diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 14f545e..1507920 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ all:
 	cd core; make all;
 	cd exchange; make all;
 	cd importer; make all;
+	cd journal; make all;
 	cd merkledag; make all;
 	cd multibase; make all;
 	cd pin; make all;
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ clean:
 	cd core; make clean;
 	cd exchange; make clean;
 	cd importer; make clean;
+	cd journal; make clean;
 	cd merkledag; make clean;
 	cd multibase; make clean;
 	cd pin; make clean;
diff --git a/core/ipfs_node.c b/core/ipfs_node.c
index 30acd19..b157adb 100644
--- a/core/ipfs_node.c
+++ b/core/ipfs_node.c
@@ -5,14 +5,15 @@
 #include "libp2p/routing/dht_protocol.h"
 #include "ipfs/core/ipfs_node.h"
 #include "ipfs/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.h"
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal.h"
 
 struct Libp2pVector* ipfs_node_online_build_protocol_handlers(struct IpfsNode* node) {
 	struct Libp2pVector* retVal = libp2p_utils_vector_new(1);
 	if (retVal != NULL) {
 		// secio
 		libp2p_utils_vector_add(retVal, libp2p_secio_build_protocol_handler(&node->identity->private_key, node->peerstore));
-		// nodeio
-		//libp2p_utils_vector_add(retVal, libp2p_nodeio_build_protocol_handler());
+		// journal
+		libp2p_utils_vector_add(retVal, ipfs_journal_build_protocol_handler(node));
 		// kademlia
 		libp2p_utils_vector_add(retVal, libp2p_routing_dht_build_protocol_handler(node->peerstore, node->providerstore));
 		// bitswap
diff --git a/include/ipfs/journal/journal.h b/include/ipfs/journal/journal.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce8bd20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/ipfs/journal/journal.h
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include "libp2p/conn/session.h"
+#include "ipfs/core/ipfs_node.h"
+#include "libp2p/net/protocol.h"
+
+/**
+ * The journal protocol attempts to keep a journal in sync with other (approved) nodes
+ */
+
+/***
+ * See if we can handle this message
+ * @param incoming the incoming message
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming message
+ * @returns true(1) if the protocol in incoming is something we can handle. False(0) otherwise.
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_can_handle(const uint8_t* incoming, size_t incoming_size);
+
+/**
+ * Clean up resources used by this handler
+ * @param context the context to clean up
+ * @returns true(1)
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_shutdown_handler(void* context);
+
+/***
+ * Handles a message
+ * @param incoming the message
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the message
+ * @param session_context details of the remote peer
+ * @param protocol_context in this case, an IpfsNode
+ * @returns 0 if the caller should not continue looping, <0 on error, >0 on success
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_handle_message(const uint8_t* incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct SessionContext* session_context, void* protocol_context) ;
+
+/***
+ * Build the protocol handler struct for the Journal protocol
+ * @param local_node what to stuff in the context
+ * @returns the protocol handler
+ */
+struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* ipfs_journal_build_protocol_handler(const struct IpfsNode* local_node);
+
+/***
+ * Send a journal message to a remote peer
+ * @param peer the peer to send it to
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise.
