Why Have A Jensen Family History Blog?

Our family has millions of stories, but none of them are written down. As we die off (shudder!), they'll be lost forever. I've always meant to write some of my stories down, but somehow I never got around to it. The other night I was telling some family stories to friends, and they told me I really ought to write them so they'll be remembered. Then today, I received an email from my daughter Halane:

"You should do some writing, blog or otherwise, about your life experiences. You had a very unusual childhood living all over the world. You've casually thrown around stories my whole life - falling out of moving car when you were a toddler, being raised by prisoners, living through an earthquake in Lebanon, playing in a steel drum band, French whore as a teacher, just to name a few. Now, every once in awhile I think, did that really happen to my Mom or is my memory wrong? Those are intense stories! I'd like to know more details. They would be good stories to pass down through generations. So, it would be good for you to write them."

So I decided to get started. Then I came up with the idea of having all of us contribute to a family history. We all have different memories of the same events, plus we've had different experiences. A blog is a perfect vehicle for a joint effort of this type. I'm fairly new at this blogging stuff - I just started two. But I know enough to recognize its vast potential. How many family histories have you heard of that were written by everybody? We'll be cutting edge!

First, each of you has to be registered with Blogger, who hosts this blog - for free. Here's how to do it:

1. At the end of this article, and you’ll see a section labeled “Comments”. This is where people can comment on what’s written here, and it will have a number in front of it, which indicates how many comments there have been.
2. Click on the link to post a Comment.
3. That will take you to a place to type your message. It says "This blog does not allow for anonymous comments." That just means that you have to be registered with Blogger before you can post comments. Before you’ll be allowed to post it, you have to login. It asks for your username and password.
4. If you're not already registered, look where it says: “No Blogger account? Sign up here." Click on that to create an account.
5. You will be asked for a username, a password, a display name, and your email address.
   Your username is how you login, and it can be anything you want. However, I will warn you there are millions of people registered, and you will have to come up with something unusual.
   Your password can be anything you want, so long as it is at least 6 characters long.
   Your display name is what is shown when you post a comment, and it can be anything you want. However, please use your first name, so we'll all know who you are.
6. After that, it will ask you what you want to call your blog. Leave that blank and click on continue.

Then post a comment, so I will know you're signed up - as will others who come after you. As you sign up, I'll add you to the members of this blog, so you can post articles, and not just comments. I'll also add you to an email list to whom I'll send notices whenever something new is added.

I think this will be fun!