Many of us keep picture
albums, scrapbooks, and maybe even journals or diaries.
Why not combine them? Scrapbook journaling is a way to
record the important times of your life by using photos,
keepsakes, and written accounts all together in one
album. This makes a more complete chronicle of the
activities and events of your loved ones. Ideally, there
could be one created for each year, highlighting the
most important experiences of each family member's life.
This would become a treasured keepsake.
THE JOURNAL ACCOUNT
When recording an event in your journal, make sure this
information is always included:
1. Who was involved?
2. Date
3. Name of the event - Christmas dinner, little league
game, family reunion.
4. Where did it take place?
5. Events that took place - the story or account of the
experience.
6. Special memories or happenings of the day
Try to record the occasion as soon as possible. It is
surprising how quickly you can forget the details!
KEEPSAKES TO INCLUDE
Here is just a starter list of keepsakes that could be
included in your scrapbook. You will come up with many
more.
1. Newspaper clippings
2. Programs, announcements
3. School papers
4. Report cards
5. Invitations
6. Letters or greeting cards
7. Menus
8. Family recipes
WHAT TO PHOTOGRAPH
There are many different types of photographs you might
want to use, depending on the occasion. If it is a
family affair, there would be a group photograph. Before
our Christmas Eve dinners, we always get a picture of
everyone around the table before we start eating. This
is precious to me now, since my grandparents and father
have all died.
You might want to include pictures of your daughter and
her date in their prom attire, your son's little league
team and individual picture, or your children in their
pajamas on Christmas morning. How about grandparents or
great-grandparents with your children? One of my most
treasured pictures is a black and white portrait of my
newborn son and my ninety-year old grandmother holding
him while he slept. It is priceless to me! The black and
white made it look even more vintage style.
EXAMPLES OF EVENTS TO RECORD
The possibilities of events to capture are endless. You
will enjoy coming up with ideas. Here are a few to start
with:
1. New school year
Take a picture of your kids before they leave with their
new clothes and backpacks. Make sure you write the grade
and date in your journal. Who was their teacher? Who
were their best friends at the time? How did they feel
about going to school?
Keep samples of their papers from school the first day.
2. Christmas
Take individual and group photos of family members and
friends in attendance. Write out the dinner menu. Have
each person who prepared food write out their recipe in
their own handwriting and sign their name. These could
be copied and compiled for your album. What special
traditions do you have? How did your children react?
Write about the day in story form.
3. Little League
Include individual and team pictures in their uniforms.
Who were their coaches? What were the names of their
teammates? What position did they play? Were there any
special moments or great plays? Any newspaper clippings?
4. Prom
Have prom photos from home and from the dance. The
school usually hires a photographer to take professional
pictures. Who was your son or daughter's date? Where was
it held? What was the theme? What was the favorite song
of the evening?
Your imagination can go on and on with ideas to
celebrate and record.
MORE TIPS
As much as possible, make copies of everything. Get
duplicate photos, copy your written account of the
event, photocopy programs or other keepsakes if you can.
In this way, you can have a scrapbook journal for
different family members who would be interested in
having it. Many scrapbook suppliers even have
theme-based backgrounds and clip art for these different
occasions. These would also make a wonderful gift for
Christmas or birthdays.
The objective is to capture the year in the lives of
your family members by combining photographs, keepsakes,
and written memoirs. By recording events, holidays, and
special occasions in this way, you will have a precious
gift for all of your family members. You will be
preserving memories, and it will become more valuable
with each passing year.
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Inez Haythorn is a
Christian wife, mother, elementary school teacher,
pianist, and freelance writer. Her main writing
interests are Christian writing, and writing about
lifestyles and memoirs of the past. She is the publisher
of Christian Family Treasures, Heirloom Memories, and
Cherished Collections. Her goal is to glorify and honor
God, and bless and help others. Copyright 2003. All
rights reserved.
http://www.christianfamilytreasures.com
http://www.heirloom-memories.com
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