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_sync(struct Libp2pPeer* peer);
diff --git a/include/ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h b/include/ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f83fcaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#pragma once
+
+/**
+ * A journal entry protobuf
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+struct JournalEntry {
+	unsigned long long timestamp;
+	uint8_t pin;
+	uint8_t *hash;
+	size_t hash_size;
+};
+
+struct JournalEntry* ipfs_journal_entry_new();
+
+int ipfs_journal_entry_free(struct JournalEntry* entry);
+
+/**
+ * Determine the maximum size of a protobuf'd JournalEntry
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_encode_size(struct JournalEntry* entry);
+
+/***
+ * Protobuf the journal entry
+ * @param entry the JournalEntry to protobuf
+ * @param buffer where to place the results
+ * @param max_buffer_size the amount of memory allocated for the buffer
+ * @param bytes_used the amount of the buffer used
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_encode(struct JournalEntry* entry, uint8_t *buffer, size_t max_buffer_size, size_t *bytes_used);
+
+/***
+ * Turn a protobuf'd JournalEntry and turn it into a real JournalEntry
+ * @param incoming the incoming bytes
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming buffer
+ * @param results where to put the new JournalEntry
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_decode(uint8_t *incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct JournalEntry **results);
diff --git a/include/ipfs/journal/journal_message.h b/include/ipfs/journal/journal_message.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3289b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/ipfs/journal/journal_message.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include "libp2p/utils/vector.h"
+
+struct JournalMessage {
+	unsigned long long current_epoch;
+	unsigned long long start_epoch;
+	unsigned long long end_epoch;
+	struct Libp2pVector* journal_entries;
+};
+
+struct JournalMessage* ipfs_journal_message_new();
+int ipfs_journal_message_free(struct JournalMessage* message);
+
+/**
+ * Determine the maximum size of a protobuf'd JournalMessage
+ * @param message the JournalMessage
+ * @returns the maximum size of this message in bytes if it were protobuf'd
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_encode_size(struct JournalMessage* message);
+
+/***
+ * Protobuf the journal message
+ * @param message the JournalMessage to protobuf
+ * @param buffer where to place the results
+ * @param max_buffer_size the amount of memory allocated for the buffer
+ * @param bytes_used the amount of the buffer used
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_encode(struct JournalMessage* entry, uint8_t *buffer, size_t max_buffer_size, size_t *bytes_used);
+
+/***
+ * Turn a protobuf'd JournalMessage and turn it into a real JournalMessage
+ * @param incoming the incoming bytes
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming buffer
+ * @param results where to put the new JournalMessage
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_decode(uint8_t *incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct JournalMessage **results);
diff --git a/include/ipfs/repo/fsrepo/journalstore.h b/include/ipfs/repo/fsrepo/journalstore.h
index 67d4987..1f04056 100644
--- a/include/ipfs/repo/fsrepo/journalstore.h
+++ b/include/ipfs/repo/fsrepo/journalstore.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
+#include "lmdb.h"
 #include "libp2p/db/datastore.h"
 
 struct JournalRecord {
@@ -31,3 +32,5 @@ int repo_journalstore_cursor_get(struct Datastore* datastore, void* cursor, enum
 int repo_cournalstore_cursor_close(struct Datastore* datastore, void* cursor);
 
 int journal_record_free(struct JournalRecord* rec);
+
+int lmdb_journalstore_journal_add(MDB_txn* mdb_txn, unsigned long long timestamp, const uint8_t *hash, size_t hash_size);
diff --git a/journal/Makefile b/journal/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0975c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/journal/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+CC = gcc
+CFLAGS = -O0 -I../include -I../../c-libp2p/include -I../../c-multiaddr/include -I../../c-multihash/include -I../../c-protobuf -Wall -std=c99
+
+ifdef DEBUG
+CFLAGS += -g3
+endif
+
+LFLAGS = 
+DEPS = 
+OBJS = journal.o journal_entry.o journal_message.o
+
+%.o: %.c $(DEPS)
+	$(CC) -c -o $@ $< $(CFLAGS)
+
+all: $(OBJS)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.o
diff --git a/journal/journal.c b/journal/journal.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d76ecce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/journal/journal.c
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+/**
+ * The journal protocol attempts to keep a journal in sync with other (approved) nodes
+ */
+
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal.h"
+
+/***
+ * See if we can handle this message
+ * @param incoming the incoming message
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming message
+ * @returns true(1) if the protocol in incoming is something we can handle. False(0) otherwise.
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_can_handle(const uint8_t* incoming, size_t incoming_size) {
+	if (incoming_size < 8)
+		return 0;
+	char* result = strstr((char*)incoming, "/ipfs/journal/1.0.0");
+	if(result == NULL || result != (char*)incoming)
+		return 0;
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Clean up resources used by this handler
+ * @param context the context to clean up
+ * @returns true(1)
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_shutdown_handler(void* context) {
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Handles a message
+ * @param incoming the message
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the message
+ * @param session_context details of the remote peer
+ * @param protocol_context in this case, an IpfsNode
+ * @returns 0 if the caller should not continue looping, <0 on error, >0 on success
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_handle_message(const uint8_t* incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct SessionContext* session_context, void* protocol_context) {
+	//struct IpfsNode* local_node = (struct IpfsNode*)protocol_context;
+	//TODO: handle the message
+	return -1;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Build the protocol handler struct for the Journal protocol
+ * @param local_node what to stuff in the context
+ * @returns the protocol handler
+ */
+struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* ipfs_journal_build_protocol_handler(const struct IpfsNode* local_node) {
+	struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* handler = (struct Libp2pProtocolHandler*) malloc(sizeof(struct Libp2pProtocolHandler));
+	if (handler != NULL) {
+		handler->context = (void*)local_node;
+		handler->CanHandle = ipfs_journal_can_handle;
+		handler->HandleMessage = ipfs_journal_handle_message;
+		handler->Shutdown = ipfs_journal_shutdown_handler;
+	}
+	return handler;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Send a journal message to a remote peer
+ * @param peer the peer to send it to
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise.
