One of my most favorite movies as a child was “Parent Trap” – the {better} original with Hayley Mills.  Remember the part where Susan has gone to Boston to spend time with her mother (while impersonating her sister, Sharon) and meets her grandfather for the first time.  There on the staircase, she hugs him and starts sniffing his jacket.  He asks her, “My dear, what are you doing?”  Her response is my favorite: “Making a memory.”

Then she follows with: “All my life, when I’m quite grown-up I will always remember my grandfather and how he smelled of…..tobacco and peppermint.”

When have you made a memory like Susan?

I try my best to remember certain things: special people, events in life, what someone’s voice sounded like, etc.  I replay them over and over in my mind, hoping that if I do that I’ll never forget.

I have certain memories of my grandparents that I hope I never forget, like how one Grandpa used to call me “catfish”.  Or how my other PawPaw walked because one leg was shorter than the other (he had these really cool shoes that he wore) and the sound of my Nama’s voice – it was so sweet, even when she was upset with my brother 🙂

One thing I struggle with is writing memories down, however.  Something that I’m trying to do better, especially with the help of my Mother-in-law.  She’s given me baby books for both Reynolds and Eliza Jane.  I’m not recording every.little.detail, but I’m trying to write down the big things.  I’ve started Eliza Jane’s book and am completing things in Reynolds’.  This year, I also purchased a little Hallmark book called Memories & Messages From A Mother that I hope to finish sometime this year…

While I may not be a scrap-booker or extra diligent about getting my digital pictures developed (who has time anyway?!), I’ve got a heck of a memory (much like my PawPaw) and with the help of some books with questions to prompt me, I’m guiding my little ones in making memories.