Year one is when everyone talks about him. Year two is when they stop, and she notices.
A book means the stories don’t live only in people who are drifting away. She’ll read it for twenty years.
Build the Memory Book
Collect stories and photos of her husband from everyone who knew him, and print a real bound book. Hand it to her on the first anniversary.
What you'll need
- A simple form or an email address for people to send stories and photos
- A list of thirty people — work, church, fishing buddies, cousins
- A photo-book service, and a hardcover copy for her plus one per kid
Pitfalls
- Start collecting in month two, while people still remember specific days.
- Chase people. You'll get eight replies from thirty asks unless you text them twice.
- Keep the stories in their own words. Don't smooth them out. The grammar is part of the person.
The righteous will be remembered forever. — Psalm 112:6