Telling our Story

Where are your photos?

Ten years ago, mine were in plastic tubs and shoe boxes.

My daugter and I went away for three days to sort and file them.

Then I started to make scrapbooks!

When I started to make books, I was in search of a hobby. 

A "me time" thing.

And I desperately wanted to get all of our photos sorted and in a safe place. 

What I discovered through this activity was a passion for

story telling.

A passion for the history that ties generations of a family together

or the lives of good friends together.

A passion to discover what is unique about my story

and live it and record it.

In case you think I'm finished with our story, don't worry

I still have plenty of photos that aren't in books stored here:

and here:

Blogging is another great way to tell our story!

I fell in love with blogging thanks to a good friend

who records the story of her life

with her (almost) one year old munchkin as she blogs. 

I feel like I journey through the pages of a scrapbook

as I read her blog.

You can visit her here.

It's not the HOW that matters! I've discovered so many great blogs, seen photo albums

and digital books...even watched home movies!

What I think is so important is telling our story.

How are you telling yours?

Take a Moment to Remember

me·mo·ri·al

–noun

something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.

–adjective

preserving the memory of a person or thing; commemorative: memorial services.  

of or pertaining to the memory.

When I think about all the memories that I have preserved in scrapbooks and picture frames, I am filled with gratitude for all the people, places and experiences that have made our lives what they are today. As a family, for generations, we have known possibility. We have traveled, known a myriad of professions, lived in many different parts of this country, and celebrated the milestones of our lives together.

Freely.

I'm sure I don't appreciate this freedom in the same way that my immigrant great grandparents appreciated it. Maybe I appreciate it a bit more than the youngest of the cousins...I hope so. As I honor the memory of all these family members - from young, to long gone - may I take a moment to remember that every aspect of our lives has been shaped by possibility, by choice, by freedom.

Today, and everyday, help me never to take that for granted.

REST

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward."

    Spanish Proverb

I chose rest this weekend. Chose rest over camping, over company. It's not easy for me to choose rest. My head is easily filled with "shoulds" and "coulds" and I admit that feelings of guilt come creeping in pretty quickly on the heels of those thoughts. But not today. Not this weekend. I couldn't be happier right now that my feet are up and that books and naps are waiting for me. And to think...after today's rest, there's another whole day of doing nothing tomorrow!

kept whole

it lived deep inside my soul

before i knew its name or
its power. as i slept, or
wept, i now know it kept
my soul securely in its grasp.

a day came. i was prepped,
and leapt, and decided to accept
it. o what a happy day!
swept up. unaware that it got
me more than i got it.

i taught about it for years.
considered myself to be somewhat adept
at seeing it in other people.
hurts to admit that. often, without
listening to it, out i stepped.

but, remember. it knew me far
better than i knew it. from
deep inside my soul it kept
protecting me. led me back to
listening. to learning. and to me.

by grace my soul's been kept.

Starting Over

i want to start over today
and

i wanted to start over yesterday
and

i will want to start over
again
tomorrow

that's the glory of it.
the grace.
the gift.

today I will celebrate starting over
not be mad at myself for the need to start over
but rejoice with the new day
rejoice with the new moment

tomorrow i will not be over starting over
   may i never tire of it
may i never take for granted the power
or the promise of the new start

each new day
each new start

Dream

Let Go 

Give Love

Cast Out

OverCome

Accept Change

Challenge Apathy

Forgive Others

Offer Faithfulness

Accept Disappointment

Dream Anew

Fifty Days ~ Fifty Years!

I have a very dear friend named Joy ~ We've known each other since our college days, and now we're supporting each other (joyfully, I might add) through this whole 'empty nest' thing! She's celebrating her fiftieth birthday today ~ and spending part of her day at my place scrapbooking. Lucky me!

Fifty days ago she began a scrapbook project just for herself. A project that would last the fifty days until her birthday and help her to celebrate herself and the blessings that have filled her life.

She started with her birth year and found photos and events from every year of her life. Creating a couple of pages for each year, she reminisced and wrote about her life, adding in special notes along the way to family members.

Here are a couple of highlights!

Happy Birthday to a GREAT friend ~ who's an exceptional wife and mother....who serves the community tirelessly as a Social Worker....and who lives with a 'glass half full' perspective that encourages and lifts up all of us who are lucky enough to be a part of her life!



Charmed, It's True!

The light catches her blue eyes ~

Reflect the light. Reflect the sky.

The sand doesn't slow him down.

Between the fingers. Between the toes.

Stop. Smile by the ocean's edge.

Such a day. Quite a day.

Look at our beautiful little girl,

And her whirlwind of a brother.

Charm us they did! charm us,

they still do...And charm us,

I do believe, they always will.

A Quick Call

Coming home for dinner?
    (I ask, silently counting down the days)
Don't know what we're having,
     (I tell you, wondering what my voice conveys)

Such a simple question,
Such a no frills, order in night.

Such a quick call ~

A question, a giggle and an
"I'll be home soon"
Such a familiar refrain.

