Taking time to remember and share

Dear Family of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and Pilgrims on Our Journey!

Christmas and all holidays bring back lots of memories, some painful and some joyous. This holiday time I would like us all to consider making a big holiday memory book for our youngest family members and if you have memory challenged family members it might be of help to them as well. Gather up photos of  loved ones who are no longer with you and put them in a book with a little or as much info about them and you'll find that this will make a great conversation starter. Have your guests or family members bring a memory of each departed loved one to place into the book. This could work at cocktail or any kind of gatherings. Memories are so fleeting that we should have a way to remember without having to do a video. Something written is timeless.
Here is a checklist of items to help make your gathering memorable;

Take a picture of each guest or family member and if you have anyone who isn't a usual member make sure you tag them in photos. I hate it when I don't know someone in a photo.

Have a guestbook and have each guest sign it and a comment of the day!

Take pictures of family groupings and label photos afterwards.

Bring ancient photos for the family to see.

Have a computer? Run a slide show!

Begin working on your family history! A good start for everyone is a family health illness tree.

Take pictures of former homes, hospitals, and work places for you personal history. 

Give everyone a notebook and pass it around have each family member write a memory of you and pass it to the next person. 

Ask each person to share something they don't know about themselves.

Bring a favorite recipe(s) to share. 

Have each family member or guest bring a historical event relating to themselves or the year when you met. What happened on your birthday? Year you were born? Music Top Ten? Sports, Movies, Books published etc.

Well dear ones those are just a few ideas that might help make this upcoming holiday less boring and more memorable. Don't be in the situation where you find your self asking "If only I had asked Auntie Mame that! " Designate a person or persons to be keepers of the lore! You'll be glad that you did!


 I love you!Take time to remember and give thanks to God for all that is good in your life ! I give God thanks for you this day and always!

Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope!

Sara

Try to remember- Andy Williams

Think of Me - Phantom of the Opera