Good Grief: Scrap without Photos

The current challenge was posted last week at Good Grief. This was challenge #13 ... hard to believe we've been at this for 6 months already! This challenge was to scrap without photos. I managed to finish both layouts at a retreat a couple weeks ago with some girlfriends ... it's so nice to get some quality crafty time in.

Auntie Bugs

I've been wanting to tell this story for awhile ... this was the perfect opportunity!

Journaling: The story: When I was a toddler, Kath babysat me … I was crying. To try and make me stop, she shrieked about a spider. The giggles started and we went searching for buggies. And she’s been my Auntie Bugs ever since.

Raisin Love

This was just another story I wanted to document and remember.

Journaling: Every week, Grandma would pick me up from Jo Anne’s house on Fridays. Waiting for me in the car was a snack … always raisin, sittin on the dash. I see raisins now and smile, thinking of her.

You can see more here.

Circle Journals

Last Fall, I signed up to participate in a circle journal over at SIS. For you non-scrappers, a CJ is where you create a mini-album with a topic, send it throughout a group of people to complete a layout and pass it on. By the time it comes back to you (full circle), the book is complete!

The theme of my book was Favorite Cause- I wanted to know which charities are most important to everyone. So far I've received 3 different circle journals for this group.

And here are the layouts I've completed so far:

A Christmas Tradition
The theme of this one was Favorite Recipe. Journaling: This casserole is a Christmas morning tradition. So good to enjoy once a year. After presents, enjoy with some orange juice, before a holiday nap. Delicious!

So Many Quirks So Little Time
This book's theme is to document our quirks. As you can see, I have too many to pick one! :) Journaling: I admit it ... I'm pretty quirky! Whether it's out of habit or reason, I definitely have my fair share of quirks. Trouble is identifying something that's not an idiosyncrasy! Here are just a couple of my quirks: I always clean my home in the same order, I make my bed every morning, I go to Starbucks almost every day, I look at my bank accounts daily. (and the list goes on!)

Grey
And this CJ was about our favorite color. Journaling should be clear, but just in case: My favorite color right now is grey. I like wearing it, scrapping it, decorating with it ... it's my go to color right now. Love it!

It's kind of a fun project - taking on various challenges & subjects, and in the end you have a full album from a variety of scrappers!

In2Books

Earlier this week, I signed up to be an In2Books pen pal!

I'm looking forward to it: I'll be paired up with student (grade 3-5), we'll read the same book, and then write letters about the book. Reading and letters? I'm in! I'll let you know how it goes after we start reading.

Good Grief: Word Association

A new challenge was posted today at Good Grief! This challenge was to use word association - it's fun to see the different takes on the challenge.

My layouts and explanations:

This picture isn’t the best of Katherine, but it was a wonderful moment I wanted to capture. Exactly one year ago, I was on a cruise with Katherine (and some of my family). We were all aware that this would be her last vacation, but tried to enjoy each moment. This picture was on the bus from the airport to the cruise terminal – Katherine was singing, laughing and clapping while talking to a smile child sitting nearby. This was exactly how she was all the time – always connecting with everyone around us. :)

Joy

Journaling: Daughter, sister, aunt, partner ... but she was so much more. Funny, loving, giving, focused, generous, forgiving, story-telling, present. But the word that best describes her: joy.

This next layout didn't start the way I had planned, but when I saw this patterned paper, I thought it would be perfect for word association. I made a list of words I thought described my Grandma, and started adding the words to the different shapes. Once it was finished, I realized one important word missing: “missed” so added it to a pop-dotted label to the picture.

She Is...

Journaling: She is... faithful, organized, gentle, sensitive, patient, unselfish, poised, devoted, efficient, endearing, grandmother, hospitable, honest, loyal, helpful, fair, loved, caring, independent, nice, tender, beautiful, sweet, practical, trusting, loving, smart, genuine, mom, dedicated, missed.

Thanks for looking!

Catching Up

After the craziness of the holidays (and a broken pipe - what a mess!) I'm finally able to catch up on my to do list! I have a couple of Good Grief challenges that I'm just getting around to posting:

Resolve to Make a Tradition
Jubilee

Journaling: For Katherine’s birthday, I needed to find a way to honor her … to turn our grief to celebration. I planned a group dinner at Jubilee Women’s Center – nearly a dozen friends & family showed. After a quick speech, we ate our spaghetti dinner and talked to the residents. This cause was perfect … and I know she was there with us.

I resolve

Journaling: To take more pictures just because, to document the little moments, to capture candid shots, and to not worry what others think. I wish I had more pictures of Grandma, but I cherish these ones.

You can also see the layouts here.

Capture a Favorite Place
Right Here

Journaling: My favorite place was anywhere, as long as we were all together. I love our family gatherings, and I know you did too. We'd laugh, cry, play games and tell stories. Some of my best memories were during these occasions. And its not the same without you.


Journaling: You loved being on Maui, with all of us there. We went twice as an entire family. So much fun from synchronized swimming to the daily 5:00 conch shell, it was nice for us to all be together. This picture at Bubba Gumps in Lahaina cracks me up I still smile looking at you in Forrest Gumps shoes. :) I miss those happy times.

I have one and a half of my two layouts done for the next challenge (will be posted on the 1st). It's really nice to be caught up ... I need to do these layouts, not only for my commitment to Good Grief, but it's quite healing and therapeutic for me.

Well worth 2 minutes and 33 seconds

I saw this video last year, and just watched it again - such a timely reminder:


No matter what your beliefs, I'm sure you can agree the message is quite powerful.

I was reminded again today at how short our lives truly are. This morning, I learned that a guy I knew from Toastmasters, Justin Key, passed away Monday from complications related to H1N1. He was 26 years old: funny, healthy, charming. Although I wouldn't necessarily classify him as a friend, I realized today how much he touched my life. Hearing of his adventures traveling, salsa dancing, and living life - he was the type of charismatic person who impacted all around him. My friend Jon mentioned Justin was the one that you just knew was going places - one day we'd call him President Key, Ambassador Key or Senator Key. Sadly that day won't come: his life here was too short - but he certainly lived his life to the fullest.

Rest in Peace, Justin.
(picture taken from Justin's Memorial Facebook page)

Good Grief: Preserve Handwriting

Yes, it's time for a new challenge at Good Grief! This challenge was an easier one for me: to document and preserve handwriting.

Without further ado:
{1 of a Kind}
Journaling: Kath’s handwriting is truly one of a kind. Beyond her fun scrawl, the words she wrote were filled from her heart. Envelopes were filled with doodles – a bright ray of sunshine in a stack of bills. Her last card is my favorite, though. Hardly legible, it took several tries … but it says it all: “I love you Jenny”.

Lovingly
Journaling: These are it – the last bits of her handwriting on cards I received before she passed away. I love seeing her even script – it brings back so many memories. The best touch? Her closing: always ‘Lovingly’. (Hidden on tag): When she was admitted to Overlake back in 2000, one of the first things I did was look for cards from her. I sat on my closet floor, crying, just wanting to see her handwriting, hoping the cards wouldn’t end.

Over the next couple days, you will see a closer look at the layouts, as well as learn the story behind each one. Please let me know if you join us in this challenge!