[Kate Davis]

SandiC., on 03 January 2013 - 05:12 PM, said:

I have done a basic outline of major times in my life and then I can add the details in under these headings. So far I've written 4 stories and made notes about what I can include on the LO and ideas for the LOs. And I actually started one double-page spread. And that's just a couple of days worth. It took me about 10 minutes to write the story. Found a few more old photos that sparked another thing to consider including. As I come across these I'm dropping them into folders all in one place so once I actually start compiling them, they will all be handy. Like almost any writing, knowing what to delete is the hardest. I also have about 20 years of journals I've been going through. Scanning any pages that have anything worth saving. There are some very private things in some of those journals that I don't want to have my children burdened with after I'm gone (long time I hope), so I'm destroying some of the old stuff. But saving the good stuff and the stuff that I think the kids should know. I do not necessarily believe in full disclosure with ones children, but I do want them to know a lot. LOL

It sounds like you are completely on top of the project, well done.

Out of interest, how are you scanning your journals? I keep wanting to scan mine so I have a digital copy in case I lose them. I was thinking of getting a wand or flip pal scanner as I've found our flat bed tricking in the past, but that maybe its location. Ideally I would have some handwriting recognition software so I can import them into journal software, but I think that is too optimistic at the moment.

I have never read back over my journals so I don't know if I would want my children to read them or not. I've never felt the desire to look back on them so I sometimes question why do I write one.

[SandiC.]

Kate, it took a lot of courage to go back and read some of those old journals.LOL. A lot of stupid stuff in there. Some of the journals are able to be scanned, the back broken and I can lay them flat. I do have a flip pal, but haven't used it for those scans, but I might. Since I'm not leaving the journals intact I can cut or tear out pages that I want to scan. There really hasn't been that much I want to keep. Lots of drivel in the content, but every once in awhile I had an insight or recorded some significant event and how I felt about it. My journal writing has progressed over the years, so the more recent things will be the ones I'll save more of I think.

Got one more story written last night. Of course, the ones I'm doing so far are the easy ones. There are harder ones coming. I plan on just working on this a little everyday (well, most days). I'm thinking I might save all of this on one separate EHD ( I have an old 500GB one not being used) I think these files will be getting very large very soon. LOL.

[anemone1983]

What a cool idea, Sandi! I have no additional contribution to add/aid you in working on it, but wanted to add my "Like."

[KayMitch]

Sorry to say I have been missing in action for the last 3 months and have missed all you gals. Tonight I can't sleep ( It's 2.30am in Australia) so thought I'd catch up on the happenings around here. I'm excited to read about your project Sandi as I did a small paper scrap book All About Me a couple of years ago. You will love doing it and your family will so appreciate it. Best of luck. It's a daunting task but as someone said, any little snippet is better than nothing at all. I dearly wish I had asked my Mum & Dad more about their lives. Kay

[MariJ]

I just found this thread and wow, what a wonderful idea Sandi - and good for your for starting right up. My Mom died a few weeks ago and I am left with a roomful or photos and mementos, some army letters of my dad's, etc. Would be good to get some of it digital.
I so enjoyed reading this thread and all the ideas, encouragement and sharing.

[Sara Arell]

Sandi, I think your idea is fabulous! My Dad started writing years ago after my Mom died and has compiled several notebooks filled with stories of his life as far back as he can remember and then stories about how he met my Mom and my birth, my childhood......his career, travels. It's an amazing compilation of his life and he continues to write until this day.

He inspired me to do the same for my children, and I have been writing mine for about three years now. I just wrote - I didn't do any scrapping so far with mine because the writing just grew and grew and grew as one thought led to another. I'd think about one little milestone of one of my children to tell them about and before I knew it I'd be writing about when that same thing happened to another of my children. I kept jumping around and couldn't keep my thoughts straight. But I like what I've written so far very much and I hope to be able to give it to my children one day.

Who knows? I may just well get to work and add some scrapped pages to it too.

You go, girl!

[luckyladybug]

Super cool idea, Sandi! Good luck on your journey. You've inspired me to try to organize some of my thoughts and stories.