dream big.

3 Moments and Write it Wednesday.

I have three moments that I am currently working on this week. Why three you ask? Because I am crazy. Also, because it makes sense if I plan to stick to my goal and have my 100 moments finished this year, and because the three pages I am going to focus on involve my mom and grandmother and together these stories make sense to work on at one time.

 

 

Unlike moment 2 these moments are what I would call BIG moments emotionally. I will let you know how tackling these moments together works out.

So, this week take a BRAVE step and  write an emotionally BIG story about your life. See where it takes you. Remember, no one knows your story better than you and only you experience each story from your personal perspective.

 

My belief is incorporating my word for 2011: EXPERIENCE.

Throughout the fall of 2010 I had this HUGE sense that I wanted to have less stuff and wanted to be actively engaging in the world around me. I simply cannot explain why this powerful thought kept surging through my being. As I would continue going through the motions of each day out of nowhere would pop this thought that I should be more engaged. I wasn’t really sure what this meant other than it had to be a sign and I should pay attention to where it might lead me. Yes, I am one of those people who truly believes in signs!

 

In October with Christmas just around the corner Eric and I began talking about what we should get the kids for Christmas. Feeling completely overwhelmed with all of the STUFF that the girls already have I said let’s get everyone a season pass to ski this winter. Once the phrase came out of my mouth it was as if someone had turned on the faucet, because the idea continued to pour out of me. As I finished sharing my idea, one comment struck a chord within me: I want to give experiences this season and less stuff that will eventually be given away or thrown in the trash.

 

 

I quickly realized that experiencing moments with family and friends is the gift I want to give myself this year. I have the BELIEF that an experience will stay with me for a life time, stuff on the other hand…not as important. I think I have always had this belief, but the idea of giving something that can’t be physically seen seemed a bit awkward. Change can feel awkward at first, so I am ready to start this year off living my inner secret belief that giving experiences and sharing experiences with others will spread love and joy all over my world. I can hardly wait to see what I experience this year that rocks my world!

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I have inserted a few of the images I want to include on my final illustrated page. I am excited to put this page together. Today I will be printing my images and story so that I am all ready to illustrate on Friday!

If you have your story written and would like to share a link please do so in the comments.

Write It Wednesday ~ January 5th

 

It is the beginning of a beautiful new year and I think there is no better way to kick of this years first Write It Wednesday with the theme of beliefs. Each new year allows us to believe that anything is possible, the slate has been wiped clean and everyone can start fresh. More importantly the belief in something is powerful and often we keep our TRUE beliefs a secret. This week share a story about a belief theat resonates deeply within you and yet you may have rarely if ever spoken of this belief. As you write your story share how this belief affects your daily life and relationships with others.

Happy writing. I will share my story with you tomorrow, plus some pictures I plan to use to illustrate my belief.

Oh, I am planning on sharing my stories from December over the next couple of months. Plus, I have another Life Changing Moment page in the works to share as well.

Write It Wednesday!

After a wonderful Christmas holiday at my house this past week, I have been thinking about the story I want to write this week. Christmas brings forth wonderful memories of the past that include values and traditions that I want to share with my kids. That is why this weeks story prompt is all about holiday values and traditions that are important to you and how you choose to pass them on.

This will be different for each person, but my memory is one of being outdoors, and it is an activity that we started when I lived in Alaska. It is a holiday memory, because it started one Christmas and even after moving away from Alaska and living in Arizona, my parents tried to continue this new family tradition. I am excited to write this story, because this is the year that I am passing this tradition on to my children and I am thrilled that they are loving it as much as I did.

Remember when writing your story to share why this holiday value or tradition left such an impression on your life. Adding moments like these to your story bring a sense of reality and you into your scrapbooking.

Enjoy writing your story.

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Experiences

One of the holiday experiences I have decided to do with my girls was to take them to Winter Fest at the Seattle Center and to a holiday show at Seattle Children's Theatre.

The Center House is a beautiful display of a miniature snowy village with trains running throught it. The lights, and magic there had my kids captured in the beauty and magic of Christmas.

 
 Experiences create treasured memories. This is what I want to fill my Christmas season with this year!

This one line is the beginning of my story for holiday experiences. The rest of my story is being told by quotes from my children as we enjoy each holiday experience. I am coupling these quotes with my own brief perspective of how these experiences have made an affect on our holiday season.

I'll share some more photos later this week.

 

Scanner Woes...Illustrate it!

So, I am still having scanner issues...this is just not fun. Good news is I can return my scanner, get a new one. Just not in time to post my Illustrate it Friday photos and layout.

Good news is that I have a story and I know what pictures I am using, plus I have my story printed and most photos printed. It feels good to be prepared and by the end of the weekend I hope to have my new scanner up and functioning. Sigh.

So, I thought I would post a couple of pictures I have taken this holiday season.

 

 
 
 
 

Completely loving this holiday season. Today I am taking my girls to a darling little place called the Java Clay Cafe. We are headed there to create some Christmas gifts for family members. Should be LOTS of fun.

And even though I do not have my scanner working to finish my Illustrate it Friday page. I hope you get some time today or this weekend to finish yours!

Print it Thursday!

I am having scanner issues. Grrr. I am going to re-load my scanner to my computer and hope that solves the errors. It is a brand new scanner. I shouldn't be having issues, yet here I am.

