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Monday, November 17, 2008

ROOTS

Stand tall and be proud of your
ROOTS
**************************

I fashioned a wonderful ROOTS MEMORY BOX for each of my children a couple of years ago.
I posted about these last year, but, after spending a week at BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER'S house, I fell in love with this precious memory holder all over again and wanted to repost for those ladies that may not have seen it.

The lady and gentleman in the upper left corner....Great, Great Grandparents to my children...just think...that's my grandchildren's Great, Great, Great Grandparents...AMAZING.
*
The glasses in the middle section belonged to my Great Grandmother...the glass bottle stopper came out of my Great Grandfather's saloon...
*
The photo of the two men holding a PRECIOUS, BEAUTIFUL, LOVABLE, TINY, CUTE baby...My two grandfathers...and three guesses who they are holding !! tee hee


That's my sweet and pretty mother.....she was a FLAPPER and a beautiful one, at that.
You'll notice her glasses, some of her lovely jewelry, and behind them, a photo from an actual 1920's magazine. The handsome man is my dad with a few of his old pocket knives and coins...


The crocheted flower and needle belonged to Mr. Sweet Nothing's adorable mom...that's her photo. I found the crocheted piece and needle in a drawer of her old, tredle Singer sewing machine and it was just PERFECT to add to this box. The great thing.....there were TWO of these little block flowers...one for each of my children.

The watch, on the left, belonged to my
father-in-law.....there's also a copy of his 1st grade report card.
His pocket watch went into HANDSOME SON'S Memory Box..
My mother was quite the seamstress and these things were from HER sewing machine.
Old needles, her thimbles, tape measures, the photo...
Mother, Dad and me ! I think I was 4 yrs. old here..
In that same machine, I found a letter about her family...addressed to me.
There's lots of things in the letter that I didn't know about my family and I sure am glad she left it for me. I'll post about it someday....
If you have memory items like this...smaller objects that you want to save, put them all together and make your own
ROOTS story.....
I promise you will LOVE it and your children and grandchildren will treasure it someday.
*********************************

love to all, bj

53 comments:

ksarra said...

Oh my goodness BJ!!!! I LOVE THIS, I REALLY, REALLY LOVE THIS!!! I am sooooo excited about finding those little treasures from my grandparents and putting a memory box together. THANKS for this idea!

Marcela said...

Oh BJ. What a sweet tradition !!! It makes me want to do the same!!!
Thanks for sharing with us your memories!
Love,
Marcela

Sue said...

This is so wonderful BJ, I don't have much from my ancestors, but this is such a lovely thing to do! Yours is a family treasure for sure! Have a great day sweetie! xo

SmilingSally said...

I think that this is an excellent idea IF a person has stuff to keep. I don't have so much, so I'll just look at yours!

Anonymous said...

You created such a wonderful memory box for your children. I know they will forever treasure it.

And, how awesome that your mother left you the letter. My husband and I love genealogy.

Virginia said...

What a sentimental and lovely idea, I’m glad I didn’t miss this post.
Your children are so Bless to have such a thoughtful mother.
I’m going to see how many things I can find to make one for each of my children, I have four so I need to find a lot of little treasures.
Have a happy and Bless week,
Virginia

Stacey said...

I really like that. What a great idea!

Baby Vagabond said...

What a marvelous idea, BJ!! This is such a perfect way to keep small mementos and to keep our memories alive.

((hugs)) Rosie

Amelia said...

What a wonderful idea...will have to start thinking what I have that would be interesting to them.

Have a great week.

Anonymous said...

Good morning BJ, I so enjoyed your roots post today. What treasures to give your children. You gave me inspiration to do the same thing. Have a beautiful day.

Hugs, Jeanne

Anonymous said...

BJ... these are beautiful! I want one so bad. The sad thing is I don't have things from my past. There was one sister that lived by my grandparents and her family got it. Then they had a house fire. It breaks my heart. You did a really good thin girl.

Kathleen Grace said...

What a great idea for all those little treasures that are likely to get lost over the years and their stories forgotten. Did you write what everything was and attach it to the back for the next generation?

Smelling Coffee said...

What a treasure! And a wonderful way to hold onto and pass along some things from your family's history! I hold onto things, but don't know what to do with them, so I end up letting them go! I'll re-think that from now on!

Anonymous said...

