Publishing my Mom’s Memoir

Publishing my Mom's Memoir

By: Susan Deborah Schiller

In this post I'm sharing the first page of my mom's life story book. Perhaps it will be an inspiration to interview your parents and elders, to attend to their stories, and embrace the mystery of your own family tree and the familiar sap that weaves its way through all the branches in most interesting circles and intersections!

My name is Susan and I'm Donna's firstborn. My parents have given me wonderful gifts through the years, beginning with my very life. Ever since I was a child I've been fascinated by stories and intrigued by the lives of my ancestors. I remember a large black trunk in our attic filled with Grandma's books. As I read Grandma's books, it felt like I was stepping into her story, a little bit. I always wished I knew more. 🙂

Dad was an artist, a musician, and a pilot. He loved beauty and truth. There's a piece of him living in me, just as there is a piece of my mom, my grandparents, and my great's and so on.  It's in the sharing of our stories that we find our place in the world. Our stories become anchors and lifelines in the stormy seas of life.

We are never alone, as long as the storytellers are around!

Many of us go through life feeling like "orphans" even though we have families and homes. I believe part of that has to do with the lack of storytelling these days. We're so prone to watch television or be busy, busy, busy.

To sit down and listen to each others stories means getting naked. And most of us can barely stand the vulnerability that requires.

I ask myself: "If I don't tell my parents' story, who will?" If I don't sit and listen to my elders, will their precious life experiences pass away with them? I record their stories as a "Living Family Legacy" so that their story lives on long after they join the rest of the family who has passed on.

So I began to listen to Mom's stories. And Uncle Keith's, too. Each story was like a brush stroke painting a beautiful family portrait! A portrait of love… of hardship… of endurance… and strength.

I believe as you read these pages you will find yourself in the portrait, as echoes of Donna's song reaches your heart. I only wish I could sit and listen to Grandma Stuart, Aunt Stella, Grandma Carrie, Mr. Baker, and all the other amazing characters in this life story book.

I hope you enjoy this life story adventure!

So, that's the first page! My mom's story is 82 pages long. She is 80 years old. What an incredible treasure, to record her stories! It helped me greatly to understand periods and events in my own life.

I wouldn't trade this time of listening and recording her stories for a thousand extra years of my life. What my mom has given me is a boost into a higher quality of life.

Together, we are creating a new family legacy for our children. Together, we can step up into a new level of living, a higher level of love.

I hope this encourages someone out there to begin writing their own life story, beginning with listening to the stories of their elders. The good, the bad, and the ugly…. all of it is RICH TREASURE!

Living the adventure and choosing love today,

Sue

Susan Schiller knows how it feels to lose everything: marriage and family, church and reputation, finances and businesses, and more. Susan's upcoming, interactive memoir, "On the Way Home," tells the story of how she came to be known as "the most abused woman" her counselors had yet met and how she learned to navigate her way out of hell to a rich and satisfying life. In her lifetime, Susan has served in duties ranging from home school mom – to pastor –  to full-time deliverance minister – and to Midwest regional prayer coordinator for a large international ministry. These days you can usually find Susan soaking in her favorite hot springs pool, reading a book (or several), blogging, baking bread, or hanging out with her family and friends. You can get a free copy of Susan's upcoming book, "On the Way Home" by registering here.

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