Help with ideas for 'memories box' - terminally ill friend

across

i hope you dont mind me saying i would feel too sad to be able to watch the video so i dont think it would be for me, i cant even watch old cini films without crying and there is no sound (voices etc) on them. it's a lovely idea and i'm sure everything you're doing will be cherished by the children i do hope they will find the strength to get through this very sad time,good luck.

Queenie

First and foremost, my deepest sympathies to all who are touched by this sad news! I currently have a friend going through precisely the same predicament!

One way of dealing with things is to make her a "Journal Jar". In our local hospice they are encouraged to make "Memory Books" which my friend is doing, but the Journal Jar is something I made for another friend's 70th birthday and is a wonderful way of jotting down their memories for future generations to read.

A journal jar is just that, a decorated jar, filled with slips of paper - each slip has a question printed on it. The idea is to pull a slip of paper from the jar and glue the question on the top of a page and write in a co ordinated notebook the answer to that question. I shall post some of the questions I printed off for my friends 70th below if that will help inspire you!?

One of the women J was with at Christmas has sadly passed now, but she left her 8yo son a collection of letters to be opened on certain milestones of his future - this of course takes a certain amount of courage and stamina to do!!! And much depends on your s/mum's friends strength and frame of mind.

Wishing all who are touched by this saddening news the courage to bare it. Peace to your s/mum's dear friend ((hugs))

becky004

I lost both my parents at a young age, never saw me married, in dad's case never saw my 18th/21st birthdays. In both cases never saw my children, become a midwife, get married etc. From a personal point of view (although not to everyones taste), would have loved cards for special occasions.
Yes they would have made me shed a tear, but at least I would have known how much I meant.

HariboJunkie

The journal jar is a great idea Queenie isn't it? I remember seeing that on another site and thinking it was such a lovely thing to do. I'm sure your friend loved it.


Sending best wishes to all concerned here.

Haribo x

Bach_Off

Just a quick note to say thank you so much to all who've replied so far - I can't tell you how helpful are your thoughts and suggestions.

I just hope she's strong enough to do this...it's going to be so hard for all concerned.

Thanks again....

onesocklizzie

Wow,

What amazing thoughts from everyone. So sad to hear about your Stepmums friend x

Just to put my pennies - worth in, to get the measure of a person it can be good to do a 'quick-fire' round, such as

Day / Night
Music / Silence
Black /White
Rain/ Shine
Cats /Dogs
Del -boy / Rodney
Thatcher / Blair
Chocolate / Wine..................

You get the picture.

Best of luck with it x

iglimpse

angelofthesouth wrote: »

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/mo_journaljar.html
Hi, not sure if links are allowed, as I am fairly new to this... This is something I was hoping to put into action for my dear nan to do, but unfortunately, we ran out of time... My plan was to get her to fill in a couple of questions everyday, I really think she would have even enjoyed it! (Hugs) at this difficult time. Xx

That is a great web site for inspiration on these difficult questions, so often it's - where do I begin...

showtunesgirl

How about making up one of these: http://www.photobox.co.uk/widestatic/books.html She could put photos of her life in it and make comments. It would be a lovely keepsake.

Also letters that will be dated for each child to open on milestone days such as their 18th birthday, their wedding day, birth of their first child would also be good so that they can feel that they still have their mum with them on those important occassions.

Queenie

HariboJunkie wrote: »

The journal jar is a great idea Queenie isn't it? I remember seeing that on another site and thinking it was such a lovely thing to do. I'm sure your friend loved it.


Sending best wishes to all concerned here.

Haribo x

There are quite a number of different websites now that promote/explain Journal Jars and make suggestions of questions/presentations. I tried posting links last night, but my post never showed up (happens sometimes) so I resorted to posting the questions I'd used last July, and yes, he loved it enormously Because I also enjoy card making/scrap booking it's easy to make it into something very decorative and appealing

Do you journal HJ? I confess to keeping a journal of sorts for many years (intermitently though).

CurlyGirlie - it is, without a doubt, one of the hardest things to face in life - yet, sadly, the only one guaranteed But do take something positive out of this experience too; the only thing in life guaranteed is that we will all die one day ... lets be prepared to meet it with as few regrets as is possible ((hugs))

I hope she finds the stamina to make either a written or verbal account of whatsover *she* wishes it to be and that it will bring a measure of comfort to all that she wants it to!

HariboJunkie

Queenie wrote: »

Do you journal HJ? I confess to keeping a journal of sorts for many years (intermitently though).

!

I do a bit Queenie. i have a scrap book for each of my twins which I add to each year with significant events and things they have done/said. My aim is to present it to them when they leave home.:D

I have also done memory books for their summer holidays. They adore these and enjoy adding to them with sketches of their memories.

I intend this year to get the girls grandparents to do a journal. I will issue them a list of questions and with their answers and some photos I hope to create a book which i will have printed and bound for them.

Memories are so special and I love to make the most of them.
I think I enjoy doing it so much because my mother died when i was young and I have very little to phsically remember her by. A scrapbbok is a great way to be sentimental without keeping every single thing the kids have made.