RECENTLYI woke up this morning, with a deep urge to scrapbook. I have so many pictures that need to go somewhere, other than in my scrapbook cabinet (I have an old island/cart that is on wheels that I use for my scrapbooking. I keep most of my supplies in there and the top folds out, so I have a huge space to work on. Function meets style). I started looking through all of our family photos and zoo trips and reunions and holidays. It made me feel a bit sad that I'm not "at home", but so blessed that my family is safe and near me.
A few years ago, my cousin in NC, who is a homeschooling mom of 5, had her oldest daughter send out Christmas newsletters as part of her English + History project. It was great. She was 16 at the time (16? where does time go?) and ever since, she's sent letters and pictures to our family. I can't wait to get my kids involved in scrapbooking and making it part of their "schoolwork". 1B5 loves to look at pictures. If he sees me get my albums out (I currently have 8...thanks to my husband for letting me get a new book yesterday, just for our zoo trips), he will immediately crawl up on the couch and look with me. 2G2 has learned many family members this way. It's so neat to hear her point out people and call them by name, whether she rememebers them or not. I have a scrapbook that I made for my son that has the songs that we sing at night and the stories that we tell. It has a song called KISSES. Kisses are described by colors. Very vivid imagery. For example:
Did you know that kisses have all kinds of colors? Some pink. Some white. Some summertime green. Some just as orange as you've ever seen. And sometimes they're bright, as bright as the sun. And sometimes they're bluish when evening is done.
Each kiss given is by a different family member who represents a different color.
Oh my nana's are silver like old wedding ring and Papas are speckled like butterfly wings. Daddy's kisses are mostly tan, maybe that's because he's a man. Auntie Rebecca's are watery pale and ole Uncle Toms are white.
I was able to include a picture of each family member mentioned, with the mat done in the color mentioned and the words beside it. I love this, b/c the kids don't see their Aunt Rebecca but once a year, even though she is my husbands sister and lives 2 hours away. And their great-uncle Tommy they see at Christmas. But when they do see them, the recognize them and love them. It's so sweet. This is my favorite scrapbook page, b/c it not only is creative and very pretty, but it allows my children to see their family and get to know them better. I just love to scrapbook. It shares a part of me that I could never convey in words.
BTW, the last sentence of the song goes like this:
...but Mommy's are like a rainbow, she she kisses me ... goodnight
Dear Lord, I am so grateful for my family. And I am so grateful that you have blessed me with the talent of scrapbooking. Your word tells us to pass on our heritage and our stories to one another, and thru my scrapbooks, I am able to tell stories of our past and present; to share my family and my faith with others, including my children. Thank you for the opportunity to share a legacy with them, that only can be shown in pictures.