If you’re a regular reader here you likely know that Georgia is my two-year-old granddaughter. She’s our oldest, Kelli’s, little girl. I’ve told you all before that she has a determined stubborn streak and can be really challenging at times. On the flip side, she can be super sweet sometimes too.
For those of you who don’t know, Georgie was born in March of 2019. Kramer, my husband, who Georige calls Papa Moo, was in the middle of his lung cancer treatments at the time. Georgie was a real bright spot to us both during that time. Sadly Kramer died in June when Georgie was only 3 months old.
The other day on Facebook Kelli wrote:
“Ever since Georgie has been able to understand the fun of grandparents, we have always talked about Papa Moo. We talk about how he used to live at Grandma Joey’s house, how he was a farmer and liked blue tractors but had a red feeder wagon like Jason (her Dad), and how he loved cake and ice cream. While that part has been fun, we have also talked lots about how he was very sick, wore oxygen and had an ouchie neck, and had to wear a brace. We have always been upfront and honest about how he went to heaven to live with Jesus when he died. We have gone on a walk to see his rock (gravestone) which has led to her request to go on walks quite regularly to see his “rock.”
She often asks me to look at pictures of them on my phone and to read the book about him that mom made. So today when she came up to me to tell me her neigh ( her stuffed animal horse) was sick and mentioned papa moo and “sesas” it took me a while to put together that her horse was very sick and went to heaven to live with Papa Moo and Jesus.
I am so glad that she wants to talk about him and knows that he lives in heaven, but it absolutely breaks my heart that pictures and stories are all that she will have.”
It breaks my heart too but I’m so proud of my kids that they still make Papa Moo part of the kids’ lives.
My cousin recently lost her husband and she has little grandbabies too. Both of us lamented how hard it is that our grandkids won’t remember their grandpas like we wish they did. I suggested to her that she make a book with pictures like I did for the grandkids.
I’ll admit, making it was very therapeutic for me…and also, it’s been awesome for the grandkids. Carver acts like he remembers a lot about Kramer but much of what he recalls as memories actually came from the book.
Here are a few excerpts from the book.
You can see the whole book HERE.
I made the book online through Shutterfly. The books aren’t hard to make. Admittedly, time-consuming, but not hard. To print the books I waited until there was a 50% off coupon on books and I ordered them then.
It was super hard to read the first few times to the kids but, with practice, I can read it without tearing up. Even if you do tear up, no worries, when the kids see your tears, it just reinforces how much we all loved Papa Moo.
The books only ended up being $18 a piece or something like that. I ordered them for all of the grandkids so they could have their own copy. I am going to order some for Eli and Emmett and Lilly next time there is a good sale. I want all of the grandkids to have their own copy.
If you are ever ordering through Shutterfly, search online for coupons as you can apply several to one order.
If you have lost a loved one and have little ones around that might benefit from a photo book, I highly recommend making one. You don’t need to use an ABC format. I did as it helped me with prompts to figure out what to write about. It was like writing an outline before actually writing a book. They have many templates for making a book with many different color schemes.
I’m so glad I took the time to make the books. It really helps our adult kids to be able to talk to their children about their Dad…and it really helps our grandkids get to know the Grandpa they missed out on knowing in person.
What a lovely idea, had me teary though.
Such a lovely idea, and a beautiful memento for your grandchildren :)
since my mother passed a few years before my father joined him in heaven, the grandchildren recall him but we use photos to help our youngest remember, She has challenges and lots of repetition is necessary for lots of things. We recently put together quite the box of photos so it is not just at our home that she sees reminders. Sorry I did not know about your terrific idea of the book. She loves books {jenetic{ so I should have; Your book can be tucked into a piece of luggage and go with them wherever their lives take them -college career moves. amazing gift.
I loved reading this blog today, it’s such a great idea. Made me teary, but that’s OK.
