After Nine Months Gestation, I Finally Delivered My "Baby"!

Last October, I decided to surprise all of my siblings by creating a memory book about our parents. I planned to gift the surprise book to them at the Burton Reunion next month, but the reunion had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus. 

This book is a compilation of memories shared by all 40 of my parents grandchildren. I can tell you it was a difficult thing getting all 40 of my nieces and nephews to come on board and submit some memories and pictures to me, but with persistent reminders (labor pains), I finally got my last submission right before the deadline. I commissioned each niece & Nephew to keep this book a surprise from their parents. I think they were successful at that, for the most part. 

I decided to print their submissions in order of their birth, which was kind of fun. It wasn't easy to figure out the birth order by myself, so I asked my siblings for the birth dates of each of their children, without telling them why I needed that information. Very helpful! With that, the creation of the book began.

Finally, just this week, I received all 21 ordered copies of the book, making it nine months since I conceived the idea of making the book. (Note: I bought a copy for each of my siblings, each of my children, and some nieces & nephews wanted to purchase a copy.)

I think it turned out beautiful!

What I didn't realize until about a month ago was that July 10th (just 8 days ago) was my parents 75th wedding anniversary! Once I figured that out, the book became even more special to me.

I'm glad the gestational period and all the labor pains finally came to an end. It has been such a relief to put all of that behind me. I'm a proud mom! I really feel like I created something worthwhile.

 The reviews are in and everyone has given me two thumbs up. Evidently, I birthed a beauty! It has brought me so much joy listening to how well received the book has been. Some call it a treasure, and I like that description.

This whole process was a labor of love. It was a gift from my heart to theirs.