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_sync(struct Libp2pPeer* peer) {
+	// make sure we're connected securely
+	if (peer->is_local)
+		return 0;
+	if (peer->sessionContext->secure_stream == NULL)
+		return 0;
+	/*
+	// grab the last 10 files
+	struct Libp2pVector* vector = libp2p_utils_vector_new(1);
+	if (vector == NULL) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+	ipfs_journal_get_last(10, &vector);
+	struct JournalMessage* message = NULL;
+	// build the message
+	if (!ipfs_journal_build_message(message))
+		return 0;
+	// protobuf the message
+	// send the protocol header
+	// send the message
+	 */
+	return 0;
+}
+
diff --git a/journal/journal_entry.c b/journal/journal_entry.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8f22d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/journal/journal_entry.c
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+/**
+ * A journal entry protobuf
+ */
+#include "libp2p/utils/logger.h"
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h"
+#include "protobuf.h"
+
+struct JournalEntry* ipfs_journal_entry_new() {
+	struct JournalEntry* journal_entry = (struct JournalEntry*) malloc(sizeof(struct JournalEntry));
+	if (journal_entry != NULL) {
+		journal_entry->hash = NULL;
+		journal_entry->hash_size = 0;
+		journal_entry->pin = 0;
+		journal_entry->timestamp = 0;
+	}
+	return journal_entry;
+}
+
+int ipfs_journal_entry_free(struct JournalEntry* entry) {
+	if (entry != NULL) {
+		if (entry->hash != NULL) {
+			free(entry->hash);
+			entry->hash = NULL;
+			entry->hash_size = 0;
+		}
+		free(entry);
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Determine the maximum size of a protobuf'd JournalEntry
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_encode_size(struct JournalEntry* entry) {
+	// hash
+	int retVal = entry->hash_size;
+	// hash size
+	retVal += 11;
+	// pin
+	retVal += 1;
+	// timestamp
+	retVal += 11;
+	return retVal;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Protobuf the journal entry
+ * @param entry the JournalEntry to protobuf
+ * @param buffer where to place the results
+ * @param max_buffer_size the amount of memory allocated for the buffer
+ * @param bytes_used the amount of the buffer used
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_encode(struct JournalEntry* entry, uint8_t *buffer, size_t max_buffer_size, size_t *bytes_written) {
+	/*
+	message JournalEntry {
+		int32 timestamp = 1;
+		string hash = 2;
+		bool pin = 3;
+	}
+	*/
+	// sanity checks
+	if (buffer == NULL)
+		return 0;
+	if (max_buffer_size <= 0)
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written = 0;
+	size_t bytes_used;
+	// timestamp
+	if (!protobuf_encode_varint(1, WIRETYPE_VARINT, entry->timestamp, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	// hash
+	if (!protobuf_encode_length_delimited(2, WIRETYPE_LENGTH_DELIMITED, (char*)entry->hash, entry->hash_size, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	// pin
+	if (!protobuf_encode_varint(3, WIRETYPE_VARINT, entry->pin, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Turn a protobuf'd JournalEntry and turn it into a real JournalEntry
+ * @param incoming the incoming bytes
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming buffer
+ * @param results where to put the new JournalEntry
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_entry_decode(uint8_t *incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct JournalEntry **out) {
+	size_t pos = 0;
+	int retVal = 0, got_something = 0;;
+
+	if ( (*out = ipfs_journal_entry_new()) == NULL)
+		goto exit;
+
+	while(pos < incoming_size) {
+		size_t bytes_read = 0;
+		int field_no;
+		enum WireType field_type;
+		if (protobuf_decode_field_and_type(&incoming[pos], incoming_size, &field_no, &field_type, &bytes_read) == 0) {
+			goto exit;
+		}
+		if (field_no < 1 || field_no > 5) {
+			libp2p_logger_error("journal_entry", "Invalid character in journal_entry protobuf at position %lu. Value: %02x\n", pos, incoming[pos]);
+		}
+		pos += bytes_read;
+		switch(field_no) {
+			case (1): // timestamp
