The picture above is a beautiful scene of a nighttime celebration of life, releasing sky lanterns for their loved one lost. How emotionally touching is this view?

Growing up in a family owned business, that deals with the casket industry has always caused me to think about those less unfortunate, those who have lost a loved one, and those who have a hard time letting go.

It really is true, that you do not know what you have until it is gone. I have heard many sad stories of family members arguing with each other while trying to work with the funeral director to pick out which casket they want. My family never dealt with the families. We only worked with the funeral directors themselves. Sometimes the poor funeral directors have seen and heard so much, that they just have to tell someone else the stories. Unfortunately my mother, who is a great listener and secretary of our family owned Casket manufacturing company, was the one who got to listen to their stories about the families.

We at The Original Time Capsule company want to say that we are listening to your problems and are trying to find ways to solve them. We have heard from funeral directors that there are not many ways for families to remember their loved ones in a tangible way, once they are gone.

 Preserve Loved Ones Old Letters

What advice did your grandfather always tell you as a child? What was the funniest story he ever told you? How do you remember your grandmothers famous apple crumb pie recipe once she is gone (especially if she made it from scratch)? What do you do with all those old war letters that your dad wrote back and forth to your mom before they were married? These are just a few of the questions that are important to treasure to pass on to your grandchildren and their children of the future. So how do you do that?

Use Social Media to Share your Story

With so many more funeral homes taking advantage of the internet and social media world, it is important for funeral homes to have other new and upcoming ways to help families grieve and remember a loved one. This is why so many funeral homes are now including dedicated pages on their websites, for family members to fill out messages of hope, condolences, and stories of the past of loved ones who have gone on to rest in peace.

Set Up a Personalized Celebration of Life Ceremony

How does a funeral home truly set up a memorial service, when they really do not know the person? How do you help that family truly create a celebration of life for their loved one? Families need a tangible way to memorialize their loved one. Set up a uniquely personal tribute to your loved one, and let the family work through the process of grief, by decorating a table with several heirloom memories, like your grandfather’s old pocket watch. Set out note cards for family and friends to fill out and tell a short story or memory about the deceased loved one, to pass on to the family to read later. Many times it is hard for some to go to a viewing, or let go, so a great way to help someone say goodbye, is by letting them write a letter to their deceased loved one. Many people tell you to “just get over it.” You never really ‘get over it,’ but instead grief is a process or journey if you will that will either make you better or bitter.

Create a Memorial Time Capsule

You can set up memory boards, candles, and wreaths, but what do you do with it all when it is done? Don’t just stand in a line to say your goodbye at a viewing, then leave. Don’t just help take care of the family during that next week by bringing them a meal already cooked. Do something extra to let the family know how much you appreciated that loved one in your life, or to say thank you to the loved one who passed. The loved one who is now gone, can be kept alive by keeping his or her legacy life alive. So how do you do that?

Set up a memory table similar to the one here, with special tangible items on it. Then also add a personalize Legacy Time Capsule on it, for family members and friends to put there cards, words of encouragement, and sentimental items of their loved one in. You can get an “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule here, then put a photo of your loved one on the outside of this luxury tin, to preserve all these treasured memories in.

During the holidays it is always hard to celebrate, be happy, and open gifts, without that special someone there anymore. This is especially hard if your loved one passed on a particular holiday. Reopen the time capsule on that holiday, hold one of their tangible mementos or memorabilia, to help you get through this difficult time of year. The time capsule is meant to help with this problem, and keep your loved one alive more so than just in your heart. Revive your memories today of your loved one.

So if you had the opportunity to keep one sentimental item from your grandfather, father, or any loved one who has passed, what would it be? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post Conducting Your Own Memorial Service appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

There are many different topics, hobbies, interests we all have. What would you make a time capsule about for future generations to learn more about what life is like now?

With Christmas coming and the new year approaching, what would you put in a time capsule to represent 2014?

There are many different themes or ideas you could make a time capsule for. Basically, anything you see pictures for on your cell phone you could probably create a time capsule for. See the suggestions below. Then read on about ideas of what to put in some of these topical time capsules.

Different Time Capsule Ideas

1. College years
2. School (elementary and high-school)
3. New Career
4. Business
5. Housewarming (Welcome Home)
6. Family
7. Pets
8. Clubs (boys and girls club, academic club, social club, etc)
9. Vacation
10. Youth Group
11. Military
12. Church
13. Anniversary
14. Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
15. Memorial
16. New Years
17. Christmas
18. Easter
19. Thanksgiving
20. July 4th Independence Day
21. Valentine’s Day
22. Hanukkah
23. Any hobby
24. Farming
25. Sports
26. Any holiday
27. Baby Shower
28. Bridal Shower
29. Relationship or Dating
30. Bucket List
31. Cars
32. Music
33. Movie
34. Outdoors or Camping
35. Science
36. Nature
37. Eras (80’s, 90’s, or whatever you want)
38. Social Media
39. Best Friends
40. Adoption
41. Sweet 16
42. Quinceanera
43. Bar Mitzvah
44. Birthday
45. Over the Hill
46. Weight Loss
47. Inspiring Life Quotes
48. Self Help
49. First Car
50. Baby
51. Wedding
52. etc. (Other or anything you can imagine). The sky’s the limit.

What to Put in a Time Capsule

So what would you put in these “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsules? What items from your time period, are important to you? Make sure to include modern things and heirlooms of the past. If you include any digital or electronic items, make sure you also include the media to play your videos or audio recordings in the future as well.

•  Daily local and world newspaper
• DVD of family, friends, social events, etc.
• Television guide
• Favorite magazines
• Event programs, ticket stubs, or passes
• Pictures
• Receipts from events, or daily life (like the cost of gas at this time)
• Popular toy
• Items (heirloom and new) that show significance to your for a specific subject or event.
• Floor plan or first key to your home
• Popular music recorded
• Menu from a favorite restaurant
• Daily calendar showing your life in just one month
• Drawings or messaged from friends and family sent by cards, email, text, etc.
• Current currency
• Year in Review worksheet filled out
• School, work, or club rewards and certificates.
• Message to the Future letters from friends and family
• Bottle of your favorite candy or drink.
• Fashion Catalog
• Travel pamphlets
• Current ads
• Papers written
• Party trinkets
• Souvenirs
• Favorite quotes or sayings
• Cards
• List favorite books, authors, etc.
• Top 10 movies or actors
• Future goals
• etc.

Talk with your friends and family for other ideas of what to put in your “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule. Get your time capsule today at http://www.timecapsule.com/product/milestone-collection-any-occasion-diy-time-capsule/. Also check out the other helpful ideas from Mashable listing 13 Must Have Items in Your 2014 Time Capsule.

What are some other items you can think of to put in a time capsule?  Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

The post What to Put in Any Occasion DIY Time Capsule appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.