A Passion for Memorykeeping

February 9, 2022January 26, 2023 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

How do we keep memories? It is absolutely one of my top passions! Probably because Alzheimer’s runs in my family so I am doing what I can to document!

Do we take pictures? Videos? Write in journals? Post on social media? Paint, Draw, Craft, Cook, or other?

Because documenting my family life is so important to me, every January I try to review and take stock of what is working and not working so I can make changes accordingly. Currently my favorite forms of memory-keeping are: photo books, weekly digital-to-print pages in albums, preserving family histories, baking special recipes, and a couple of specific digital scrapbooking projects. I am trying to take more videos but I am struggling a bit.

One hugely helpful step was putting ALL my photo albums and photo books in one place, one home. Looking at what we’ve already DONE is so helpful! It shows us what we naturally prioritize and takes away overwhelm. It helps us hone in and focus of what is truly important to us. It may help us begin with the end in mind.

I decided to put everything in this set of bookshelves. The 12×12 albums are so big and bulky so I have them behind closed doors. The printed photo books are varied in size and color but they all kind of coordinate and don’t take up much space at all so they are on the open shelves.

I have always wanted to document and preserve and have the important things printed out. So when I put everything in one place, I could breathe a sigh of relief. I almost have TOO MUCH! Are either of my kids going to want all this STUFF? Probably not. Honestly it made me relax; I don’t have to do any more memory-keeping if I don’t want to.

For me, however, this practice (and hobby) keeps me focused on love and gratitude so I can’t imagine quitting. I just feel less “pressure.”

What I document:

Everyday Life- 1-2 pages weekly // photos // people // places // things// funny things we say // relevant quotes or memes // books we’re reading // shows we’re watching. I screenshot funny text messages and also use the free Day One app to jot down funny things we say or things I want to remember that don’t necessarily have a photo to jog a memory.

Each Monday, I use the free Project Life App to easily create 12×12 pages of photos and words that are uploaded and (later) printed, slipped into clear page protectors, and kept by year in 12×12 navy 3-ring albums. I label them by year. I started doing this in 2013 and have continued because I love the process and and ease. I also love looking through the printed pages although the large size and weight of the albums is not ideal. Binders are so nice because you can move everything around; it is not bound like a photo book. Prior to 2013 I would do annual family yearbooks but I found it overwhelming to sum up a whole year at the end. In the future I may try making annual yearbooks month-by-month and then printing at the end but for now I’m enjoying week-to-week.

Travel Photo books- For me, making these is almost more fun than the trip itself! I love the finite time frame. I love re-living the fun. It’s like taking the trip twice! Beach vacations are so easy with the pretty photos and maybe less journaling. For more involved trips like our trips to Europe I usually make daily notes in my phone using the Notes app of things I want to remember: places, historical dates, interesting tidbits. Then when I get home, I can add those notes to the photos and put it all together in a photobook. I have used different companies but usually I just use Shutterfly. I make the photo book and then wait for their “unlimited pages sale” to order. I try to order copies for each family on the trip. These are my favorite Christmas presents to give!!

Tribute Books- When Adam’s father died I put together a tribute photo book and had multiple copies printed for family. These are another passion of mine. EVERYONE should have some kind of tribute book and even better if they’re still living! Then when my aunt Mary Ann (who was more like a grandmother to us) died, I did a book for her and also gave multiple copies to family. When Mary Fowler graduated high school, I took advice from a class I took with Becky Higgins and made a tribute book for her. It was comprised of notes from family and friends they sent me (usually via text or email) and I matched them to a photo of her and this person together. I thought it would be nice for her to take to college and be reminded of all who love her. It was my favorite graduation gift and she loved it and was touched by it WAY more than I expected!

I tried Chatbooks. I absolutely loved how easy the process is. For me, though, the end result just doesn’t quite do it for me? I would love to hear more about how others use it and love it because maybe I’m missing something?

