Tag: family history

The Popcorn Farmer Storybook

Page of The Popcorn Farmer Paper Children's Storybook
~ Megan

The Popcorn Farmer is the second family history paper children’s storybook I created. It is in honor of my maternal grandparents, Vern and Sybil Bryson. I grew up on their farm and loved it. Well, loved most of it. 😉 I knew the next generation really wouldn’t remember “Great Nana/Grand Nan” and Grandpa died before any of them were born. I really wanted them to be able to know a little about these wonderful and generous people.

The title comes from a beautiful tribute to Grandpa written by a family friend. Grandpa was an actual genius and did a lot of amazing things in his life, yet he found meaning and fulfillment being a farmer/rancher and growing produce, especially corn (soooo much corn!), that he and Nana shared with the community. Hence, he became “The Popcorn Farmer.”

The Story
  • Cover of The Popcorn Farmer, featuring large popped popcorn.
  • The Popcorn Farmer by Megan McGrath
  • Once a long time ago, a boy named Vern Bryson was born on a farm in Utah.
  • As Vern grew up he dreamed of being a farmer. He loved farming and farm animals. But Vern was also very, very smart. So he went to college at BYU and studied engineering.
  • While Vern was in college, World War II started. Vern was very brave and signed up to be a pilot in the Air Force.
  • Even though it was scary, Vern worked very hard and became a very good pilot and flew huge bomber planes all over Europe.
  • Vern was such a good pilot he tought other people how to be pilots.
  • He even received a special award called the Distinguished Flying Cross for being such a good pilot.
  • Vern met a beautiful, smart, and gifted musician named Sybil. They fell in love and soon married in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple.
  • Vern and Sybil had five kids: Britt, Forest, Craig, Nadine, and Elaine.
  • When the war was over, Vern began working as an Aeronautical Engineer, helping to develop nuclear engines like those used in submarines.
  • Vern also worked to design better airplanes.
  • When Vern retired, the family moved to a farm in California. It was beautiful there. They had lots of horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs.
  • But some of the best spots on the farm were the giant gardens and orchards.
  • There were all sorts of goodies growing in the gardens. Everything from beets and blackberries, to carrots, grapes, green beans, onnions, raspberries, strawberries, peaches and pumpkins, plums, peppers, and even zucchini.
  • There were so many kinds of fruits and vegetables!
  • But the best was the corn. There were rows and rows and rows of corn! Vern and Sybil’s grandkids loved to run and play hide and seek among all the rows of corn. The corn was so delicious! Sweet, delicious, golden corn on the cob.
  • Each year, Sybil would set aside special ears of corn to dry. When the corn kernels were all dry, they were ready to be cooked into popcorn!
  • Vern and Sybil always grew more fruits and vegetables than the family needed. They loved to load up the convertible with all the fresh produce and take it to church to give it away to everyone. But all the children’s favorite was the homegrown popcorn!
  • Vern and Sybil were kind and generous sharing their food, time, and energy helping all those they could.
  • So, whenever you eat popcorn, you can think of Grandpa Vern and Nana Sybil and their great example. The End.
Some fun facts about this book
  • The plane featured on Page 3-4 (with Europe) is actually one of the planes he flew. I used the trace feature in the Silhouette Design Studio program to create the cut file.
  • A photo of the actual medal that Vern received is shown on his uniform on page 6. I used the Print and Cut feature of the Silhouette Design Studio to cut this out. I also recreated his uniform insignias on his cap and uniform. Did you notice his little wings? So cute. 🙂
  • The diagram on Page 9 is actually a simplified diagram of a nuclear engine. The one Vern helped design! I used the pen adapter to have my Silhouette Cameo draw it. Such a fun detail to include.
  • The animals and fruits and vegetables depicted in the story were all actually grown and raised on the farm, but our barn was not red–it was boring metal gray ;).
  • Grandpa really did wear a straw cowboy hat and denim overalls almost every day of my childhood, usually with a white t-shirt.
  • The cover has several large popped popcorn kernels in the center photo spot.
  • My grandma, after seeing the book, heaved a sigh of relief and said, “I’m so glad that part of my life is over and I don’t have to can anymore.” Hahaha. Thanks, Nana? 😂😂
Supplies Used

I had so so much fun making “The Popcorn Farmer.” It meant so much to tell this story and share it with my family, especially my sweet Nana. And I love to read it to my sweet nieces and nephews.

