scrap.ti.cian:

in.tro.spec.tion

: a reflective looking inward : an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings

Lately, a number of things have prompted me to look deep inside myself, which is not always the most friendly of places. This is not an exercise of which I am particularly fond, nor one for which I have an abundance of time. What with being a wife, mom, businesswoman, chef, physician's assistant, chauffer, psychologist, teacher's aide, maid and official scheduler, the practicalities of every day life seldom lend themselves to such self-indulgence.

That being said, I am prone to observation. Coupled with a deep belief that there is a divine purpose for my life and that there is no such thing as coincidence, I didn't need a fourth or fifth smack on the back of my head to realize that a little self-indulgent introspection was most likely long overdue. The first three worked quite nicely.

1st Whack

I signed up for Stacy Julian's Photo Freedom class, expecting to download some organizational tips, buy some matching photo albums + scrapbooks, and be on my way. Three months (and 10 of 12 lessons) later, I have completely changed why I scrapbook. A lot of prompting on Stacy's part, and a lot of trust on mine, has resulted in a totally new style: I've evolved from an events/chronological scrapbooker to a story teller. Stacy's class has promoted me to think about the kinds of of stories I want to leave behind.

2nd Whack

Ali ran a great series on her blog about words + photos + stories. If you missed it, it is well worth your time to head over to her blog right now and check it out. Reading the series prompted me to think about the photos I take in relation to the story I want to tell, and to remember that I'm part of the story.

3rd Whack

A Million Memories offered an online class, "The Book of Me". As I filled out the enrollment form I remember thinking, "I'm an idiot. I already have too much on my plate. There's no way I'm going to get to this." Immediately followed by, "Maybe, but Karen Grunberg is teaching it and I admire her work so much. What if I make it a simple book? And focus on the story I want to tell? My story." Karen's class prompted me to make myself a priority in our family's story.

It took me three weeks (and the two previous whacks), but I finished it a couple of days ago.

This morning I realized that it's the third scrapbook I have about me. This not only surprised me; it also made me very happy. Each year for the past three, I've completed a scrapbook with details about my life: my dreams, my fears, my strengths, my shortcomings, my activities, my past and my future.

These scrapbooks are my introspection. A story that deserves to be told. A story that my family will appreciate, laugh at, wonder about, cherish. The good, bad and not so ugly story of a wife, mom, businesswoman, chef...

ac.tiv.i.ty

vigorous or energetic action

Lots of activity around here lately. Busy with some major stuff and not-so-major stuff, and trying to keep it all balanced.

The biggest of the major stuff is looking at majors and colleges for Christopher and celebrating his birthday! He was seventeen on Friday, and we spent the day at the Professional Golf Management (PGM) open house at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.

We really liked the campus, faculty and the program at Campbell. He would graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration and be a certified PGA pro at the end of 4.5 years. One more year and he would have his MBA.

In contrast, many of the PGM schools offer the program via a Parks & Recreation degree. So we feel the program at Campbell would be more beneficial over the course of a lifetime. Praying and pondering, but right now Chris feels pretty confident that Campbell is the school for him. (He's also visited Coastal Carolina and researched half a dozen more.)

From Campbell we headed to Myrtle Beach so that Chris could work with his coach. We took him out for a nice dinner and to the golf store to buy birthday goodies: a pair of shorts and a shirt; two pairs of shoes. (He spends about 5 hours per day in his golf shoes during the week, twice that on weekends.)

Lots of physical activity going on, too. Gerald bought me the coolest bike for Easter, and we went for a nice, long ride Saturday morning. Gerald ran afterwards. I crawled to the front door and into the livingroom, where he found me thirty minutes later. He ran again this morning, and I walked. Right now, all three boys are on the driving rage hitting golf balls. Love that we are embracing physical fitness together.

Hoping to work on some of the inspired. projects this week. As soon as I do, I'll post. In the meantime, here's a little thing I did called "Time Flies". Basically it's about feeling like time went by too quickly, and struggling with wanting my kids to spread their wings and fly, and wanting to cage them up and hold them back with me, all at the same time. It features b&w photos of my sons throughout their lives. Hope you like it. Have a great week!

in.spired

outstanding or brilliant in a way or to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration

What an event! I've had a great time and learned SO MUCH that I can't wait to incorporate into my every day art.

Six workshops. Evening mini-workshops. Artists who are passionate about their art and excited to share it with you. You need to put this one on your calendard for next year.

More to come when I get home and recover!

leg.a.cy

something received from an ancestor

Isn't this paper amazing? It's part of the April kit from A Million Memories. You can check it out here. This is the second kit I've bought here and I love them. You can find pretty much any scrapbooking supplies you want. The fun part is the online community at AMM, which is sponsored by the owner, Michelle. Definitely check it out.

This is my great-grandmother, Mary Dean Moon. And, that's her real wedding ring. I was fortunate enough to inherit it from her daughter,  my Great-Aunt Hazel. It's part of the legacy that my dad's family has left me.