What a glorious piece of history you created ..... and I am sure you love looking at it as I am sure you kids and grandkids love it also.... very nicely done..... it is beautiful ..
HUgs
Linda

squawmama said...

Wow BJ what an excellent idea... This was so beautiful and you did such a great job making it...Wonderful post. Have a spectacular Monday...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

oh ya The Glenn Miller Story is also one of my favorites... I cry everytime...

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That is such a wonderful idea! I love it!
xo
Penny

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Precious memories~ what a great idea for a gift that will always be treasured.

Picket said...

Morning BJ!!!! Ohhhh I love this post girl...I first thought you was gonna be talking about 'hair' roots! lol lol I am always looking for good ideas on keeping those gray roots at bay! lol lol Ohhhh I am loving the music this morning...I fill like I could do the 'jitter-bug' and I hadn't even had a lesson! lol Loved the post girl..have a great day!

Neabear said...

This is beautiful!! What a lovely idea and so special!

Miss Janice said...

That's just too sweet and such a treasure for your family forever!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea! This is meaningful and beautiful, BJ.

I just read your comment at the back porch. I know what you mean. We too are on SS, plus a little bit each month from J's pension, which, ironically, is tied up in the market, so we are at it's mercy. Makes me wonder if we should have done what my brother in law's dad did. He had little trust for banks and had a safe put in under a floor in his home. That's where he kept his money and they never went without.

Several years ago, we started a family tradition, that might be a good idea, during this time of recession. Each family member provides 5 inexpensive gifts. We started out at $1 each and now, the max limit is $5. It's fun finding things for $5. I think it's much more fun than trying to find the more expensive things. When we began the tradition in the early 90's, we also gave regular gifts. In the past several years, we do only the game. We buy gifts for our four grandchildren, but do not exchange with adults in our family. Even this year, the kiddo's are recieving "practical" things. Sort of like it was when I was growing up, in the 50's.

We pile all the "game" gifts on the floor or the big farmhouse table and roll dice to determine who picks a gift or who robs their neighbor. I think the kids enjoy that game more than opening their presents. We always have "gifts" for all ages and we always make sure everyone "wins" the same number of gifts.

Luckily we have a huge stash of Christmas decorations that are recycled and repurposed each year. We rarely put up the same type of tree more than a couple times. We just go into the storage bins and pull out whatever suits our mood. Our family always enjoys seeing what we come up with, each year. Christmas morning, I'm making breakfast for our family, no big extravagant meal. All our children live within 30 minutes of us. So not so far away.

J's dad died at a young age, over the Christmas holidays, less than 2 months after J's younger brother (age 23) was tragically killed in a car accident. My first marriage came to an unexpected end, over the holidays and just two years ago, we lost our precious grandson Elijah, shortly after his birth. This was just over a month before Christmas. After all those sad events and a few more, we're not about to let the economy dampen our spirits, this Christmas season.

I hope you will enjoy this special time of year. I always remember The Waltons on the TV series and how they celebrated special times, during the Depression.

Back Through Time said...

I love those!! What a wonderful idea and how talented you are~That is a perfect way to share your Roots and Memories.
thank you for sharing those for all of us!
hugs,
Michelle

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Wow what a beautiful box, its a work of art as well as a memory holder!! Hope you are well B.J.

cargol said...

I remember when you had this posted on RMS last year, it is such a loving idea. I made a small memory box last year after my Mom passed away with some of the dried flowers from her funeral, photos, jewelry, and other bits of memory.

Picket said...

BJ!!! I forgot to ask you to sign my permission slip for copying your music today! lol lol I just loved hearing your so I went and put it on mine...what?...what you mean that'll be $10...playlist didn't say a thing about charging me!

Sandi McBride said...

Oh BJ, so glad you reposted this. This is beautiful. Now would be the time for young mothers to put such together while they still have older members of their family to help with the details...wonderful!
Sandi

Tardevil said...

What a sweet story, BJ, and a wonderful idea. You're so creative.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hey BJ - Me again :-)..I just did another post on my bedroom, and I KNOW you are going to love it~come see
xo
Penny

Anonymous said...

BJ,

Oh what a sweet box that is. I love it. You did a wonderful job on it. I have to look and see what I have now that I can make for my girls. I will need three them.

Anita said...

