The Girls' Gotta Journal (a Gadanke gift for you too!)

December 12, 2011

Brienne is our born writer. If she hadn't come along (how sad that would be) I wouldn't have known that such children actually existed.

We've got a reader, an artist and now, a writer. The older two aren't quite so keen to put thoughts to paper but I'm learning to let go and trust that it will be ok (it will). There is no lack of creative expression, reading, story telling, and sharing what we've learned. Someday it will come together on paper.

I have been writing about our "writing curriculum" and had hoped to publish it this week, along with this post about journals. Alas, that is not meant to be because birthday mittens, snow, soap and joy sidetracked me a bit. Stay tuned for sometime in the early new year, because I've got a few posts coming your way on how we teach writing in our homeschool.

But all that can wait because today is about journals.

Brienne is a girl that's gotta journal.

She "got" a few journals (just like her mom). A little collection of lined notebooks. A lot of them are for writing short stories, which are usually about princesses or a (remarkably similar to ours) family of five that likes to go hiking.

Her most recent addition was a locked diary. Swoon. Like the kind her older sister has. I have no idea what gets recorded in that diary, which is only right considering it's private. But I've got a bit of a hunch it's heavy on princess and family of five.

Brienne's got a few journals and she's "got to" journal (just like her mom). She loves to write and express herself in written words.

To say that makes me happy, well, that's an understatement. Not because written word is more important than expressing oneself through art or pithy discussion (welcome to young adulthood with a logically minded wordsmith - oh so much fun!). But because written word is how I express myself and to find things I can uniquely share with each of my children is such joy.

Brienne and I connect on this level, and many more - she's most like my personality type which also means sparks do fly.

So I understand when three journals isn't enough. Ahem. Or four. Or five....

I am considering going minimalist in my journaling, in fact I'd like to. Because when I pack up to go somewhere deciding which journal to take is agonizing.

Do I take my quotes journal? Our family prayer journal? My everyday journal? Which I don't actually write in everyday. My gratitude journal? Which I don't write in everyday either. And I can't leave behind Marge, my reading journal.

Marge was a blank, lined journal given to me second hand (rescued from a garage sale?) and is so named from the inscription written across the front. I'm assuming someone named Marge once owned this and had plans to write in it. But now it is mine. Thanks Marge, wherever you are.

Marge keeps track of all the encouraging, inspiring, and challenging things I read. She remembers for me. Right now she's home to the words of Ann Voskamp, Donald Miller, Madeline L'Engle, C. S. Lewis, Brené Brown. I only just started recording in Marge this summer but she is already dear to me and I go back to read her on a regular basis. Soaking in the wisdom within her covers.

So when Brienne requests another journal what can a mother say?

Daddy tries to lead us down the minimalist path. "How many journals does a person really need?" That is a hard one to answer. But hey, I have never claimed to be a minimalist!

Until I gain some clarity on that (I'm not digging to hard because journals are one of the life's simple pleasures) I always know how bless Brienne - with journals of course!

On our trip out west this summer we had the privilege to meet the amazing Katie and Martin (and go flying with them!) and pick up a few journals from Katie's shop.

I bought my first Gadanke journal last Christmas season and recorded our December happenings in it. I blogged about that experience and did a giveaway with Katie this past spring.

It was such a joy meeting Katie this summer and experiencing firsthand the passion she has for helping people celebrate their story.

I came home from that trip a "Jump Up" Kid's Journal for Brienne. Today, at Making This Home, Katie shares a bit of Brienne's journal (and says a bunch of nice stuff about us, gee thanks Katie). You can also read a few of Brienne's featured journal entries at Gadanke.

A have a few other Gadanke treasures from that trip in my secret giving stash that may be making appearances this season.

If you are looking to give a special handmade gift this season I recommend you check out Gadanke journals. Katie has lovely journals in her shop that are perfect gifts for the journal lover/family recorder/story writer/scrapbooker in your life. Having met Katie I can say she's such a warm hearted, hospitable, creative, adventurous, and passionate person. I love giving a shout out for such people, I'm privileged to call her a friend.

Katie is offering FIMBY readers a 10% discount on their Gadanke order. To take advantage of her kind offer use the coupon code GOSTORY in the check out process. Coupon code is good for the next five days, so don't delay.

Are you a journal girl? (Or guy) How many journals do you have on the go at one time?

Do you have any homeschool writing related questions you'd like to see me address in my writing curriculum posts? I can't make any promises but if I can I'll work your concerns into what I share.

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