This journal has been with me since my friend Noelia gave it to me as a gift at the birth of my son Samuel.  Sam is now five, so as you see, I am not a fast journalist.

Journaling for me takes many forms.  Blogging is fun and rewarding, of course, and it does serve as a record of our days.  But I also need a place for real scribbles and lists, drawings and memories.

My journals end up pretty messy, but quite beloved to me.  They are the perfect place to paste in small doodles made by my children, to jot down a menu or a “to do” list.

Sometimes, one of the kids will draw me a picture right on the pages.  I like that.  I just either journal or jot right around it.

You know how you often think, “I should write that down?”, or “Oh, that’s so cute.  I hope I don’t forget that?”  A journal like this is the perfect place to put that record of a sweet time.  It is low commitment and very forgiving.  You aren’t expecting perfection, just wanting a memory.

Last night, on Dec. 31, I began a brand new journal.  It felt so fitting.  A New Year, a new journal,

A new family prayer for 2010: 

“Dear Father, be in this year.  In habit its spaces with Yourself.  Draw us – this family – into You.  Fill us.  Unfold us.  Use us.  Reveal Yourself to us.  Teach us joy and peace and love.  Shepherd us, our Father.  May we all, each one, walk with You and be known by You.

With grateful hearts,

The Johnson Family

This entry was posted on Friday, January 1st, 2010 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Encouragement, family life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.