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Monday, May 14, 2012

~ this moment in time ~


For about a week or more I have had this layout sitting on my desk just waiting to be put together.  Before Mikaela's accident and death, I knew I loved this photo of my daughter and granddaughter and wanted to get the memory in the book.  After the accident, I felt like I needed to get it down now.  Even with this sense of urgency, it took me a week or more to actually get it done.

I started back to work this past week, that's part of the delay.  It's amazing to me how everyone else's life has just gone on, while mine seems to be standing still in this sad space. That being said, going back to work is probably good for me.  The stressful week, combined with the fact that I am still having a difficult time sleeping through the night, has added to my mood, though.  I feel like every little thing is more difficult than it needs to be, and my thoughts just aren't as clear as I would like.  But, I've had wine nearly every night, and taken several photos as evidence.  :-) Here's one of my favorites taken after finally getting all of my photos for my 365 project uploaded to flickr (loving all the orange here).
~ wine, flickr and Craig Ferguson ~
Lots of iPhone photos have made up my 365 lately, but slowly I'm getting back in to using the Canon.  B. has enjoyed playing in the mud in our backyard and I've gotten several good ones from that!
~ puddles ~
More on flickr, of course!  One B. story from this day:  at one point she decided that we should all take our clothes off and swim in the mud "like Shrek".  We didn't...as far as you know.

OK, so to the layout...Here's the lowdown!  Even knowing the photos that I wanted to use, I decided to wait until my Scrapbook Circle kit arrived!  It's always an exciting day when that pizza-box-looking package arrives!  The Story lived up to my expectations.  In fact, while combing through the items I quickly found perfect pieces to use for this layout!  Two standouts, both from Cosmo Cricket, the Twenty-thr3e Element Deck and Tiny Text Typewriter stickers were pieces that I knew I would use.  There were so many sentences in the latter that worked perfectly with these photos, which were taken the last time we went to the park as a complete family.  I chose the following (click if you want to see it bigger):
tiny text typewriter stickers
Besides the pizza-box-looking package I also got another package in the mail this week! Stamps from Elise!!  I put them to use in this project as well!  Have I mentioned lately that I adore her and her cuteness?  Her package was even cute.  There were great postage stamps, it was machine stitched shut, and had a stamped message that read "get excited"!  I got excited.
this (by elise)
today is (by elise)
I have quite a few stamps, but I hardly ever use them, so that was fun for me.  I also added more machine stitching to this layout than I have in the past.  If that weren't enough to excite you all, I was a Washi tape virgin until now (I scored the Washi tape you'll see below from Target)!  Here's the big picture:


I based this loosly on the May sketch challenge from Scrapbook Circle (design by Diana).


Doing this layout was really a type of therapy for me.  It always helps to create.  I had an interesting email conversation with my mother.  I sent her photos as I was working on this, and she responded that she had a difficult time seeing photos of M. smiling so wonderfully.  I can totally understand that.  I would say that I had quite a few tears as I attempted to finish this, for just that reason.  Looking at her beautiful face, smiling and having such a good time, makes me cry because I know that it's over.  But also, I had the privilege of being there on this day and I have that memory forever.  It was a good memory.  I did some journaling about it, but because I didn't really want to mix those sometimes sad words with the beautiful smile and I wanted the photograph to be the focus, I hid the journaling under the photograph.  
The process of creating this was cleansing for me.  It's why art therapy and music therapy exist.  Don't get me wrong, I don't really feel any better.  :-)  But still, the process was helpful and I'm glad I did it.  I finished it on Mother's Day, which was a difficult day for all of us, and I'm glad it's over.  I don't know if my daughter H. will keep this in her scrapbook, or if it will stay with my things, either way, I got the memory documented and learned a few things in the process.

Thank you for reading!

8 comments:

  1. This is so touching!! I loveeeeeeeeee that you created with those photos and the title is perfect! Still praying and thinking about all of you daily....

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  2. This is absolutely beautiful and it sounds like it was a good way to reflect on the joys of your grand daughter's life.

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    1. Thank you for reading. I imagine it will not be my last layout that includes her! :-)

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  3. That is such a precious photo. This is something you will treasure. The words on the stickers fit perfectly. It really puts things in perspective for me and reminds me not to get caught up in the small stuff and that I should give my kids extra love and hugs each day. Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! Extra hugs are always a good idea!!!

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  4. Love the puddle picture and great job with the sketch!! :)

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  5. Great job with the sketch. I love the journaling spot. Adorable. I have read a bunch fo your blog and I am so sorry for your pain. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  6. I'm behind on my blog reading and I'm so deeply sorry to hear about your granddaughter. The page you made is such a lovely memory of her. I do believe creating is healing. My first scrapbook was therapy for me when my Dad died. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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