{2004} Ten years ago, I left my small Idaho town to enter the much larger fish bowl of university life. I was starting fresh, in a new state, with nothing but big dreams in my pocket. My $6 an hour dream job at the movie theatre gave me free popcorn, soda, and movies. How could life possibly get better? My most frustrating problems were waking up for a 7:30am class, paying my own cell phone bill, and getting to the slopes as often as I could so I could become a pro snowboarder.
{2009} Fast forward five years. I would have never predicted moving across country to a beautiful Florida city with a man I now called “husband,” where I would begin my new dream job as a high school teacher. We lived in a teeny, tiny house that smelled like a musty attic, while my snowboard gathered dust in the actual attic. Our family consisted of two: him and me. Like Ponce de Leon, of whom our new city heralded, we were explorers, far from home, discovering exactly who we were. I finally had life figured out.
{2014} However, five years later, I’m still “figuring life out.” As of today, our family can now fill an SUV and form our own basketball team. Teaching has taken a back seat to full-time mommy-hood, and writing—a dormant passion—has blossomed into a new dream. I can count the number of times I wear makeup a week on…one finger {church day}. Three children have resided in my belly, which now sports an outie button where an innie used to be. {My 2004 self would be mortified!}
It is amazing how life can change.
On a day-to-day basis, life can seem mundane or redundant. The sun rises, we go to school or work, we dirty dishes, we clean dishes. There’s always laundry to wash, dinner to make, homework to do, then sleep, wake up, and do it all over again.
But when measured in bulk, we see how much actually changes in the course of, say five years. Shoe sizes expand, pants become high waters. Kids grow up and we sprout gray hairs. Dreams change, evolve, and life becomes different than anything we could have imagined.
The Greek philosoper Heraclitus said, “Everything flows, nothing stands still.” Despite our desire to pause time and keep each sweet moment within a pretty little snow globe, time will keep ticking.
That’s why you need a family time capsule. It is the most concrete, visual way to preserve time and, essentially, these lives we are living. For me, that is just as important as food storage or emergency preparedness.
Making a family time capsule is easy and can be done in an afternoon or for a special family night. Do it! In five years, you’ll be so glad you did.
Things you’ll need for your time capsule:
1. A Time Capsule Questionnaire: you can find many examples here, or make up your own. These questionnaires are so fun to do in 3-5 year increments to see how much changes. {I love that my son wants to be an ambulance driver!}
2. Kids’ Measurements: Especially if your children are still growing, it’s fun to take current measurements and compare them down the road.
3. Art work/ a project: Include the artwork or any special projects your kids have recently done. You’ll be amazed at the progress you see when you open your time capsule.
4. Letters to self or letters from parent to child: Write letters to your future self, including any messages you’d like to tell yourself, what you imagine life to be like five years in the future {flying cars?}, any secrets you have now, and the hopes you have for the future. If your children are young, write a letter to them including these same things.
5. Current pictures: of each child and of your entire family, even pets!
6. A vessel for your time capsule: I scored this cool old suitcase at a garage sale for $1. You could also use a clean paint can, a shoe box, a card box, or even an empty two-liter pop bottle.
We’re all in different stages of parenthood, from having little ones that cling to you like barnacles, to big ones that repel you like negative sides of a magnet. Maybe you’re at an in-between stage, or entering the grandparent phase. Regardless of where you’re at with child-rearing, each phase has its particular awesomeness that deserves to be preserved.
Feel free to share any bright ideas below!
Lauren says
What a great post, I am definitely going to do something like this with our family! It’s amazing how things even from year to year. Thanks for sharing.
Missy says
What a great idea! I love this idea – I have seen it done yearly but I can see how five years would make differences more measurable and so more fun! Loved your personal descriptions of your stages – they made me laugh. 🙂
Marcie Norton says
Nicolette,
First of all, I love your name. How unique, just like your article. I hope many families take the time to do this and make a time capsules. This is exactly why our company was created. We sell decorative Baby and Wedding Time Capsules. We are working on others too, like a Universal one. See these time capsules at http://www.timecapsule.com. We would love to have your comments on some of our blogs too. Have a fantastic week!
Making Milestone Moments Count,
Marcie & Mark Norton
http://www.timecapsule.com
Tess @ Tips on Life & Love says
This is really a cute idea. In the fifth grade, my teacher did this, and I remember how special it was to go through all of our old things the next year. I can see how it would be a fun family activity. Thanks for sharing!
Nicole says
Such good ideas! This has inspired me to do a family time capsule with my family, too. Thanks for posting!
Ann @ The Scrapbooking Housewife says
I have never thought to do a family time capsule!! Sounds like fun, and I think I may make one of those as well!! I have a wedding time capsule, which we will be opening on our 25th Anniversary (10 years away!), and I have done a time capsule for all 3 of my kids to open when they turn 21! I am just starting the one for my 2-month-old son, and I am getting so many great ideas!! I can’t wait to fill it and seal it on his 1st birthday! Thanks for the inspiration!! 🙂
Lynde says
Nicolette, this was so sweet! I love your family, and you really are such a great writer! This reminds me of the time capsules we made and buried in the hill behind our house, such a good tradition!
Nicolette says
Lynde, what happened to those time capsules??? I would love to have them now. Love my sis…you’re the best!
Deb says
Love this article on making a family time capsule! So many things we forget about the seasons of life we go through. What better way to help us remember the precious things we value about each other and the experiences that make our family so wonderful! Thanks again for your inspiration!!