Podcast appearances and mentions of wendy smedley

My guest today wants words for Christmas. How cool is that? She is Wendy Smedley and I’m so eager for you to get to know her better, because she is one of my most favorite people on the planet and a fabulous conversationalist. Wendy is the Marketing Manager at FamilySearch International. She is also mother to five (yes, 5) adult sons and just happens to also be the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Scrapbooking . We talk about all those things and a whole LOT more … Photo by henry perks on Unsplash Photo by lay L on Unsplash A couple of years ago, Wendy found herself in the middle of an unanticipated divorce. For a women who poured herself into nurturing her family, this was a devastating shock. Her divorce among other challenges has invited serious soul searching, deep learning and new levels of self-care. Because of how Wendy chose to respond to unwelcome circumstances, she is now in a position to impart some serious insight and wisdom. Wendy seeks to be open hearted and always learning. She is curious and asks thought provoking questions—in fact, she sparked this episode for me when she related her almost daily observation of tower cranes near her downtown Salt Lake City home. What she discovered about these massive heavy-lifting machines is 100% applicable to anyone who is feeling discouraged or overwhelmed by life and trials. I know you’re going to relate to and come away grateful for Wendy’s positivity, vulnerability and sense of humor! Ok, you want links to all of the goodness Wendy shared? Here we go …FamilySearch FREE Global family history event online, RootsTech Connect Learn more @rootstechofficial on InstagramFacebook Live with Wendy and Dave Isay (founder of StoryCorps)IG Live Stream with Wendy and me (family history home tour)The Second Mountain, by David BrooksIt Didn’t Start with You, by Mark WolynnWendy’s new favorite podcast, Poetry Unbound. Martin Seligman's 3 Ps can determine to a large extent someone’s ability to navigate hardship. Wendy discussed the danger of personalization, pervasiveness and permanence in your mental approach. Wendy boldly declared that she has enough time for poetry and Billy Collins is one of her favorites … Speaking of poetry, we both agreed talking that much of what Wendy has experienced is reflected in this well-known poem from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran …On Joy & Sorrow “Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.And he answered:Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.And how else can it be?The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”But I say unto you, they are inseparable.Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. When the reassure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.” — Kahlil Gibran And, finally … in case you want to learn more about the amazing tower cranes, here the video I shared a portion of in my introduction …

I couldn’t be more thrilled to (finally) have my dear friend, Wendy Smedley on the show with me today. We’ll spend the first several minutes sharing how our paths crossed and a few of the adventures we’ve shared together—good and hard! Then I invite Wendy to talk about what’s she doing now. Wendy is the Marketing Manager for FamilySearch International—she knows a thing or two about getting started with genealogy and discovering your broader family narrative. Wendy is also recently divorced and opens up about shifting our stories during life’s inevitable changes—and be sure to click through to the show notes to see a photo of Wendy and her FIVE sons … Wendy is so resilient and determined—she says of herself, “I am fiercely independent” but she shares how a recent injury—with an extended recovery has given her the opportunity to allow people into her life to help her walk. In my opinion, Wendy is a beautiful example of harvesting wisdom from difficulty. I’m so delighted to share her perspective with YOU! “Losing my ability to WALK has really strengthened by ability to SEE. ” — Wendy Smedley If you’re interested in getting started with family history research, click HERE. FamilySearch is the world’s largest genealogical website with over 7 MILLION pages views a day and they have so many family friendly ways to discover your past. Wendy would love to answer any specific questions you have. Leave a comment below and I’ll help connect you with the expert

It's important to share family histories, and one way to do that is over a delicious plate of homemade food. Food is the basis for so many gatherings, and often includes recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Grant Nielsen, the host of Family Gathering, is joined by Paul Matta and Wendy Smedley swap stories about their family food traditions and why they are so important to who they are. Paul remembers visiting Italy, where his grandparents were born.  That gave him a chance to enjoy traditional family recipes where they originated.  That helped him see how things changed over time.  He's been able to integrate some original methods back into the family recipes. Wendy remembers what his mom called the "Heidi meal" named for the character Heidi.  It included canned peaches, homemade bread, and other things.  It was a favorite of Wendy growing up and she learned later it was a meal they ate when they were broke.  Her mom would get what they had left in the pantry and make it special. KSL NewsRadio's Family Gathering connects people and families across many generations. If you are new to family histories, let Family Gathering's host Grant Nielsen guide your search for the family you never knew you had. Family Gathering is sponsored by Family Search. Discover your family history. Explore the world's largest collection of free family trees, genealogy records, and resources at Familysearch.org.        

