Dear Abby

I found this in DEAR ABBY last week:

DEAR ABBY:

I have a suggestion for people who are stuck for gift ideas.

Several years ago, I asked my mom for a very special Christmas gift.

I asked her to write down her life story -- things she had done as a child, the experience of hitchhiking from New Mexico to Tennessee during the Great Depression, and all the other experiences of her life. She did, and I printed it for her.

That year she gave each child, grandchild and great-grandchild a copy. It was the best Christmas present ever and one that's still cherished by us all.

Both my parents are gone now, but we have Mom's wonderful stories to remember.

Without her book, those memories would be lost forever. I encourage everyone to record their family history and memories for your loved ones to read.

You'll never regret it, and it will be enjoyed for generations to come.

-- ANDREW IN JOHNSON CITY, TENN.

DEAR ANDREW: That's a terrific suggestion. And if the parent or grandparent isn't comfortable with writing, the same goal can be accomplished by setting up a video camera and interviewing the family member by asking questions about his or her youth.

Barb's Comments: I'd do both and with the video that you tape make a DVD out of it and glue a CD Mailer Envelope onto the back inside cover of the hard bound book. Then you'll have the best of both. Their voices...and then their photos and written out heritage in bound book form.

BETTER YET make this a bonding experience for the youth who know how to get around and navigate on a pc. Contact me for the QUE sheets (questions to ask) and have the grandchildren interview them. They will learn so much and then have them create the heritage album (my help is always available local or online). You will have just bridged three generations.

Making Strong Connections

ps the photo at the top has my husband waiting on the bench, but behind him is the train that his own Dad worked on over 65 years ago...we were waiting for our daughter to arrive by train for Thanksgiving. Capture those precious moments.

Barb Ashcroft,

Binding Families together with storybooks

http://www.recallwhen.com/

wechangelives@shaw.ca

Heritage Makers connects Generations

Local Family History Fair includes one of Oprah's 2008 & 2009 All Time Favourites

Press Release

Qualicum Beach/Parksville/Nanaimo, BC April 8, 2010

- Barb Ashcroft, Vancouver Island’s first Heritage Maker Director of www.RecallWhen.com will be showcasing Family History Projects at the Nanaimo Family History Fair April 17th at Beban Park, from 9 till 6. Admission is free.

- Heritage Makers is a web-based company that believes in the power of strengthening family relationships through storybooks. Heritage Makers’ publishing platform is easy-to-use and simple enough to help anyone make a book—families, photographers, genealogists, creative professionals, artists, writers, or anyone else with a story to tell. With Heritage Makers’ unique online publishing process, peoples stories can be preserved forever in custom hardbound books and related projects.

- Barb has always been interested in the stories featuring her own and other people’s ancestors. When her young grandson asked his great granddad (age 87 shown in photo) what his favourite TV show was when he was a boy she knew that her grandson needed to know more about his ancestors. Barb has now published the history of three legs of her ancestors; plus more than 50 other bound books and projects to build self esteem & connection within her family.

- To ensure that no story is left untold, Barb teaches Life Story Classes as well as drop in workshops. For those who have boxes of photos she offers a very inexpensive scanning service.

- Heritage Makers offers a unique Heirloom Assurance with their products. If anything happens for the life of a project the customer can receive a BRAND new one at ½ price. That way the books, though treasured, can be shared without worry. The project are meant to be shared and enjoyed; not just put away on the shelf and never looked at again.

- Ann Buchanan, local historian and genealogist shares her enthusiasm for this process. “The Heritage Makers web publishing is so much fun and easy! I love the idea that my photos can be stored safely off-site. Recently I went to Mexico with my son and by the time we got home the story of our adventures was published in a book that we both treasured.”

To create one of Heritage Makers storybooks and other products, go to www.heritagemakers.com/173517 to create a free online account. Heritage Makers’ publishing platform runs on a Mac or PC. Heritage Makers enables anyone to preserve family stories, strengthen relationships, and build self-esteem with unique, creative, and personalized heritage-building products.

About the Company
In addition, Heritage Makers offers a unique income-building opportunity for its consultant sales force and anyone interested in binding families together.

Contact:
Barbara Ashcroft
Heritage Makers Personal Publishing Director
phone number 250-752-5499 or 1-800-919-1998
website www.RecallWhen.com or www.heritagemakers.com/173517

Life Story - Family History Classes this week

Let me introduce you to my Dad. Father, Husband (now widower), brother and grandpa to many. Entrepreneur, contractor, retired Mayor, hockey coach to Gordie Howe and most of all the guy who always said, "What's the nicest thing that has happened to you today?"

Well of course that can't sum up a lifetime of 86 years...but it's a start.
This week why not join me and learn some techniques on how to preserve your family history, a life story?

They are online classes, done in the privacy of where ever your pc is; but 'you need to register' for the one that fits your time zone.

Just copy and paste the link below into your browser if the link does not work.

Let me know you've registered as I have a free gift to all those that do.


JULY ONLINE WORKSHOPS START TOMORROW!
July Theme: Life Story, Family History

Thursday, July 16
10 AM Pacific, 11 AM Mountain, 12 Noon Central, 1 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/939106305

or
Thursday, July 166 PM Pacific, 7 PM Mountain, 8 PM Central, 9 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/784009683

Join me this week and register as a guest of Barb Ashcroft of www.recallwhen.com or id # 173517...that way they know where to send you for your free gift.

ps. The picture is one I designed for my Dad with our HM system and made into a puzzle with the help of a great tweep on twitter. I'd love your feedback. Dad now lives in assisted living and you gotta know they love their puzzles.