Do you have a favorite family story? How can you share it with your family in a meaningful way?

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Check out two other stories I’ve written: “Margaret’s Butterflies” & “The Golden Ship“

Margaret’s Butterflies Storybook

Page of Margaret' Butterflies Paper Children's Storybook
~ Megan

I love family stories. As a child, being told family stories anchored and tied me to something bigger than myself. The stories told me who I was when I wasn’t sure how I fit into the world. They helped me navigate a really hard time. The most meaningful story to me was that of Margaret’s Butterflies. 

When I started having nieces and nephews, I knew I wanted them to have this same connection to our family that I had–that they were loved so much by so many that had come before them. And as a book lover, I thought making a cute storybook would be a way to share the story with them. 

The first storybook I wanted to make was was about Grandma Margaret Bryson. She’s my 4th Great Grandmother and a complete inspiration to me. I can’t wait to meet her on the other side of the veil.

This is part of her story
  • The cover of the book, featuring a pink butterfly.
  • Margaret’s Butterflies Retold by Megan McGrath
  • A long time ago there was a girl named Margaret.
  • She lived in a small time in Northern Ireland called Banbridge.
  • Margaret got married and had a baby boy named Sam. She was so happy. She loved her little boy so much.
  • Margaret’s husband, John, was in the army and never came home. This was hard for her to be all alone. But Margaret was strong and had faith in Heavenly Father so she raised Sam all by herself.
  • Sam grew up into a happy and handsome man. He also joined the army. This made Margaret sad. She worried he would never come home.
  • Whenever she would get worried, she would say a prayer to Heavenly Father. Then she would feel peaceful and that Sam was okay wherever he was.
  • One night when Margaret was feeling lonely and particularly worried about Sam, she said a prayer to Heavenly Father for extra peace in her heart. That night when she fell asleep, she had a very special dream.
  • In the dream, she was worried about Sam. Then one butterfly flew out of her heart.
  • Then two butterflies flew out
  • Then 20 butterflies flew out.
  • Then lots more butterflies flew out until there was too many to count.
  • Margaret woke up and knew the first butterfly was her boy Sam. The rest of the butterflies represented her grandchildren, great grandchildren all through the future generations. She loved all those little butterflies in her dream.
  • She didn’t know how so many butterflies would be her family, but she knew that Heavenly Father had given her this special dream as a gift. She had faith that He would fulfill this promise He had given her through her dream.
  • Whenever Margaret was feeling sad or lonely she thought of that dream and felt peace in her heart that Heavenly Father knew her and loved her.
  • Eventually Sam came home from the army and married a beautiful girl named Sarah. They had 11 children. Later Sam also married Isabella and they had 9 children. Margaret had 20 grandchildren.
  • Each of those grandchildren had children and grandchildren all the way down to you. You are one of those beautiful butterflies that Margaret dreamed about.
  • Margaret knew you and loved you a really long time ago–before your grandparents were even born.
  • Heavenly Father also knows and loves you. He will give you peace and comfort whenever you are scared and lonely, just like he did for Grandma Margaret.
  • Always remember you are one of Grandma Margaret’s butterflies. You have a family who loves you forever. And because Heavenly Father loves us so much, this isn’t The End of the story.

The original book is made of scrapbook paper scraps I had. Part of my goal with this project was to only use materials I already had on hand. Fortunately, I had my favorite tool to help me: my trusty Silhouette Cameo.

Supplies used:
How I Made the Book

To create a copy of the book, I took photos of the pages and uploaded them to Shutterfly and created an 8×8” photobook. You can see the finished photo book here, and even order a copy for yourself (no, I don’t get anything from the sale of the book from Shutterfly and make sure you look for a coupon, sometimes you can get the book for free and just pay shipping).

As I’ve shared this story with people, it’s been fun to “meet” cousins– other of Margaret’s butterflies– and be able to share this story with them. Some of them didn’t know about the events in the story. 

I’ve loved sharing this story with the next generation. My nieces and nephews have loved learning about their family and knowing how they fit into our family.

How can you learn and share stories about your ancestors?

Check out two other stories I’ve written: “The Popcorn Farmer” & “The Golden Ship”