Journey Jots

With life catching up to me, I am not catching up on my scrapbooks ~ as I have mentioned, I am over 1 and a half years behind.  And, I have found that, as I get my pictures printed and sit down to scrap them, too many times I have thought "now, why in the world did I take that picture".  Sometimes my kids know, but, I am not planning on taking them with me every single time I get to get out and crop.  So, I a few years ago, I created a Journey Journal to try to record some of the moments and memories for when I was ready to scrap them, but, I have just not been great about keeping up with it, and, working with the pages can be a little cumbersome. 

Last week, we introduced Journey Jots (Jots for short) into our home ~ and, I am LOVING them!!  So, I thought I'd share a couple with you, hopefully helping someone out who is as far behind as I am, and, who has as horrible a memory as I do :) 

As these cards have been around, I have found myself grabbing one and writing down words and moments that I know I will never ever remember otherwise.  I have created cards for the day my son discovered he could shoot a basketball backwards, a precious moment between 2 siblings, and the details of the discussion with my 5 year old daughter about why they call Christ the Lamb and what the word sacrifice means.  The kids have started to give me words to write down, and, have even created a couple of their own.  These Jots can be such valuable and easy tools to help you record more of your legacy and your children's moments.

To give you an idea to get you going on creating your own Jots, I tried to grab 3 different kinds without too many of my abbreviations or codes.  You, of course, can totally make up your own.  Remember, these are notes for you, so design them however you want and abbreviate and code in whatever way is quick and easy so you will use them.

My 3 Journey Jots Samples

1. Nathan's Chocolate Factory ~ The * is my code that there are pictures to go with the moment.  1 of 3 tells me how many cards I created about the subject.  I included the date and the initial to the right tells me who the Jot is about.  I recorded how he earned the chocolate factory, what he said, what he made, and his excitement.  The smile face is my code for a quote he wanted me to include in the scrapbook.
2. Ian's PS2 Car ~ * for picture, date, and who the card is about.  I just jotted down some quick notes to describe the car he made on Play Station 2 in case the pictures did not turn out clear.
3. Nathan's Dream ~ While there was not a picture for this, I want to preserve one of his dreams to own a hotel for Christians, with lots of chocolate and a huge kitchen.  This can be used on a Nathan page with a selection of pictures of him just being cute :)

Quick Info on Jots

• They are just cheap index cards ~ I think I got mine 3 packs for $1.00
• Keep them in the kitchen, in your purse, and in a few other places scattered throughout the house - and, don't forget your camera bag!  Make sure they are put within plain view and easy reach ~ Mine are in the glasses cupboard and beside the microwave in a decorative box
• Everyone can grab one and "Jot" down something they want in mommy's scrapbook (plus, you have their writing right there to save and put directly on the page if you want)
• Store the completed ones with your pictures and scrapbooking supplies.  You also can file them with the Precious Papers that I have previously written about
• If you can write neatly enough on the fly, cut some lined photo-safe paper to use as your Jots, and, then you can place the journaling directly on your page ~ I'd rather write more now and make it messy and rewrite it when I am ready for my album, but, you may like to have your journal boxes ready to go as your crop
• ****Be sure to make them easy and quick to use!!

When to Use Jots

• When you take a picture to record why you took it, what was happening, a scripture or song that comes to mind, or anything else you want to journal about on your page
• To jot-down a sweet saying, moment, or action
• As you hear conversation going on between siblings / friends that would be wonderful to have later
• Funny pronunciations, words or phrases that children say or family members use
• If you read a saying, find a scripture verse, or hear a song that you would like to include in your album
• Write down answered prayers, praises, or moments when the Lord has revealed His beauty and glory to you

How to Use Jots While Scrapbooking

• If you pre-sort or lay-out your pictures put the cards with the corresponding pictures or Precious Papers.  This gives you the foundation for what you want to journal and decreases the time you are left staring at the page unsure what to say
• Bunch cards about the same subject (person, game, activity) to create a page
• These words can be great fillers when you are unsure what to say on a page and you want to add something more than stickers

Don't know if this will help anyone ~ I know I have fallen in love with these, and, they have become my new favorite scrapbooking tool to help my pages be pages that leave a legacy.  Now, if only I can get myself caught up to 2006 so I can actually use them.....

Comments

[Angie Pedersen]

AWESOME tip, Tina! Thanks so much for sharing it!

I blogged about it here: http://angiepedersen.typepad.com/blogofme/2006/04/scrapbook_journ.html
(go now and blush over yourself)

[Ronnie Couture]

Tina,
I am one of those people whose forgetter is doing great but, my remember is broke. So, as you can guess, I think your Journey Jots are an absolutely GREAT idea! Thanks so much for sharing!