Farmer Branches

It’s Not Always Fun and Games

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

As much as we love our family and enjoy getting together with them to share stories and histories, sometimes it cannot be the most pleasant of experiences; especially when you factor in stress. So how do you preplan for such get-togethers so you can minimize (or hopefully avoid entirely) any unnecessary family drama? It’s easy, follow these few tips.

Create an environment of familial cheer. It’s easier now than ever to get in touch with family members before the event via wireless internet so you can chat before the big day to express your excitement about getting together. In other words, set the tone for a happy event before the event occurs.

Remember differences. Not everyone is like you, just as you are not like everyone else. Remember these differences and respect the boundaries they dictate. Just as you wouldn’t appreciate anyone imposing their opinions on you, why would you impose yours on anyone else?

Remember the reason. This is intended to be a time of joy, lightness, and warmth. Now is not the time to bring up issues that do not fall within those categories. If you have a subject matter that you’d really like to discuss with Aunt Sally find some time after the event to do just that why run the risk of creating drama for everyone else in attendance just because you have a bone to pick.

Not all family get-togethers are going to be suitable for a Norman Rockwell painting, so it’s best to get used to that fact now and not set yourself up for disappointment. Families are what families are a diverse set of dynamic individuals that each have something to offer the greater family unit (even if it might be in their own oddball way!).

Why Your Family Heritage is Important to You

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Today, Genealogy has become a fascinating past-time for people who experience satisfying, pleasing moments of intrigue; moreover, it also provides several practical aspects worth covering below in this post.

A Definition:

Genealogy: Is the compilation of historical, anthropological and archaeological information of persons and lineages through the means of documented records and/or archives.

A Sense of Belonging and Being Family

In today’s fragmented twenty-first century one common trait among persons has been a desire to “connect” with their past and ancestral roots. This phenomena has prompted many in science to declare that persons can trace back their roots 7,000 generations to a point of origin where 60,000 persons once gathered together communally.

Genealogy Provides A Means For Creating A Memorial

Deceased generations are commonly honored using Genealogy as is done historically in the Biblical records for the future generations: “For I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Legal Purposes

Today, Genealogy is commonly used as a legal means to verify: marriages, births and deaths, property/public records, taxes, wills and probate records.

Whether it is for spiritual, emotional or legal purposes, many today can enter their future by simply visiting their past through the means of the Genealogical records.

Learn How to Find Your Ancestors

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

So did you just get done watching Braveheart or Gladiator and you are sitting there wondering if you are distantly related to William Wallace or Marcus Aurelius? How about wondering whether you have any relatives in a neighboring state or even the new city you live? Have you every thought about researching your family heritage?

In ancient times, records of relatives were kept either through word of mouth (passed on through the generations) or written on stone and papyrus. Luckily for those of us living in modern times we have helpful tools like the internet and the local library. Discovering your grandpa’s cousin could be as simple as clicking a mouse button or driving down the street and fishing through a few obituaries.

For some people, preserving family heritage and history is an important part of holding onto our immortality. Knowing the history of relatives: how they lived, where they worked, literature they published, inventions they made, mistakes they made, and so forth can often times give us valuable insight into who we are as individuals.

Imagine how fun it would be to entertain guests at a party with wild tails about your great great grandmother’s grocery store out on the frontier plains of the wild west, or your clan’s participation in the Scottish Rebellion of 1314. Such stories are waiting out there for your discovery. What do you have to lose?

How You Got Here From There

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

America is an immigration country. Everyone’s ancestors came from somewhere else to live the American Dream. We should all ask ourselves, how you got here from there. Luckily in this country there are immigration records. These records can be obtained but only if you know exactly where to look. Tracing your family back several generations and knowing exactly where you came from is fun, informational, and important.

One way to begin finding how you got here from there is using an online service. Some of the most popular online ancestry websites have access to immigration documents. You might just find your great grandmothers signature on an immigration card from Ellis Island! Opening that door to discover how you got here from there is something you will never regret. How hard did your ancestors fight to live the American dream?

Be prepared however, the news isn’t always great. It is possible your ancestors were brought to America because they owed a debt, or were sent here as punishment. Just remember, it is still important to find out how you got here from there. Good or bad, ancestry is important to understanding exactly who you are.

How you got here from there is a key question when researching ancestry and family history. If lucky there will be documents telling the story for your ancestors. Just keep researching something is sure to come up to answer the question how you got here from there.

Creative Memories

www.farmerbranches.net — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Keeping visual memories of a family legacy can be a gift to pass down like no other. Sure, there are always going to be stories and anecdotes, but what is often most helpful in preserving memories are pictures since they are rock-solid capsules of time that can never be changed. There is little else that can preserve the past, enrich the present of inspire the future than a visual legacy, and one of the best ways to get your family’s heritage down is through scrapbooking. With literally thousands of options to choose from in archiving and cataloguing photographic memories, scrapbooking is becoming increasingly popular with the passage of time. You can choose from albums, card stock, cut outs, and embellishments like ribbons, stickers, and more to capture the precise theme you’d like to convey. If it’s to capture the story of a family member’s time in WWII, you bet there are themes for that. If it’s to commemorate the birth of the first grandson, you bet there’s a theme for that, as well. Trust us, the options are virtually endless, and we’d be hard pressed for anyone to come up with a needed-theme that is not readily available online or from your local scrap booking supply store. We just can’t say enough about the opportunities scrapbooking present imagine a grandmother and granddaughter creating a scrapbook together while sharing stories of past and hoped-for future experiences? That doesn’t have to be a creative memory; it can be an actual memory if you just sit down and do it!

