For the past two years, I have embarked on something known as "Project 365" or "Project Life." The concept is simple. Take a picture every single day and jot down the memory associated with the photo.
Date: January 16, 2009
Journaling: Elias was so tired and after nursing he fell right to sleep. I love this moment of Matthew holding him in the low light. He is such a good daddy. Our car may not start and we may not have much money, but we have a lot of love.
At the end you have collection of more than 300 photos representing all the simple and special moments of the past year.
It is the most wonderful project.
In flipping through my albums, I am able to celebrate so many stories that I think I otherwise would have forgotten – little moments with my son, date nights with my husband, baby toys littering the floor (that are now boxed up).
Taking photos daily has caused me to look at life in a fresh way. I am grateful for so many simple blessings -and this gratitude has translated to a deeper appreciation for all that the blessings the Lord richly pours into life.
Today, consider taking a photo of something "ordinary" about your life. Maybe it is your car, making dinner, giving your kids a bath – something that represents every day life for you.
Then write about that moment and take time to thank God for the ordinary.
Because through God's provision, the ordinary is extraordinary.
For more on Jessica's Project Life, check out her weekly Project Life Tuesday feature on her blog, The Mom Creative.
ABOUT JESSICA TURNER
Jessica Turner blogs on The Mom Creative about motherhood,
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Jessica, what a wonderful idea! I love how capturing the ordinary moments makes them extraordinary and special…I might have to give this a try :)
This really is a great idea. I love that photo of Matthew and Elias!
I love looking at your photos on your blog. I have been inspired lately to start taking more pictures of my family. Thank you!
What an absolutely marvelous idea!! Although I think if I did this right now I would get so sad. My kids are packing up to head back to college.
But I could start something like this when they come home next summer, and then go summer to summer.
Fabulous idea though, especially if you have little ones. Precious!!
What a neat idea. I might do this!
I don’t know if this is where I’m supposed to write what I wrote on the plaque. I wrote: To my favorite golfer-You are my hole in one…I love you.
A great reminder!
Cxx
Lovely post.
Those memories are so precious and I love anything that helps capture the little moments you might otherwise forget!
I make it a practice to be grateful every day for the little things. Liked your post — I am so far behind on Project Life.
This is such a great idea! Not just for ourselves to have perspective day-to-day, but for our kids when we are old or gone. I absolutely love seeing my messy room as a kid in my mom’s old photos. Or my grandmother watching TV with that look I totally remember about her. It’s so worth doing this. Thanks for the reminder!
-Laurie
I think I tried this and got to day 5!
it is so lovely, though…to see how special those in between moments really are..
What an awesome idea. I have been procrastinating about purchasing a digital camera. You see photography is my passion. I love taking pictures but my old 35mm film camera has been collecting dust lately. Too many other things going on in my life. But this idea of yours has given me the initiative to start again!!
Project365 just gets more wonderful as time passes.
I did my first in 2007 as a digital scrapbook.
My 2nd and 3rd in the next two years as paper projects (although they were both in a weekly, not daily format).
This year, I’m doing a blog post daily.
Now that I’m in my 4th year of a kind of photo journalism of my life, it’s apparent that the real benefit is the long-term documentation of all the blessings I have.
Anyone who does this will love the results and so will those around you.
Now that is a fantastic idea! Thank you!