Finding Family History in our Independence and Pioneer Roots
Independence Day
One of the most beloved holidays, the Fourth of July, has come and gone again. Fireworks, watermelon, parades, a bunch of memories waiting to be preserved through photographs, journals, and more. July is also normally a month of fabulous weather, so even more memories like swimming lessons, picnics, river boating, races, and ball games come to fruition as well. A good summer goal is to preserve as much as you can for your future self and future generations to enjoy.
The key to preserving memories is finding something that is easy and fun for you and your family that is unique to you. Some take pictures while others paint, and some keep mementos. Whatever the case, if you can do it in such a way that everyone is involved—many hands make light work.
July Memory-Making Ideas
- Compile a summer scrapbook where every family member contributes their own page about their summer. This can include photographs, quotes, and even pieces of items (such as a candy wrapper or a piece of parade tinsel).
- Create a family video using photographs and video content (you know some of the family are snap chatting and stuff). Encourage all that have a phone to participate.
- Create a family folder system where they can share photos and videos for people to access and view. Many sites, such as Google Drive are relatively free or inexpensive.
Pioneer Day
Another beloved holiday is Pioneer Day, honoring those that settled the Magic Valley. So many of the community are descendants of those stalwart individuals who dug canals, settled towns, homesteaded farms, and built the communities we know and love. There are many ways to honor and make memories about these people as well.
- Film a “documentary” of about five minutes of an individual or a specific family’s life. Interview family members that knew them. Tell the stories about them using photographs and voiceovers. And maybe make a tradition of it every year.
- Make your own mini pioneer camp or trek. Research the activities they did and set it up for the entire family to participate. One family I know plays the game Stretch. It’s a semi-dangerous knife throwing game, but nearly everyone remembers playing it with their grandfather.
- Design a garden feature or floral arrangement that honors the pioneers. It can be hand drawn or actually executed in a garden. Include flowers that family members enjoyed (or fit their culture or previous country’s native flora) and anything else that applies. For example, many people enjoy using old tractor or trucks as garden features that they’ve inherited from relatives.
All in all, July is a month of memories. Enjoy the sunshine, the laughter, and the new memories you make when visiting the old ones.
Song of the Month
