As promised, here is the link to watch my appearance on yesterday’s San Antonio Living Show. It was a great opportunity to meet with Shelly Miles and tell some local families about how they can start saving stories today. If you missed the show, be sure to go watch it at this link.

Also, here’s a little of what I discussed on the show. Tips from Family Biographer, Rory Siefer, on how your family can celebrate Family History Month:

• Save the Stories: Record your family’s stories orally or in written form. Sit down and interview your parent or grandparent – and get the kids involved. Or as an extra special gift to a loved one, hire a family biographer to come in and capture the stories for them!
• Trace Your Family Roots: Start a family tree together and call your parents and grandparents to uncover the exact dates. Who knows how far back you can go!
• Preserve the Photos: Create a photo book with some of your best old family pictures. Record the details about each snapshot so that those stories are never lost.
• Create a Family blog: Keep your family and friends up to date on what your family is up to on a regular basis. his can be an easy weekly activity and then by the end of the year you have a great collection of memories.
• Make Sentimental Gifts: Integrate family mementos and history into a one of a kind gift for your loved one. Frame a family artifact, or create greeting cards from your favorite old photos.

To learn more about how to save your families priceless stories check out Rory’s website or call today:
Rory Siefer - The Texan Biographer
(210) 694-4743
http://www.TexanBiographer.com or rory@texanbiographer.com

How can you save the memories when a loved one has cancer or a terminal disease?

It’s hard to think about, but if you knew your time was limited, what would you do? How would you go about spending time with family and friends?

Just this week, Senator Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a gliomas brain tumor. According to ABC News, he is not alone… “Doctors diagnose about 180,000 new cases of brain cancers each year… with malignant gliomas being the most aggressive — and deadly.”

There are thousands of individuals across the country that are given a cancer diagnosis each year. Some take the opportunity to fight the disease, others go for second opinions, and still others settle in for the long battle ahead.

Though it is hard to think about, these terminally diagnosed cancer patients have an opportunity, unlike many of the rest of us. These cancer patients have a chance to create special memories with their loved ones no matter what happens with their cancer.

With this posting I want to give families, like Senator Kennedy’s, a plan of action for this time of crisis. I wanted to help them take advantage of the time they do have with their parent or grandparent, whether it be 6 months or 6 years.

The Plan for families dealing with a terminal diagnosis:

1) Create one-on-one time: this goes without saying, but when the family is gathered, take some time to spend alone and one-on-one. Find an activity to work on together, whether it is a crossword puzzle, Connect-Four, or a board games. You can still make wonderful memories together!

2) Celebrate the Past: though it can be difficult, bring out the old albums or home videos, and take some time to reminisce together. Relive the special moments from the past as a family.

3) Record the Stories: take this time to make sure that your loved one has a way of passing on their life story. No matter what happens, you want their stories and memories to live on forever. Help them create a legacy for future generations by using a program like the StoryCatcher. This do-it-yourself family history kit comes full to the brim with memory sparking questions that can help your loved one recall the best moments from their past. The whole family can be involved in the creation of this instant legacy and the digital voice recorder included in the kit will capture their voice and memories forever!

My hope is that families, who face a diagnosis like cancer or Alzheimer’s, take the opportunity to spend precious time with their loved one. No matter what happens, I can promise you that taking the time to save the stories today mean that they will never be lost or forgotten. Now you can always hold onto a precious part of your loved one’s spirit!