+				if (protobuf_decode_varint(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, &(*out)->timestamp, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			case (2): // hash
+				if (protobuf_decode_length_delimited(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, (char**)&(*out)->hash, &(*out)->hash_size, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			case (3): { // pin
+				unsigned long long temp;
+				if (protobuf_decode_varint(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, &temp, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				(*out)->pin = (temp == 1);
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	retVal = got_something;
+
+exit:
+	if (retVal == 0) {
+		ipfs_journal_entry_free(*out);
+	}
+	return retVal;
+}
diff --git a/journal/journal_message.c b/journal/journal_message.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94c6f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/journal/journal_message.c
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal_message.h"
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h"
+#include "libp2p/utils/logger.h"
+#include "protobuf.h"
+
+struct JournalMessage* ipfs_journal_message_new() {
+	struct JournalMessage *message = (struct JournalMessage*) malloc(sizeof(struct JournalMessage));
+	if (message != NULL) {
+		message->current_epoch = 0;
+		message->end_epoch = 0;
+		message->start_epoch = 0;
+		message->journal_entries = libp2p_utils_vector_new(1);
+	}
+	return message;
+}
+
+int ipfs_journal_message_free(struct JournalMessage* message) {
+	if (message != NULL) {
+		if (message->journal_entries != NULL) {
+			for(int i = 0; i < message->journal_entries->total; i++) {
+				struct JournalEntry* entry = (struct JournalEntry*) libp2p_utils_vector_get(message->journal_entries, i);
+				ipfs_journal_entry_free(entry);
+			}
+			libp2p_utils_vector_free(message->journal_entries);
+			message->journal_entries = NULL;
+		}
+		free(message);
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Determine the maximum size of a protobuf'd JournalMessage
+ * @param message the JournalMessage
+ * @returns the maximum size of this message in bytes if it were protobuf'd
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_encode_size(struct JournalMessage* message) {
+	// 3 epochs
+	int sz = 33;
+	// journal entries
+	for (int i = 0; i < message->journal_entries->total; i++) {
+		struct JournalEntry* entry = (struct JournalEntry*) libp2p_utils_vector_get(message->journal_entries, i);
+		sz += ipfs_journal_entry_encode_size(entry);
+	}
+	return sz;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Protobuf the journal message
+ * @param message the JournalMessage to protobuf
+ * @param buffer where to place the results
+ * @param max_buffer_size the amount of memory allocated for the buffer
+ * @param bytes_used the amount of the buffer used
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_encode(struct JournalMessage* message, uint8_t *buffer, size_t max_buffer_size, size_t *bytes_written) {
+	/*
+	message JournalMessage {
+		int32 current_epoch = 1;
+		int32 start_epoch = 2;
+		int32 end_epoch = 3;
+		repeated JournalEntry journal_entries = 4;
+	}
+	*/
+	// sanity checks
+	if (buffer == NULL)
+		return 0;
+	if (max_buffer_size <= 0)
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written = 0;
+	size_t bytes_used;
+	// current_epoch
+	if (!protobuf_encode_varint(1, WIRETYPE_VARINT, message->current_epoch, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	// start_epoch
+	if (!protobuf_encode_varint(2, WIRETYPE_VARINT, message->start_epoch, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	// end_epoch
+	if (!protobuf_encode_varint(3, WIRETYPE_VARINT, message->end_epoch, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used))
+		return 0;
+	*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	// journal_entries
+	for (int i = 0; i < message->journal_entries->total; i++) {
+		struct JournalEntry* entry = (struct JournalEntry*) libp2p_utils_vector_get(message->journal_entries, i);
+		// encode the journal entry
+		size_t temp_size = ipfs_journal_entry_encode_size(entry);
