Grandmother's Book

[Amy2]

Kat's thread about her sad trip down memory lane made me want to share this with y'all (I know, I know, I'm from up North, but I just think "y'all" is the best word!)
My MIL gave my Mom a "Grandmother's Book" when each of my kids were born. Last Christmas I was down at her place and she showed them to me, they were AMAZING. They have all these photographs of my Great Grandparents, their naturalization papers, pictures of my parents when they were young, pictures of me and my sis when we were young, pictures of my kids when they were born. She has written all these stories about how she and my dad met, about her parents, her grand parents. She has kept all the letters and fax's my son has sent (he's four and a half) and she writes little notes about them. I mean, this book is so incredibly cool! I learned things from them I never knew. Like Kat's memories, they are so precious, and though our little ones don't get it right now, some day they will, and what a great gift. Amy

[angie r]

I did something similar to this for my parent's at Christmas year before last.

I gave them like 150 questions on small pieces of paper in a jar and a journal. Things like...what was your first job?....what is your fondest memory of your mother/father?....who were your siblings?....tell an interesting story about your grade school days? And I personalized a few, like for my dad, what was your greatest round of golf you've ever played.

I have to say my father is doing much better at journaling than my mother! They are short enough questions that if they have an extra 5 minutes they could sit down and answer a question.

I wrote inside each journal about how important they are and that their memories and lives should be recorded so that we can always look to them for love and comfort.

[KarlaB]

These books and journals are a great gift to carry on family memories! I also gave my mom a book to fill out and I treasure it.
Angie, I liked your idea of putting questions in a jar. My mom always talks about how much she misses her mom and how there are times she still goes to the phone to call her to ask a question or just to chat and then "remembers" she's gone. Even though I gave my mom the book a few years ago I what I really want to do is give my mom a journal and ask her to write down things she thinks I would want to know someday - whether it is a recipe, life's lessons, a favorite quote, a memory, or whatever. I think I'll use your jar and journal idea! Thanks!! :)

[kat]

Angie r

Love your idea. I'm already making plans on having questions in a jar and a journal for all the ladies in my family as Christmas gifts next year. I plan on getting one to my grandparent's right away though. (I lost one grandfather 1 1/2 years ago, and other gf is in the hospital having been knocked off a ladder trimming a tree. He has skull fracture, broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder, 4 broken ribs, punctured lung, and broken hip. He's been in hospital 4 weeks. He's off the ventilator now. He's a tough old bird. But they are all getting old, and apparently not a whole lot wiser - to be 83 and 9 feet up on a ladder!) This will be great to keep gm occupied right now too.
Anyway, what a great gift idea! Thanks.

[angie r]

I am going to see if I can find all the questions I used and post them. I did them on my old computer so I may not? I was thinking, here we are trying to get our older relatives to do these journals. WE should also be doing them!!! Anyone doing this?

[angie r]

RECIPE FOR MY LIFE HISTORY
Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalga, several cups of facts and feelings and 104 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 somethng very important - YOU!

This is what I typed up for the outside of the Jar. I used a "plastic" jar I bought at Walmart. You can use a canning jar or maybe an empty "Yankee Candle" jar with the stopper lid.

[KarlaB]

Thanks for posting the "recipe" for the journal jar! I am definitely going to do this!! Thanks!!! :)