Photo Memories

Photographs are one of the most important ways we can savor the memories of our lifetimes. They capture so much meaning and are always cherished. A lot of families enjoy sharing photos when they get together for celebrations, reunions or just a meal together. Take advantage of these ideas to spend some heartfelt moments reminiscing, laughing, crying and loving together with your family.

*For an anniversary or special celebration, take one of your favorite photos of the guest of honor - have it blown up and frame it. It is a stunning display of love.

*Have a slide show. Remember slides?? Most of us now have video cameras and watch our videos. But you can still enjoy the slides of yesteryear by digging them out or putting them on videotape set to music.

*Put together a photo collage. Get a big piece of cardboard and find many photos that represent your special occasion or get together. Arrange them haphazardly, overlapping and even add fun quotes. Display in a prominent spot so everyone can enjoy the pictures.

*Scatter pictures of family members or the guest of honor on a table. Cover the tables with see-through plastic tablecloths to protect the photographs.

*Have a photo swap!! Everyone brings their extra, miscellaneous or reject photos and you can swap them with other family members. You'd be surprised who wants that photo of you with cake in your face!

Rockin Fridays

I love music. Music has such a way of allowing memories to be ingrained forever in our hearts. It also is such a great way to express our moods – you know, loud, heavy rock for our angry days – pop music for our bubbly days, and praise music for our reflective days?

One day I was taking my kids to school and we had one of our favorite CD’s playing in the car. My girls are very fond of music as well, and I wanted to just blare the music and enjoy it with them. So I yelled – “It’s ROCKIN FRIDAY!!” and I turned up the CD very, very loudly. They LOVED it!! They got excited and we all started singing at the top of our lungs. (Yes – we are probably that weird car that was next to you at the stoplight!)

Well – the next week, my girls prompted me – “Mom? Where’s our Rockin Friday?” And so began our tradition. They never let me forget a Friday and started pumping me for music as soon as we’d get into the car on Friday mornings. It has become a fun, and special tradition for us. It also showed me that even car times could become special family moments and memories. They can bond parents to children in special ways because of the confined space.

Most of us take our children to school on a regular basis – or at least pick them up. If your children ride the bus, I’m sure they are involved in some activity where you take them on a regular basis. Create special car traditions that get everyone excited about being together and allow you to share joy as a family in the process. I think you will discover – as I did – that something so simple, can develop into something so special.