Journaling once or twice a week can be a great way to record the details of your family stories that might otherwise be lost in your memories.

For example, at the time that it happened I bet you thought you would never forget the hilarious details of that one memorable visit to Santa. Your youngest child got very nervous when Santa asked what he wanted. He mispronounced the name of the toy he wanted. What came out of his tiny mouth was obscene at best. “Santa, I want a #$@&*! this year,” he innocently said. 

Santa and the elves certainly enjoyed a laughter break from the constant parade of wiggly kids. And you? You scooped up your kiddos and quickly got out of the mall – but you loved the moment, too. Those moments are the legends of family lore. Don’t miss the chance to write your family legends down for your kids and grandkids to enjoy.

Rewards of frequent journaling

Besides making sure that memories like this one aren’t forgotten, there are other rewards to frequent journaling.

• Stories in your journal are easy to copy and add to a family archive.
• You can add notes about which photos you have to complement the story.
• It’s good for your emotional and mental health to unpack the events of the day by writing about them.

Using Journal Guides & Prompts

If you are a bit like me, you might sit down to write in your journal and have a little writer’s block. For example, your journal entry for the day ends up being just a step-by-step account of what you did and where you went – more of an itinerary than the telling of a story you want to remember for the future.

A list of journal prompts can be really helpful to simply trigger some stories that are in your head. Did you know we create a new “Journal & Story Collecting Guide” for every month?

We divide each of our guides into topical sections with questions and prompts that are aligned to those topics.

• This Season. Questions and prompts here are related to your experiences and memories of the current month or season.
• New Beginnings. This section prompts you to write about changes you are making or are longing to make.
• Fun Stuff. No explanation needed here! These prompts are just fun.
• Friendships That Have Blessed You. Most people have lots of stories connected to friends, both old and new. These will be meaningful to your family, too.
• Family Stories. These prompts encourage you to dig into your family stories from the past and from today. The good stories and the cringey stories.
• Personal Reflections. We wrap up every month’s guide with some prompts for you to look inside yourself and write about what’s going on in your life.

Keep in mind that the prompts in our monthly guides are really intended to just get you started. I don’t journal every day so I like to glance through what is in the guide surrounding today and pick what inspires me. No pressure.

Use Our Guides or Make Your Own

Our intention is always to simply nudge you towards writing down family stories. Period. If our guides inspire that, then we are honored that they serve you well. 

You also might find that you can create your own system to help you discover those stories that you want to share with future generations. Writing family stories and journaling should never be too regimented or it will rob you of the joy of remembering and writing.

Here’s How to Get Our Guides

Journal Guides
Download our Journal Guides for seasonal ideas connected to each month. We’ll send you a new one for next month on the 15th. There’s a form below to fill out to get started.

Paperback & Digital Blank Journals
Do you love getting new school and office supplies as well as the thrill of having a new book delivered? We have created some simple blank journals that can jump start your story writing. We also have digital journals that can be used on a tablet with note-taking apps like GoodNotes and Noteshelf.

Shop our Paperback & Digital Blank Journals