There’s
something so magical about Christmas. It brings us together to share precious
times as a family. So why is it that we become so busy during the holiday
season trying to create the perfect holiday that we often forget to hold on to
those memories? Creating a family Christmas Memory Book is the perfect way to
step back and remember those special times over and over.
Photo Album Meets Scrap Book.
Think
of your Christmas Memory Book as part photo album, part scrap book. What can
you put in a Christmas Memory Book? Just about anything you want. Photos and
videos are, of course, a good place to start. Include photos of your family
decorating the house, trimming the tree, hanging stockings, wrapping presents,
baking holiday goodies, even attending various Christmas programs. And don’t
forget to have the camera or camcorder ready for carolers!
Take Good
Notes!
Journaling
is another natural feature of a memory book. If you send out an annual family
Christmas newsletter, be sure to include a copy in your album. But you can also
keep a journal of the highlights of your holiday season. What did your family
members do that was unique or important this year? What gifts did you make?
What outside Christmas activities did you participate in? What special gifts
did you enjoy this year? You could ask each family member to write a page about
their favorite parts of Christmas this year, and then include these articles in
the album. You might be surprised at what they remember best.
From Ribbon to Mistletoe.
Beyond
photos and journaling, you can make your family memory book uniquely yours by
including wrapping paper swatches, pieces of ribbon, Christmas cards, tickets
and programs from Christmas events, pictures drawn by your children, even dried
Mistletoe pressed between the pages. Did you bake Christmas cookies this year?
Include a copy of your recipe. How about the Christmas stories you shared
together? Add a list.
Wants &
Wishes.
Another
fun tradition is to keep a family wish list. It might include presents that
people want, but it could include some interesting non-tangible items as well.
At the end of the season, put the list in your memory album. Looking back over
the list in future years will give you a snapshot of things that were important
to your family at that time. You could also invite family members to make a
list of what they are thankful for.
Straight from the Heart.
A
Christmas memory book doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Some stores sell bound
Christmas albums ready to go, but a simple three-ring binder with acid-free
paper and protective sleeves can hold nearly anything you might want to
include. Better yet, it’s versatile, so you can put in whatever fits you and
your family. You could keep several years in one binder and use tabbed dividers
to separate each year. Or, you could prepare a binder for each year. You can
also create digital albums on the computer. Imagine the look on your grown
children’s faces in a few years when you give them their own copies of the
family Christmas memory album on DVD!
If
you enjoy working with photos and crafts, you may have the beginnings of a home
business. Many people are neither good on the computer or with scrap books, but
they’d enjoy owning a memory book or giving one as a gift.
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