One thing I have done for my children since they were first born is to write to them. Yes, I have a personal blog that I fill with their stories and pictures, but I also have individual journals for each of my children. Inside are letters to them that are personal and for them alone. I write cute things they've done or said. I write out prayers over their lives. I tell them how much I love them. And I tell them how much God loves them. I write from my heart and forget about commas or correct spelling or even neat handwriting. Because one day and I want them to read the words and know that they were written by a real woman. A woman who struggled with how to pray for the most precious gifts she had ever received. A woman who wrestled with how to discipline a specific area in their lives. A woman who made mistakes and admitted and learned from them. I want them to read my words when they are new parents feeling all alone and unqualified for the job God gave them. I hope my words will comfort and encourage them.
I have always just bought cute blank journals from Hobby Lobby, but this year I saw this idea here to create personalized journals. She created one for notes between her and her husband and then another for letters back and forth between her and her kids. I love both of her ideas, but since my kids are younger and aren't at the reading and writing back stage, I thought it would be fabulous to create a new journal for each of them. These are a bit more pricey than a blank decorative journals but I thought they might be kind of fun (through today, 12/15, you can get 60% off all products with the code ENJOYHOLIDAY) Lauren's journal is almost completely full and Easton still has quite a bit of writing space left so I will use the new personalized ones after I've filled their others up. This is technically a Christmas present, even though they will not really know about them for a while. :)
I created these journals at Paper Coterie and I can't wait to start filling them up with notes and letters to my sweet kids. Since I can put a picture on each journal, I thought it might be fun to try to do a new one each year (maybe on their birthday) with a picture of them at that age.
Mine haven't come in yet, but here are a few of the example covers you can design on Paper Cotiere's site!
So, if you are looking for something personal and priceless for your kids this year, why not start a journal for them. They will probably have no idea how special the gift is now, but one day they will be so appreciative!
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I started a journal for my oldest the day I found out I was pregnant. I didn't really intend to...I had this blank journal just sitting in my desk at school and the idea popped into my head during my planning time. I now treasure it so much because I can look back and read about all the various stages. I know someday each of my boy's will treasure theirs too...though I might wait until they have children of their own to give it to them, or they might just think I'm too sappy. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd as morbid as it may seem, if anything ever happens to me, they'll have their hand-written journal with love letters from me.
I read the same post on iheartorganizing and ordered journals with my boys photos to write in. They are beautiful journals and I have really been enjoying jotting down cute things they say/do or notes/prayers I have for them. I hope they will treasure them someday!
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