Activities for your family reunion

www.farmerbranches.net — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:28:12 +0000

When you host your reunion at home, there are several activities that can boost your event. With a focus on family ties, the following pursuits are more than entertaining; they’ll strengthen those family relationships, too.Your family’s got talentTo learn more about your relatives, host a talent show. You may find out that Aunt Judie is a great comedian, or Grandfather Jim is an amazing harmonica player. Create fun awards for the best acts, too.The history projectSince it’s rare to have all your relatives together, get everyone to contribute what they know about the family. Use this information to build a group family tree. Maybe you could even use that old tree in the yard for a full-size project?The photo wallHave everyone bring family pictures to the event. Designate a wall or a table for their viewing, and have everyone share memories about the pictures.The baby gameSimilar to the photo wall, have your relatives bring pictures of themselves as kids. Have everyone keep quiet about their pictures, this way, family members can try and guess which photo belongs to which relative.The t-shirtsFor memorabilia of the day, design a reunion t-shirt. You don’t have to go through the expense of a printing company either (unless you want to). Head over to Michaels or Hobby Lobby and buy some do-it-yourself t-shirt goods.

Family life. . . on television

www.farmerbranches.net — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:14:28 +0000

We are a nation that loves our television. Over the last decade, reality T.V. has been increasing in popularity. Now, our television sets are filled with family living shows; such as “19 Kids and Counting,” “Kate plus Eight,” “The Locator,” and “You’re Wearing That.” Not every program focuses on the close bonds between relatives, but they give us a look into the lives of American families.On TLC, two of the most popular family shows are “19 Kids and Counting” and “Kate plus Eight.” Each program features the story of a family with multiple children. “Kate plus Eight” follows the life of Kate Gosselin (Kreider) and her eight children. While the show is not currently running, you can still relive moments from the show online. After her split from husband Jon, the new series features this single mom raising her children. However, with more than half the children that Kate has, the Duggar family certainly has their hands full. Curious as to how they handle it all? Tune in Tuesdays to find out.TLC’s biggest competitor for heartfelt, family shows is We TV. “The Locator” is an incredibly touching show where Troy Dunn (The Locator) helps missing family members find one another. If you’re up late, you can catch reruns on October 28th (starting at 2am/1c). Yet We TV also provides a humorous light on family relationships. “You’re Wearing That” is new to the channel and features moms and daughters who are embarrassed by each other’s attire. Luciene, the host, assists the duo in refurbishing their wardrobes as well as their relationship.So next time you’re looking for something to do with your family, sit down and indulge in some good ol’ family television.

Incorporating family into your wedding

www.farmerbranches.net — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:13:19 +0000

A wedding is a celebration of two families becoming one. So what better place to represent your heritage than at your ceremony? But how do you bring relatives into wedding dcor? For a personal wedding that showcases you and your groom’s family, incorporate some of the following ideas.A memorial tableIn honor of family members who have passed, present a memorial table at your ceremony or reception. Feature pictures of your relatives alongside vases of their favorite flowers. There’s nothing better than a home-made vase or frame to showcase your past; however, if you’re not a DIY diva, you can order and engrave items from most wedding sites.A photo displayWhat better way for your guests to visualize your family history than with pictures? Take one wall at your reception venue and line it with pictures of your grandparents, parents, and baby pictures. Another option is just to feature your parent’s wedding photos. Create a display behind your sweetheart table; put portraits of your mom and dad behind you, and pictures of his parents behind him. Not only are you representing your family history, but your guests will love the personal dcor.Something oldYou know the old expression; “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!” One of the most popular ways of incorporating family is with a piece of history. Whether you use a portion of your mother’s dress on the bouquet, or your groom wears his great grandfather’s tie, any heirloom brings family into the big day.

Great places to hold a family reunion

www.farmerbranches.net — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:13:10 +0000

If you haven’t seen your extended family for the last decade, it can be hard to find something to talk about. In an effort to avoid those awkward silences, hold your big event where there are plenty of attractions. Better yet, find a venue that requires team-based activity. Not only will your reunion spark great conversation, but valuable memories, too.A Bowling AlleyRegardless of the differences in age, a bowling alley offers entertainment for the young and young at heart. As a leading name in American Bowling, AMF is a great choice for your event; however, depending on your location, Lucky Strike is a great alternative. This high scale bowling alley, restaurant and bar provides for a memorable background to your event. Both AMF and Lucky Strike offer private parties, too. If you opt out of the party plan, make sure to call ahead and check availability.Theme ParkFull of rides, stage shows, and great restaurants, a theme park is perfect for everyone’s tastes. There’s always the option of a local theme park (such as Carowinds in Charlotte, NC). However, since a reunion doesn’t occur every year, you could chose somewhere like Disney World or Universal Studios for your event. Just make sure to suggest the idea a couple years in advance so that everyone has a chance to save.The Great OutdoorsWhether you decide to go to the beach, or spend the day unwinding in the park, the natural world offers plenty for a family reunion. Take a Frisbee with you and play a game with the entire family. Better yet, have each family bring a family recipe for a picnic. The beautiful scenery, combined with the food and activities, makes for a fun-filled event.