This is my layout for Erika's (the Gina K designer) challenge for VSBN. Hers had a sketch, stamping requirement (it's there I promise!) and journaling. You were to take an ordinary event or one that happens repetitively and explain how this one's different. Well as soon as I saw the challenge I knew the layout I wanted to do! If you look at the pictures it looks like just another Christmas celebration, however upon reading the journaling you see just how different it was this year. I had to keep stopping while typing the journaling cause I couldn't see though my tears!
The journaling reads: For as long as I can remember one thing was always sure at Christmas. The trip to GrammieÂ’s farm. All the cousins, eat lots of yummy foods, exchange gifts, the crazy traditions of the grab bag and skizziboms, and whatever other games my mother or aunts could come up with. Then in the morning biscuits and gravy and stockings. Now granted sometimes it was in January due to my aunt having to work or us being in Florida visiting the Bergmans but there was always Christmas at Grammies. I remember it as a child sleeping in the living room in sleeping bags. Skating on the pond when it was cold enough, sledding down the hill in the back yard. One year Santa made an appearance! The first Christmas after Grandpa Otis was hard but somehow still the same. As I grew older it was my sense of family that brought me home. Then finally with my husband and now my children. All a part of this tradition been in existence since before I can remember. And I have never missed a one! Been sick as a dog but I was always there. Others have missed but not me.
This year was different. As Grammie’s health declined and she found herself in the hospital it was decided that she would go and live with my Aunt Patty in KS. I remember my first thought – but what about Christmas? When the time rolled around it was decided to hold our Christmas festivities in a church in Olsburg. Well this will be different I thought but at least we are still getting together. And we did! Every single one of the families and cousins and relatives was there save my Cousin Leslie and her youngest daughter Jenna but Alaska is a bit of a trip and she had been back to see us all at the reunion. My grandmother, her 4 children and their spouses, the 8 grandchildren several now with spouses and children, the 10 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild! Yes 4 generations have now shared in the Miller Family Christmas. I don’t want to think about what might happen after she’s gone, she seems to be the glue that keeps us together. This Christmas was different but at least it was still Christmas to me.
TFL! Sorry so long but I HAD to include what I wrote for it to make sense! I typed it on computer and printed it out in Handsome Hunter (using RGB codes)
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 GMT Views: 287
Favorited:2
Stamps: Snowflake by DOTS - hard to see background paper embossed with Iridescent ICe and Journaling in Versamark
Paper: Handsome Hunter and Basic Grey
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Making Memories Clear Gitter Snowflakes, Snowflakes and Crystal Brads, Sizzix Snowflake Die, Circle punch, SU scalloped circle punch, Corner Rounder, Iridescent Ice EP
Registered: July 23, 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2442
Wed, Feb 04, 2009 @ 4:51 PM
Just a terrific story and a great idea to have saved it all for those who will come along and not remember.
------------------------------ My Blog My Gallery Fan Club Member "Do not go where the path may lead-Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Registered: February 25, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 921
Sat, Feb 07, 2009 @ 2:57 PM
Great way to share a precious memory. Well done!
------------------------------ Natalie Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.~Dr. Seuss