We were just lucky. I had an idea and asked my 4 sisters and 2 brothers to help make it happen. Yes! They were in.

Sometimes timing is everything...and sometimes, any time is right. When you set out to accomplish your *Little Book You'll Cherish Forever*, starting becomes everything.

Our book is a collection of Favorite Memories of Life with Dad. We put it together and shared it with Dad at his Retirement Party, 16 years ago.

We loved sharing it with him then, so he could enjoy remembering too...with all of us right there. But even if your special person has passed away, write your little book anyway. It will keep memories alive, for all who follow, to cherish forever.

When Dad died a few years ago, we decided we wanted to share some stories from the little book at his funeral, so others could enjoy them, too. A powerful act of sharing it was.

Mostly, the feedback received was about how things have changed for kids, things just aren't as simple as when we grew up. One friend felt like she was one of our five sisters, relating to the memories we shared. A few others loved the idea and told us they had never even considered writing their own little book.

Want to write your own special little book of memories? Not sure where to start?

Here are 10 Tips to help you take your own Little Book of Memories from concept to complete, enjoying every step of the way:

1. You don't need to go it alone. Invite others to help you. You may be surprised at all the help you get, and the unique memories shared.

2. Keep it simple, very simple. Your goal here is not to write the next best seller. You simply want to capture the beauty of your memories, to cherish forever.

3. Get organized. Set aside a box, a large envelope, an email file, a notebook, whatever is your preferred method for capturing and collecting ideas that come your way.

4. Get quiet and get focused. When you start, set aside some quiet time to look thru old photos, listen to favorite old music, read the old story books. Or simply go back thru time, enjoying the memories you easily recall.

5. Keep an open mind, ready to capture your memories. The key here is not approaching the writing of your little book as something to 'x' off your to-do list. Instead, be open as day-to-day activities trigger memories you'll want to include. Then capture them, right away.

6. Record ideas in whatever method works for you. If you want to type an email to save to a little book ideas file, do it. Maybe you prefer, as I did, to record a voice note into your cell phone or recorder. Maybe a running list in a notebook, or sticky notes you write anytime and save inside your wallet. Jot a note in your handheld organizer. You get it, there are many ways to make sure you don't lose a single precious memory.

7. Expect the memories to flow freely. And they will, eventually.

8. Gather your ideas together and categorize them. This is when you'll see your little book coming together, naturally. In our Dad's book, I chose to list a collection of our family's favorite memories first, and then our own individual favorites. Next was the boys' favorite memories of all, and the girls' favorites. And of course, our family favorite.

9. What format for your little book? Be creative. I chose a hardcover journal with blank pages. On the cover was a beautiful lake scene titled "Minnesota". Our State has always been special for our Dad as he was a long-time State Mediator (which came in handy with 7 kids to mediate!). We tied this theme in when sharing our memories. Every entry was handwritten, one entry per page. Later, sticky notes were added with additional memories, funny or caring angles we remembered later and didn't want to forget.

10. Share it. Enjoy it. Cherish it. Forever. We were lucky to have the chance to share our little book with our Dad 16 years before he died. And then we shared it with those who gathered at his funeral a few years ago. We'll always have it and will continue to share it thru the years...our own Little Book of memories, to last a lifetime.

Here's one of our favorite memories from our little book...called The Five Girls' Favorite Memory of Dad:

"Dad, we love how you never made us take down all those posters in our bedrooms...you just painted right around them!"

Thanks for the everlasting memories, Dad.
We Love You!

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