Videos- I have videos I have paid to digitize from my childhood as well as videos from when my kids were little. And then I have videos from the beginning of smart phones. I have never known what the end result of videos is so I still have a lot to learn but that is on my to-do list in 2022. To figure out how I want to incorporate the video part to documenting. Right now I am thinking I will compile by time frame and then upload to you tube so I can make a QR code to print in a photo book. That way the person looking at the photo book can use their phone to scan the code and watch the video compilation. It just seems that DVDs are already outdated so I’m just not sure what finished product is best?

Family History projects- I am so passionate about this and I have been given most of our family’s heritage “stuff” but that is another whole beast 🙂

This is one of my favorite topics to talk about so please let me know your thoughts!

Small Miracle

June 4, 2017June 4, 2017 ~ olivia ~ 1 Comment

51jJ8NXhbrL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg — Amazon

Last year as school was winding down, I was chatting with a friend about how I had high hopes that our family (i.e. my kids) would keep the house “together” despite having the routine of school.

She had great input, adding that in years past she had high expectations for summertime which usually lasted a day or two and then went to hell.

She recommended this book. I was got it from the library and was very intrigued because it is unlike the typical parenting books that demand we “whip our kids into shape” because we are the parents and they are the kids.

This author sets the tone that it is our job as parents to educate our kids about how to grow and become independent and that they will feel pride in doing so!

So I started with one chapter and then gradually moved to another and she was right!! The kids loved it! I remember being amazed that even on vacation, they were making their beds! Great daily habits. They especially loved the jar of $1 bills (for daily chores) and each child making dinner once a week- they both really got into it! Davis even encouraged us to do Blue Apron this school year because of this book- and the whole family looks forward to the weekly Blue Apron meals!

Eventually I returned the library book, then the new school year began, and yada-yada-yada we fell off the wagon.

So here we are with a week or two left of school and they told me they wanted to do the “chore thing” again this summer! I just picked it up from the library so we shall see!

Spring Break Stingrays

April 28, 2017April 22, 2021 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

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We just got back from a very relaxing trip with the kids to Treasure Cay in the Bahamas. We traveled with four other families and it was a blast! My kids have been spoiled and now say they always want to travel with other kiddos!

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This beach definitely lived up to its title of a top 10 beach in the world! I loved it so because the sand was like white flour and the water was glowing turquoise. But the best part was how quiet it was! No resorts and very few people around! There were chairs and umbrellas out on the beach and there were always some available. No getting up early to snag a chair here!

I think this is a good destination if you want a perfect, absolutely gorgeous, quiet beach. If your family likes to have lots of activity, shopping, or entertainment- this is probably not the destination for you. We rented a condo (via VRBO) in the Bahama Beach Club and loved that the condos all faced the pool and the beach. It was a lovely view and if you sat on your screened porch, you could see all that was going on.

We had one chartered boat expedition that came highly recommended and then we planned to take a boat on our own, visiting the different islands, for several other days. It was pretty breezy the week we were there which made for great weather and no bugs! But if did make the ocean water choppy and the women especially did not love the boating as much as just staying in paradise. So we ended up having 2 boating days total and I have no regrets about that.

Having said that, my two most favorite experiences did occur on the boating trips. First on the chartered tour, we went out, fished for our lunch, and were taken to another desolate island where they cooked the fish for us. It was so delicious, but the most amazing thing were the stingrays!!!! The guides told us they were friendly so we had no fear petting them and letting them “pet” us! Having just read The Soul of an Octopus, I was in awe and amazement the whole time! Truly the highlight of the whole trip for me! Only when we returned home did my husband talk to several people who have been stuck by stingrays. I am so glad we didn’t know those stories before the experience!

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Whenever I have a unique encounter with an animal, I google that animal’s spirit meaning. I love animals, and I have been told (and believe) that they are here to help us along this earthly existence. This is what I read about stingrays on one website:

If Stingray has come swimming by you today;

Stingray is letting you know that everything is now in place. You have the knowledge, you have the means, you have the tools and you have the skills – now get busy and get on with it. Everything you have worked toward is open to you so stop hesitating. Have faith in your abilities and follow your inner guidance.

