I love doing layouts that roundup one month at a time because I don't feel like I have to follow a certain theme. I don't even worry about whether all my photos and cards match perfectly because I'm more interested in telling the stories of our life for that period of time. It's a very fun way to do memory-keeping! August was a very full month for us, with lots of travel and family time. I feel blessed to have such a month!

The end of the month is here, and that means it's time to reflect on the month and all the wonderful memories you've made. One of the biggest tricks we play on ourselves is thinking we will remember everything. We don't need to write it down, right? But does that even work for the grocery store? Of course not! Memories are important, so don't let yourself fall into that trap. At the end of each month, take a few minutes to document your memories.

Do you remember writing essays about what you did over the summer as a kid? I never had much to say in those reports, but I have plenty to fill the page these days. It's been a busy summer for our family, and I'm happy we have had so many great adventures to make the summer of 2023 memorable.

We were on the go the entire month of July! We had several road trips and spent several weeks with our daughter and her family. It was great to have so much grandbaby time! I love documenting everyday life, and the roundup process has given me the tools to keep it simple and meaningful. I've been doing monthly roundups since January 2006 and don't plan to quit now!

As July ends, it is a great time to reflect on the month's memories. I have been doing monthly roundups since 2006, and it has been one of the most helpful things I have ever done for my memory-keeping practice.

Here are some of the benefits of creating monthly roundups:

Hey there! I'm back from an unintended blog break. I had an explosion of life events all hit simultaneously, and it has been a crazy few months. It's all good stuff, but it has completely taken my mental and physical bandwidth to keep up with everything, so this blog had to take a backseat. I've been blogging since 2005 (18 years!), and I know this is just part of a writer's life cycle.

June had a bit of everything in it. We started it off with Covid and ended with amazing mountain views. Our getaway to Jackson Hole was a lot of fun. And of course, it was wonderful to have time with family and see our cute grandson! I love to tell the stories of our everyday lives, and my roundup prompts help me to remember to include the details that matter. So I hope you will take a few moments to reflect on June and pair your thoughts with photos to create something special!

As June ends, it is an excellent time to reflect on the month's memories. I began the practice of monthly roundups on my first blog in 2006 and have continued to do so ever since. Creating a quick summary of the month has been my most helpful memory-keeping tool, and it has made a significant difference in how I view my everyday life.

May was a wild month for us with some big happenings. We celebrated Mother's Day. We visited my brother Mike and his family in Nevada. We suddenly bought a new RZR as well as a new cabin. Jeff and I came down with Covid. Highs and lows and plenty of in-between times too. All part of our story.