I need ideas for a family history/geneology book can you help?

Question

I am composing a family history/geneology book filled with photos,recipes,newspaper articles and etc...I want to put in some fun things ..so far I have decided on doing a calender that lists everyones birthdates, and a section of family superlatives..like family comiedan,cutest baby picture,etc...anyone have any other fun ideas? also i'm looking to find a good program to do the layout of the book in..any suggestions? thanks

Answer 1

It looks like your doing a great job and have thing well covered.
I Have written 500 pages of text and 100 pages of photos on my fathers line and 200 pages of text and 40 pages of photos on my mothers line. I have also written my personal history.

I have some poetry I'll share with you that may inhance you book.
I took pictures of headstones and have a poem for that section too.

Strangers In The Box
Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen,
At the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud, still, serene.
I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories
Are lost among my socks.
I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I'll never know their ways.
If only someone had taken time
To tell who, what, where, or when,
These faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.
Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories
Someday to be passed away?
Make time to save your stories,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours could be
The strangers in the box.
Pamela A. Harazim.

GOD’S GIFT’S
Once upon a time a child was ready to be born.
The child asked God,
“How am I going to live on earth when I’m so small and helpless?”
God replied, “I’ll choose Angel’s to watch over you.
They’ll be waiting on Earth when you arrive.
“They will sing for you and will also smile for you
every day. And you will feel
your Angel’s love and be very happy.”

Again the child asked, “But I won’t know the language there.
How am I ever going to communicate? ”God said,
“Your Angel’s will speak the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear and,
with much patience and care, will teach you how to speak.
And they will use their voice to sing sweet
lullabies as they rock you to sleep.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”
Asked the child. God said, “Your Angel’s will place
your hands together and will teach you how to pray.
They will teach you that prayer is the best way to talk to me, not just in
time of need, but in happy times too.”
“I’ve heard that on Earth there are bad people.
Who will protect me?”
God Said, “Your angel’s will defend you even if it means risking their life.
They will instruct you in the things you need to know to live life joyfully and safely.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”
God said, “Your angel’s will always talk to you about me and will teach you.”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven.

The child’s journey was about to begin.
The child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now,
please tell me my angel’s names.”
God said, “Their name is not important.
You will simply call them, “ Mommy and Daddy.”


SUZY LEE

Pappy’s gal Suzy Lee fell in love.
She planned to marry Joe.
She was so happy bout it all,
She told her pappy so.

Pappy told her, “Suzy Gal”
You’ll have to find another.
I’d just as soon yo ma don’t know,
But Joe is yo half brother.

So Suzie forgot about her Joe
And planned to marry Will,
But after telling pappy this
He said “there’s trouble still”.

You can’t marry Will, my gal,
and please don’t tell yo mother,
Cause Will and Joe and several mo
I know is yo half brother.

But Mama knew and said,
“Honey chile, do what makes yo happy.
Marry Will or marry Joe,
You ain’t no kin to pappy!”

I’m My Own Grandpa

Many, many years ago
when I was twenty three.
I got married to a widow
who was pretty as could be.
This widow had a daughter
who had hair of red.
My father fell in love with her,
and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law
and changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother,
for she was my father’s wife.
To complicate the matters worse,
although it brought me joy,
I soon became the father of,
a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became
a brother-in-law to dad.
And so became my uncle,
though it mad me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,
that also made him my brother.
To the widows grown-up daughter
Who of course was my step-daughter.
Father’s wife then had a son,
who kept them on the run.
And he become my grandson.
For he was my daughter’s son.
My wife is now my mother’s mom.
And it surely makes me blue.
Because, although she is my wife,
she is my grandma too.
If my wife is my grandmother,
Then I am her grandchild.
And every time I think of it,
it simply drives me wild.
For now I have become
the strangest case you ever saw.
As the husband of my grandmother,
I am my own grandpa!!!
Im my own grand pa
I’m my own grandpa
It sounds funny I know
But really it is so
I’m my own grandpa!

BEATITUDES
OF A
FAMILY GENEALOGIST

Blessed are the great-grandmothers,
who hoarded newspaper clippings and old letters,
For they tell the story of their time.

Blessed are the grandfathers,
who filed every legal document,
For this provides the proof.

Blessed are the grandmothers,
who preserved family Bibles and diaries,
For this is our heritage.

Blessed are the fathers,
who elect officials that answer letters of inquiry,
For-some-they are the only link to the past.

Blessed are the mothers,
who relate family traditions and legends to the family,
For one of her children will surely remember.

Blessed are the relatives,
who fill in family sheets with extra data,
For them we owe our family history.

Blessed are family members,
who strive for the preservation of records,
For theirs is a labor of love.

Blessed are the children,
who will never say,
“Grandma, you have told that old story, twice today.”


Don’t cry at my grave cause I won’t be there.
I’ll be in the breeze that ruffles your hair,
I’ll be in the sunshine I’ll be in the snow,
I’ll be in the places that we use to go.
I’ll be in your shadow and there in your dreams.
I’ll be in your greetings but not your goodbyes.
I’ll be in the reflection of your loving eyes.
I’ll always be with you and I’ll always care.
Don’t cry at my grave side cause I won’t be there.

Good luck with your endeaver or should I tell it like it is and call it a challenge.