What a great way to start the new year and record your personal history! There are 376 questions but some may not apply depending on your age so there's enough for each day of the year. I have another version too so feel free to email me if you'd like a copy of it.
You'll need a quart canning jar with lid and ring, a small piece of cloth, some raffia and the following material. The idea is to cut the question in strips and place them in the jar. Put the material under the ring on top of the jar, and tie raffia around the neck of the jar with the card “Recipe for: My Life History”. This would make a great visiting teaching or birthday gift.
Print these strips on beige paper. The tag that goes on the outside of the jar was printed on tag board in beige and tied with beige raffia. The card was trimmed with pinking scissors and cut in an rectangle shape with one end rounded.
The person takes out one strip a day and uses that to write a journal entry.
The card that goes on the outside of the jar says:
Recipe for My Life HistoryCombine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings and deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper. Take a few minutes to enjoy the memories. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Don't worry about your handwriting or spelling - just tell your story. This product was prepared to preserve your life as a message. Enjoy the scrumptious, home-made memories that celebrate something very important - YOU!1. Are there any family heirlooms in your possession? Tell about them and how you came to acquire them.
2. Are you involved in any clubs or extra-curricular activities? (Sports, dance, choir, etc.)
3. Are you pleased with what you look like? If you could change any part of yourself what would it be?
4. Between the ages of 5 and 10, what was your favorite activity?
5. Describe a childhood birthday.
6. Describe a childhood Christmas.
7. Describe a favorite childhood friend and some things you did with him or her.
8. Describe a favorite vacation in your married years.
9. Describe a time when you felt the spirit very strongly.
10. Describe a time when you lost myself in the service of someone else. How did it feel?
11. Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.
12. Describe a typical day during your high school years.
13. Describe a typical day during your Jr. High years.
14. Describe a typical day in elementary school.
15. Describe each member of your family.
16. Describe getting a Christmas tree as a child, when did you put it up and decorate it?
17. Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child. How did you decorate it? When did you put it up?
18. Describe one of your favorite recipes and tell where it comes from.
19. Describe one of your spouses (significant other, best friend, etc.) favorite recipes and tell where it comes from.
20. Describe the downtown of your childhood at Christmas time.
21. Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.
22. Describe the perfect autumn day and what activities you enjoy.
23. Describe the perfect spring day and activities done on that day.
24. Describe the perfect summer day. What would you do on that day?
25. Describe the perfect winter day. Tell about an activity you would do on that day.
26. Describe walking down the main street of your hometown.
27. Describe you Sundays as a mother/father or as a child.
28. Describe your conversion to the gospel.
29. Describe your cooking skills and your favorite thing to cook.
30. Describe your cooking skills as a newlywed.
31. Describe your favorite clothes.
32. Describe your first 'crush'. What was the person like?
33. Describe your first home as a young couple.
34. Describe your mother's wedding dress - what do you know about her wedding?
35. Describe your perfect spring day. What do you like to do outside?
36. Describe your Sundays as a mother/father or as a child.
37. Describe your wedding day.
38. Describe your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, suit etc, if male.
39. Describe your yard as a child - did you help with the yardwork? What are your memories?
40. Did it snow much when you were a child - tell something about it, what did you do.?
41. Did you and your father share an interest in any special activity?
42. Did you and your mother share an interest in any special activity?
43. Did you belong to boy/girl scouts or 4-H? Tell about your experiences.
44. Did you go camping? Tell about your experiences.
45. Did you go to college or have vocational training - where and when?
46. Did you have a bicycle and what was it like?
47. Did you have a childhood hideout - tell about it.
48. Did you have a childhood hide-out? Where? Describe it.
49. Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.
50. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy? Tell about it.
51. Did you have a favorite subject in school? One you dreaded?
52. Did you have a favorite T.V. show as a child or youth? Or radio show?
53. Did you have a favorite toy as a child? Did it have a name? What memories are connected to it?
54. Did you have roommates or companions? Tell about them and the things you learned living with others.
55. Did you or your father share any interests together? What and why?
56. Did you receive your education somewhere other than school?
57. Did you serve in the military? If so, where and when?
58. Did you wish you had more brothers or sisters? Why?
59. Do you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship.
60. Do you and your mother share any interests? Tell about your relationship.
61. Do you enjoy your everyday life? What's it like?
62. Do you have a bicycle? What is it like?
63. Do you have a favorite author? Who? Why? Tell about favorite books as a child, youth, adult.
64. Do you have a favorite General Authority? Who and why?
65. Do you have a favorite magazine? Describe it and the kinds of things you learn from it or enjoy about it.
66. Do you have a favorite sport, talent, etc?
67. Do you have a special school memory (high school or college)?
68. Do you have a testimony? Write down the things you do believe and know are true.
69. Do you like rainstorms? Why or why not?
70. Do you like school? Why?
71. Do you like to go to the theatre? The opera? The symphony? Which do you like best? Which production did you like best and why?
