A genealogist's reflection on Valentine's day

Love is in the air...
This morning my boys went to school all happy because they were going to exchange their valentines with their friends at school.
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.
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.
The tradition I have started a few months ago to have a different family tree background for our magnetic family tree has come in handy in a period in which all that we are really focusing on is recovering from our health issues.

I just had to change the back ground to the heart shaped tree, and then I picked the books we had made a couple years ago about the reasons we love each other.

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.
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...

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.
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.

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.

We are all the fruit of Love, and as such we are all entitled to celebrate Love today, and everyday.

We come from an Heritage of Love. Because 2 people fell in love, we were born.
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.
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.
Because they fell in love, and their child gave birth to you, you are the fruit of their love.

As  you can see, you can choose to be hurt on Valentine's day, or you can choose to celebrate.
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.

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?

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.

You can look for a blog or facebook group for your family surname, or you can create it, if you don't find it.

You can follow my example and tell the story of your Love to your children tonight.

You can write your story, because remember, LOVE is in your DNA.


The choice is yours!
Happy Valentine's day!

Magnetic Family Tree game, revised

After playing so much with their 4 generations magnetic family tree, I feel that my kids are ready for their 5th generation, which now calls for a bigger board.
So here is a 12x12 page version of it.

I have also decided to have a different board for each holiday, just to spruce things up a bit.
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. 
Here is a possible Halloween Background:

Thanksgiving background

Christmas background:

Valentine's day back ground

St. Patrick day background

Easter back ground.

Independence Day background:

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.

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.
I will post more backgrounds on the CavaGenealogy facebook page, so be sure to like it to know first hand when I make more!

These12x12 pages can be switched back and forth on a magnetic sheet inserted in a shadow box

or on a 14x14 magnetic  board.

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.
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.
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:

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.
I guess I will have to post again when I finally complete my work of art!^__^

Stay tuned!

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!

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My HM club members 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.

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San Valentino

This what Valentine's day is called in Italy.

Did you know that in Italy you only give a valentine to your special someone? I must say I was pretty surprised when I learned that here in America children (or should I say parents?) give valentines to all the friends in their class and anybody else they can think of! That's a lot of work! I am so grateful for digital scrapbooking! I can create one valentine and just make copies!

So, today I want to give my special valentine to all of you that enjoy my blog and my ideas, and that have a passion or simply like everything Italian.

These 2 phrases both mean I love you, but the first one is more as a friend or as a relative, the second one is for your one and only:

Here are some more Italian Valentine word art:

I will love you forever

Heart and heartbit

You are my life

You can find more Italian word Art here.

I hope you enjoy them!

Let me know if you would like a customized Italian valentine, I can create practically anything!

Happy Valentine's day everybody!

Valentine matchbooks

Looking for a crafty valentine idea?

Look no more!

These valentine matchbooks are just perfect!

You can find the template in the template gallery. Drag and drop your pictures, click publish, et voila', you will receive them on your doorstep in about 10 days (or less;)), and you will just have to cut them and put them together!

Don't you just love them?

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You can get a free Publishing account by signing up at http://www.preservemyheritage.com/ and start creating unlimited projects at once!

Want more? Check out our incredible host rewards(50% more for the month of January!!!) and fantastic package deals!!
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Calling all husbands!

Valentine day is almost here, and we know that you husbands out there have already planned everything... NOT!!!

Well, here I am, to the rescue. It takes just a few minutes to drag and drop some nice pictures in a beautiful 5x7 storybook template, write a few thoughts, and be ready to surprise your wife with what I dare say will be one of the best valentine gift you have ever given her, one she will cherish for years to come.

What are you waiting? Contact me today!!!!

Bookmark your valentine!

How many valentines are going to be bought this year and then will fly in the trash in the next few days following Valentines day?
You know I hate waste, and I particularly dislike generic things, so when I found this template in the template gallery, I thought it would be really cool if my kid could hand out these cute bookmarks with his pictures this year. Aren't they adorable?

This has been created in a 5x7  invitation format, and will make 3 bookmarks once printed.
I am also thinking to create some for the grandparents, with a picture of all three boys in it, and just put "Granpa Rocks" or "Nana Rocks" on the back, so that they can see a picture of their grandchildren every time they sit to read!
If you would like to meke your children's valentines stand out this year, you can send me their pictures and I will create them for you, or you can create them yourself on your HM Publishing account.
Contact me to know more!

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You can get a free Publishing account by signing up at http://www.preservemyheritage.com/ and start creating unlimited projects at once!

Want more? Check out our incredible host rewards(50% more for the month of January!!!) and fantastic package deals!!
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The best Valentine...

Valentine's day is going to be here sooner that you might think, and more than likely you are already thinking what you can do this year that is not the same as all the other years and that actually says"I love you and I really care about you"...
How about you just SAY it?
How about you tell your loved one about the reasons you love her/him in a 7x5 Storybook, just the right size to have always at hand, and at heart?
This is what I exactly did for my husband last year, and what is even better, he did the same for me!!!^_^

You can see my whole book for him here.

And his whole book for me here.
That was the best gift ever!
Sometimes we are so busy in our eclectic life, that we just hope our Soul mate just knows that we love him/her...
Well, that's not the case. The book my husband created for me, reminds me of the things he loves in me, and how much he loves me, and the same does my book for him.
Roses can look and smell good, chocolates can be so tasty and delicious, but they don't last, a book will be forever, just like your LOVE!
So, contact me today, and get ready to see a little tear of joy in the eyes of your loved one on Valentine's day! (or any other special day!)^_^

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You can get a free Publishing account by signing up at http://www.preservemyheritage.com/ and start creating unlimited projects at once!

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