Voices in My Head: Values Dad Put There

Graphics and layout by Robin Foster

My memory of what I consider to be our first house is very special to me.  My dad was a mathematical statistician who worked for US Civil Services in the 60's and 70's.  Parents did not talk much back then to young children as they do now.  The first house we lived in was the first one that my parents purchased.  One day as I looked out the living room window of this house, I saw my father building another house.

I had heard no mention of this, but it fascinated me as I watched from next door as he progressed from the foundation to the roofing.  I can not remember how long it took, but it did not seem long.  It was a ranch style brick home.  He, with great pride, took our family on a tour when it was finished.

I was most fascinated by the dining room which was separated by a varnished, knotty pine wall with a window providing a view to the kitchen.  My father helped a lot of family members move to the North from Tennessee.  I was oblivious to the struggles of African American during the 60's and 70's.  The house we lived in was much bigger with two stories and a full basement, but I looked proudly at my dad on our tour and asked,  "Can we move here?"  He responded without hesitation, "Yes."

I miss my dad, but I discovered where he acquired his skills and talents when I came across his father's, James Foster, carpenter's union dues register.  He was a traveling carpenter.

Local Union 586, Sacramento, California, Carpenter's Union dues book, 1954

I am very fortunate to have had such an intelligent and wonderful father.  I am sure that the things he taught me came from his own life experiences and the words he too heard while growing up.

I have only to heed to those voices in memory bank to put the same values in context for me today.  And guess what?  They still work.  I do not have to make up a new set of rules.  These old standards will still get me to my destination unimpeded!  Please enjoy my recording of those voices in my head instilled by my father as I join in the celebration of the National Day of Listening.

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Tombstone Tuesday: What do you when you get past seventy times seven, Grandaddy?

(Link to headstone under photo)

"Why is forgiving others so important?  When Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven, was He thinking only of the person being forgiven, or was He thinking of Peter too?  Would forgiving others help Peter feel peace?"  See "I Forgive You," by Judy Edwards.

Enemies at the Gate

by Robin Foster

Should I cower in fear?
No, I will not forget that He is near

Even if they burst through the door
I am encircled in His arms evermore

Stay the course; Keep to the task at hand
This too shall pass leaving me conqueror over another test designed for man

Looking past the immediate harm,
I can envision the real villain who controls the perpetrator's arm

I smile privately remembering that I am free
No one can molest the peace or love that my God affords me.

Emory Wallace Vance, Sr.  (1901-1972)

Gravestone included in Find A Grave Memorial

Dedicated to the Only Grandfather I knew in This Life: 

I knew if his unspoken sufferings, but he and my grandmomma gave service and lived in peace. I learned a lot from them. I am grateful to continue in their legacy.

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Video: How to create a basic layout

This video tutorial has been created for those of you who would like to learn how to layer photos on top of backgrounds like the example above.  Layering is one of the hardest concepts to grasp in graphics design, but I have made it as simple as possible for you to be able to learn to do it without spending money.  

In family history, we handle a lot of photos, and we have the opportunity to do a lot of sharing online and in the form of movies, slideshows, scrapbooking, and journaling just to name a few.  With the steps outlined in the two videos below, you can start making great layouts to share.

In the first video, you will be directed to download the free software, PhotoPlus, and images below.  You will also need to select a photograph to layer.  After you have completed the steps in the first video, you will be ready to create your first layout.  Please let us know if this helps you master layering.  Also be sure to "like" our page on Facebook:  Saving Stories.

Part 1

Part 2

  How to Create a Basic Layout, Part 2 from Robin Foster on Vimeo.

Part 3
  How to Create a Basic Layout, Part 3 from Robin Foster on Vimeo.

Download these backgrounds: 

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Motivation Monday: Women are taking social networking to new heights

We certainly love pinning our favorite recipes and home decorating photos, but do not be deceived, we are about much more than just pinning "eye-candy."  We are meeting new friends, learning from each other, and sharing the things we know.  For example, Cheryl Enlow, host of the blog "Nap Time is the New Happy Hour," shared her knowledge about how to save the pins on your Pinterest boards so you can always access them - just in case.  It motivated me to begin embedding pins in blog posts which I have been meaning to do.

Source: naptimeisthenewhappyhour.com via Robin Foster: Genealogy & More on Pinterest

I do not know how much pinning it took for her pin to show up in my newsfeed, but I am glad it caught the attention of my genfriend.  Thanks, Jenni!  After reading Cheryl's post, "How to Save a Copy of Your Pinterest Boards as a PDF,"  I was able to save the pins from my board,  "Free Genealogy Online"  in just seconds.

This gave me the idea of using Photoshop Elements to convert the 5-page PDF to 5 JPEGS so that I can show those of you who are trying to decide to take the leap over to Pinterest.  I had the option of making the JPEGS a higher resolution, but I opted for 72 dpi. I am not just into genealogy.  This week I created secret boards where I can share freebies with friends who consistently share the things I pin.

I just want to say, Thank you to Cheryl!"  It has been a while, but I do remember nap time, and how much I looked forward to what I could get accomplished in an hour.  It's the best executive training out there! What you do now will bring you the greatest joy for which there is no substitute. I hope that what you do now prepares you one day as much as it did me for success after homework, story time, and bandaging "boo boos!"

To all my friends, below is what my genealogy board looks like today on Pinterest.  Come follow me!

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National Day of Listening 2012: Pearls of wisdom from my mother (VIDEO)

I have had some wonderful visits with my mother, Edna Foster, this year.  I am so fortunate to have been raised and nurtured by two wonderful parents. I have learned a great deal about my maternal ancestry from my mother's stories.  She is a great lady.  I used to get a lot of ridicule for this in school: I never stopped calling her mommy!  Thanks, Mommy!

National Day of Listening 2012:  Pearls of Wisdom from My Mother

As you can see from this video excerpt, I am not finished learning from her or basking in her great wisdom.  I urge you if you have not done so, to spend some time this Thanksgiving honoring your ancestor by interviewing and preserving his or her story.

Join Lowcountry Africana and StoryCorps as they build a nation of listeners.  I will share more videos before November 30, but please find out how you can participate:

Print the National of Listeners sign from this page: 
"5 Ways of Celebrating the National Day of Listening," and share it on social media with the text: 

 "The National Day of Listening" is a new national holiday started by StoryCorps in 2008. On the day after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks all Americans to take an hour to record an interview with a loved one, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes, such as computers, iPhones, and tape recorders, along with StoryCorps’ free Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide at http://nationaldayoflistening.org/." 

Don't forget to like the page: National Day of Listening: Lowcountry Wall of Listening

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