+		uint8_t temp[temp_size];
+		if (!ipfs_journal_entry_encode(entry, &temp[0], temp_size, &temp_size))
+			return 0;
+		if (!protobuf_encode_length_delimited(4, WIRETYPE_LENGTH_DELIMITED, (char*)&temp[0], temp_size, &buffer[*bytes_written], max_buffer_size - *bytes_written, &bytes_used)) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+		*bytes_written += bytes_used;
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/***
+ * Turn a protobuf'd JournalMessage and turn it into a real JournalMessage
+ * @param incoming the incoming bytes
+ * @param incoming_size the size of the incoming buffer
+ * @param results where to put the new JournalMessage
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int ipfs_journal_message_decode(uint8_t *incoming, size_t incoming_size, struct JournalMessage **out) {
+	size_t pos = 0;
+	int retVal = 0, got_something = 0;;
+
+	if ( (*out = ipfs_journal_message_new()) == NULL)
+		goto exit;
+
+	while(pos < incoming_size) {
+		size_t bytes_read = 0;
+		int field_no;
+		enum WireType field_type;
+		if (protobuf_decode_field_and_type(&incoming[pos], incoming_size, &field_no, &field_type, &bytes_read) == 0) {
+			goto exit;
+		}
+		if (field_no < 1 || field_no > 5) {
+			libp2p_logger_error("journal_message", "Invalid character in journal_message protobuf at position %lu. Value: %02x\n", pos, incoming[pos]);
+		}
+		pos += bytes_read;
+		switch(field_no) {
+			case (1): // current_epoch
+				if (protobuf_decode_varint(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, &(*out)->current_epoch, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			case (2): // start_epoch
+				if (protobuf_decode_varint(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, &(*out)->start_epoch, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			case (3): // end_epoch
+				if (protobuf_decode_varint(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, &(*out)->end_epoch, &bytes_read) == 0)
+					goto exit;
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			case (4): { // journal entry
+				uint8_t *temp;
+				size_t temp_length;
+				protobuf_decode_length_delimited(&incoming[pos], incoming_size - pos, (char**)&temp, &temp_length, &bytes_read);
+				pos += bytes_read;
+				struct JournalEntry* entry = NULL;
+				if (ipfs_journal_entry_decode(&temp[0], temp_length, &entry)) {
+					libp2p_utils_vector_add((*out)->journal_entries, (void*)entry);
+					free(temp);
+				} else {
+					free(temp);
+					goto exit;
+				}
+				got_something = 1;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	retVal = got_something;
+
+exit:
+	if (retVal == 0) {
+		ipfs_journal_message_free(*out);
+	}
+	return retVal;
+
+}
diff --git a/journal/journal_message.proto b/journal/journal_message.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2da0c82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/journal/journal_message.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+message JournalEntry {
+	int32 timestamp = 1;
+	string hash = 2;
+	bool pin = 3;
+}
+
+message JournalMessage {
+	int32 current_epoch = 1;
+	int32 start_epoch = 2;
+	int32 end_epoch = 3;
+	repeated JournalEntry journal_entries = 4;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/Makefile b/main/Makefile
index 65403ce..b194bd6 100644
--- a/main/Makefile
+++ b/main/Makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ OBJS = main.o \
 	../exchange/bitswap/*.o \
 	../flatfs/flatfs.o \
 	../importer/importer.o ../importer/exporter.o ../importer/resolver.o \
+	../journal/*.o \
 	../path/path.o \
 	../merkledag/merkledag.o ../merkledag/node.o \
 	../multibase/multibase.o \
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_datastore.c b/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_datastore.c
index 0736d51..eaf6b3e 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_datastore.c
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_datastore.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "lmdb.h"
 #include "libp2p/utils/logger.h"
 #include "ipfs/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_datastore.h"
