Audio Scrapbooking with LifeOnRecord.com

Sharing the Stories of Your Family History

By Tricia Ares - Published in Associated Content - October 24, 2007

My uncle Billy could always tell a funny story, embellishing poignant life lessons with comical sidebars. When my great-grandmother spoke about her childhood, I was magically transported to a different place and time. But eventually, those voices fade, and the stories are lost. Unlike the photos and recipes that get handed down from generation to generation, most families no longer have those stories; they can no longer hear the voices that made such an impact on their family history.

We may not be able to go back in time and capture the treasures that once were, but we can start preserving our stories for future generations. It's called audio scrapbooking. With audio scrapbooking, family stories are preserved on convenient CDs to be stored indefinitely.

How do you collect these stories? Well there are a number of ways. You could use computer software and digital devices, editing the content and burning your own CDs, or you could use a convenient service like LifeOnRecord.com.

LifeOnRecord.com is an audio recording service that you can access via telephone. I tried the service for a month and had a ball.

My family is scattered up and down the east coast, so popping over to their house with a digital recorder was out of the question. With an upgraded LifeOnRecord account, I was able to give the members of my family a toll free number that allowed them to easily access my account from any phone. No complicated technology, just a phone number.

With LifeOnRecord, your messages are available online. You set up your account to send new messages to your email, or download them to your iTunes. You can even receive a monthly archive CD, labeled and in a keepsake jewel case. With LifeOnRecord, you have the stories, and the voices telling the stories as only they can.

My mother, in New Hampshire recorded bedtime stories for my three-year-old daughter here in Florida. When my daughter is married and has her own children, they'll be able to enjoy great-grandma's bedtime stories, as well.

My family shared childhood memories and expressed gratitude for people and experiences. With our cell phones we could also share our achievements or funny anecdotes as they were happening. Using a telephone also made it easy for my three-year-old to participate as well, recording her excited preschool chatter.

By downloading the audio CDs to my computer, I can add our family stories to photo slideshows. With Microsoft Window Movie Maker, I can add family stories, photo slideshow and home movies to create a multi-media scrapbook.

You can keep it simple, as well, by simply adding a CD to a traditional scrapbook. Glue a CD envelope to the front or back cover of one of your family scrapbooks for easy storage. An audio scrapbook also makes a nice addition to any memento box.

Traditionally, family stories transfer knowledge and allow family members to bond. Audio scrapbooking allows these stories to span time and place and provides the next generation with a sense of family history.