Posts Tagged ‘Memories’

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with fun and laughter in which to create many new beautiful memories.

Thank you for your support throughout 2013 and we wish you all the best for the coming year.

- Etched In Memories

“An elephant never forgets.”  You must have heard this old piece of wisdom from your parents or grandparents at some point in your life. If you are not convinced in the truth of this statement, you must watch the video below.  It’s a lovely story of remembering across time.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for humans.  Our memory is not nearly as good as the elephant, so we tend to forget a lot of things throughout our lives. On one hand, this is an advantage, because we can leave some bad memories in the past. On the other hand, however, we sometimes lose moments we would like to remember for a lifetime.

Luckily, there is a way to remember those special times in your life.  A great way to preserve beautiful memories is to engrave them on your jewellery. Of course, we have all heard of pieces of jewellery engraved with text and a lot of people would refer to ‘one ring to rule them all’ from the ‘Lord of the Rings’, but now you can have something more – jewellery with a photo engraved on it and bound to remain there forever.

Of course, you can choose any photo you like; your favourite one, or the one that reminds you strongly of a pleasant moment. Then you can have it engraved on a pendant or other piece of jewellery and never worry that it may fade away.  It will bring memories as long as you wear it. This is your chance to turn a piece of jewellery into your personal memory keeper – always there to remind you of your chosen favourite moment.

This is, perhaps, one of the best ways to preserve a photo with a favourite memory.  Rest assured that it will help you think of the good times and special people whenever you need it.

I recently found myself captivated by the online journal of an American woman, a mother. Calling it a ‘blog’ seems a little heartless.

It is the often uplifting and inspirational, sometimes normal, sometimes heartbreaking writings of a woman who experienced several miscarriages. It consists of the journey she and her husband endured with heartbreak and misfortune after misfortune with their first born son; diagnosed with a plethora of disorders and physical challenges requiring therapy and rehabilitation each day.

She has another son, and also tells of the loss of her third child, and first daughter at just past five months gestation.

Sadly, she lost her first born only recently at the age of not-quite-six.

That she continues despite her seemingly relentless ‘bad luck’ – although that term, too, sounds most heartless – is admirable and inspirational.

She – Kate – is a stark reminder of that which we often prefer to push to the back of our minds, that which we do not wish to contemplate yet that is a plain reality of life; we never know what it has in store for us, nor how long we will have someone in our lives.

Although it can never make up for the loss of one you love so much, I’m glad she has some memories and keepsakes of these angels of hers.

Her journal is just one of those keepsakes, a living keepsake. With this and other keepsakes, she is able to keep her angels close to her heart and keep their memories alive.

There is nothing more exciting and joyful than the expected arrival of a new baby. No matter if it’s the first, second, third or however many, every new little baby is just so special.

As a mother of three, I have made the decision that my baby days have now come to an end. But thankfully this just means that I get to spoil everyone else who is having babies! And it really does seem like baby season around here at the moment. There seems to be an abundance of pregnant people in my family and friends alone, all getting ready for their new arrivals at the end of this year.

The end of 2013 will be a super festive season…what a great time for extra celebrations at Christmas and New Year, with the addition of all these newborn babies. So not only do I need to think of presents for Christmas, but also some special gifts for the new arrivals.

The cutest and most special gift would have to be a photo engraved on a pendant. At Etched In Memories we offer a gorgeous new baby gift package featuring a teddy bear (blue, pink or brown) and an attached pendant. The pendant includes a photo engraved on the front and text engraved on the back. I have even seen the cutest little footprints carefully taken from a new baby and etched right onto the pendant.

These gifts are not just for newborns however, they are also great for christenings and other special momentous occasions.

This gift creates such a long lasting and memorable keepsake for any new parent which will remain special for years to come…because we all know that they grow up far too fast!

Research has shown that our past experiences help to shape us into the people that we become. Our memories of people, places and events from the past influence who we become as people. When we recall the past, our memories have the power to motivate us and encourage us to not give up or give in when we face difficult circumstances.

One of the easiest ways to indelibly engrave a person, place or event onto our memories is by associating it with something tangible that can instantly bring the past to recollection. In this way, an image, a photo or a special object all have the power to become touchstones to our past of better days and times.

These cherished mementos in effect become more than a link that preserve a special memory; they become potent talismans with the power to fend off our current doubts and fears. They link us to the power of emotions such as love, joy, and even determination that we have experienced during special events and precious moments.