Hmmm… this message is probably meant for me but I’m still not entirely clear what “it” is 🙂

Another thing I loved was when the adults went for a short boat ride. We found a small desolate island and we all jumped in the water and swam to it. It was just so nice- the clear water, the clean sand below, and there were a lot of big conch shells so I took one (its very imperfect- not all shined up like in a novelty shop) and brought it home.

For the most part we relaxed and read and talked and ate:) We either grilled dinner or we went out to one of 3 places. As always, the kids preferred to have dinner at home all together in one condo while the parents went out to eat every other night.

Because it is a fairly remote place, they have to import everything in. There is a small grocery store but it is pricey. Luckily, we had lots of advice from others who had been on ways to prepare and pack ahead. And that is what I have listed below because some have asked:

We were told to pack (in checked luggage) liquor and food because we all had our own full kitchens and groceries are quite pricey on the island, as most everything is brought in. This was very stressful for me to plan but now I feel like a pro. Our group had a loose plan to eat in 3 nights and eat out 3 nights. Our airline charged $25/checked bag under 50 pounds. So at 3 o’clock in the morning as I was packing the cooler, I realized it was more economical to check two bags as opposed to paying $100-$250 for an overweight (over 50 lbs) suitcase. I ended up having one suitcase with things like a medium sized plastic liquor bottle, small box o’ wine, coffee, 2 cans of tuna fish, peanut butter & jelly, seasonings like baggies of salt, pepper, seasoned salt, garlic cloves, dry pasta, protein bars, tortilla wraps, and oatmeal packets. The soft Yeti cooler (which we also planned to use on the boats during the week but did not end up needing) was packed with frozen tenderloins, cans of crab, frozen shrimp, turkey lunchmeat, sliced cheese, frozen bacon & sausage, frozen lasagna, frozen pizzas, and frozen hamburgers. Let me just say if you had heard me shlepping those bags up and downstairs at 3 in the morning to weigh on my bathroom scale, you would have heard some words!! Never did it occur to me to bring the SCALE downstairs… Some things I bought like packs of crackers/chips/club soda did not make the weigh in. In the end, was it all worth it?? Yes, it was! Each fun fruity drink from the swim up bar was $10 so the luggage fees were recouped almost immediately. And we certainly did indulge and let the kids order some fruit smoothies, too 🙂

2. Things we bought from the little grocery store were: bread, eggs, milk, club soda, and a couple snacks.

My family had a blast and especially loved traveling with other families. Adam and I would go back- it was just so beautiful and relaxing. Although I’m not sure the kids would say that. They feel they kind of “mastered” the island and would prefer to explore somewhere else.

Legacy of LOVE

April 17, 2017April 22, 2021 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

We just returned home from a wonderful Spring Break vacation. It was so special for so many reasons but one was this book:

I read about it somewhere (probably Amazon) and bought it and I’m so happy I did. It wasn’t the best vacation read I could have chosen… I cried ALL the way through it… but I LOVED its message SO much that I really want to start a group just to talk about it and put her ideas into action! I think it could be fun to do it together with girlfriends!

After losing her mom to cancer at a young age, the author discovered that the surviving family members don’t always get the loving support they need so she began asking questions and has given us the gift of this book.

I feel like all my memory-keeping is for this end… to help show me and my kids what we did and who we are. Years ago I read a story in People magazine about a mom dying of cancer (in England, I think) and she prepared a long, detailed list for her husband. Things to remember after she had gone. Things like: check her hair for nits and let her buy a new dress for each school dance. I don’t think I realized how difficult major milestones like graduations, weddings or holidays would be for surviving children. For example, I definitely prepare the Easter baskets so that needs to go on my list of reminders. Gemini recommends simply writing a letter to be opened as a future surprise. She says you cannot imagine the comfort even just one letter will bring your surviving family 🙂

After attending several funerals over the past year, I have more work to do. Think of the funeral arrangements alone! What would that look like and how would my family be able to make those decisions while suffering with overwhelming sadness? My husband has generously over-prepared for the unlikely future without him and I want to help my family by preparing now for the unlikely future without me.

