Death is always a hard thing to talk about, but today I wanted to share an idea that I had while planning my grandmother’s memorial service. My grandma raised me, so this was an especially difficult thing to do.

As I pIanned, I began thinking deeply about all that we lose when someone passes away— their smile, their hugs, the sound of their voice and laughter, their jokes, the way they made us feel, their love, their potato salad (my grandma made the best potato salad EVER)!

Anyway, as I pondered this question, I realized that one of the most precious things we lose is their memories—things that happened in their lives, things that were important to them, people they once knew. I remember my grandma telling me about her childhood when I was little, but sadly I can’t remember most of her stories. What if I had written them down and frozen them in time . . . just like photographs? They would have been something to hold on to after she passed on.

I realized that Project Life gives us a way to do that with our own lives. If we jot down stories or notes as things happen in our lives, they might one day bring comfort to our loved ones after we have left this earth.

All of that led to the idea of having a memory table set up—a place where people could write down memories they had of my grandmother so I could put them in a book. TheLove Story Card Collection (item # 135308) ended up being so perfect. I framed the “I will always remember” card as part of the display and pulled out some journaling cards that would be appropriate for our occasion.

As hard as this loss has been for me and my family, I’m starting to look forward to reading the notes that my grandmother’s friends wrote. I’m looking forward to having a book of memories that I can share with my daughters and even with my own grandkids someday (maybe I’ll end up making the best potato salad that they’ve ever had, and I’ll be able to share stories of my grandmother through it).

So what do YOU want to remember? Don’t wait—because memories fade, and surely you don’t want to wait until it’s too late! Take advantage of the time you have and record those special moments as they come. Not only are they precious to you as they happen, but they will be precious to those who love you. It may only take a few minutes to jot them down, but you will turn a moment into a memory that can last for generations.

Mercedes Weber
Artisan Design Team 2014–2015