Why David Blake, a retired attorney and father of eight, is writing his life down.
David Blake spent a career making arguments. Now, from outside Dallas, he's making the case for the life he and his wife Stephanie built, one chapter at a time, for the children and grandchildren who'll read it.
David Blake is a retired attorney. He lives outside Dallas with his wife, Stephanie, in the same place they've called home for almost forty years. They raised eight children there: Simon, Deborah, Hannah, Leah, Bevan, Malan, Hansen, and Rebekah.
These days, retirement looks the way the best retirements do. He travels to see his grandchildren. He serves in missionary capacities for his church. He does not, as he puts it, have to get up to go to work each day.
And he is writing his memoir.
He started because of the books that came before him. "I have enjoyed the histories written by (or about) my own parents, grandparents, and great grandparents," he writes. "There's something about connecting with past generations that stirs the soul and brings a sense of belonging. I want my own children and grandchildren to have that blessing from me."
What he didn't expect was how much the writing itself would give back.
"What has surprised me about this process is just how much I've enjoyed reliving moments from my own life, as I've tried to convey not only the events that have happened, but the feelings around them, the motivations that drove them, and the enjoyment that flowed out of them. What a treat for me."
— David Blake
On raising eight children
The chapter that may best capture David's voice answers a single question: what was it like raising eight kids? His answer reads less like reminiscence and more like a closing argument. The verdict comes first.
It was glorious.
He concedes everything the question implies. Sure it was a lot of work. Sure there were concerns along the way. Sure it was more challenging than anything else he and Stephanie could have done. Sure there were days they wanted to throw in the towel.
And then the case for the defense.
"Every day we got to be around the people we loved the most. Every day we knew we were doing what we were supposed to do. Every day we experienced the Lord's hand in keeping us going. We loved it. But then, if you really consider Simon, Deborah, Hannah, Leah, Bevan, Malan, Hansen, and Rebekah, what's not to love?"
— David Blake, from his Memorygram memoir
That's the gift David is writing toward: not a record of dates and addresses, but a record of feelings, motivations, and the enjoyment that flowed out of them. Eight children. Almost forty years in one house. A wife at his side from the beginning to a recent boat deck in Antarctica.
A story worth being a treat to tell.
Every family has a story worth keeping. Memorygram helps you write yours.
David's memoir began with a single prompt and a question worth answering. Yours can, too.