Does all this sound morbid? It brings me comfort… so I guess I just need to get started!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

September 15, 2016March 5, 2017 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

IMG_4703 copy.jpg — My sister has the prettiest Hydrangea!

My kids are just now in their second week of school and it is still as hot as the dickens (what does that even mean?). So, before the crisp, full-of-pumpkin fall arrives, I want to write some highlights down. This summer was so GREAT: so happy, so sad, so full, and so complex.

CELEBRATING The end of school this year was something incredible. When we moved here 5 years ago, probably our biggest focus was making sure the kids had an easy school transition. We met with a professional and she recommended we not overthink this but simply find out where educated parents send their kids to school.

Well, as one child is beginning her last year of middle school and the other is beginning last year of elementary school, I received the gift of confirmation that we made good decisions. We want our kids to do well in school, and they do very well, but it is of higher importance to us that they are kind, respectful, grateful, and receive the support as they figure out who they are and how they want to contribute to this world.

Two women (one friend, one teacher) came up to me at separate times, but on the same day, to tell me of their L.O.V.E. for Davis. One told me how funny and well-mannered he is and the other told me what a great guy in the classroom he is. She kept coming up to me and saying, “I just love that boy!”

The next day Adam and I had to separate to attend two awards ceremonies at the exact same time, one at each school. I was so proud of Davis’s straight A’s all year as well as some other accomplishments that hadn’t come so easy for him. But when he and another little girl from his class were awarded the Citizenship Award, I felt such immense joy that he is thriving right where he is.

I signed Davis out and together we raced over to Mary Fowler’s school just in time to see her receive some awesome scholastic awards, as well as a HEART award. My girl is a hard worker but that HEART award is still up on the fridge! Adam was stopped by 3 different teachers who told him: 1. your daughter is so very special, 2. your daughter’s personality is just so FUN! She is a great student but she is also funny and social- just a delight to be around, and 3. I hope my 2 year old daughter grows up to be just like Mary Fowler!

I was kind of floating that morning. Adam took us all out to a family brunch and I could hardly talk because I was processing my fears/concerns/worries to the reality that my kids are just fine… thriving, really.

Because I can worry with the best of them, I think I may begin listing my fears on paper so I can later write down examples that may help alleviate those fears.

DECORATING Just this week, I got around to visiting two different friends who hired me to help them with some work on their houses. What validation it is to see these beautiful spaces. Both projects felt so clean and calm and refreshed.

Sometimes when I look through magazines I start to question if I really know what I’m doing because I have zero desire to do big-time, crazy-expensive projects like the ones you see featured in magazines. My favorite projects are normal families who just want a crisper, calmer, simpler, but well-designed, pretty space. And seeing the completed spaces added to my confidence.

Additionally, one of my neighbors has hired me to help with a larger scale project and it so far has been so gratifying to help her get more bang for her buck than she expected. We are still in the very early stages of planning and budgeting but this kind of work is fulfilling to me.

EATING Once school started, I was hell-bent on making sure we continued having family dinner together every.single.night. I knew once after school activities started it would be hard but I still really want to try our best to have dinner together, around the table, followed by some kind of family game. Nothing crazy- sometimes just 15 minutes. The key to my success was going to be planning ahead. So I wrote out the simple meals we would have each night. And if it’s a crazy day/evening, that means I have to plan ahead for a crock pot meal. Planning.

It is worth it. Sitting at the table together makes the kids talk so much more than they would if we were in the kitchen moving around, some sitting, some standing…

Afterwards, I usually have to drag everyone to play Rummicub or basketball or football, but 2 minutes in, EVERYONE is on board! It is worth it.