Yesterday we met with Christopher's guidance counselor about college, classes, NCAA requirements...a two and a half hour meeting. I left thinking, "Where did the time go? He's leaving home soon. Did we equip him with the knowledge and skills he needs to go out into the world? What legacy is he leaving with?"

I hope it's a legacy of love and acceptance. Confidence in the path he's chosen and the endurance to achieve it. Courage to make a difference. Desire to be remarkable. Knowledge that time on his knees will lead to times of standing strong. Enormous faith in God and a meek heart. Comfort in knowing he can always come home and determination that he will never need to.

fool

a person lacking in judgment or prudence

Happy April Fool's Day.

I've been waiting for my brother to punk me. It's a tradition. Then I punk him back, only worse. Then we argue over who was more victimized, him or me. Gotta love April 1st.

This little shadow box sits on the credenza, behind my desk, at work. I wanted a visual representation of a word I find myself repeating constantly to people, especially at work.

On a visit to San Fancisco in February, I drug Gerald, Bobby and Jackie with me to Timeless Treasures. I'd read about this place on Ali Edward's blog. If you are in SF, you have to go. It sits on the most amazing street, and Joan, the owner, is the most gracious host. It is full of wonderfully vintage and ecclectic things.

I went with every intention of buying big,huge letters to spell out 'think'. But these spoke to me instead (and fit in my suitcase). I added a few things: Heidi Swapp clock; making memories ribbon; rick rack; and Basic Grey paper; and some glue dots.

As usual in this wonderfully crazy world, the joke is on me. I intended this for those around me - a prompt for them to create solutions, act with intention, maintain purpose. Instead, I've found that I needed the prompt just as much ~ probably more. 

prog.ress

gradual betterment

This is how I'm keeping up with the impact my one little word has on my life.  It's how I'm inserting accountability and measuring my progress (or in some cases, lack thereof). I really love that definition ~ gradual betterment. It also means a forward or onward movement. Not going back; not standing still; having a direction and moving. Love that.

My album is divided into four quarters, one for each quarter in 2008. I want to document through words, goals, pictures and stuff how this word ~embrace~ changes me this year.

I've targeted five areas in my life that I want to embrace. I chose these either because they are very important to me (family and home); because I've neglected them (health; creativity); or because I struggle with them (all, at times).

Our family is going through some big changes, and this means a role change for me. I'm not the mom of two boys anymore. I'm the mom of an almost-man and an almost-teenager.

Our home  is showing the wear and tear of two active boys, countless friends, numerous pets, and lots of comfortable use. I wouldn't have it any other way, but some renovations are needed.

Health is always important, but not always a priority. Gerald is competing in a team half-triathalon in April, so we're all eating, resting, and exercising more regularly (but still not where I'd like to be with it).

Work is usually rewarding, sometimes excruciating, always challenging. Some days I grow weary, so I'm all about putting the systems and people in place to minimize that.

This blog is evidence that I've embraced my creativity. It's a way to express the creative life I want to live...even if I'm the only one that will ever read it.

rev.er.ence

honor or respect felt or shown

Snapped this photo flying back home from Myrtle Beach a couple of weeks ago . Good Friday inspiration from the Divine Creative Mind.

Happy Easter.

en.light.en

to furnish knowledge to

I'm taking a really cool online class. It's the Library of Memories class at Big Picture Scrapbooking, taught by the incredibly talented Stacy Julian. I thought it was going to simply be an organization-type class. However, in her typically-insightful way, Stacy's instruction has gone beyond the what, to the why...an enlightening experience.

It's only lesson two, and I've discovered some very imporant things about how I've scrapbooked in the past. Largely missing from my scrapbooks are layouts featuring people outside my immediate family (Gerald, Chris & Dan) - and why I love them.

Here's my tribute to my sister-friend, Sandra, and three of the many ways she has made my life better. The why.

Have you thought about what might be missing from your layouts? Are they largely event-based (birthday, Christmas, vacation)? Are you capturing everyday life? Are you telling the why?

in.spi.ra.tion

the action or power of moving the intellect or emotion

I've been running low on inspiration lately. A few minutes browsing Etsy usually gives me a much needed dose of just what I need to get the creative juices flowing again. Definitely into the black and white thing lately. A few of these have made their way into my stash, including the cool circle numbers, bird pendant, and the journaling cards.

I'm thinking  a black and white album of my one little word, EMBRACE, and how it is (or isn't) impacting my life would be pretty cool. I want to divide it into quarters, one for each in 2008, and document these five areas I've targeted to embrace: home; health; family; creativity; and executivity.

I want to encourage you to set aside five minutes today to find inspiration in your world. Leaf through a magazine. Browse your favorite catalog. Visit a website you haven't been to in a while. Don't overthink it or make it more complicated than it needs to be. If it catches your eye, it has inspired you. Use that inspiration in a creative way this week. Give yourself permission to play a little. And definitely enjoy the process.