Why scrap booking is important to me.

[JESW]

Just wanted to share some thoughts on what I have been thinking about lately. It got long.

I have a son 16 and a daughter 12 and I have kept track of both their lives with lots of pictures and scrap books altho I am a few years behind. I do have the pictures organized just not in books. I was much better keeping notes on what they did when they were younger but back then they seemed to change every day.

I recently went through a very tough time in my life when my beloved Dad passed away at age 90 (1/27) due to congestive heart failure. He was sick for so long but it was really the last two years and then the last couple of months when he was so bad. I can see in pictures when he really started to fail.

Growing up I never knew my Dad's parents as they had passed away before I was born. My Mom's Dad passed when I was 4 or so and I have no pictures of me with him. My Mom's Mom passed when I was 6 or 7 and the only photo I have of her & I was at one of her bd parties and we just happened to be standing together when Dad took the picture. There are no notes about my relationship with them or what we ever did together.

My kids have been very fortunate that they were able to spend a lot of time with their Grandparents. (dh's parents live a bit further away but the kids still see them when we can) Since they were born they have had their pictures taken with Grammy & Grampy and I wrote about our "adventures" with them. I have so many wonderful pictures of Dad back when he was healthy and I love seeing his bright blue eyes and his beautiful smile - something we hadn't seen much of in a while. I am hoping that the memories I have of him being so sickly will fade as I am able to remember so many better times with him through my kids books. I am able to think about him and smile instead of crying and that is so important to me.

So whenever you wonder if scrap booking is important, please think of this and know that what we are doing IS important and it can be very comforting during times when life is tough.

It also helped when ds put together the tribute slide show (Dad requested one) and I was able to pull out so many pictures of Dad with various family members over the years.

I am hoping to get back on track and start making pages again as I have been so pre-occupied with his illness for so long and sb and everything else took a back seat.

Thanks for listening.

Jill

 

[jacksmomma]

You are so right!

 

[wdwmickey]

Jill

 

[pjlla]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. Thanks for putting all of this "work" into perspective...........P

 

[mommy2mrb]

Sorry to hear about your dad Jill

I struggled last year with scrapping the pages that had my DH Jim in them, when I finally got them complete the peace I felt was wonderful, they were permanent and protected in the album....and not really realizing it, I finished them on the last night of our first year without him.

I am so happy to have the memories of our photos of him for Megan to have!
we also did a dvd for the memorial which was a wonderful way to share our life with Jim with all who attended!

 

[C.Ann]

First of all, my condolences on the passing of your father.. It's so hard losing ones dad.. I lost mine back in the 80's and I still miss him every single day..

Secondly, I agree that scrapbooking is very important - at least it is to me.. It's the story of all of our lives - good times and bad; the funny things said, the words that sometimes brought us to tears.. It's "first steps" and "last steps".. All of the roads we have traveled throughout our lives..

Like you, I have everything organized - by years; special events; trips; etc.. Right now I am working on a trip we (my adult DD, her DH, my DGD, and I) took to Disney the first week of December in 2006.. This was so much more than "just" another trip to Disney.. It was me filling one of my late DH's wishes - one that he made during the final days of his life.. He had always wanted to take a trip to Disney with our DGD, but due to health problems that persisted for 10 years, he was never able to.. He knew that I would be selling our home within a year or so (by that time we were already living with my DD & her family) and he wanted me to take the family on an "all-out", expenses paid trip - complete with staying on site; going in December when all of the Christmas decorations were up; all of us attending MVMCP; several character meals; etc.. We chose to arrive in Florida on December 2nd - the day before my late DH's birthday - and upon arriving at the entrance to Pop Century, immediately felt that he was "there" with us.. You see, there are two signs at the entrance.. One reads "Pop Century" - and right next to that is another sign that reads "Remember When" - the exact two words I had engraved on his headstone in January of 2005.. Seeing those two words set the entire tone for our trip and I have to say, it was as special as a trip could ever be..

Although I miss him terribly, looking at the photos; writing the comments we had all made amongst each other; the silly things we did; my Dson-in-law constantly getting lost and driving us around the various parking lots every time we headed out; the unusual things that happened that made us all stop and look at each other (thinking that his spirit was truly there with us) etc. - has brought me so much joy - something I could never get from simply flipping through a photo album..

So - I understand completely what you're saying.. We may not get these books done "in order" - chronologically - and there are those that will continually be added on to - but many, many years from now the days of our lives will still be here - for others to enjoy and learn from.. I honestly can't think of a more important - or worthwhile - way of passing my time than creating memories that will still be here long after I'm gone..

It's nice to see that others here feel the same way..

 

[morgansmom2000]

Jill.

 

[joyah]

Jill

I'm going throught this at this moment my nana is dying wether she makes it through today , tomorrow or the next it will be the memories/stories/pictures that will live forever. they are why I scrap! they will be why I continue to scrap.

 

[pjlla]

Jill

I'm going throught this at this moment my nana is dying wether she makes it through today , tomorrow or the next it will be the memories/stories/pictures that will live forever. they are why I scrap! they will be why I continue to scrap.

Christy.... so sorry to hear this. I will definitely include your nana and your family in my prayers this weekend. .....................P