That’s why we care so much about the work we do. We know that we offer the perfect way to show love and affection for the special people in our lives by providing a uniquely beautiful way to preserve special memories with our high quality, custom photo engraving services.

Items are available for customisation in a number of affordable metals and all of the work is completed in-house by a master jeweller so that you can be rest assured that great care and attention to detail has been undertaken in creating your touchstone to represent your most precious memories.

Visit our website today to see the full range of products and services we have on offer. Whether it’s to show someone your true affection, or to empower them with a mystical connection to your shared past, we are your source for unique gifts.

Did you watch Sesame Street? I always had a soft spot for Bert and Ernie. I loved them so much and I am still a big fan. They sang one of my favourite songs on the show and I wonder if that helped influence my choice of business.

The song is called Remembering and it’s a lovely, gentle song which celebrates friendship and memories which were made of love.

That’s how I see our etched pendants and gifts – they are a way to celebrate memories which were made of love, too.

You may not remember the song so here it is. I hope you enjoy it and that you really listen to the words and feel the sentiment in the song. Then think about your own memories and which ones are most special to you. You’ll feel the joy all over again.

© Louise Bailey

I feel a warmth around me
like your presence is so near,
And I close my eyes to visualize
your face when you were here,
I endure the times we spent together
and they are locked inside my heart,
For as long as I have those memories
we will never be apart,
Even though we cannot speak no more
my voice is always there,
Because every night before I sleep
I have you in my prayer.

Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/

This is a lovely story which really shows the importance photos play in our lives.  Sometimes a photo is all you have to remember someone by but what happens if you don’t have a photo at all?

This is the story of a lady who lost her son shortly after he was born.  Zachary Hunter Vince was born June 13th 2008 with big green eyes, chubby cheeks and a congenital heart defect.  Zachary’s mother did not have the opportunity to take photos of her child.  She was too busy willing him to live.

Now, though Zachary’s Mission, she helps families of children born with critically ill children.  One of her special services she arranges is professional photography where the photographer will come to the hospital.  If the worst happens, at least the families will now have a visual memory they can hold in their hands.

Find out more here in this video.

Thoughts Of You

© Paula Stone

Memories of another time still come
To me and fill my mind, with thoughts
Of you when you were young. I lie awake
‘Till the morning sun comes creeping
Through my window shade, as I dwell upon
Mistakes I’ve made. What I would give to
Go back in time and feel you’re little
Hand in mine. To cherish each fast and
Fleeting day. To hold you close and kiss
Away, each pain that life will have in
Store and try to give you so much more.
You are part and will always be, imbedded in the soul of me. While I’m
Here, I want to say, that I’ve loved you
Each and every day and when my time on
Earth is gone.
The privilege was mine to have been your Mom.

Source:  Memories Of Being Your Mom, Thoughts Of You, Mother

When I was preparing for the looming birth of my firstborn, I devoured as much good parenting information as I could; including but not limited to feeding, sleeping, setting up the nursery and raising a happy, settled baby.

I had dreams and aspirations; I’d have a nursery decorated in pastels, a calm baby who smiled a lot, and my hours would be spent playing, tickling and cuddling the baby, and scrapbooking every moment of my cherub’s life.

The scrapbook would be creatively crafted and tell a delightful story, that would be treasured for many a year.  It would be a work of photographic and construction paper art!

The glamorous snaps of the smiling, rosy cheeked baby rarely occurred, and the files mounted up with chocolate smeared, grubby, badly dressed, giggling hysterically infant, followed closely by the mischievous toddler, determinedly smothering his new baby brother.

Captured was the mess, the chaos, printed out and stashed in a disused shoe box, as the digital age took over and candid snaps of long car trips and days at the beach.  The family looks dishevelled, yet happy.

My aspirations altered with each set of prints delivered, the joy was no longer in portraying a content childhood or family life that met the expectations of others, but to encapsulate the craziness that is our lives.

To come across a box of photos, or locate a folder of fond memories on my computer, I find myself calling the cherubs over.  Not so I can say ‘look how cute you were’, but so we all have the laugh from deep within our bellies and say ‘remember that!’ and spend more moments laughing like maniacs.

Capturing a facade means little to me now.  Creating those moments of unabashed freedom stick longer and mean more.  I also have a lot to work with when the 21^st birthdays roll around.