72. Do you recall any outstanding family trips or summer holidays you experienced as a child?
73. Do you remember a special birthday party you've had, given or been to?
74. Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names? Any memories that you have.
75. Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers, and why?
76. Draw a floorplan of your home and label the rooms.
77. Draw a funny picture about something that makes you laugh!
78. Draw a picture of anything that you are afraid of.
79. Draw a picture of the house you live in.
80. Draw a picture of what you play with at the park.
81. Draw a picture of what you want for Christmas or what you are giving you mom.
82. Draw a picture of what you want to be when you grow up.
83. Draw a picture of what you would buy if you had all the money in the world.
84. Draw a picture of your best friend.
85. Draw a picture of your family.
86. Draw a picture of your favorite activity to do outside.
87. Draw a picture of your favorite birthday present.
88. Draw a picture of your favorite color.
89. Draw a picture of your favorite holiday.
90. Draw a picture of your favorite outfit to wear.
91. Draw a picture of your favorite pet or animal.
92. Draw a picture of your favorite place to go.
93. Draw a picture of your favorite scripture story.
94. Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do in the summertime.
95. Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do with Grandma or Grandpa.
96. Draw a picture of your favorite toy.
97. Draw a picture of your room and what makes it special.
98. Draw a picture of yourself as a baby.
99. Draw a picture of yourself dressed in your Halloween costume.
100. Draw a picture of yourself.
101. Draw a picture using your favorite color.
102. Draw picture if yourself as a baby.
103. Has anything major happened since the last time you wrote in my journal?
104. Have you ever been sick? What made you feel better?
105. Have you ever had a crush on someone? Who? Do you still like him now? Describe him, and what attracts you to him.
106. Have you ever learned something from being in an argument with someone? If yes, Why?
107. Have you ever stood up for what you believe, even when it was very hard? Tell about it.
108. Have you ever written a story, poem, or song you would like to add to my journal?
109. Have you met or worked with any famous people? Where, when, etc.?
110. How did you become engaged?
111. How did you feel about school?
112. How did you first meet your in-laws?
113. How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child? What were the advantages or disadvantages?
114. How did your father spend his time supporting his family?
115. How did your father spend his time?
116. How did your mother spend her time?
117. How do you feel about death? Tell about your philosophy of after-life.
118. How do you feel about dentists? Why?
119. How do you feel about doctors? Why?
120. How do you feel about winning? Losing?
121. How many are in your family? Do you wish you had more brothers and sisters?
122. How old were you and your spouse when you were married? How old were your parents when they married? Describe plans, hopes, etc., at that time.
123. If I've received my patriarchal blessing, what is the most significant part to me?
124. If you could be a flower, which one would you choose and why?
125. If you could be a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Why?
126. If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?
127. If you could change any part of myself, what would it be?
128. If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind would you choose and why?
129. If you could have your favorite dinner for your birthday, what would it be?
130. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Why?
131. If you could watch a video over and over, what would it be and why? What is it about?
132. In what kinds of extracurricular activities did you participate in school?
133. List all the costumes you have worn or characters you have been for Halloween.
134. List each of your Aunts and Uncles. Tell one thing about each of them.
135. ONE WORD on how to live successfully.
136. Share a principle you have learned, or one you have taught.
137. Tell a courtship story about your parents, how they met etc... Tell the same
138. Tell a courtship story about your parents, how they met, etc. Then tell the same about you.
139. Tell about a favorite trip or vacation.
140. Tell about a favorite vacation from your childhood.
141. Tell about a fishing or hunting experience.
142. Tell about a frustrating experience that you have had with a car.
143. Tell about a frustrating experience you've had.
144. Tell about a special Birthday party you've had? Given? Or been to?
145. Tell about a special date you had with a boy/girl friend or your fiance.
146. Tell about a special date you had.
147. Tell about a trip your family took that you particularly enjoyed. Where did you go? What did you see?
148. Tell about all the places you have worked.
149. Tell about anniversaries, celebrations, trips, and gifts.
150. Tell about any ancestors that you know about. Names, dates, etc. for historical purposes and any stories about them.
