preservingheritage.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducing-club-hm.html">My Club HM</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.preservemyheritage.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365104972125611218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-30UfU7hEaxRkaQIZwJcboh0U1C6miFgR5AVga7lA3cw2AcCD07zAfTXTweUh2BZ3GEIBFI8cxalWuTIQvO0mngOYF0YmtF1iGOPOKgWllGa5Q7XCoWJDwsV9htxMUIGbYFeLzXW8AA/s400/signature.jpg" style="display: block; height: 143px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Michelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080460209207779787noreply@blogger.com0