In the Storm

stories 2018 | let's build something together

A revisit of an older story kit - BUILD - by Ali Edwards. This is a truly traditional, layered-style-looking 12 x 12 page, yet still digitally crafted, and normally outside of my comfort zone, but came together rather quickly. I attribute the coming-together-quickly to the great product design. Because of the colorful 'papers' and 'chipboard pieces and plastics' (in '' because they are digital .png or .jpg files made to look like plastic and chipboard pieces), I turned the poor-lighting photos to black and white capturing the heart of the story (rather than the clutter of the room): John and Jarrod building something awesome together.

John's bed frame on its last leg desperately needed replacing. Rather than doing the research needed to purchase a new frame it seemed fastidious to build one, instead. A quick design sketch and supplies list by Jeff and the boys were off to Lowes one late afternoon for lumber needed to build a full-sized bed frame, which they then completed the same evening.

never before been seen

Ali Edwards is a genius. She has created a monthly Story kit subscription - I subscribe to the digital kit - of scrapbook product centered around a different topic each month. It's a brilliant idea because generally that one topic, or word, often is a multifaceted word and thus one kit has the potential for many stories told.

For instance. I recently shared the story here on the blog about my story behind learning the Doppler weather radar. I used Ali Edwards' Story kit - TECH for that story. But, guess what? I used the Story kit TECH for the story above as well.

Two totally different stories going in opposite directions using one Story kit. Like I said. Brilliant!

I did not take lightly subscribing to a month kit. I processed the decision long and hard before jumping on board. Since that first kit...oh, the stories I have told. The big events and the everyday ordinary. I know without a doubt, especially as this year I have concentrated on an All About Me album, my kids and grandkids and great grandkids won't have to wonder who I am, who I was, what was I like.

So, the never before been seen title?

Because the page above and the following pages are a few pages I've made but haven't shared yet and thought I'd share them in one fell swoop.

It was a really good Father's Day. I'm so glad I recorded the story of the pajama pants!

Yep! That is two sons in college. Both at Savannah Tech - oh and there is another page using that one Story kit - TECH. How cool is that?

One morning Jeff and I took a sunrise photo at two different locations along the Georgia Atlantic coast, at the same time, and share with each other our morning skies. Glorious!

I took a cooking class in June. Amazing experience. Can't wait to do it again. So much fun. And the food...Yum!

Ash, Brad, and the grand-punks came for a week long plus stay and one of the highlights were water gun fights between Ian and Wyatt and the little guy loving every minute chasing them around the yard and getting soaked in the process. We all headed outside for the activities with no one person left dry.

And, the last one for today (although I have more unshared pages to come). I adore Brad, my son-in-law. He is one of the most helpful of men. He loves hanging with his father and brother-in-laws which in turn makes my heart swell with pride. On this day Jeff, Jarrod, and Brad headed to Compassion to build The Journey sets, a project that Jeff is co-leading slash superintending.

all about me | currently

Each month since the beginning of my All About Me album I have been documenting a few present participles; those regular verb forms that often end in -ing and express what I've been doing and what I am currently doing. Actually, I have been documenting my months this way for quite a few years, but this year is the first time I've created scrapbooking page(s). Fitting - for the year I document all about me.

This past month, July, I chose listening, wearing, loving, eating, studying, reading, and watching...and I just now noticed I have two loving's:) I created a 2-page 6 x 8 - of course, since my album is 6 x 8 - and added a front and back 3 x 8 insert. Ali Edwards recently re-supplied her store with full-sized 3 x 8 protectors so I stocked up in anticipation of creating more inserts, plus a 3 x 8 travel album, in the foreseeable future. 

 

 

Then there is the page of present participles I made for June. Crazy how time gets away. This summer has been a slump for documenting and, especially blogging. Definitely one of my favorite pages, lately.

Again, lists. It is a familiar way for documenting; I can say a considerable bit more often than not when I write in lists. Numbering and present participles are assuredly in the pros column for documenting stories. I love the mélange of present participle possibilities (How's that for an alliteration?).

 

stories 2018 | sophia two months

And just like that she's two months old.

I died when Elizabeth posted these photos of Sophia Rose on Facebook. They are the first since her one month photos and she has gotten soooo big! She's a cutie patootie, too! Character - right there!

