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So we are just over 2 months into this amazing project and it is so awesome to have a few weeks completed to look back on now. Firstly I have to start by saying Project Life I LOVE YOU. You have changed the way I look at my life. Realizing that Life really is all those small things that make up this wonderful daily life we lead has been almost like an awakening for me. I am so longer looking for something else, waiting for something special to happen, waiting for that holiday, time off work, a child’s birthday, none of it compares to the wonder that is my everyday life. Realizing that making that breakfast even though I feel like I have done it 5 thousand million times before does make life what it is- imagine how you would feel if you didn’t have those little mouths to feed.
I read something the other day which also changed my life and I want to share it with you all. This family write a blog which you can find here, below is just part of what the mother wrote in a recent post. All I can say is WOW. After reading this part of her post I literally got up from the computer and went and snuggled my little boy having a nap on his little toddler bed. I relished in that moment and took that time out of my busy day instead of just telling him to get back into bed (for the 5 millionth time) and I loved it. Every day I will try to remember this family every time I am feeling tired and worn out and looking forward to nap time I will snap myself out of it by reminding myself how blessed I am to have a happy and most importantly healthy child.
This little girl is dying, this family is loosing an important part of their life and while I sat there reading her words I also felt eternally regretful for all those moments I wished for peace and quiet and a sleeping child and a clean floor. With tears streaming down my face I was reminded of what is really important in this life, project life helps me to understand and recognize and cherish this- I hope you will get that same feeling.
Towards the end of a pregnancy, a mother will wake up to go to the bathroom every few hours. I think this is the body’s way of preparing you for a newborn and the sleepless nights that come along with it. Layla now spends most of her days sleeping. 30-45 minutes after she wakes up, she is ready to lay down and sleep again. Is this God’s way of preparing me for all the quiet time that is coming soon? The house is quiet. I am able to go through the motions of laundry, dishes, cooking and picking up without interruptions. But I WANT interruptions. I WANT Layla to be under my feet asking for cookies. I WANT to hear her playing with her toys. I WANT to take 45 minutes to unload the dishwasher because she keeps trying to help. For every time I uttered the words “I just can’t get anything done with these kids under my feet all day” I am eternally regretful.
The days that I looked forward to naptime so I could get a grocery list made, or finally fold all the piles of laundry…I regret those days too. If I could do it all again, I’d enjoy EVERY SINGLE WAKING MOMENT I had with her. I would never wish for her to sit still or take a nap or go to bed early. I would never look forward to the days when she could sit through an entire episode of Dora silently. I would treasure every second with her.
On the note of cherishing every small moment here are my completed layouts for the last few weeks to share-
Finished layout – I decided to start using the days of the week stickers this week and so I went through and added them all on top of each photo on my album to date. I am really pleased with how they look, my mum looked through the album last week and she commented that she really liked it and that she thought it was a lot easier to read.
Left hand side close up -
Right hand side close up -
Finished Layout-
Left hand side close up-
Right hand side close up-
Finished Layout-
Left hand side close up-
Right hand side close up- This was the calendar layout I spoke about in my last Project Life layouts post. I just filled in the calendar with extra stuff we did throughout the month then I trimmed the page down and adhered.
Completed Layout-
Left hand close up- I printed this enlargement in an 8×10 size as I wanted to keep it to literally the photo on the page. Next time I think I might print a 10×12 to fill most of the page. I really didn’t want to start to get too elaborate with this extra layout as this is my journal in front of the TV project and I want it to say that way- and I already do enough detailed and embellished layouts in my normal albums.
Right hand close up-
A close up of one of the sides of the larger journaling cards. I have the same on the other side of the card- another smaller photo and some more journaling . I love the way these turned out and I am planning on doing this whenever I have a lot of photos or a lot to say !!