Anyway, the reason I bring up my scanner woes is that I really wanted to upload some pics of my grandmother for you to see, as she is the BEST person I have ever met, and I want to share her with you.But you will have to wait until tomorrow ( I say with my fingers crossed) once my scanner is up and running.

Today, I will be taking a few final shots of my angel ornaments and scanning some shots of me and my grandmother to illustrate my story. That is what today is for. Simply read through your story and either take photos or gather photos that will help you illustrate your story. Oh, and print out your story!

 

Speaking of stories here is my story that I wrote yesterday.

My grandmother and I did everything together. Every weekend we would get together to craft, create, and share life with each other.

In November of 1998 my grandma Irma and I were making these darling Raggedy Ann and Andy angels to add to my Christmas tree decorations. It was my grandmother and her eye for spotting anything cute that found the pattern at Ben Franklin. I had been spending lots of extra time with my grandmother because she was not feeling well, but she seemed to light up and enjoy our time creating together. I had hoped that this project would lift her spirits.

That year time together would not be enough, as she passed away before Thanksgiving and before we had a chance to finish these darling ornaments. This moment was the most difficult and heart wrenching moments of my life. It was as if my grandmother knew I would need these little ornaments to help me get through it all. I finished making these ornaments by myself that year. It was hard, sad and therapeutic all at the same time.

I cherish these ornaments as I alone know their real story and purpose, and I make certain I get to put a few of these angels on the tree myself before the hands of little girls grab them and place them haphazardly on the tree.

As I hang these angels on the tree and look at them over the Christmas season I am reminded of the importance of family, especially my grandmother, as these ornaments are the last thing we created together…angels.

Care to share your story? Leave a link in the comment section, I'd love to read your story.

Illustrate Your Life with gratitude!

So, I have my photos printed and ready. My story is ready to go. Now let the fun begin. That's not to say the first two steps weren't fun...but you understand what I mean, right?

Today I am going to illustrate my story as yesterday I spent time outside with my kids and today they are having a pajama day at the Mohler Academy... a bit of light reading and finishing up any work they may have skipped throughout the week and then an afternoon of fun. They will be watching Elf! I will be listening and illustrating my life! I will post my final project later today.

 

WRITE IT WEDNESDAY!

Gratitude is such a big word. It can mean so much. Writing about it can make you feel as if you are writing an acceptance speech for winning your first Oscar.

“So, many people made this possible…” Blah, blah, blah.

What are you grateful for right now? On this day if you had to create a list of items or things you are grateful for what would they be? The list doesn’t need to be long just truthful.

Stories can be told with a simple list. So, today, write a simple list of what you are grateful for now. The items do not need to be deep, they just need to be honest.

Once you have your list write a brief description as to why or how you are grateful for each item. Show how the item is important to you today.

Here is my list.

Gratitude – November 30^th, 2010

My memory foam pillow – completely grateful you were on sale and I splurged on something for me as you have brought me another night of good sleep.

Cuisinart – thankful my husband realizes how much I use this kitchen tool and wanted me to replace my recently broken one!

Iced tea – love that you are so easy to make when I am thirsty and water doesn’t sound appetizing.

Whipped cream – grateful that this simple addition to breakfast foods and hot chocolate lights up my children’s tired eyes.

Animal crackers – happy to have a snack in my home that my five year old is ALWAYS ready to eat.

Cheese – oh, how I love you, Natalie and I couldn’t survive a day without a slice of cheddar.

Early morning quiet – peace and quiet in the early hours of the morning are what I treasure most and make me a better mother at the end of a long day.

Left overs – they were never that appetizing as a child, but I live for left overs now as I see them as less work and fabulous taste.

Giggles – I am so grateful for little girls who giggle and get along…most of the time.

Friends – I have the BEST friends, and as we experience each new day together, I am even more grateful to have them in my life.

Family – having a family is the best thing I have ever done…growing together is what I am grateful for today.

My computer – ordering Christmas gifts online, I can’t say just how grateful I am for my computer as it has kept me from standing in LONG lines at the store.

My land line – cell phones are fine, but I LOVE the sound I have on my land line.

Cash – completely grateful for payday and the fact that I paying for things in cash and not credit.

Catalogues – grateful for the catalogues that pour into my mailbox and give my kids a wish list beyond Target and Toys –R-Us

So that wasn’t difficult. I had my story finished in 22 minutes. Not that it’s a race, but just that I like to be productive. If it works better for you to see it as a race that’s cool too. Post your time in the comments, but don’t cheat yourself out of a good list and explanation in the process! Leave a link so I can read your list story too!

Illustrate it Friday!

 
Today it is time to put all of my writing and planning into action! This is the day where I throw my story together with my photos and embellishments and illustrate the heart of my story.

 

 
 

 

 

It is amazing how quickly a page can come together when the pre-planning work of writing, decision making and printing are completed. I am completely loving the process and more than that I am LOVING my finished page. This scrapbook page tells more about me and my family right now than any other page I have ever created. This is a page that illustrates one thoughtful story of my life. Next week there will be a new theme on Wednesday. I am filled with joy knowing all of the stories that I have simply waiting to be discovered and shared. This to me is what scrapbooking is about. This is scrapping from the heart!

I'd love to see what you create! Share a link in the comments.