Memorial Gifts for Loss of Father, In Memory of Loved One Gifts Refillable Leather Journal, Grief Gifts Sympathy Gifts for Loss of Dad, Trauer Geschenke für den Verlust des Vaters, Briefe an meinen

Ordered this for my boyfriend who just lost his father this past summer. He has had a hard time dealing with the loss. With this he can write down all the things he never got to say to him and things that he wants him to know. When he is finished he will take it up to his grave and leave it there in a container for him.

When I took this journal out of the packaging- immediately I was impressed and wondered why I pondered so long over ordering this item. Online it had, in no way, looked as nice as it did IRL. Not that it didn't look nice online- I just didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did- I am very excited about this journal (from the minute I unwrapped it from the packaging).The leather is of such good quality- it was amazing! And it reminded me of my father- it was like I was looking at something that he would have had. When I put my hand on it, I feel as if there is a slight connection to him. I miss my father so much- and often think of him. But now I have this journal- to write in when I want to feel close to him and when I want to tell him how I feel.When you open the cover, the underside of it is so plush, so smooth- I love to rub my hand against it. I feel like I have never touched such a nice piece of leather as the cover of this journal. The pen that is included is amazing too- in my photos, I do not show it and I apologize for that. I took all these photos and had forgotten all about it- really, it was because I was so excited about what the journal was like and how it made me feel- that I forgot it even came with a pen. But it looks just like the photos on Amazon, is top-quality, and writes beautifully. It is also engraved with some of the words from the front of the journal.The inside, however, gives me lots of room for things other than writing. There is a plastic insert to keep business or credit cards when you open it. And then in the back, there is a plastic zippered (but it's a plastic zipper) bag, that you can keep things in.- I keep money there, as the pouch is perfect for it. Both are made of clear plastic, so whatever is in there- when you open the journal and flip to the space, it will be visible to all (in case you keep money in there as I do).The way the journal is set up- there are two different kinds of notebook inserts inside. On the left side of the journal, the first journal you flip through (if you start flipping from front to back) is made of lined paper. The second (look at my photos to see this) is filled with paper that looks a little like parchment paper, or almost like a faded paper- but the sheets are blank- not lined either. But I did like this- as it gives the journal writer the ability to not just write, but draw photos, and do all kinds of things in and with this journal.My father was an accountant and money-obsessed his whole life- but you'd never blame him if you knew or met his mother. All she did her whole life was save money and that was all she wanted him to do (however if she knew what happened to her savings, after she passed, with my father already gone- what my uncle did with it all...). The little clear pouch in the back called to me when I opened the journal, saying- "save here, just like your dad was taught." I swear, I feel like this journal may have been sent to me by my father- it is so perfect.The best, however, was the cover- the design, the words- how nicely it is burned into the leather. The size of it was a little bigger and better than I expected (and I'm going to guesstimate how much more here, so I may be slightly off). It was about two and one-third inches taller than a normal-sized paperback book and about an inch wider (than a normal-sized paperback book). If you don't know what a normal-sized paperback book is- it is the smallest version of paperback you can get- like a Harlequin novel (bigger ones than that didn't come out til later). Please remember this is a guess but know that the size of the journal was one of the top reasons I love it so- it's perfectly proportioned (in every way).It's been about seven years since my father died and, after all this time, I didn't know I would find anything that I could connect with him or to him with- but here it is.I remember the Christmas after my father died. I had found a note my father had made, a present he wanted to pick up for my sister and he had written himself a reminder- It was a book and it was just like my dad to do that, keep a note or list on something he needed. So for Christmas, I had the note framed and bought my sister the book- because it felt like a way that I could include him in that Christmas, a way to keep him alive and bring to another something that was from him, that they didn't know about.I thought anything like that was gone- where I could have any connection with him- till now- til this journal. And while this didn't come from him (as much as it feels like it did), like the note that he recorded the book title did, the journal reminds me of him, so much so there is this connection that I never thought to find again. I really want to thank the manufacturer and seller (if they aren't the same)- for bringing something like this to me- and to others. I hope that with this journal others can find the same thing- the connection that I have- however they can-- with it.If you have any questions feel free to reach out and ask- I will do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible with an answer!Thank you!