Davis chose golf and theater for two of his activities this fall. And he also wanted to order Blue Apron to make dinner for the family 2x a week! For me, this is an expensive option to my normal monthly grocery budget, but I am viewing this as a cooking class for him to justify the cost 🙂 One other potential benefit: we didn’t have a choice of delivery day; Friday was chosen for us. So, while most Fridays we order or make pizza, we will be replacing that with some pretty special meals by Davis! I think it will be great!

Tomorrow is our first delivery so we’ll see how it goes!

EXPLORING This summer involved some exploring! And I’m talking about exploring of the travel and spiritual kind.

In June we spent some time at the lake with family and friends. I always love seeing my family and the addition of friends who now have a place at the lake added a fun dynamic! The kids and parents all had a blast together! My kids have much younger cousins, who they love, but having friends the same age to play with is a different kind of fun!

Truth be told, I was a little anxious because soon after was our trip to the United Kingdom. Mary Fowler’s school planned this and my parents have always wanted to go to Ireland so my sweet husband sent me and Mary Fowler on another European trip, less than 3 months apart. I owe him!

What is really awesome is that my mom had some big things she wanted taken care of that she and my dad kept procrastinating about. So this trip was a wonderful motivation. They got done what they needed just before we were driving to the airport. And more change for them was to come. I have wonderful parents but they have always struggled with some forms of “taking action.” There has been something about this trip that has helped with this dynamic. And I notice a lightness in them.

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Not to mention, this trip was just so special in so many ways. I wrote all about it with pictures in a photo book. We were kind of exploring our English and Irish heritage and I know I came away with a better understanding, and even more curiosity! Because I was the designated photographer for my parents, I completed the book really fast and sent them their copy. Then I quickly made the Italy book, too. Getting my pictures in print form has always been one of my passions.

We had another very relaxing and soul-filling family beach trip with Adam’s mom. We are water people. I love it when Adam and I take walks together. And playing in the ocean with the kids- all together, then jumping in the pool for a little play before going in for lunch or dinner- it’s just a nice daily rhythm. I took pictures, though not as many as last year and I look forward to making that book.

Spiritual exploration is constant for me but there this summer held a couple of family illnesses –Several of my aunts and uncles were suffering with uncertainty in their health and my beautiful cousin who I have always looked up to was undergoing treatment for lymphoma and two tragic deaths that literally took our breath away. The first was the kind-hearted dad of one of Mary Fowler’s friends. His death had Adam and I asking a lot of questions and opened up a lot of conversation. Attending his funeral was a gift. His family is very special. Mary Fowler was with us and I imagine it will be one of those major life-altering memories for her and for us.

The second tragic death was a young man in high school. He is the stepson of one of my sweet friends. His funeral, too, was a gift. The family was so honest and loving and strong. The masses of people, most especially children, attending this funeral was remarkable. For these kids to be a part of this will promote life and light and good. It also reignited my desire to attend this particular church.

LOVING This summer I loved that I felt more present.

I love that my kids and I played tennis together.

I love that I played in the water more with my family.

I love that we spent a lot of time together as a family.

READING When I was little I remember my mom and my aunt Debbie taking us to the library regularly over the summer. My mom can read about a book a day so we would pile our arms full! When I take my kids (usually kind of begrudgingly) I walk in and feel such excitement and hope! All these books! All free! So much to learn about!

My kids are not usually as excited as me.

I can’t remember everything but I try to take pictures of what I’m reading. Mary Fowler had to read The Book Thief and The Outsiders over the summer so I read The Book Thief, too, and really enjoyed it. She also has really enjoyed NO FEAR Shakespeare (for school). She said it really helps you understand and makes Shakespeare enjoyable! So that may be helpful to someone with kids.

Book Thief 5 stars

The Little Paris Bookshop 4 stars

My grandmother wanted me to read this and it has surprisingly stuck with me.

