Journals. If there one passion I have in life, this is probably it. I have this overwhelming desire for EVERYONE to write in a journal, because I know it's important. And I know that our children and grandchildren will be blessed as they get to know us through our own words. Everyone has a unique story and experience in this journey of life and I think it's worth recording!
I will forever be thankful for Shiree Phillips Bradley, who gave a young women's lesson about writing in journals. She brought some of her journals and gave us some tips and ideas about journal writing. And that Christmas my parents bought me my first journal. And the rest is history. (haha...get it?) When she showed us some of the journals that she had written in I thought to myself, "There's no way I will ever be able to write that much?!" But I started anyway. At first I didn't write every day, but over time it became a habit to write at least something every day. There is always at least one thing to be grateful for in a day. Near the time that I started writing, Elder Eyring gave a talk in General Conference and he
said, "I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no
matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day.
Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the
hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family
today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my
mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of
us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that
happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had
allowed God to show me what He had done."
As I read through my journals, I sometimes I wish I could rip pages out, change or delete some things I have said or done or thought, but as silly as I feel I know that my posterity will come to know me through those writings. They will see that I too was human. And that I was once a young girl, a college student, a newly wed, a mother, and all the roles in between.
President Kimball, way back in 1980, said, "We may think there is little of interest or importance in what we
personally say or do—but it is remarkable how many of our families, as
we pass on down the line, are interested in all that we do and all that
we say.
People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody
would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if
you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of
great inspiration to your families, to your children, your
grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is
important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read
of our life’s experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us.
And in that glorious day when our families are together in the
eternities, we will already be acquainted.
Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You
are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more
noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other
life."
I usually don't write a ton in my posts, but this is something I feel very passionate about, so here me out! I just finished another journal and so I'm literally starting a new chapter in my life as I open up a brand new, unmarked journal where I will record the next few months of my life. I went through all my journals and as I was reminiscing I also snapped a few pictures to show you some things I like to include in my journals. Consider this my personal Journal 101 session. I didn't take too many pictures of the actual pages where I write because some things are personal and some silly and some just not meant for the internet.
 |
| This is my second journal, and I obviously hadn't figured out that the binding can only hold so much memory....So don't over-stuff it. Just get a new one. Or you'll have to rubberband it together like me, and store it in a gallon size bag to keep it all together. |
 |
| This is on the inside cover, where I like to put pictures, quotes, inspirational stuff, and random things with my name on it. |
 |
| I love girls camp, but that's about all I'd remember if I didn't write about it...just that it was...fun. But because I wrote about it I will forever remember the special and spectacular things that happened, and so will my children and my grandchildren. |
 |
| I like to paste notes that I get from people. Skyler is so good about writing me notes, and always has been. And I'm pretty sure they have all found their way into my journal. I look back with smiles; I get all nostalgic as I read her sweet (and most of the time really funny) notes. |
 |
| I keep silly things like this, so that I can look back and remember that I was a champion runner....even if it meant making my own medal. I'm pretty sure I got last place, as usual, but that's not important. |
 |
| 2010...what a great year! |
 |
| More notes. If you've ever written me a note or letter or sent me a card, it's most likely somewhere in my journal stash. |
 |
| More decorations on the inside covers. |
 |
| Sometimes I like to type my journal. So I get a binder and keep it all organized. I usually write until I get 20 pages and then print them and put them in the binder, and add all the little doo-dads that I want to preserve. I love that picture of me and my mom at the Atlanta temple. When I look at the picture I get to relive it, and it brings back so many happy memories! |
 |
| I doodled a lot in high school. This must have been in 10th grade when I did color guard. |
 |
| That's my typed pages. Sometimes I do fun fonts and colors, but most of the time I just do times new roman. |
|
 |
| I just type until I fill a binder. |
 |
| I found some pictures of my parents in their BC (before children) days. There is a natural curiosity regarding what life was like for our parents and ancestors. |
 |
| I like to include inspirational things that I find, like this. This was back in high school when I was training for a marathon. It inspired me to run. And stay hydrated, obviously. |
 |
| I was in the newspaper a few times in high school, and I thought that was pretty cool. So I put them in my journal! |
 |
| Sometimes I don't realize the significance of something until looking back at it. Like this post. "Rexburg bound." My first time away from home. It's where I studied to become a nurse. It's where I met some of my dearest friends. And it's where my life took a direction that has affected and continues to affect my eternal exaltation, when I met and married the man of my dreams. And now I have a beautiful family. I'm so glad that on August 16, 2010 I decided to take that big step and move across the country to Rexburg. |
 |
| Cards from my mom are THE BEST. And I want every one to know how amazing my mom is. So I save everything I get from her. And I read through them often. |
 |
| This is the journal where I started dating Josh, so it's pretty thick and full of mushy gushy romance. |
 |
| I was able to write about our daily adventures, about what impressed me about him, about my worries, my joys, my journey to falling completely in love with Josh. Before we got married I read through this journal and realized I would be making a terrible mistake if I didn't marry him. He is truly the GREATEST person I know. He is my everything. And it all started at the sand dunes, which is all detailed in the words on these pages! |
 |
| I record our traditions. Tradition is so important for families. And recording them is essential to help them stay alive. |
 |
| Josh's first "love note" to me. That I will cherish forever. And when I'm old and have dementia I'll read these and think, "oh, what a complete gentleman, I wish I knew him!" |
 |
| These are doodles when Josh and I watched general conference. Of course we paid attention, these were drawn during songs. haha |
 |
| My posterity will know that I was a voter. |
 |
| Another love note. |
 |
| Letters and notes from friends! |
 |
| Special things that have been given to me over the years. Like this bracelet that Sarah D made for me our senior year of high school and I wore it until not long ago. I didn't want to lose it, so I taped it in my journal. With reindeer duct tape. |
 |
| Serious, if you've ever written to me, it's probably in here. haha |
 |
| I can look back at big days like this. |
 |
| Or bigger days, like when I got engaged! |
 |
| I write often about how much I love and miss my family, and days like this are special, when I board a jet plane and return to Georgia, where I was born and raised. I had such a good childhood! |
 |
| Or how about when I had a baby. Sam is going to love reading through these. |
 |
| I had my journal at the hospital as we were excitedly awaiting the arrival of our dear Sammy. When it got to where I couldn't write anymore, I had Taylin take notes of what times things were happening and some of the things that people said. These are fun to read through. Epidurals do wonderful things. |
 |
| I number all my pages. This is something that Shiree talked about when she gave her lesson on journals. That way if a page falls out I know where to put it. It just helps with the organization of it all. |
 |
| Sometimes I add pictures to my journal. |
 |
| There they all are. My life on a bookshelf. |
 |
| More pictures. That was a fun day! |
 |
| It's important to remember. Keeping things like this funeral program, and writing about the few times I met Zac, will help me remember the impact he's had on my life. |
 |
| And then I keep silly things like this. We were in church and I told Josh I wanted fish sticks for lunch when we got home. So he drew me this. |
Well, I hope you were maybe even a little inspired to write in a journal. It doesn't have to be every day. It doesn't have to be super detailed. And you don't have to keep every letter ever written to you. But, it is important to write,
because your life is significant and unique and spectacular.
To finish with what President Kimball said, "We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already
commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good
book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to
look upon.
Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings,
your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your
associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies."
Love, Aubrey
