What I'm working on right now (11/21/2008)

Family is my number one priority. I think raising my kids is the most important thing I will ever do and my biggest contribution to society. I want to remember the details of the kids growing up because I tend to forget things. Consequently, everything I’m working on right now is related to documenting as much of our lives as I can while still actually experiencing the present. It’s a hard balance for me. I’m such a perfectionist that I want to get it all and I want it to be perfect! Currently I’m taking a digital photography class at the Art Institute to learn how to take better pictures so I don’t have to spend as much time in Photoshop Elements editing. I’m also taking the Stories in Hand Class at JessicaSprague.com for ideas to help me get my thoughts and memories down on paper to make my scrapbooks more meaningful. Also, I’m working on Michael’s School Album in a Snap! It’s a book I’ll make now and then add pictures, etc. for each school year beginning with Preschool. I’m switching over to Stacy Julian’s photo organizational method (from chronological date order) which is centered on categories and events and lends itself to inspiring creativity and recognizing themes in your/your family’s life. And last, I’m in the organizing/gathering materials stage of creating A Little Book about Your Name for each of the kids. It will include things such as why the child’s name was chosen, the meaning of their name, nicknames, and family surname. There is a poem by Edgar Guest I may include as well titled “Your Name.”

Stories in Hand Assignment 1b: Roots

1982 Christmas Blizzard

I was 13. Mom was pregnant with Jeannie. Did we know yet? Just Dad, Mom, Randy and I were home. We never had family come in or went out of town for Christmas. That's probably why I'm so adamant about being home for Christmas as an adult. I was very excited, as usual. I was always the one to get Randy (and then Randy and Jeannie) up to go look at our stockings/presents. I was the one Mom and Dad would groan and tell to let them get up and have some coffee first. My stocking was probably my favorite part of Christmas morning. Mom was so creative in what she put in them. This year stands out in my mind for two reasons. First, this was our last Christmas in our house on Leyden Street. (We moved to Boise the next summer. I don't have any memories of Christmas in Boise, interesting.) Second, it snowed two feet on Christmas Eve. There was a car stuck either on our street or somewhere close by. Our house was two blocks west of a major street - Monoco Parkway. Dad went out to dig out the car so the man could get home to his family. I knew it was the right thing to do and I was proud of my Dad for doing the right thing, but I was so anxious for him to come back in so we could open presents! I remember looking out our big front picture window watching for him to come back in so we could get on with our Christmas and being irritated with the stranded motorist for delaying my Christmas morning. Nice, huh? The snow was so beautiful. The sun was out and there were sparkling white waves of snow. The air was clean and crisp. It was so cold! The snow was deep enough that our neighbor Robbie Mueller was able to dig tunnels through the snow making me think of igloos.