Joy Neal Kidney’s treasury of family stories traces the lives of seven generations of her ancestors– their joys, their hardships, and their enduring faith.
The short, lyrical portraits of the lives of these women along with their husbands, sons, and daughters begin with Jane (Watson) Branson who was born in 1782 and end with Joy, herself, the memory keeper who researched, gathered photographs, recorded and wrote the lovely tributes, poetry, and historical details, and brought it all together for her family—and for her readers.
This charming volume gives all of us a delightful and heartfelt glimpse into the way our ancestors give us life, tradition, strength, and love, while reminding us of the many reasons we should honor them and remember them.
It’s a beautiful little gem of a book. Highly recommended!
Visit Joy on her blog at https://joynealkidney.com.

Enticing review.
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Thanks for commenting! 🩵💕🩵
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Thank you for commenting!
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Oh how I love this, Lori! Joy as a “memory keeper”! Yes, yes! Honor and remember…Joy does it so well. xo! 💝
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She does! I can only imagine how much her family loves her work! Hugs, Vicki!
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I bought a hardback copy for my granddaughter Kate, who is 8. All my books are dedicated to her, but I talk about her having a different–but much more interesting–motherline at the end of the book. It was delightful to watch her carry the book around the house!
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Kate is a lucky girl!💞
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🥰❤️🥰
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Bless you, Vicki!
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🥰❤️🥰
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Lori, what a blessing! Thank you.
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Thank you for writing such a beautiful book, Joy! 🥰
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I certainly enjoyed trying something new!
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Sounds like a fine book. Thanks for the review.
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Thank you for commenting!🥰
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Thank you for your note.
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Sounds like a charming book that holds a lot of loving work. It’s interesting how some of us in a family become ‘chosen’ to research and remember our ancestors.
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It is interesting, Rose! That’s an interesting area of study in itself—what creates the family memoirist?
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Oh, Rose, how winsome! I avoided history until I discovered genealogy, not long before my husband was sent to Vietnam. We lived in another state and I began corresponding about family history with both grandmothers then. And on my mother’s side, I’m the fourth in a line of oldest daughters. It’s such a delight to have become “the keeper.”
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Joy is a treasure for giving her family to us to share!
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Indeed! 💞
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Bless you, GP!
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A wonderful review, Lori, and a beautiful gem is right. I felt the same way. Congrats to Joy! ❤️
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Thank you, Lauren! Joy has created something tangible that will last forever. I am loving your beautiful Copper book right now!
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Lauren, thank you so much!
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On my list. Thank you.
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Enjoy, Gloria!
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Thank you, Gloria!
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I’ve read so many good things about this book!
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It’s very good, Dawn!
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