I opened up the page and saw the red and thought, "am I in the right place??"

We used to have these sorts of things... lost most of them in the tornado... :(

Your box is GORGEOUS!

Carol said...

What an amazing heirloom to make for your children! Gives me ideas, thanks for the inspiration!
Smiles,
Carol

Salmagundi said...

That is just absolutely wonderful!! So glad you reposted. How could you possibly part with some of those treasures? I guess we can do practically anything for our children. Sally

April Russell said...

WOW! That is beautiful! You put alot of thought and time into this I see. I bet they appreciate it so much! I think I need one of those! Thanks for sharing that!

Anonymous said...

Oh, BJ, this is fabulous! What a treasure for your children and for them to pass on!! I don't have many 'things' but do have some photos, so this is a great idea for Christmas!!
Thank you so much for your visit today and your sweet kind words. You are just precious to me!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Debra from Bungalow said...

That is so beautiful & a gift to be cherished forever! Think of it being passed on from generation to generation!
Take care, DebraK

Anonymous said...

Very sweet, BJ ... many years ago, I used the same type of shadow boxes to create a keepsake of each of my children's Baby's First Christmas ornaments.

hugs,

Victoria

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

That's just about the sweetest gift I've ever seen. You are lucky to come from a family who had enough forethought to save these things knowing that they would have meaning someday. My family has always lived very "in the moment," so I don't have keepsakes.

Bo said...

Hi sweet BJ...I'm so glad you shared this wonderful idea again, because I'm one of those who wasn't around last year. You had such a varied collection of keepsakes to go with the pictures..
Just a priceless gift. ;-) Bo

Meggie said...

I thought the idea was lovely when I first read about it and love the idea even more now. Such a fabulous, meaningful keepsake!

Deanna said...

BJ,
that is such a sweet thing. How wonderful to have those beloved objects showcased that way. Thank you for sharing that. I love the pictures and your dear mother's glasses.

Warmly,
Deanna :)

Betty said...

I had forgotten about this, I am glad you posted it.
I did one for my Dad of his father but I love how yours puts it all together.

Betty

ksarra said...

Hi again, I have been thinking about all the treasures I could put in my memory box. And you're right, even though I don't have a lot of small things from my ancestors, I could start saving things today to do one for my granddaughter. That's a great idea.

nikkicrumpet said...

What a great idea. It looks beautiful and it's a great conversation piece..AND it is a wonderful keepsake....now how many things can you say that about!! I need to make one of these myself!

Cottage Rose said...

Hey BJ; What a lovely idea, love the box. That is a great way to keep the family memories.

Have a great week

Hugs;
Alaura

Sweetie said...

BJ, I don't think that many posts have warmed my heart as much as your Roots Memory Box. I enjoy researching our family genealogy and, to me, the possessions in your Memory Box are priceless. I have small things that belonged to family members (i.e. my grandmother's bright red slip, my grandfather's purple heart from World War I). I would love to make a Memory Box. Your mother was beautiful and your father so handsome. Don't you love to think of their courtship? Please share the letter that your mother wrote you (if you are comfortable in sharing it). Thanks for the wonderful post.
Hugs,
Sweetie

Linda said...

I remember thses memory boxes...I think they are just wonderful. I love the one you made for your dear daughter and all the rememberance associated with all the sweet pieces...hugs, Linda

Ruthie said...

BJ - That is just wonderful. A real treasure for your children to hand down to their children - and it goes on.
Wonderful idea. I may have to try something like that.
Hugs.

Dena said...

Hi BJ,

That is the sweetest, most thoughtful gift ever! Seeing this just made me cry because it is such a treasure...just like you.

Hugs,
Dena

Grandma Faith said...

Hello, BJ, thank you for sharing this marvelous idea. You really have something special here. I am inspired to get my keepsakes together, too. Love, Faith

Carole Burant said...

Omigosh, BJ, what a fabulous idea to make a memory box like that! I just love the one you made that you showed on this post. Simply beautiful with so many memories within it!! xoxo

Mama said...

Wow! Super idea, and so pretty! Thanks for sharing these.

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

You are very lucky to have so many family trasures, very clever in displaying them the way you have & very generous to give them to your loved ones!

Susie Q said...

This is so wonderful. Just such a treasure BJ. And what a sweet way to display these precious memories.

Love,
Sue