Coming over for dinner?
   (I'll ask, shortly after your wedding day)
We're coming over, you'll say.
   (New, I'll think. And nice. You are now a they)   
 

Playing dress up 22 years ago ~
Dressing up for real in 5 months!!

RAIN....grrrrrrr

It's Raining, It's Pouring,
     I wish I was home
    {and snoring}
I'm singin' in the rain!
     {not}
Rain, Rain GO AWAY!
      please, now, please.
The Rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain ~
      not in Spain,
      or in the plain
     {or trying to learn the Queen's English}

I fundamentally believe it's ridiculous to complain about the weather or wish it away. I really try not to be that person who switches the conversation to the weather. I want to believe that my mood isn't affected by the drab, drizzly, gray, cold, dampness that we're calling "spring". I'm failing. 100%. My toes are cold, my nose is cold, my house is damp....and we've all had enough!

There. Just had to get it out! Maybe I can move on to some positive thinking now! And use it as an excuse to look at these photos of my kids and an umbrella that make me smile!

a love letter

Dear Brian,
I love you.
It seems like I've always loved you ~ that you've always filled the biggest part of my heart. Next year we'll be able to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our first date ~ I'd say, "let's recreate it," but wouldn't want to make you sit through that movie again. Maybe a dinner and a different movie in Harvard square would be fun. I'd be with you, so I'm sure it would be.

We were an unlikely pair ~ the confident Harvard guy from Oregon and the insecure {barely a student} gal from Phili. You had the attention of plenty of girls, but you chose me! And then you made me believe that you really meant it. Valentine's day {1983} you quoted shakespeare to me and Valentine's day {1984} you gave me a diamond. I say we try to recreate those evenings in a few years...it'd be dorky, but I'd be with you, so it would be wonderful/dorky.

When we got married we promised to follow our dreams ~ and those dreams have taken us to far away lands and helped us to build a wonderful family. Our dreams have changed. We've changed. Through it all you have shown yourself to be a man of integrity, patience, hard work, determination, intelligence and character. You make me laugh ~ not always easy, right!? And you make the kids laugh...often and over any little silly thing. If they work hard and know the value of a dollar, it's thanks to you. They are clear thinking, and they know themselves ~ also, thanks to you! You are a calm, gentle, wise and steadfast man. And I love you.

Perhaps the greatest gift you've given me is time. Time to grow up. Time to loosen up. Time to let go. When I've been at my most exposed and weak and vulnerable, you have cared for me and moved for me and made sure that everything was gonna be ok. You've accepted me, which is, slowly, over time, teaching me to accept myself. What a great gift. Thank-you.

As our children get ready to leave the nest, it's not an empty feeling I feel. Not at all. Cause you're here. And no matter where life takes them or what the future holds, I believe in us. I believe in you.

I cherish you, now and for always.
me

A Day Late...

My mother-in-law's birthday was yesterday ~ Here's a picture of Jan, with her favorite guy on her favorite beach! She's shown me so much love over the years....so I thought I'd put my birthday wishes for her on my blog for all to see!

For Jan ~

Birthdays come and
Birthdays go,
But the desire to wish you good health
and years full of happiness
never changes.

You open your arms and
You open your heart,
And my desire to thank you, to
let you know how MUCH you are loved
is ever growing.

Family first and
Family forever ~
Your generosity, kindness, attention and
energy have knit us together so
we become stronger.

We celebrate you and
We celebrate with you ~
A full life, a fruitful life, a faithful life ~
May God continue to bless
and protect you!

Love, Adrienne

Get Going!

"Walk towards the sunshine,

And the shadows will fall behind you."

It's a drizzly, dull day and I'm not feeling very well.

But I'm heading out in a little bit with my family

(yes, all four of us!)

to see some of our favorite people!

I'm not thinking that the sun is going to all of a sudden appear,

But I'm betting that my heart will be lighter

and my mood will improve.

And there will be laughter!

Seeking Wisdom

If it's wisdom that I seek,
I must try not to speak.
Rather listen and watch and ask.
And wrestle with what seems true.
And be open to anothers' truth
Even as it challenges my own.

When it's wisdom that I seek
I must walk among the meek.
Patiently listening and watching and asking.
Not afraid of gentle guidance, not
Fighting for my way, my comfort
or my answer to be right.

As it's wisdom that I seek
I can turn the other cheek,
And ask, and listen before I
Judge. Maybe even instead of judging.
Perhaps this conflict was sent to
enlighten. Don't want to miss out.

Because it's wisdom that I seek
I will be slow to speak.
I'll ask to be pure and
Impartial, sincere and surrendered. I'll watch
those who love peace and are
full of mercy. And I'll listen.

My Father's Eyes

My father is an architect. A man of vision and curiosity. Someone who has always had a perspective AND been willing to change his perspective. That's a rare combination.

And he's given me a rare treasure.

His photos.

I have boxes filled with his slides ~ photos of my childhood, of my brother's childhood. Of our sweet loveliness as he saw it.

Which helps me remember!

As a family, we might have been happiest at the shore. My brother and I spent hours and hours of our summer vacation playing in the ocean ~ He was the true water rat...I just tried really hard to keep up.

