journals | Girl With a Past

Last year I started something new – a monthly overnight genealogy retreat held at my home through the good weather months. I love to teach genealogy, so this was so much fun for me. There were 30 women and teens who joined me in groups of 3 to 12!

Connie Ward girl with a past genealogy retreat Eden Utah journaling life story family history research organization

One of our retreat groups taking a break!

I edited and refined the materials until I was able to present the important basics of everything pertaining to genealogy in a short period of time. I taught organizing documents and pictures, writing journals and life stories, researching and navigating mega websites, understanding census records, telling and recording stories, and much more. By the time each event was finished and the last guest had walked out the door, I was exhausted, but sad to see it end. We shared incredible life lessons through our stories, we laughed and cried together, and we each left with a desire to connect with ancestors and loved ones. Everyone went home with a binder full of printed information on everything that was taught.

This summer’s retreats are filling up, but I still have a few openings for June 22-23 and I could take two or three more people on August 31-September 1.

I am also willing to set up other weekends if you have a group of friends who want to attend together. So if you live in decent proximity to Eden, Utah (or even if you don’t – I have had guests from Texas and California), and you would like to jump start or fine tune your genealogy yearnings, please contact me and let’s do it! The cost for materials, comfortable beds and good food is $150. The friendship, laughter, and tears are free!

Since we never purchase anything without reading the reviews, here are a couple:

This is a wonderful opportunity, so glad I was able to attend the last one. Connie’s hospitality and knowledge of the subject are off the chart!! – Marianne

I was lucky enough to attend the first retreat. Wonderful information by an incredible mentor and friend. – Dixie

Several years ago, my good friend and neighbor, Gary Petersen, told me that his journal contains everything, not just his words. After he explained his concept to me, I took it to heart and have made my journal a combination scrapbook, memory book, keepsake album, and journal. In fact, the only things that don’t go in my journal are pictures. I knew long ago that there was not enough time in this life for me to keep cute little scrapbooks of all the memorabilia, so my yearly journals take care of it all!

A small sampling of my journal pages

I keep my journal in – OF COURSE, a binder!!! I can usually squeeze the whole year into one binder, but there was one traumatic year in my life when I needed two! I use sheet protectors so odd-sized items can just be slipped right in and so I can see both sides of the cards I save. I start the year with an empty binder, fill it with sheet protectors, keep the binder right by my desk, then put things inside as they happen. When the year is over, my life is in the binder chronologically – and it is so easy!

I began this new way of journal keeping in about 2000.

So I picked a random journal from my shelf (2004) and besides my written journal, here is a sampling of what was in it:

The printed monthly calendar from my computer with appointments, etc.

My goals for the year – interesting to read, as they are always variations on the same theme

A heartfelt note from my California daughter thanking me for Christmas

A weekly update of events when individual days were a little too boring to write about

Closeup of a scarf my daughter made for me

An email from a friend about growing old

A certificate of achievement for completing a Power Point class

Thank you note for a genealogy presentation I gave to a group

Artwork the grandkids left in the playroom

A newsletter announcing our family reunion

The schedule from BYU Women’s Conference

Mother’s Day cards from my girls

A bridal shower invitation for a special young friend

A map of Sun Valley, Idaho from a getaway weekend with my husband

Confirmation itinerary for a flight to California with a daughter and granddaughter

The lab results from my blood test confirming low thyroid

A list of 12 items my oldest granddaughter requested for her birthday dinner

The “to do” list for an especially hectic week

Notes for my husband’s talk at the funeral for our friend, Mavis

A thank you note and picture of the VISA card a coworker gave me for Christmas

The playbill and ticket for Wonderful Town seen in New York City with my cousin and my daughters

A “sorry” note from 3 grandkids after they accidentally pulled a curtain rod off the wall

A note entitled “Grandma’s Apron” that accompanied a Christmas gift from a friend

The top news stories of the year in Utah and another list for the nation

Just looking through that one binder brought back a flood of memories, some good laughs, some tears, and several “ahhhs.” But I still think the most important thing to put in a journal is your own word – your thoughts, feelings, joys, sorrows, what makes you YOU! Your journal won’t be anything like mine because our personalities are not the same — and lucky for you! But at least this gives you a hint of what’s possible. Leave a record of your life so you won’t be forgotten in 50 years (or less)!