P + S: Do it Now

THE SET UP

This year was a milestone year for my mom. She turned 75! My sister was right on it. She sent Mom a gorgeous fashion scarf, which Mom wore out to dinner and a movie with my stepdad. On her birthday. In March. 

I had my own good idea for a present. I make books in my home-based business, and I decided I would make a storybook with lots of p+s about my mom.  I enlisted my sister for her input, and while she was caught off-guard by the little amount of time we had, she agreed to participate. You see, I made this decision two weeks before Mom's milestone birthday. In March.

THE STORY

It is actually possible to whip out a book in a day, or even faster, with the online program I use, but I didn't do that, and the book was not quite ready by Mom's birthday. My new plan was to hold her off for a week with a birthday card that promised something special through the mail, soon. 

Well, a week became a few months, and then more, and my mom graciously ignored the fact that I had recognized her milestone birthday with a card that promised a surprise that hadn't materialized in her mailbox YET.

Finally, the storybook called OUR MOTHER was published. In October. I had it shipped to me, because by this time, Mom deserved another birthday party, not just a mail-order box!

We followed up dinner at Rose's in Beaverton (where the servers serenaded her) with a fire-hazard of a birthday cake back home.

The March calendar was prominently posted, with Mom's birthdate boldly circled in red.  My sister called from California with birthday wishes, which my Mom thought was wacky, but wonderful.  She opened her first gift--a monster bag of M&M's, her favorite, and then...the book.

THE PHOTO

 
Look at her face! She was astounded! She was enthralled. She saw pictures of herself as a young mother as she read about her influence on our mothering skills. She saw pictures of herself playing with the grandkids while she read about how much fun they had with her. She read about feelings that neither my sister nor I had ever expressed face-to-face, and her reactions were priceless.  View my mom's book here.

DON'T WAIT

It's not too late to whip off a book or other kinds of p+s for holiday gifts that will be treasured and loved. When your parent, or spouse, or child receives a gift you've written about them, it's not going to be returned, ignored, or regifted. Instead it will be read and reread, held and shown to others.  Here's a 5x5 book that's easy to carry around, and could be made for any family member with just a few changes. Here's a sweet book for a spouse.  In fact, you can check out over 2,000 projects that can be duplicated and customized by just inserting your own pictures and words--make sure you search for the size or category you want!!

With the company I use, you have until Dec. 2 to publish books in time for Christmas.  Posters, calendars, and cards can be published until December 11 for Christmas delivery.  Contact me to get started, and to have access to endless help!

P + S is best!

SHARE YOUR PROJECT HERE

After the holidays, if it's not too personal, I'd love to post your holiday gift book so others  can view it!  Email a view to donna@sharefamilystories.com and I'll put it on this blog.  Don't know how to send a view?  Email me for help.  Did you make a present through Snapfish, Shutterfly, Walgreens.com or some other company?  Send the preview: as long as it has p + s I'd like to share it!