Finished layout- I got distracted when photographing this last one and realized as I was editing and uploading them all late last night that I have no double pages shot of this one so sorry you will just have to imagine what it looks like : )
Right hand side close up-
This is one of the 6×4 photo overlays that came in the 365 kit. I didn’t use a lot of the extra’s last year as I just literally wanted to see if I could get the book done. Now that Project Life has been launched there is a lot more chatter and ideas and blogs and layouts on websites for me to be able to get ideas from. I have about 12 of these and so I plan on dotting them throughout the album/year.
Project Life sigh… I love you : ) Pop over to the Mom Creative website to have a look at heaps of other blogs.
This is just amazing! Love it, I think this will definitely be something I look into doing next year.
Jade, I just had to come back and post a comment. I read your post a few hours ago, and I have not been able to stop thinking the touching words of Layla’s mother. I too, will be stopping myself from wishing for a quiet moment to myself, and treasuring every second that I have with my precious children. Thank you for the reminder of just how lucky I am!
Jade, such a touching post and so very true that it is important to take time out of our busy lives each day and to be thankful for that we have that is precious to us. I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face having just read Layla’s story. There are so many brave parents going so much in the world that it makes me feel even more blessed for my family x
Lovely post Jade – it certainly made me think this evening when my son was starting to get on my nerves..
Your PL LO’s look lovely – I noticed you are using a different album – the colour looks lovely – its it a We R Memory Keepers one?
Thank you so much girls : ) I am glad I am not the only one who was touched by her lovely words. xx
I love your blog Jade but what you wrote today is one of the most important messages I have read thus far.. about our children and how we should appreciate and love them every second of every day.. Look forward to spending time with them, not putting them to bed at night. I think far too many people wish their life away.. I recieved my Project Life in the post today, cant wait to start it.. thanks Jade..
WONDERFUL reminder! Thanks for that. I have a quote on my blog that speaks to the same idea and says, “I wish I had treasured the doing a little more, and the getting it done a little less.” That’s just a small part of the quote, but I need to be reminded every day.
Your album looks amazing, by the way!
I love it! Very cool!
Delane LOVE your blog and the quote on the side is exactly how I feel- even with just one child : ) Thanks so much for sharing- If anyone wants to have a look just click on Delane’s name and it will take you straight through, I love the message. x
Hi Jade. I love reading your blog and am totally envious of your amazing ability to be so organised!!
I had just finished reading the blog abt her and read this. It happened about 4 hours ago….I.m so very very sad for this family and have shed so many tears but it does bring to light what you had said about spending more time with your children. I am very guilty for enjoying those quiet moments..never again. Thank you for the gift of life you have shown me….
Anyway just thought I’d pass on that little Layla Grace is now playing with the angels
Thanks so much for letting me know Mel : ( So very sad. It is so hard to stay focused sometimes on the important stuff and even since reading this I again a few days later find myself wrapped up in something and I have to constantly remind myself to stop and enjoy the moment : ) I think for me it will be an ongoing thing- I might even retype out her words and print them out somewhere as a daily reminder. xx
Your pictures are beautiful! Your book looks great. Do you have it in a different album than the one that came with the kit?
So so sad about Layla Grace, I hope she is now pain free and playing with the angels.. I just want to go to my son now and hold him & tell him how much I love him..
I found your blog recently and I keep coming back again and again, so inspiring!! Your post yesterday really touched me, and it also gave me the motivation I needed to update my Project Life album….I just posted my layouts on my blog….thank you so much for the inspiring words, creative ideas and much needed motivation!!
Jade, thanks for the sweet compliment. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Hi Jade!
I have been totally inspired by your posts and finally ordered Project Life last night (I know, took me while, but now I’m convinced and very excited, just hope I haven’t left it too late!)
I had a few questions though and hope you don’t mind.
How do you organise your photos for printing and when do you get them done? I am worried I’ll end up printing my photos only once every few months!
Where do you get those nice page protectors you use in Flynn’s art album? I have been searching but can only find the really flimsy kind.
Also, with my son starting kindy next year I am wondering how to document his school years and was wondering if you had any ideas yet as to what you were going to do for Flynn once he starts school.
Thank you for taking the time to share everything you do Jade! Such an inspiration!
where did you get the red folder?