Have a Great Week,
Barb Ashcroft
Your Personal Publishing Consultant
1-800-919-1998
barbashcroft@shaw.ca

Are you wondering what on earth you're going to do for Christmas Gifts this year.
Look no further. Right now for just two more weeks you can pre-order publishing credits to create bound books of your special memories and save with our "Christmas in July" incentive. Buy 3 of any of our products and get the 4th free. Contact me for details....time is a ticking!

OMG An easy way to be paid for our FUN hobby

When I knew I had to be a Heritage Maker I jumped in with the Business Kit and invested $299.95 usd. It has been one of the best investments I have ever made. At the very least being compensated with the best pricing for my very own projects. Of course it has gone way beyond that and given me the opportunity to share in the precious life experiences of those who come across my path.

Just Announced!
May 1st, 2009 HM corporate announcement.
Business Kits are available on a short term basis for $199.95 AND include a publishing credit for a coffee table book 8.5 x 11.5 size (value $69.95).

So for a mere $130 net investment, women & men who have a passion to preserve special memories can receive a website, a business kit and the opportunity to BE PAID to create their own memories plus share the privilege to others.

It just doesn't get any better than this. When Oprah added us to her 'Top Ten All Time Favourite Gifts List' I thought we had reached the pinnacle, but this makes it available to everyone for the price of a good pair of shoes.

Is this you? Are you into design? Photography? Digital Scrapbooking? Self Publishing? Card making & sending?

Here's your chance to do just that and create an income stream at the same time.

Make a Living while you make a Difference!

Contact me right away for an overview packet.

Digital Design Diva,
Barb Ashcroft
www.recallwhen.com
BarbAshcroft@shaw.ca

Pleae help me get the word out. 29 days and counting. With all the folks financially hurting out there, this could be a huge opportunity for many.

History Nugget Challenge

Please read my previous post called
It's the playoffs - so this is about hockey
as my history nugget to meet the challenge posted by
http://www.markeroni.com/blog/hn-20090420

I got so excited telling the story I forgot to include the link.
Thanks for the opportunity to retell a special story.

Barb Ashcroft
www.Recallwhen.com

It's the Playoffs - so this is about hockey

Yes, that is my dad, Bob Frost sitting on the lower left end of the first row.

1936........age 13.......champs!

The Magic of this photo is that I found this photo as a damaged crumple in one of my dad's dresser drawers.........and ASKED him about it.

I'm so glad I did...because he told me the story.

5 of these boys went on into the NHL. That's right. I'll write it again. 1/3 of this team went on to an NHL career. I think that is worth writing about. In fact it gets even better. My dad went east to pursue his hockey career. However my mom followed him with a wedding cake in her trunk. How's that for 'go get em' attitude!

Vic Price, a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs got Dad to sign a deal that he would play for them. Being conscientious, providing for a family won out though...and he shared his love of hockey another way.

Upon returning to Saskatoon he was one of Gordie Howe's Pee Wee coaches. Dad remembers Gordie as a shy, quiet kid from a very poor family. Looking back, wasn't everyone? Poor times back then. Dad with some of his friends got 25 cents together and bought Gordie a pair of skates from McCoys 2nd hand store. Even with 100's of kids trying to get on teams, Dad said Gordie stood out. He played goalie at that time.

Taken from "The Frost Family 1886 to 2006 - Preserving Memories by Barb (Frost) Ashcroft.

Now if I hadn't asked for the story behind the photo who would know this today. I think it is something my 8 year old grandson will want to know some day.

What's holding you back...write a story. Start with a paragraph or a recorder.

ps. Go Canucks gooooooooooo!

Barb Ashcroft

Personal Publishing Consultant

www.RecallWhen.com

Here's a brand new place with help & more tools!

A new year is around the corner and I'm finding lots of great new tools. These will also make your Storybooking Experience that much more enjoyable. We've created this BLOG for you to have a 'one more access spot' to get the info you're looking for.

First off though I want to share the MAGIC of giving these Heritage Maker projects as Christmas gifts.

I sent out a Christmas letter about the Anticipation:

Christmas Morning 2006…..months of waiting to see the response…..

Here’s the anticipation:

I can hardly wait for my 84 year old Dad to be here Christmas morning as he opens not one, BUT TWO incredible bound gift books. Both were lifetime goals for me and a big reason for me to join Heritage Makers.

The Frost book is his personal family history going back to his grandparents, his British roots and the wonder of a pioneering family. It showcases a story of him being one of Gordie Howe's pee wee coaches and how he and his friends collected 25 cents to buy Gordie some skates. If I didn't tell these stories who would?

The 2nd book is called, "Through my Mother's Eyes!" My Mom, who Dad was a caregiver for 7 years never lived long enough for me to take her to Nova Scotia to see where her Mom & 6 previous generations had lived...so in Sept/Oct I took the trip in her stead. It was so beyond what I could have expected!! So I HAD TO CREATE a 12x12 Digital Storybook to tell and show the story. Beautiful transparent pictures of my Mom in her 20’s showcase her eyes on the cover.

I had the GIFT OF LIVING MY HERITAGE and could hardly wait for my Dad to receive a copy!

Barb Ashcroft

Storybooking Your Special Times

***

This is real, this is palpable, eyes welling, my Dad sees for the first time the book dedicated to my Mom who has passed on….he had to get his handkerchief before he even opened the cover.