Memoir Monday- January 21

I am happy to be linking up with my friend Chris from Campfires and Cleats for her first Memoir Monday.

I never really gave it much thought that our blogs are truly a memoir. "Through the alchemy of writing about the self, you emerge.  I might say, by writing memoir you become yourself." writes author Elaine Orr.  Elaine continues to say that "There are 'views' of yourself and your place in the world that you have not gotten yet and you will never get from the mirror or the photograph.  You can get them on the page, in memoir."

I know if I were asked about "writing my memoir," even just a few years ago I would have laughed.  What stories would I tell?  Who would be interested in reading them?  It would seem daunting and overwhelming task.

I tell my children when they free write like I do on the blog, do not think of writing "rules;" write from the heart; think of things that have happened that you want to remember and share.  Special moments.  Describe them so you will never forget.  How I wish I had my blog from when my children were small.  There are so many of those precious, once in a lifetime moments that I know I have forgotten that could have been preserved by my written word and photographs.

Like a rare mild day in January watching my older boys play a game of football

or my younger two making beautiful creations in the driveway

These are the fleeting moments, the ones that when remembered and shared, make the meat of a memoir; and that memoir, coupled with what we hold in our hearts and minds, will allow those memories to be cherished and remembered for a lifetime....

Also Linking up with:  On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop