I want to share a significant milestone - a new chapter, you might say. For close to 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping clients turn memories, images and stories into compelling printed books for their families. This month, A Path Too Narrow? A Memoir of Improbable Journeys, is now available on Amazon and bookstores. The author, Dr. J Timothy Johnson, and I couldn’t be happier and more proud!

Photos, recipes, random stories, even that “who’s that guy again?” moment — they’re all part of your family’s legacy. Let’s make it real, not just remembered. Whether you’re retired and finally ready to dig in, juggling work and elder care with shelves of old albums, or just thinking “It’s now or never,” this month is your moment. Not to do everything. Just to begin.

Yes, I’ve written a memoir! It arrived last month and took ten years. And it’s only 36 pages.

This summer we met Mihai “Mike” Pop, a talented, up-and-coming, Atlanta-based street photographer. He contacted us to create a book of his Romania photos, a piece to share with his family and others to showcase his work. Together, Mike and Lilly, his photobook coach, crafted this tender and compelling book, Romania Through My Lens.

We’re in that Spring and early Summer mania – school year endings, graduations and weddings, summer camps and vacations. We’re too busy for another thing in our 24!

Hey, I know BUT I boldly suggest these three simple habits. No extra time – just smart use of it:

Many of us inherit a family recipe collection. What an opportunity! Your recipe collection is a great way to save and share favorite family recipes with family stories and photos. Like these books created by our clients, Liz and Anita.

Your legacy is now definitely digital -- Apple, Facebook and Google, to name only a few. What happens to your data when you die? Who will have access after you’re gone?

I remember her in a wheelchair, fully dressed every day, in that big apron with the pockets on the underside where she kept her snacks and her .32 pistol. When I was three or four years old, she was my babysitter while my mother was at work. She was also my protector when I misbehaved.

Help! My photos are taking over my phone! I scroll and scroll in Photos and I can’t find the one I’m looking for. Plus, I’m running out of storage space.

“Legacy” is following me. I see it everywhere – in emails, conversations, podcasts, articles. And legacy is not being at all sneaky, but making itself known at every turn.

“So, Jiffy, how do I work with you and Pixorium?”

Someone asked me that question recently. Someone I was sure knew the answer. Wow.

If he didn’t know, then I had explaining to do!

“Help me find my story. I’m not sure I have one.” Yes, you do. They’re hard to see in your own life. I often hear, “Really, what have I done? I’ve just lived my life.”

“Help me tell my story in a book that’s loved, not just sitting on a shelf collecting dust.” Sure thing! A loved book always has your reader top-of-mind. A loved book is intentional in all aspects – what you say, how you say it, how it looks, how it feels.

Can I scan my photos on my printer? Short answer is yes, but should you?

Ordering personalized photo gifts online doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it should be one of your go-to gifts every year. Anyone can give a new skillet, cashmere sweater, or tea pot—anyone. The most special gift you can give are creative gifts with photos.