151. Tell about any conditions surrounding your birth that you are aware of. Tell any interesting stories about your beginnings, how your name was chosen, etc.
152. Tell about any General Conference talk that you can still remember.
153. Tell about any interesting or important visitors to your home.
154. Tell about any pets you had as a child.
155. Tell about dreams, expectations, and hopes you have for each of your kids.
156. Tell about each of your children's names, birthdate, where, doctors, circumstances surrounding the birth - raising them in the home - problems, joys etc.
157. Tell about exciting experiences in young women, scouting or whatever.
158. Tell about family reunions.
159. Tell about favorite games you played as a child.
160. Tell about home cures or old wives tales, hiccups, toothaches, earaches, arthritis.
161. Tell about how, when, where you learned to drive.
162. Tell about religion practiced in your home - faith promoting stories, etc.
163. Tell about retirement -- When, where, what will you do with your time?
164. Tell about schools attended, special teachers, friends, classes, activities, humorous situations, achievements, etc.
165. Tell about some of the most notable people in your hometown.
166. Tell about some of your neighbors as a child; as a youth; as an adult.
167. Tell about the birth of your first child. Then about each of the others.
168. Tell about the changes you've seen in your lifetime: society in general, technology, fashion, fads, morality, politics, etc.
169. Tell about the house(s) you lived in during your childhood. Do you remember the addresses or phone numbers?
170. Tell about the houses you lived in during your childhood.
171. Tell about the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you.
172. Tell about the places where you have worked.
173. Tell about your civic or political activities.
174. Tell about your dad's job and/or your grandpa's.
175. Tell about your early romances.
176. Tell about your family traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduations, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hunting, weddings, etc.
177. Tell about your father - personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about him, etc.
178. Tell about your favorite Aunt or Uncle.
179. Tell about your favorite friend and why they are special to you.
180. Tell about your favorite pet ... what kind of animal? When did you get him/her? Why do you like them?
181. Tell about your favorite uncle.
182. Tell about your first crush.
183. Tell about your grandchildren - how many? Names? How you feel about being a grandparent?
184. Tell about your life as the children left home - new interests what did you do with the extra time - -new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.
185. Tell about your life as the children left home. New interests, what you did with the extra time, new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.
186. Tell about your mother - personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about her, etc.
187. Tell about your own family traditions. Christmas, birthdays, graduation, fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mothers or Fathers Day, weddings, funerals, hunting etc.
188. Tell about your own family traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduation.
189. Tell about your parents' philosophy of raising kids, discipline, rules, etc.
190. Tell about your teen-age social life - your friends, dances, dating, outings, church functions etc.--
191. Tell all about your favorite friend and why they are special to you.
192. Tell how you feel about water - playing in it, seeing it, using it. Tell about various bodies of water you have seen and an experience or feeling.
193. Tell how, when, where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.
194. Tell something about each of your children, their personalities, their talents and traits that make them different and special.
195. Tell something you enjoyed doing with your Grandma or Grandpa.
196. Tell the things your parents have told you that you did when you were a baby.
197. Tell the words of a song from your childhood. What memories does it bring?
198. Tell what you know about the day you were born.
199. Tell where you went to school - list teachers, subjects, friends.
200. Tell your favorite joke, or about something that makes you laugh.
201. Tell something you enjoyed doing with your Grandma or Grandpa.
202. The Lord gave everyone talents. What are some of my talents?
203. Thinking back was there a teacher who had a great influence on you?
204. Were there any events -- world, local, or personal, that changed your life?
205. Were you ever in a drama, speech, sport, pep or glee club, etc.? Tell about it.
206. Were you responsible for any household chores? What were they? Which did you most enjoy? Least enjoy?
207. What am you studying this year in Primary, Sunday School, or Seminary? Do you enjoy it? Do you feel the spirit there?