+#include "ipfs/repo/fsrepo/journalstore.h"
 #include "varint.h"
 
 /**
@@ -121,52 +122,6 @@ int repo_fsrepo_lmdb_get(const char* key, size_t key_size, unsigned char* data,
 	return 1;
 }
 
-/***
- * Write a journal record
- * @param mbd_txn the transaction
- * @param timestamp the timestamp
- * @param hash the hash
- * @param hash_size the size of the hash
- * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
- */
-int repo_fsrepo_lmdb_journal_add(MDB_txn* mdb_txn, unsigned long long timestamp, const uint8_t *hash, size_t hash_size) {
-	MDB_dbi mdb_dbi;
-	struct MDB_val db_key;
-	struct MDB_val db_value;
-
-	libp2p_logger_debug("lmdb_datastore", "journal add timestamp: %llu.\n", timestamp);
-
-	// build the record, which is a timestamp as a key, a byte that is the pin flag, and the hash as the value
-	uint8_t time_varint[8];
-	size_t time_varint_size = 0;
-	varint_encode(timestamp, &time_varint[0], 8, &time_varint_size);
-
-	libp2p_logger_debug("lmdb_datastore", "journal add varint size: %lu.\n", (unsigned long)time_varint_size);
-
-	size_t record_size = hash_size + 1;
-	uint8_t record[record_size];
-	record[0] = 1;
-	memcpy(&record[1], hash, hash_size);
-
-	// open the journal table
-
-	if (mdb_dbi_open(mdb_txn, JOURNAL_DB, MDB_DUPSORT | MDB_CREATE, &mdb_dbi) != 0) {
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	// write the record
-	db_key.mv_size = time_varint_size;
-	db_key.mv_data = time_varint;
-
-	db_value.mv_size = record_size;
-	db_value.mv_data = record;
-
-	if (mdb_put(mdb_txn, mdb_dbi, &db_key, &db_value, 0) == 0) {
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	return 1;
-}
 
 /**
  * Get the current time UTC
@@ -223,7 +178,7 @@ int repo_fsrepo_lmdb_put(unsigned const char* key, size_t key_size, unsigned cha
 	retVal = mdb_put(mdb_txn, mdb_dbi, &db_key, &db_value, MDB_NODUPDATA | MDB_NOOVERWRITE);
 	if (retVal == 0) {
 		// the normal case
-		repo_fsrepo_lmdb_journal_add(mdb_txn, timestamp, key, key_size);
+		lmdb_journalstore_journal_add(mdb_txn, timestamp, key, key_size);
 		retVal = 1;
 	} else {
 		if (retVal == MDB_KEYEXIST) // We tried to add a key that already exists. Skip.
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_journalstore.c b/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_journalstore.c
index b1ccd94..83bbdbf 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_journalstore.c
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/lmdb_journalstore.c
@@ -15,6 +15,49 @@ int journal_record_free(struct JournalRecord* rec) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/***
+ * Write a journal record
+ * @param mbd_txn the transaction
+ * @param timestamp the timestamp
+ * @param hash the hash
+ * @param hash_size the size of the hash
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int lmdb_journalstore_journal_add(MDB_txn* mdb_txn, unsigned long long timestamp, const uint8_t *hash, size_t hash_size) {
+	MDB_dbi mdb_dbi;
+	struct MDB_val db_key;
+	struct MDB_val db_value;
+
+	// build the record, which is a timestamp as a key, a byte that is the pin flag, and the hash as the value
+	uint8_t time_varint[8];
+	size_t time_varint_size = 0;
+	varint_encode(timestamp, &time_varint[0], 8, &time_varint_size);
+
+	size_t record_size = hash_size + 1;
+	uint8_t record[record_size];
+	record[0] = 1;
+	memcpy(&record[1], hash, hash_size);
+
+	// open the journal table
+
+	if (mdb_dbi_open(mdb_txn, JOURNAL_DB, MDB_DUPSORT | MDB_CREATE, &mdb_dbi) != 0) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	// write the record
+	db_key.mv_size = time_varint_size;
+	db_key.mv_data = time_varint;
+
+	db_value.mv_size = record_size;
+	db_value.mv_data = record;
+
+	if (mdb_put(mdb_txn, mdb_dbi, &db_key, &db_value, 0) == 0) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 /**
  * Open a cursor to the journalstore table
  * @param datastore the data connection
diff --git a/test/Makefile b/test/Makefile
index a1195b1..50c5abf 100644
--- a/test/Makefile
+++ b/test/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 CC = gcc
