People often ask why I chose keepsake journals as one of the heartpieces of Southern Chats. The answer is simple—it began with my own family.
For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by family history. I love researching family trees, discovering connections, and piecing together stories that might otherwise be forgotten. What started as curiosity eventually became something much more personal.
There was a large missing piece in my father's family story.
When my father and aunt were just toddlers, their mother abandoned them. I wanted to know who she was, what was her story, what was her family's history. By the time I began researching our family history, both my father and grandfather had already passed away. I knew there were answers I would never be able to get, but I couldn't help wanting to understand more about the family who came before me—and, in turn, understand my father a little better.
Like many people, I searched the major genealogy websites, hoping to fill in the blanks. I found names, dates, census records, and documents. They were fascinating, but they didn't really help me to understand what happened, what were the stories of my father's youth.
Records can tell you when someone lived.
Only people can tell you how they lived.
My aunt became my greatest source of family history. Since she lived in another state, our conversations happened over the phone several times a week. I was careful not to push too hard or stir up painful memories. Instead, I let the conversations unfold naturally.
She told me about funny childhood adventures, family traditions, personalities, and moments that made everyone laugh. Every so often, there were difficult stories too—stories that helped me understand the challenges my family had faced and the resilience they carried through generations.
Each conversation painted another brushstroke in a picture I had been searching for my entire life.
I couldn't wait to share those stories with my sisters.
At first, I typed notes into my phone whenever I learned something new. It worked...until it didn't. The stories deserved a better home than scattered notes buried in an app.
That's when I discovered keepsake journals.
Suddenly, I had a place to preserve not just names and dates, but personalities, traditions, recipes, memories, and family stories. Those journals became far more than notebooks. They became a way to honor the people who came before us and preserve their voices for the generations still to come.
But I also realized something else.
The journal is only part of the story.
The real magic happens in the conversations.
Sometimes we don't ask meaningful questions simply because they never occur to us during everyday phone calls. We talk about the weather, appointments, or what's for dinner—but we forget to ask things like:
"What is your happiest childhood memory?"
"Who taught you the most important lesson in life?"
"What family tradition do you hope never disappears?"
Those are the conversations that become treasures.
That realization is what inspired me to sell our Conversation Cards. They gently guide conversations into places we might never think to go on our own, helping families connect in deeper, more meaningful ways—whether they're gathered around a kitchen table or talking across the miles, just as my aunt and I did.
Looking back, I realize I wasn't simply researching my family tree.
I was building relationships.
I was creating memories while preserving old ones.
I was learning that every family has stories worth telling, and every person has a lifetime of wisdom waiting to be shared if someone simply asks.
That is why Southern Chats means so much to me.
It isn't just about beautiful keepsake journals or thoughtful conversation cards. It's about helping families preserve memories, celebrate traditions, and create meaningful connections before those stories are lost.
Thank you for allowing me to share a small piece of my family's story.
I truly hope our journals and conversation cards help you discover, preserve, and celebrate your own.
And if they do, I would love to hear your story someday, too.