Dad captured the fun, wet and wild moments. But I think my favorite photos are his quiet photos ~ those moments he captured without us knowing it.

They seem so pure.

And tender.

Straight from my father's heart.

Thanks, Daddy.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

“The ache for home lives in all of us,

the safe place where we can go as we are

and not be questioned.”

~ Maya Angelou

I hope that our home will always be this safe place for our children.

Today, it will be my safe place!

Not easy for me to celebrate being mothered,

But getting to be a mother brings joy and friendship

and acceptance and laughter to my life.

Today we'll share a meal, crack lots of jokes

and maybe play a game or two.

Happy Mother's Day to ME!!

Yesterdays

It's not yesterday I long for.

It's the yesterdays of earlier years
That call out loudly for me.
They question me, taunt me and
accuse me of not paying attention.

I'd like a backyard, summer, childhood
Yesterday. With mom's best chicken on
the hibachi and dad's baseball pop-ups
flying over the freshly mowed lawn.

I'd like a costumed, scripted, highschool
Yesterday. Under the lights, in full
makeup, surrounded by my workshop friends
who agree, "the play's the thing"!

And I'd really, really like a
playful, whimsical, giggly, cuddly "just us"
Yesterday. A Mommy, Daddy, Liss, Jer,
Pooh and Little Mermaid play date.

It's the yesterdays of earlier years,
now captured in photos and gathered
in albums that serve to remind
me that, "the true art of
memory is the art of attention."

Summer Job

{1976}

I'm between my sophomore and junior years in high school and I get to work in center city ~ down town Phili!

{Two important things to know about what was going on in Philadelphia that summer}

ONE: The city was celebrating it's 200th anniversary! It was a huge deal, Phili being the birthplace of liberty and all! The streets were painted, flags were raised and tourists were expected. In anticipation of the throngs of visitors the Liberty Bell was moved from it's home in Independence Hall, to a newfangled glass pavilion across the lawn from Independence Hall...you know, so all those tourists could see it more easily.

At home in Independence Hall.
This is where I saw the Liberty Bell for the first time
when I was in elementary school.

Her new home ~ At least she has a view of
her old digs from where she's living now...

TWO: The first Rocky movie was released in 1976. And we all remember the scene where he runs up the Philadelphia Art Museum stairs and pumps his arms in victory when he reaches the top!

It might also help to remember that my name is Adrienne. When the movie came out my name became "Yo, Adrienne" ... and was often followed by, "it's me, Rocky"... I didn't love that!
That summer I worked for a theatre company that was doing free Shakespeare every night in the City Hall courtyard. The city was happy to give the theatre company a tourist information booth for free. So, there I sat, in the booth, with my free tickets and a name tag and greeted thousands of tourists from all over the world. Very few wanted free Shakespeare tickets. And almost no one asked me where the Liberty Bell was located. But practically everyone, almost without exception, wanted to know where the steps were that Rocky climbed! And if they happened to notice my name tag, I was treated to their best Rocky imitation.

I loved the theatre company I worked for and the Shakespeare I got to watch that summer. And I always enjoyed the history connected with my home city ~ I was raised on it! So, when all the hoopla became about Rocky, I was kind of shocked. I mean, I liked the movie...but I though it was a shame that this pop hero was overshadowing centuries of history and culture. This was eye opening for me. Having been a bit shielded from pop culture growing up, it didn't make sense to me why people would be more interested in something that was weeks old, when history and art were right in front of them. But their enthusiasm for those stairs was contagious! It's as if they were saying..."Yo, Adrienne. Join in the fun! Jump on the bandwagon! Let's go pretend we're in a movie!"

Nostalgic

Feeling nostalgic tonight.

Photos accompany me on my walk down

memory lane.

As the lane twists and turns,

I notice two treasures

around every bend.

Often smiling.

Occaisionally silly.

Obviously close.

Before this lane was just a memory,

you two helped to light my way

through some of life's twists and turns.

And now, as you set off on your own paths,

my prayer is that you will

walk closely enough

to light the way for each other.

What a Weekend!

Twice a year I set aside a weekend and host a marathon workshop ~ this was one of those weekends!

I am so blessed to have this space and to be a part of the work done here.

So many different stages of life captured in photos and then preserved on scrapbook pages.

Photos from the 1950's

Photos from Easter (just last weekend!)

Photos from many seasons and years in between

(Lots of) Photos of kids

Photos of babies, toddlers, graduates, atheletes and models

Photos of winter sports and summer fun!

Photos that capture and elicit all sorts of emotion

Photos that tell our stories

Thanks to all who came and all who wanted to come but were out making memories instead!

I cherish these times, these friends and (though exhausting!) these special weekends!

Thought for Today

"Excellence I can reach for,

Perfection is God's business."

Michael J. Fox

As I head off to get my workshop space cleaned up and ready to welcome new scrapbookers today, I will hold on to this thought ~ and do my best to create a warm, nurturing space where friends can come and add to the pages of memories they are carefully working to preserve.