Your books are so beautiful, it is a wonderful idea. I have pictures all over my home of my mom and dad and perhaps that is the project I need to do.
This is a great idea, I really should do this. I lost my husband 6 years ago, prior to having any grandchildren. Now my oldest granddaughter is 4, and her baby sister will be born in just 2 short weeks. We talk of grandpa John, but I don’t think she fully grasps who he was. This would help. Your book had me in tears, it is so touching. It would take some practice getting through one if I made one. One question Jo, did you ever make a memory quilt with Kramer’s shirts? I still have John’s shirts upstairs in totes, and I planning on making quilts for my 3 boys with them. I think I am finally at the point where I can do this. Baby steps…
What a loving way to remember Kramer and what he meant to your family.
It was good to see again the pages from the book you made. It is such a good idea for the grandchildren and I am sure the mamas and papas cherish it also.
My father died in July and my older daughter was born the following January. She never got to meet him, but he had already told me it was going to be a girl. That was way before we knew ahead of time.
All my daughter has is pictures and the memories that I have told her. Wish I had thought of a book for her and her sister.
Sweet story about Georgie and it was an awesome idea to write that book about Kramer! Thanks for sharing, Jo.
I so wish my dad and his seven sisters had talked to me about my grandmother who died a year before I was born. She was a quilter and knitted and crocheted so we have a lot in common. I think the family was in such a state of grief that they couldn’t even mention her so I know very little about her. That book is such a wonderful idea!
I absolutely love this! It made me cry. My daddy passed 3 years ago. My husband and I are getting a new grandson in October and this has given me a wonderful idea to do. I’m still going to do his ABC quilt but it just might be a little different. I might do it with Gpa greats pictures instead. Any opinions? Should I do the book with Gpa greats pictures and do the quilt with regular ABC stuff……. Or just do the ABC quilt with Gpa greats pictures?
Jo, I love the book you made! It’s amazing! I followed the link and read the original post that had the entire book.
It made Me smile to read that Meat Loaf music made Kramer smile! :-)
Oh sweet Georgie! I have a feeling Papa Moo would like to tease you with that temperament. Papa Moo is alive in her memory through the book and pictures. Grateful that she gets to know him through his family on earth. What a gift!
Ps Kelli… I had a spirited girl too … trying at times but fun! She is now 27. You are doing a wonderful job!
My youngest daughter created a book for my dad with pictures of her two boys and sent it to him for his last Christmas. He enjoyed looking at his great-grandsons – they were 2.5 and .5 when he died. He did get to meet and hold them both because my daughter drove from Oklahoma to Nevada two weeks after having a c-section with #2! I can’t imagine driving with an almost two year old and new born that far (25 hour journey), but I’m so glad she chose to do that!! Now I need to make a book of Papa for all four of his great-grandchildren!! Thanks for the reminder!
The book is such wonderful idea. My father died almost 8 years ago after a long illness. At his funeral, the 3 older grandchildren remarked how different their memories of Grandpa were as so many were prior to his illness. The middle 4 have a different set of memories, and the final 3 only have memories of a very sick man. The memories they have in common are how loved they felt and how much he liked to tease and laugh with them. When my FIL died 3 years ago, the grandchildren did a “Grandpa” book for their grandmother with their special memories of him. common theme was how much he loved them and his stories that fit every situation. I still cry over it.
This post is special for all of us…… great idea and so many tips to get it done…. Thanks Jo
I get teary eyes when I read your book. I need to do this for my parents’ grandchildren. Both of my parents are gone now. Your book reminds me, once again, that it’s SO important to take photographs of you and your children/grandchildren. When they are sad, lonely, and just in a reflective mood, it helps to be able to look at photos of themselves with their parent/grandparent and see signs of their relationship with that person. Too often the mother is the photographer and is not in the photos. We need to make extra effort to be in the photos with our sweet little (and not so little) ones. It’s so important. One more thing: get those photos printed and not just left on your phone.