Happy Birthday Kristen – It would have been your 18th birthday today. So, there couldn’t be a more fitting day for me to remind my friends (old and new) just how important Memory Keeping is and just how much of an impact it can have on your lives. Both for you as the memory keeper, and for everyone that reads it, whether they know you well or not.
I am passionate about Memory Keeping. I always have been. And maybe that was God’s crazy way of preparing me for when he would so prematurely take Kristen from me (just 2 weeks before her 10th birthday). That event reinforced that every minute and every hour spent on those albums was WORTH IT. And I know it just made me even more determined to show EVERYONE just how important memory keeping is.
LIFE IS WORTH CAPTURING…
…and there were years that I spent documenting Kristen’s life. I started her albums when she was about 3.5 years old and by the time she was 5.5 years old I was up to date (for a while). I always knew I would do something precious with all her photos. But until someone SHOWED me what was possible, I really didn’t know how, or when I would do it because I was too busy just living life. And I could never have anticipated that through the course of creating her albums I would also meet people, Customers, friends and DEAR FRIENDS, that would change my life forever.
LIFE IS WORTH REMEMBERING.
Making her final albums gave me a focus when everything else seemed lost, hopeless and too painful to consider. Making her first albums brought me joy to be able to share with her memories she was too young to know. And making her later albums WITH HER by my side, scrapbooking her own pages, was as good as it gets. Not only are the albums a treasure no one can replace, but the experience of creating them gave us mother and daughter moments that were (and still are) precious.
LIFE IS WORTH DOCUMENTING.
So many memories I have of Kristen would have faded by now… eight years on, if I did not have that detail captured in her albums. Every page helps to etch it in my mind, every written word fleshes out the detail of memories that cannot be built upon any more.
LIFE IS WORTH CELEBRATING.
Even with you gone I can still imagine what it would be like to have you with me now at 18. Seeing your old school friends attending their school formal as blossoming young women, knowing you would be as gorgeous at yours. I celebrate the years that you shared with me and moulded my life, breaking my heart but strengthening my determination to celebrate every bit of life more.
LIFE IS WORTH LOVING.
No one knows the value of life until it is taken from you. So now we LOVE a whole lot more. Your two siblings that are here are more precious because you aren’t here to help us enjoy them. Siblings that you begged me to have when you were 6 years old, writing me a letter and putting it in the mailbox telling me you would even change their nappies if I would just get you a little brother or sister. We love them a little more because you taught us the value of real love. And they will grow up loving you and knowing you, because we will share your albums with them.
Memory Keeping is WORTH making time for.
How many people do we meet that WISH they had spent the time, taking more photos, backing up photos properly, using photos in projects, and documenting stories? There so many options and ways to capture, remember, document and celebrate lives. And I found so many ways to do it with yours.
Today I REMEMBER your birthday Kristen, and your ten years of life. And will dedicate the rest of my life, in honour of yours, sharing my passion… because LIFE IS WORTH IT.
Some of these words were inspired by the new video from Close to My Heart. It really touches my heart the way memory keeping is presented in this clip. I hope that it may touch you in some personal way to inspire you to…
Make time for your own memory keeping… to CAPTURE, REMEMBER, DOCUMENT, LOVE, CELEBRATE and Make it from your Heart.
Wendy Potts
I hope you’ll take the 3 minutes to watch it as the beginning of your investment in your WORTH IT projects.
What a beautiful tribute to your daughter, Wendy.
Thanks Shaunna. In death/loss one must find a purpose and I can only find spreading the message of the value in memory keeping to be mine. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Wendy your thoughts about Kristen’s 18th birthday are so special. You know the circumstances of my little Zoe too and so I can understand your pain today. God bless Kristen and may she always be pain free with the angels XXX
Yes Glenda how special of Zoe to have the opportunity of a transplant and I hope that she is travelling well down that new road. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) is something that no child (or adult) should ever have to endure. It is great that some children respond well to the intervention of medication but unfortunate that others don’t respond so well. Thanks for your thoughts.
