“Love Memorials™” are very personalized sympathy gifts given to comfort bereaved families grieving the death of someone significant. This gift comes straight from the heart without the possibility of ever being repeated. A “Love Memorial™” can be sent immediately after the death, on death anniversaries, angelversaries, birthdays, approximate pregnancy due dates or holidays. There is no timeline for a gift honoring an adult or baby who is very much missed.
At least three people are involved in the creation of a “Love Memorial™”; the person grieving, the deceased individual and you. There are no rules to compose a “Love Memorial™”, only the depth of thought for its conception. When you take the time to understand the relationship of the bereaved and loved one passed, a precious and unique keepsake can be composed.
“Love Memorials™” can be a simple handmade card, poems, journal entries, or scrapbook pages. Other forms of “Love Memorials™” are virtual memorials, memory gardens
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or drawings.
A handmade card is a wonderful and considerate way to send a heartfelt “Love Memorial™”. The card located above was created for a couple who lost their daughter Abby at 22 weeks gestation due to miscarriage. The photograph of a golden sunrise, the yellow butterfly and lemony cloud the angel is resting on, symbolizes the gemstone citrine. Abby’s approximate due date was December second, providing the information needed to help create a card reflecting the color of her gemstone. To find your baby’s zodiac sign, symbol and gemstone select the category “Scrapbooking for Bereaved Families” on this blog and scroll down. The flower and butterfly stickers and angel baby on the cloud are included in the Just a Cloud Away Remembrance Kit for pregnancy and infant loss, available here
http://justacloudaway.com/kits/index.html
If you have a talent for writing, compose a “Love Memorial™” in the form of a letter or poem. This type of gift would be highly treasured because of the amount of thought required for its creation. My girlfriend created a “Love Memorial™” for us after the stillbirth of our son Tanner. A poem called, “If he could tell you…”
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personal/ifhecould.html. At my request, I had her also read the poem at our Memory Garden Dedication for Tanner. My girlfriend was also a new mother of a 3 month old when she composed this comforting poem that touched my heart. Her words also reflected a very real pain for her too.
If you are creative and have either an organic or symmetrical style, try designing a “Love Memorial™” in the form of scrapbook pages. This “Love Memorial™” created from your perspective could comfort bereaved families while providing a memorial keepsake reflecting hope and love. My sister-in-law created a beautiful “Love Memorial™” for us honoring little Tanner,
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. One could even create scrapbook pages from the perspective of the loved one that passed, reassuring the bereaved that they are doing just fine and love them deeply.
Decoupage is another medium to use in creating “Love Memorials™”. Decoupage usually comes in a plastic container and has a consistency of glue. I created a “Love Memorial™” for myself. 2 years after my son was stillborn my dear uncle was diagnosed with cancer. He fought a tough battle until the end. Before he passed, with his eyes closed, holding my hand whispered, “I am going to teach Tanner how to fish”. I am crying even now while typing. This vision was created and memorialized
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on a decorative plate and charger plate to hang on my wall.
Virtual memorials are another way to express your support for bereaved families. By working through the logistics and set up of an online memorial, unnecessary stress for bereaved family members are alleviated. These “Love Memorials™” allow you to write short stories, poems or anything else about the deceased or those grieving the loss. Memorials can be personalized by background colors, music, and significant photos, making this online tribute unique
http://www.catholicmemorials.com/default.asp
.
Typical sympathy gifts usually involve you and the individual grieving the loss, such as a sympathy card. Sending such gifts would be fine if it is distressing or uncomfortable to send a “Love Memorial™”. After some time passes, ideas and thoughts may emanate helping to compose a “Love Memorial™” for your friend or family member. These types of sympathy gifts will be truly cherished because you haven taken time to think about their special relationship with the deceased and the undying love within their hearts.
Peace Love and Hugs from Above www.justacloudaway.com
Diana
[...] art of papercrafting incorporates a few supplies with mementoes of loved ones. At the first Love Memorial™ Workshop sponsored by Just a Cloud Away, Inc. ™ Journal, the community brought pictures of their [...]