Inspiration

My desire to write a journal stems from several sources.

*The first is this pretty lady here.

She is one of the two special women that I get to call 'Mom.'
She was a dedicated writer and I now have copies of four of her journals.  The opening statement on her last journal reads, "How exciting to be able to share my thoughts, feelings, and testimony to all who may read this. I hope that I can inspire and uplift and be an example."  As she recorded her every day life, I'm sure she never anticipated how true that statement would be or how important her journaling would become to her posterity.  How important they would be to me.

The journals that she wrote have been the most valuable insight I have received into the character and personality of this great woman who died when I was two.  They allow me to connect with her, to be inspired by her, to feel relief that struggled with some of the same things that I struggle with, and to see a bit of myself in her.  They excite me for the day when we will be together again and help ease the sorrow of an earthly separation. 

So, I journal for posterity as well.  I plan to be around to bother them for a long time, but hope that my children, especially my daughters, can find love, guidance, and relief as they pass through similar situations that I have faced. That when I literally can't remember anymore how it feels to have a two year old tasmanian devil in the house, that we can look back at my records and find a connection.  I also want them to always know that I love the Lord and have a testimony of His love and plan. 


*Another source of inspiration for me is a talk that was given by Elder Henry B. Eyring, "O Remember, Remember".  His example continues to encourage me to be better about consistent record keeping.  Here is a small taste of what he taught:  "When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. 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 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. I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done."


*One of my goals with journal writing is to establish greater consistency - not waiting for large events to write.  I love this thought I read in a Richard Paul Evans novel (The Walk):  "If I wait to write just the important things then I'll probably never write anything, because important things just look like everything else except when you look back on them."   I think that's precisely what happens during these years of young motherhood.  The significance of our daily doings can easily melt into a continuous cycle of monotony if we never step back to realize the wonderment of it all.  I saw this quote on another blog today that sums it up.

I would actually like to amend one thing though. The small and simple tasks that make up our days with toddlers are great and noble, because of the great and noble beings they are attached to.  So you'll have to check back and see if I can increase my efforts to record these small tasks, and the great and noble blessings that come with them.