The Hen who Dreamed She Could Fly 4 stars

I really liked this one and may need to purchase. I tried several of her suggestions and I really need to post about them. I was shocked at how well my kids responded!

Cleaning House 4 stars

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I borrowed this from a friend and read during the Ireland trip- really good! I actually watched a movie on Netflix called The Fundamentals of Caring that I thought was similar and better.

Me Before You 3 stars

After You 2 stars

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To Heaven and Back 5 stars

A Man Called Ove 4 stars

The Language of Flowers 5 stars This would be a great book club pic!

Davis really loved Swiss Family Robinson and Tom Sawyer. We read them aloud. He also loves graphic novels (cartoon-strip-ish books) on his own. I have never liked graphic novels or comics for that matter??

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Well, that’s a wrap of the highlights of summer. I do plan to continue my weekly digital scrapbook pages but I am so far behind that I may do summer and then try the little Instagram Chatbooks for the daily mundane? I have started a totally private, no following/or followers family insta site and supposedly every 60 pictures it can be printed into a Chat book for $6

I don’t know if it will satisfy me but we shall see…

Father’s Day

June 5, 2016June 23, 2016 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

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We love our dads! I don’t know about you but it’s always a bit of a struggle for me to pick out a Father’s Day gift that says, “We love and appreciate you, dad.”

I started doing photo books several years ago because I know Adam loves them and I certainly enjoy making and having them. They’re really great for multiple dads (like grandpas, uncles, etc.) because you make one and order several copies.

Each year is a little different but now I seem to focus on more event-based books. Like this year’s week at the beach book. Sometimes I wish I had planned things a little better (colors/sizes/etc.) so the bookshelf looked a little more cohesive, but all in all, I’m happy that pictures are printed out where we can see them rather than just stuck in the computer 🙂

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This year Adam bought himself an early Father’s Day present (Yeti soft cooler) but I’m still giving him a copy of this book – mainly created for my dad. This year, I wrote a letter to my dad in the opening page.

What are your favorite Father’s Day gift ideas??

Reading

April 30, 2016April 30, 2016 ~ olivia ~ Leave a comment

51QSTmOYoSL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg — Amazon

Now that my kids are older (7th grade and 4th grade) book choices are SO MUCH more enjoyable for me! I volunteered at Mary Fowler’s book fair and bought several that looked yummy, planning to read them to the kids.

Davis, especially, loves to be read to. It is really a quality time activity for us. Right now we are reading Counting by 7s which is about a fabulously-interesting 6th grade girl who suddenly, tragically loses both her parents on the same day.

The story is about how she deals with this great loss and the motley crew of people she surrounds herself with. We were about halfway through the other night and I just had to finish it myself after Davis went to bed. Oh how I cried!!!!! I mean, sobbing. And it has a good ending, I just think it touched on one of my all-time greatest worries in life… how kids make it when they don’t have the family network so many of us do. It really touched a chord with me.

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Mary Fowler and I are reading I Am Malala- the young adult version (for my sake:). We are only a couple of chapters in because she has less free time available in the evening. I am hoping that the book will show Mary Fowler that to some children education is a privilege. I am SO proud of how she is doing in middle school but it never hurts to get a little world-perspective:).
I have found that my favorite place to volunteer in the kids’ schools is the LIBRARY! I love it! I love being around all those books and I love discussing books with the librarians! So much better than the cafeteria 😦 And I love how the teachers at our elementary school read so many books in class to the kids. For example, I’ve always felt that a book (fiction or non-fiction) written from one child’s perspective during the Depression can teach so much more than just remembering facts of the Depression.

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And for me, I am loving The War of Art and You are a Badass! One a friend gave me and one I heard about it from one of my scrapbooking blogs. They are SO, SO good! I usually try to get books from the library but I’m so happy I own these because I’m going to refer back often!!

Olivia Sharp

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