Recently, our family has been addicted to the show Clean House. After watching about people selling all their clutter and unneeded junk, it has lit a fire under Brenton to finally throw away all of his college and seminary notes from classes. He has even gotten rid of some books and other unnecessary things (This is a huge feat for those of you that know Brenton). I am proud of him because he really hasn't wanted to, but knows that there really isn't a use for it all now. As I know I have my fair share of things to get rid of, I offered to go through a box last night too. When he brought the box into the room, I knew immediately what it was. It was a small file container that my mom kept all my cutest art projects starting when I began school. As I was looking through it and trying to remember when I was in school I came across a notebook. When I picked up the notebook a small green note pad fell out of it. As I picked it up, I noticed it was my moms handwriting. As I started to read, I realized she had journaled my first few days with the family when they adopted me at 15 months. It was so interesting to read. Then I went back to the larger notebook I found and read through that. While I was in foster care, the foster family journaled my first 15 months with them. I was so excited to read through it. I may have read through this in the past, I don't remember, but it means so much more now that I have children and I wonder what quirky things they got from me. I was comparing everything. When I crawled, to when they crawled. What my temperament was like, to what theirs in like. The foster mother was so detailed in things I liked and didn't like, toys I got for gifts, my moods, busyness, and much more. I can now identify things in my 3 that I read I did as well. Then, to know what those first days were like after being adopted were so cool. Not only did I get to see how I adjusted, I was able to read how my older brother adjusted and my parents. These 2 items are now precious possessions to me.
I am convinced more than ever the value of a baby scrapbook, a blog, or a journal of a child's early life. The early years are something they can't remember, but with our help we can offer a snapshot of what it was like because I assume so much will change and happen in the coming years, that we might forget.
Thank you mom for keeping it safe for me, don't worry I didn't throw away the box!