Family Gathering host Grant Nielsen talks food with Paul Matta and Wendy Smedley with Family Search. Paul has  a family recipe featuring a special pepper that doesn't grow locally.  To get the recipe right, he had to procure and keep a special plant.  That shows dedication to family tradition! Family dinner is a chance to set aside electronic devices and talk about your day.  That's an opportunity to create a family identity.  When you feature traditional family recipes, that's another opportunity to teach your children what it means to be a part of your family. Paul has a tradition where on their birthday, each family member gets to choose all the meals for the day.  Everyone has their favorites.  Every child will pick sometimes very different things. They also talk about an exhibit at the Church History Library on Temple Square.  During the holiday, they're displaying family, ward, or stake cookbooks they've collected.  Lots of communities put these together.  Make one for your family. KSL NewsRadio's Family Gathering connects people and families across many generations. If you are new to family histories, let Family Gathering's host Grant Nielsen guide your search for the family you never knew you had. Family Gathering is sponsored by Family Search. Discover your family history. Explore the world's largest collection of free family trees, genealogy records, and resources at Familysearch.org.

It's all about food on this episode of Family Gathering.  Host Grant Nielsen has learned that food is a huge part of our family history.  Wendy Smedley and Paul Matta of Family Search has some info on collecting your culinary traditions. Ask your family members about the food they prepare for family events.  Why do they make certain things from scratch that easily come in a can?  Where did recipes come from?  How long have they been making the recipe.   Try to find the story behind the recipe by asking questions. If you don't really have family food traditions, start your own.  Look at your family history and find something to reference.  Is your family from Ireland?  Start a culinary tradition that references your Irish heritage. Always remember that if you don't deliberately record these traditions, they could be forgotten and lost.  

Family Gathering host Grant Nielsen is joined by Wendy Smedley and Paul Matta of Family Search.  They talk about an incredibly important part of family history- the dinner table. Lots of our great family moments involve food and families often have culinary traditions passed down through generations. If you want to get your hands on your grandma's secret recipe, send in the children to help her out.  Use those things to strengthen your family. Holidays are predominantly about food.  Holiday planning is usually meal planning.  What and where do people want to eat?  Picking a date is easy, picking a menu is both more challenging... and fun. The meals are also a great opportunity to record family stories and traditions.  There are apps from familysearch.org that will  help you do this on the fly.  Then your family will always remember important traditions as well as more contemporary memories. Look at your family history for culinary inspiration.  Where did they come from, and what is a traditional dish there?  Give it a try!  

As a creative pioneer in the scrapbooking industry, Wendy Smedley was a well-known expert of scrapbooking products, industry developments, and creative innovations. She was creative editor with Simple Scrapbooks Magazine for over six years managing the product-focused section of the magazine and representing Simple on the popular “Scrapbook Memories” program, seen on local PBS stations, authored three books on scrapbooking, and worked with Ella Publishing and Big Picture Classes on content development and marketing. In 2014 Wendy started with FamilySearch.org and is currently over social media, blog, and other outreach aspects. Her passion resides in inviting everyone to engage in family history.

Family Gathering is hosted by Grant Nielsen.  He and Wendy Smedley of Family Search talk about a new feature on the Family Tree app. You can open the Family Tree app and click on 'more'.  Click on 'relatives around me'.  It will scan for relatives within 100 yards.  You can instantly see ways you're related to the people around you.  It's fun to use in a group setting like a party or at church or school. FamilySearch.org has some great apps for family history and genealogy.  Family Tree and Memories are two apps that make family history a lot more fun and way more convenient.   Family Tree app is very comprehensive and allows you to move your family history work between your desktop and phone or tablet so you can do real work wherever you are. All of this is free.

Family Gathering host Grant Nielsen is joined by Wendy Smedley of Family Search.  They're talking about mobile apps in genealogy. Family Search has an app called Memories.  The app asks you questions over time that end up painting a really cool picture of your life that can be saved for posterity. The program is called "52 Stories".  One question is "Tell me about school lunch".  Everyone has different experiences but as you remember the school lunch process you start to remember experiences. These questions are easy to answer as you have time.  You can also do it for elderly family members who may not be interested in the app.  You can just ask them questions and record the memories for them.  

Grant Nielsen of Family Gathering and Wendy Smedley of FamilySearch.org talk about the new Family Tree app from Family Search. As you build your family tree, you need records to prove the people in your tree actually lived.  These include birth, marriage, and death records among others. The Family Tree app scours records that match names in your tree.  Then it displays them to you and allows you to verify them and attach them to your family tree.   You can even do this when you have a few free minutes in line at the store!  

Family Gathering host Grant Nielsen talks to Wendy Smedley, Marketing Manager at Family Search about two great family history apps. Family Tree App- The most robust view of what exists on Family Search.  It includes everything people have added to your family tree. Memories App- This helps you collect contemporary memories and attach them to the people in your family tree.