208. What are my favorite family holiday traditions?
209. What are my goals and dreams?
210. What are my goals for making it back to live with my Father in Heaven?
211. What are some events that are happening in the world right now? (Include newspaper clippings).
212. What are some of my jobs at home?
213. What are some of my talents?
214. What are some of the events that are happening in the world right now? (include newspaper clippings)
215. What are some of your favorite smells? Why?
216. What are the things you love and admire most about my father?
217. What are the things you love and admire most about my mother?
218. What are you frightened of? Why?
219. What are your favorite colors, flowers, foods, activities, hobbies?
220. What are your food preferences and how did they come about?
221. What are your most deeply and imbedded values?
222. What are your most precious and deeply imbedded values?
223. What brings you the most peace and why?
224. What can frighten you the most and why?
225. What can you remember about the day you were baptized?
226. What childhood experiences do you remember, (funny stories, accidents, memories playing etc.)?
227. What church callings have you had and which did you enjoy the most?
228. What color was your house; your bedroom; your living room as a child?
229. What convinced you most in your choice of a spouse?
230. What did you do as a child that got you into the most trouble with your parents? How did they handle it?
231. What did you want to be when you grew up?
232. What did your father do for a living? How did he get to work, what time did he go, and get home? Did he take a lunch? Who did he work with?
233. What did your grandfathers do for a living? Did your grandmothers work too?
234. What do think about television?
235. What do you fantasize about being or doing?
236. What do you feel has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime and why?
237. What do you know about my Savior? What are my feelings about Him?
238. What do you look like?
239. What do you remember about shopping with your mother? Any particular stores? What was your favorite store?
240. What do you remember about yourself as a teenager? What was important to you? Your dreams? Goals?
241. What do you think about movies? What is your favorite movie and why?
242. What do you think brings good or bad luck?
243. What do you think of myself?
244. What do you want to be when you grow up? What will you be doing?
245. What do you want to do after you get out of school?
246. What does my bedroom look like? Do you share a room? Are you comfortable in my room? What do you like best about my room?
247. What does the mail mean to you? Are you a good letter writer? Who do you or have you corresponded with?
248. What games did you play in your house or neighborhood?
249. What has been a General Conference talk that has had an impact on me?
250. What instrument do you play or wish you could play?
251. What is a favorite board game or computer game and why do you like it?
252. What is a favorite family place to go with your spouse and kids?
253. What is my favorite area in nature?
254. What is my favorite Christmas memory?
255. What is my favorite food? When you cook for my family, what do you enjoy making most?
256. What is my favorite scripture and what are my thoughts or feelings about it?
257. What is my favorite sport of activity to do at recess?
258. What is my favorite thing to do at home?
259. What is my full name and who am you named after? It you could change it, what would call myself?
260. What is my full name and who am I named after? It I could change it, what would I call myself?
261. What is my home life like? Write down ways you would want to change or strengthen it.
262. What is my most favorite thing to do a home?
263. What is my primary class like? Who's in it? Who's my teacher? What's my favorite thing about my teacher?
264. What is my seminary class like? Who's in it? Who's my teacher? What's my favorite thing about my teacher? What am you studying this year? Do you enjoy it? Does the spirit thrive there?
265. What is my YW class like? Who's in it? Who's my teacher? What's my favorite thing about my teacher?
266. What is the best Christmas present you received? What is the best one you gave?
267. What is the biggest lesson in life you found to be true?
268. What is the most adventuresome thing you have ever done?
269. What is the most exciting place you have ever been to? What makes it exciting?
270. What is the most important lesson, message, or advice you've learned that you'd like to pass on for others to profit from?
