Do you love preserving your family’s history, the big and small moments? Like the time your daughter said that really cute thing…what was it that she said? Or the time your son decided to try on Dad’s shoes…how old was he when he did that? Remember when your friend sent you that hilarious e-card…how did that punch line go?
Keep the Memories Alive
Ever find yourself remembering moments, but forgetting the details? I do. Like this photo of my daughter from Halloween. She was so excited putting together an 80′s valley girl costume…she got to wear my boots and a little bit of makeup. Her eyes lit up with joy. But I only remember that because it was just a month ago. If I don’t write it down, I’ll forget.
And when that happens, I always regret that I didn’t take five minutes to record the little anecdotes that happen nearly every day. We’re all so busy that five minutes sometimes seems like an eternity and journaling or writing it down is the last thing on our mind once the house is quiet. Sleep, a little rest, maybe some time to read and feel refreshed, that’s what we’re thinking about.
But those five minutes taken daily will reap tremendous rewards a year from now, five years from now and fifty years from now when you look back. It’s the daily moments, the small things, that warm our hearts.
Three Inexpensive and Easy Solutions
During the holiday season, we have so many opportunities for big and small memories to be made. Relatives visit, for good or bad. Kids open gifts, sometimes thrilled, sometimes not so much. Grandparents give sloppy kisses and kids say silly things. This is the perfect time to start keeping track. Here are 3 ways to make it easy on yourself:
- Buy a small calendar: make sure it has a bit of room on each date for you to take some notes. Even if it’s just bullet points or short sentences, it will help jog your memory years later when you can expand on it.
- Get a voice recorder (tape or digital): you may already have one. If not, they are relatively inexpensive these days. Get one, set it by your nightstand and pick it up and talk for a few minutes every evening as you review your day. When you finish a tape, label it and store it somewhere safe. If you have some free time, transcribe it.
- Use a journal: a plain Jane, ordinary journal will do just fine.
Chances are you already have one sitting on a shelf somewhere. If not,
pick one up and limit yourself to one page a day. This will make it
doable and something you look forward to, rather than fear.
Now, if you want to get a little fancier, alter your journal for the topic you’re writing about. If it’s the love of your life, make it red hot and covered with hearts. If it’s your family, maybe add a goofy family photo on the front. Or if it’s your little ones, personalize it with their name.
Leaving a Legacy
One of my resolutions for the rest of the year and into next year is to keep a better record of our family’s legacy and my children’s childhood. I am fascinated by people’s personal stories and want my children to remember what their childhood was like. Part of the interest is that I have big blank spots in my childhood where I remember nothing. There are few pictures so that doesn’t help either. I know many people feel that way about their childhood.
I want it to be different for my kids, grandkids, and even great grandkids. When my son looks at this photo that I took tonight, I want him to also be able to read the story about how he and his Daddy spent an hour singing Christmas carols together into pretend microphones, that were really drumsticks. I want him to know what a ham he was when his big sissy and Mommy were watching and that he got all dramatic when the songs slowed down. He even got down on his knees at one point and was singing his heart out. What a performer that little guy is. And I want him to know it.
I may not be perfect or get everything right, but this is something vitally important to me. And to tell the truth, it makes me feel successful and good about my day when I take a moment to reflect and capture the moments that will never come again.
So tonight, inspired by the serenade from my son and husband, I transformed a plain Jane journal I started last year and haven’t written in for months. I thought it would be so much more fun to write every evening if the journal itself was more interesting than a slightly worn blue notebook with the price tag still on it. Go ahead, click on it and see it up close. It leaves much to be desired.
To transform it, I used our son’s nickname and added Winnie the Pooh stickers. I forced myself to be imperfect, to move quickly and just improve it. It took less than an hour from the time I took the before photo to the time I took the after photo.
I couldn’t believe the difference. If I hadn’t made it myself, I might not believe that it was really the same journal. But I promise you that it is. Just a plain blue journal with the price tag now hidden under some great scrapbook paper.
So now it’s your turn…you have 3 options (see the list above). If you want to make an altered journal, here’s the quick overview.
- get a journal
- assemble supplies: paper, adhesive, ribbon, stamps, stickers
- cut background paper to cover front
- add a photo or paper for a title
- embellish with stickers or stamps
- tie ribbons on the rings
There you have it. I hope you’ll write your stories tonight…and every night. We all have a history and a future that’s worth capturing and preserving. Don’t let the moments slip by unnoticed.
You can find more altered projects, detailed instructions and a sketch of an altered journal on page 112 in my book Real Women Scrap.
On Pinterest? 
