Six Days and Counting....

....until my long awaited vacation.

I'm off to Florida next week with my best friend and scrapping buddy Mary Lou, along with our daughters Chrissie and Melissa. We've been looking forward to this mother/daughter trip since February when we started planning.

Mary Lou and I did this same trip about 4 years ago with our then 8-year old children (Kelli and Michael). This time, our traveling companions are 22 and of drinking age - much more fun!!

We'll be spending 4 days in Orlando at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort (one of my favorites), and then it will be on to the beach for 3 days and a birthday surprise visit for my little brother's 40th birthday.

I don't see this vacation offering up much rest and relaxation - but I do see plenty of laughter and sunshine and photo ops. Just what us scrapbookers love to see!!

The suitcases are out, tanning packages are almost used up and pedicure appointmens are booked for the night before. Look out Florida - the Indiana girls are on their way!

Braces and Contacts...

Kelli's had a rough go of it for the past year - turned 13 and having to wear glasses and braces. It was almost more than a teenage girl could handle (according to her). Well, the braces aren't going ANYWHERE for another 18 months, but the glasses are now HISTORY! She's popping those contacts in like she's been wearing them for years!

As her older sisters tell her, right now she feels like the ugly duckling - but it won't be long and the glasses and braces will be gone, and she'll turn into the beautiful swan.

...oh to be 13 again!

Scrapbooks

Aside from my husband and children, scrapbooking has become the passion of my life. I discovered this trend almost seven years ago, shortly after our oldest daughter's wedding. I completed a very simple scrapbook - full of patterned papers and lots of stickers and the rest (as they say) is history. Today, there's hardly a sticker to be found in my books and those first albums are pretty tough to look at. Techniques and styles change frequently in the scrapbooking world.

Almost two years ago, I began working part time in a wonderful scrapbook store in Mishawaka, Indiana - Pages in Time. This store is just downright AWESOME!!!!




A year ago, I was invited to join the Design Team, and aside from myself - this is one TALENTED bunch! We all have different methods that we specialize in - and the walls of the store are adorned with our work. Some of us are talented enough to have been published in magazines - and the rest of us only hope to be.

I recently completed my first album for hire. I still remember when the customer approached me, handed me her box of photos and letters and newspaper articles and informed me, "this is my entire life". Not too much pressure on my part! Five months later, I proudly handed her the completed album. I felt as though I had lived with her - from the Korean orphanage through her adoption and into her adult life. It was definately an eye opening experience.

I'm so glad I discovered scrapbooking - mainly for my children and my grandchildren - documenting their lives and adventures, along with my thoughts between the covers of a book.