THANK YOU Wendy, for the reminder that “Life is worth it” and Memory Keeping is important. I have a gorgeous 15 year old and she spent yesterday afternoon going through and remembering many moments in her life with her albums, but I have fallen behind in getting my photos into albums. Your post has reminded me that I need to (and want to) get my precious memories into albums.
Thank you again for sharing.
What better fuel for your motivation than your daughter’s enjoyment! Life can side track us from keeping up with our goals of memory keeping but a little progress is good progress and better than none. So back on the bike… And just pedal when you can. Thanks Doreen.
Wendy, I cannot believe your darling girl would have 18 years old today. What a wonderful tribute to her and testament to how important it is that we have those memories, thoughts are with you today and trust you and all your kids are well. Jayne xxxx
Thanks Jayne. Yes time passes quickly and so slowly at the same time. Hope you are still managing some memory keeping time in your busy life too.
Hi Wendy
Thank so so much for sharing this very personal story and I hope a lot of people might find the strength to start their albums or story. Thinking of you and your family.
Rina
Rina I appreciate you taking the time to type a quick message. It may sound strange but it is very natural for me to share my story. For many it isn’t but the words just seem to flow freely for me as I don’t need to think about something that you are passionate about.
Wendy you say this so so beautifully. A tribute to your daughter, a tribute to yourself as a mother and as well as a memory keeper. I had tears reading this because you really have captured it all so beautifully and so heartfelt. Thank you for sharing and for the timely reminder to capture and document, remember and celebrate. Hugs to you and your family xx
Thank you so much Britt. I would make a lot of blog writers scream if they new how quickly I wrote this, with not much of a plan other than to let the Close To My Heart Video be my inspiration. It had already triggered so many emotions and memories in me, I just let it do IT’s THING… and it seems to have worked. My hats off to CTMH for producing such an emotive summary of what’s important through this video. I just put down in words how I related to it.
Thank you for a gorgeous post Wendy, and the kick in the behind I need to get back into some memory keeping. Much love on this difficult day, but a blessing for all of us that you share the message with. xo
Right back at you Bek. Happy to kick butt when its productive and well received – LOL! Go and enjoy making some pages.
just beautiful, Wendy. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure Anne. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Thank you Wendy. Your beautiful tribute to your daughter and the effect Memory Keeping has on many of us is inspiring, motivational, and has touched my heart. Thank you. ???
Pay it forward Meryl. The gift of inspiring others to spend time memory keeping can just keep on giving. I am sure you can inspire others too.
Brought me to tears. I’m so sorry that up lost your daughter. At the same time I’m so happy that you gave those wonderful memories of her preserved to cherish for years to come. Even having her help you on some will always be with you. You can tell that she was your world. I’m so glad you shared your story with us. Thank you. God bless you.
Brought me to tears. I’m so sorry that up lost your daughter. At the same time I’m so happy that you gave those wonderful memories of her preserved to cherish for years to come. Even having her help you on some will always be with you. You can tell that she was your world. I’m so glad you shared your story with us. Thank you. God bless you.
Yes Michelle she definitely was my world and my little friend and nothing will ever replace that. The universe works in funny ways and I now have two crazy little kids who are my new world. New little people to build memories around. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
So beautiful Wendy, you have expressed so well what memory keeping is all about. Your beautiful daughter has inspired you in every way by speading the word of how very important it is to keep those memories alive in your albums.
Bernadette Strong
Apologies for delay in replying… I thought i had via my phone yesterday but it seems I didn’t complete it or hit wrong button. When memories are all we have they become the most invaluable commodity. But not one you would trade for sure. Thanks for your kind words.
Beautiful post and a beautiful reminder of why memory keeping is so important. Thank you for sharing your story!
Its totally my pleasure Kelly, and I appreciate everyone that takes the time to leave a comment, whether positive or constructive feedback. Thanks for dropping by, and do visit again or subscribe so we can catch up again.