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Further
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Online Shopping – Is It Really So Great?
Online shopping - is it really so great? That is the question among many consumers in the United States. There are many that would rather go to the local shopping mall to make their purchases. Perhaps it is the socialization aspect or the...
Beyond the Arch of Swords: Making Military Marriage Last
Melissa Wallace of Camp Pendleton, California is a tall, wispy woman, with a soft voice and gentle smile. The wife of 25-years to a Sgt. Maj. in the Marine Corps, Melissa and her husband John talk wistfully about the life that is soon to be behind...
Mommy & Baby: Baby Equipment
Once you visit your OB for your first prenatal visit, you’ll find yourself bombarded with magazines, advice, and ads for every possible piece of baby paraphernalia under the sun. While many are nice and have come to be necessities, some are just...
Committed Parenting
When you think about it, probably the one thing that our children need most in order to grow up feeling loved, happy, and empowered enough to give of themselves to others is our commitment to them as parents. Our children must know that we have made...
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Home For The Holidays: Heirloom Stories Are A Perfect Gift
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Written By:
Linda LaPointe
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Selecting the right gift for a special someone is sometimes joyous, sometimes a chore. Give a gift that’s free. A gift that no one else could give. A gift of your legacy!
Consider giving to or requesting a very personal, one-of-a-kind gift this year: heirloom stories. A perfect gift for an adult child who has everything. A perfect gift to request from aging parents who don’t know what to give.
A daughter knew that the quilt protected in her mother’s cedar chest was her great grandmother’s. But until her mother recorded the story of the quilt she did not know how dear it really was. The quilt was a wedding present received the day before her newly married great grandparents climbed onto a covered wagon in Pennsylvania to begin their journey westward to Colorado and a new life. Protected and hand carried across the U.S. the quilt bumped for a thousand miles along the Santa Fe Trail with a wagon train. That quilt is now much more cherished.
People forget that they live in their homes with history all around them. Old tools, equipment and machinery have a history all their own. A woman’s gloves, hat or shoes describe an era never to be seen again. Most of the stories go untold, leaving generations without the knowledge of an item’s uniqueness, history or sentimental value. History lessons and family stories can be integrated, enjoyed & - continued below ...
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remembered by any age recipient.
Personal belongings and family heirlooms have so much to say. Have yours told their stories yet? They will be welcome and engaging gifts. Here are some ideas to help you tell those heirloom stories:
- Tell them to someone who will act as your scribe.
- Write them down in longhand or on a typewriter or computer.
- Record them on a tape recorder in your own voice.
- Have someone videotape you while you hold an item and tell its story or demonstrate its use.
Even a person with Alzheimer’s Disease can often share the stories that others may think are lost. If she can still speak, put an item in her hand, and it may remind her of events or uses, people or places. Ask her questions, and you may get more history than you expected.
Start now to preserve those stories, histories and ways. Give or request a loving legacy for any season or occasion.
Linda LaPointe, MRA is an ElderLife Matters coach and author of several products to assist families experiencing aging including the pamphlet, Don’t Be a Burden: 100 Tips. Get free articles and information at www.SOSpueblo.com.
sospueblo@yahoo.com
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How I Met My Angel
Today I was in rather a whimsical mood, and so instead of my usual “how to” article, I thought I'd create a fairy tale for the child within you to enjoy.
When I was just a young soul, on my first incarnation to be a human being, I wasn't sure...
The Truth About Baby Bedding
Imagine your little baby in her nursery. So happy in the colorful new home you have prepared for her. Watching the Mobile. Lying down comfortably in her crib. Comfortably in her crib. That depends on the bedding sets you use. Babies have very...
So, The Thing Is... We Reap What We Sow
So, the thing is… we reap what we sow. A few weeks ago, my daughters and I planted some seeds. It was a fun project to do together because it involved digging in the dirt and talking about how plants grow, plus the sun was warm on our...
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