I love that Sophia is already sleeping through the night. I know keeping her on a schedule has been the best thing for the whole family. I remember using swings for our punks and Elizabeth is using a swing for Sophia, too. I'm sure there are pros and cons out there in the opinion world, but it's working for them that's all I say.

Can you imagine getting to snuggle this baby everyday? Glorious, I tell ya, glorious! Snuggling those chubby cheeks and that sweet little baby cushion body...makes me smile just thinking of Sophia.

Thank you Elizabeth for posting Sophia's milestones and the photos. Kisses all around.

stories 2018 | sophia one month

I am hoping Elizabeth will keep us posted on these monthly milestones for Sophia - grandbaby #6 - regularly. I didn't have an album in mind but this was definitely a fun page to put together. This is an outside-of-the- norm, 8.5 x 11 page size (for scrapbooker's this size of page has been around the longest and while I used to scrap this size often I rarely do anymore). Lately, I have been scrapping 6 x 8 almost exclusively with an occasional 12 x 12, but even more recently I realized that sometimes I want bigger. 

Isn't she adorbs! I mean my granddaughter. I know. I shifted gears from Sophia to scrapbooking and back to Sophia. Stay with me here.

I turned Elizabeth's list into a present participle (those -ing words) and love how it came out.

Here's to wishing Maryland was a shorter drive...

Maryland is where Elizabeth is stationed and my grandchildren live. Too far away!

Jarrod and I made the drive in June, a couple weeks after Sophia was born, and it was a tough drive up but doable in a day if one begins the day driving and not working then driving. Which, unfortunately, that is what I attempted to do and ended up having to pull in to a hotel and get some sleep before continuing on.

Anyways, Sophia, she's beautiful.

stories 2018 | why are you doing this to me

Noah, my three year old grandson, the drama kingpin of the Tisdale household (said with all the love a grandmother could have plus a realist)...and having recently visited Elizabeth...can so see Noah saying these very words with as much dramatic infliction he can muster.

Noah has excellent communications skills and even at 3 is putting full blown sentences together of one quite a bit older. I had several conversations that were in no way adult to 3-year old but more like adult to teenager.

So, when Elizabeth shared Noah's latest cry along with a photo to boot, I most definitely had to scrap the story. You know for posterity sake. I can just hear Noah now.

I'm chuckling even now as I type.

all about me | charleston

I have been on an unintentional blogging break off and on all summer. It has been nice. I have even drastically culled back on scrapbooking, photo taking and, in general, memory keeping. And I'm not sure why. I just have.

That being said - I am still scrapbooking. Just not so much.

For instance, I have already filled a 6 x 8 album all about me. I recently placed a Persnickety Prints order and received into my hot little hands a plethora of 6 x 8 pages, many of which went into my All About Me album. Beginning in July I will be moving to a second 6 x 8 album for the remainder of this years All About Me pages.

A couple pages recently added are Charleston pages from our May anniversary trip to - Charleston. Rather than a go-go-go trip we made this a truly rest and relaxation trip. It was - amazing! The above - and below - pages are from this trip.

 

I love this simple 2-page 6 x 8 plus a 3 x 8 journal card. Of course, we took a carriage tour of the city. I could take these all day (although we only took one on this trip) with hopes that we would be on all the different tour routes. Maybe our next trip we'll plan on doing just that.

Stories 2018 | a conversation with Ella

I recently visited my daughter Elizabeth in Maryland who just had my grand baby #6 - Sophia Rose. While I was there I sat down with Ella, my oldest grandchild and the only other granddaughter I have, for a lengthy, enlightening, and fun conversation.

Ella becomes open and expressive when I give her time and attention like this. 

I did the same thing several years ago with much the same results: an amazing conversation.

The sameness and the differences that just a few years make are so interesting!

Week in the Life 2018 | Friday

No words today.

Just pictures with words.

Week in the Life 2018 | Thursday

Thursday came and went and I realized at the end of the week that I had one photo for Thursday. 

I had a decision to make.

Skip the day. Or, get a little creative.

I decided for Thursday expressing my gratitude's was as good as place as any and made even more sense of a photo-less day.

The best way I have found to combat worry or anxiety is gratitude. Gratefulness and giving thanks - to God.

Rather than be anxious over no photos expressing my gratitude's was a wonderful exercise to complete. It shifts the minds gears. It resets our attitude. And, since I am sorely behind in my One Thousand Gifts - well, enough said.