271. What is the most trying experience that ever happened to you?
272. What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
273. What is the one invention you could not live without and why?
274. What is the valuable principle I've learned through my experiences with others?
275. What is the weirdest dream I've ever had?
276. What is you best and worst subject in school? What do you like and dislike about them?
277. What is you favorite holiday? How do you celebrate it?
278. What is you favorite Saturday activity?
279. What is you favorite thing to play at the park?
280. What is your advice to those younger than you.
281. What is your best and worst subject in school? What do and don't you like about them?
282. What is your child-rearing philosophy?
283. What is your father's best trait? Worst? What traits do you share?
284. What is your favorite animal? Tell why.
285. What is your favorite book? What do books mean to you?
286. What is your favorite color and why?
287. What is your favorite holiday? How do you celebrate it?
288. What is your favorite Saturday activity?
289. What is your favorite scripture and why?
290. What is your favorite thing to play at the park?
291. What is your greatest joy, your greatest sorrow?
292. What is your mother's best trait? Worst? What traits do you share?
293. What is your personal secret of happiness?
294. What is your principle occupation and what circumstances led to it?
295. What is your room like? Do you share it with someone? What makes it special to you?
296. What is your secret for good health?
297. What is your secret of happiness?
298. What kind of extra-curricular activities did you participate in at school?
299. What kind of music do you like? What is your favorite song and why?
300. What kinds of extra curricular activities did you participate in at school?
301. What kinds of foods do you consider to be "picnic food"? Where do you like to go to eat it?
302. What kinds of sports did you play; did you watch; did you like? How about now?
303. What lessons did you take as a child? Did you carry any over into adulthood?
304. What makes each of your brothers and sisters special? Be specific.
305. What makes you feel good (occasion, food, person, etc.)?
306. What personality trait do you admire most and why?
307. What pets have you had? Which one was my favorite?
308. What political party comes closest to representing your own point of view?
309. What special things did you do with your father?
310. What special things did you do with your mother?
311. What things do you enjoy doing today that you also enjoyed as a child? Describe them now and differences, similarities, etc.
312. What was a favorite place to go with your family when you were young?
313. What was the first piece of furniture you bought?
314. What was your favorite Saturday activity as a child?
315. What was your most embarrassing moment?
316. What was your worst, really embarrassing moment?
317. What were the favorite places to go with your family when you were young?
318. What were your father's best traits? His worst? The traits you share?
319. What were your fears, expectations, and anticipations about getting married?
320. What were your mother's best traits? Her worst? The traits you share?
321. What would you give yourself if you had all the money in the world? What would you give your family?
322. What would you like to be remembered for?
323. What's my best subject in school?
324. What's my favorite Christmas memory?
325. What's my favorite Christmas present you remember getting?
326. What's my least favorite subject in school?
327. What's my most favorite movie, book, poem or song?
328. What's the best thing I've ever done with my life?
329. What's you favorite movie? Why do you like it? What's it about?
330. What's your favorite thing to do in the summertime? Why?
331. What's my favorite Christmas memory?
332. What's my home life like? Write down ways you would want to change or strengthen it.
333. When was you most proud of myself?
334. When was you the most proud of myself? When were my parents most proud of me?
335. When were my parents most proud of me?
336. Where did you live as a child - town, country, suburb, etc.?
337. Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain 'smell' or 'look' or 'feel'?
338. Where did your parents live when they were first married? Tell about other places they lived as well.
339. Where do you go to school, what grade are you in, who is your teacher?
340. Where do you like to go to eat out? What do you order?
341. Where do your grandparents live? What are their homes like? Do they have a certain smell or look or feel?
342. Where is my most favorite place to go, what is it like?
343. Where is the most exciting place you have been and why?
344. Where were you and what were you doing the day the first man landed on the moon?
345. Where were you and what where you doing the day of the Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion?
346. Where were you and what where you doing the day of the coup in the USSR?
347. Where were you and what where you doing the day President Kennedy was assassinated?
348. Where were you and what where you doing the day the wall came down in Germany?
349. Where would you like to live most of all and why?
350. Where would you like to vacation most of all and why?
351. Were you responsible for household chores? What were they? Which did you enjoy most/ least?
352. Who am you closest to in my immediate family? How did our relationship grow?
353. Who are my church leaders?
354. Who are my young women teachers right now? How have they taught me the values?
355. Who are some of my "school friends" and what do we do together?
356. Who are some of my favorite people? Why?
357. Who is my best friend? What is she/he like?
358. Who is my favorite General Authority speaker? Why?
359. Who is the prophet of the church right now? What are you learning from him?
360. Who is your favorite teacher? Why? Can you remember and tell about a special teacher?
361. Would you choose differently if you could choose your occupation again? Why? How? Any advice?
362. Write a description of your husband or wife.
363. Write a want ad that best describes you if you were for sale.
364. Write a want ad that describes your father.
365. Write a want ad that describes your mother.
366. Write a want ad that describes your significant other.
367. Write about feeling loved and by whom.
368. Write about how a prayer was answered.
369. Write about some of the places you went with your father.
370. Write about some of the places you went with your mother.
371. Write about something you are grateful for. Make a list and count your blessings.
372. Write about the most interesting thing that happened since the last time you wrote in you journal.
373. Write a description of your husband or wife.
374. Write down your favorite scripture story.
375. Write something nice about your family that they do that makes you happy.
376. Write your testimony of life, marriage, and religious beliefs.
(This picture is from one of our Primary Activity Days)
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