-CFLAGS = -O0 -I../include -I../../c-libp2p/include -I../../c-multihash/include -I../../c-multiaddr/include -I../../c-protobuf -g3 -Wall -std=c99
+CFLAGS = -O0 -I../include -I../../c-libp2p/include -I../../c-multihash/include -I../../c-multiaddr/include -I../../c-protobuf -I../../lmdb/libraries/liblmdb -g3 -Wall -std=c99
 LFLAGS = -L../../c-libp2p -L../../c-multihash -L../../c-multiaddr -lp2p -lm -lmultihash -lmultiaddr -lpthread
 DEPS = cmd/ipfs/test_init.h repo/test_repo_bootstrap_peers.h repo/test_repo_config.h repo/test_repo_identity.h cid/test_cid.h
 OBJS = testit.o test_helper.o \
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ OBJS = testit.o test_helper.o \
 	../exchange/bitswap/*.o \
 	../flatfs/flatfs.o \
 	../importer/importer.o ../importer/exporter.o ../importer/resolver.o \
+	../journal/*.o \
 	../merkledag/merkledag.o ../merkledag/node.o \
 	../multibase/multibase.o \
 	../repo/init.o \
diff --git a/test/journal/test_journal.h b/test/journal/test_journal.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5818543
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/journal/test_journal.h
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal_entry.h"
+#include "ipfs/journal/journal_message.h"
+
+int test_journal_encode_decode() {
+	int retVal = 0;
+	struct JournalEntry* entry = ipfs_journal_entry_new();
+	struct JournalMessage* message = ipfs_journal_message_new();
+	struct JournalMessage* result_message = NULL;
+	struct JournalEntry* result_entry = NULL;
+	uint8_t *buffer;
+	size_t buffer_size;
+
+	// build entry
+	entry->hash = malloc(1);
+	entry->hash[0] = 1;
+	entry->hash_size = 1;
+	entry->pin = 1;
+	entry->timestamp = 1;
+	// build message
+	message->current_epoch = 2;
+	message->start_epoch = 3;
+	message->end_epoch = 4;
+	libp2p_utils_vector_add(message->journal_entries, entry);
+
+	// protobuf it
+	buffer_size = ipfs_journal_message_encode_size(message);
+	buffer = malloc(buffer_size);
+	if (!ipfs_journal_message_encode(message, buffer, buffer_size, &buffer_size))
+		goto exit;
+
+	// unprotobuf it
+	if (!ipfs_journal_message_decode(buffer, buffer_size, &result_message))
+		goto exit;
+
+	// compare
+	if (result_message->current_epoch != message->current_epoch)
+		goto exit;
+	if (result_message->start_epoch != message->start_epoch)
+		goto exit;
+	if (result_message->end_epoch != message->end_epoch)
+		goto exit;
+	if (result_message->journal_entries->total != message->journal_entries->total)
+		goto exit;
+	result_entry = (struct JournalEntry*) libp2p_utils_vector_get(message->journal_entries, 0);
+	if (result_entry->timestamp != entry->timestamp)
+		goto exit;
+	if (result_entry->pin != entry->pin)
+		goto exit;
+	if (result_entry->hash_size != entry->hash_size)
+		goto exit;
+	for (int i = 0; i < result_entry->hash_size; i++) {
+		if (result_entry->hash[i] != entry->hash[i])
+			goto exit;
+	}
+
+	// cleanup
+	retVal = 1;
+	exit:
+	if (buffer != NULL)
+		free(buffer);
+	ipfs_journal_message_free(message);
+	ipfs_journal_message_free(result_message);
+	// the above lines take care of these
+	//ipfs_journal_entry_free(entry);
+	//ipfs_journal_entry_free(result_entry);
+	return retVal;
+}
diff --git a/test/testit.c b/test/testit.c
index 96ce9fe..c655413 100644
--- a/test/testit.c
+++ b/test/testit.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "exchange/test_bitswap.h"
 #include "exchange/test_bitswap_request_queue.h"
 #include "flatfs/test_flatfs.h"
+#include "journal/test_journal.h"
 #include "merkledag/test_merkledag.h"
 #include "node/test_node.h"
 #include "node/test_importer.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ const char* names[] = {
 		"test_cid_protobuf_encode_decode",
 		"test_daemon_startup_shutdown",
 		"test_datastore_list_journal",
+		"test_journal_encode_decode",
 		"test_repo_config_new",
 		"test_repo_config_init",
 		"test_repo_config_write",
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ int (*funcs[])(void) = {
 		test_cid_protobuf_encode_decode,
 		test_daemon_startup_shutdown,
 		test_datastore_list_journal,
+		test_journal_encode_decode,
 		test_repo_config_new,
 		test_repo_config_init,
 		test_repo_config_write,