Ode to an old, faithful friend...

Last week I spent a lot of time cleaning out my scrapbooking stuff in my craft room. Sad time. I realized that I had not even touched the stuff in probably a year... so it was time to make a decision and just get rid of it all. It was hard. I cried.

Yes, I cried. The money invested? Maybe. The time spent? Perhaps. But it was something more than that...

It was a huge part of my life for about 10 years. And sadly, I feel like I'm turning my back on an old, faithful friend. But I've had to realize that friend was weighing me down. I would see the stuff collecting dust and I felt guilty. I just don't have the time or energy to devote to it. My creative juices are being spent elsewhere. My time is spent elsewhere. So, what choice did I have?

At one time I knew every manufacturer, paper pattern and could name the correct color of any cardstock. I searched high and low for that unique paper and embellishment. We even planned trips around scrapbooking events or stores that I could visit. I enjoyed stamping, altered art projects and just about any paper craft. Scrapbooking introduced me to a lot of new friends. The crops were the best!! But I also liked to work on a project at home after the kids went to bed. It even opened the door for me to visit California and perhaps the greatest place ever, The Craft and Hobbyist Association's annual convention. Ahh... heaven on earth.

I began scrapbooking shortly after Morgan was born. Back then patterned paper and decorative-edged scissors were your only supplies. As I was scrapbooking each picture, I could relive each memory. I used to scrapbook every picture I ever took, then scaled it back to just my favorites and finally just scrapping ones that really "spoke" to me. I didn't even scrapbook birthdays or holidays in the end, just pictures that showed everyday life or how the kids were growing up. I loved to quote a favorite poem or scripture. And the supplies and embellishments made such a progression. Some of my favorite things to use was pages from old books, vintage lace and buttons.

The kids growing up was the biggest problem. (Yeah, maybe they're the real problem...) The older they became, the more I had to fight them to even take their picture. And if I got the picture, it was some cheesy, fake smile or a grimace. That scaled back my picture options. Besides, I just don't get as many photo opportunities with the kids now. They're not losing teeth anymore, no more first haircuts, and the pumpkin patch just doesn't quite excite them like it did at one time.

I think that the end of my scrapbooking represents so much more. Its the end of an era. My kids are growing up!! We are entering a new phase of our life. I think that is what bothered me the most. Not just getting rid of some paper and embellishments (okay a lot of paper and embellishments), but knowing that some of those special moments will never happen again.

So now we enjoy getting the scrapbooks out and looking through them. They are not the same as a just an ol' photo album. I'm glad I took the time to record thoughts, quotes and the special moments that we maybe would have forgot. I enjoy looking at them myself. For that I am thankful.

And, to be honest, I didn't get rid of ALL of it... I kept a little bit. (probably about as much as the average scrapper has!) Who knows when the mood to create might strike again!! I will always do some kind of craft. Plus, I have a little crafter in the house... Miss Rachel loves to be crafty just like me!

So enjoy some of my favorites...