I need ideas~

I am the oldest living on my mom's side of the family (besides sister).

Since this has taken place, I was thinking last month, if I were to pass away all of the stories I listed to as a child would be gone. I spent alot of time with my grandparents and know these stories by heart.

The benefit of this would be for my nephew (who's 19 and extremely excited for me to write this) and our 3 dds.

My thought was to first type it and print it out. But to me I really want something more for my family.

I would love to do it in journal form, like the online journals. Is there such a thing (software)? I don't want to have it on the web. I would love to scan and place pictures in this journal and even set music at certain points in the journal. I would love to do this all on the computer and be able to copy it on disks for each of them and even print out if they would like.

I know this sounds like such a huge project, but this means a lot that to me that our children and my nephew know those stories and know where they came from.

I'm ok with the computer and programs, so any help with ideas would help.

By Kay on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

I did a quick search and saw something called Family History Products - don't have any idea if it's good, but it was one of several that popped up when I plugged into google with 'personal journal software genealogy'. (I thought putting genealogy in it would help define the search a little.)

Good luck! Let us know what you find - it sounds like a great idea for busy moms like us who want to preserve the memories.

By Amecmom on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 02:07 pm:

Maybe you can do this project with your nephew? Doing it on the computer, scanning in the photos and then saving it all to a CD should not be too difficult.

You can even do it with a program like Word or Publisher.

It sounds like a wonderful project.
Ame

By Yjja123 on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 02:50 pm:

Not too long ago someone shared (sorry I have forgotten the name but it was a member of this board) that they made an online album that was printed into a book.
I was so excited because I have always wanted to make a family history book. I am giving every relative two pages for photos and listing all family history going back 4 generations.
The best part is it is inexpensive to have them print the book and you will have a chairished keepsake.
The website is:
http://www.sharedink.com/members/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fmembers%2fdefault.aspx

One of the books:
"Linen Hardcover Keepsake Book
Our most popular book! Covered in finely woven bookcloth imported from Italy and features color-matched end papers. All pages are printed double-sided in full color on acid-free 100lb premium matte paper. Truly an heirloom!

SIZE: Finished book is 9" tall and 11.75" wide.

PRICING: $39.95 for the first 20 pages (10 sheets, double-sided); $1.00 each additional page. $10.00 off additional copies of the same book!"

By Mommyathome on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 05:08 pm:

That is an excellent idea Marg. Since I wasn't planning on my parents dying so early, I didn't really get into their life history much with them. I was just 21 at the time and wasn't into that sort of thing.
Now, I deeply regret it. I will never know all the stories that they had to tell. I feel really awful that I can't pass stories along to my kids. Of course I know a few odds and ends, but that isn't even a drop in the bucket.
So, go for it! Whatever way you can think of doing it....do it! It doesn't have to be lavish or fancy. Just get the facts down first. Then you can go back and make it more "fun".