Life in Focus

what i learned

from LOAD

31 days ago, I took a challenge.  The challenge was to complete a layout a day for the month of May.  In the beginning, I had my doubts as to whether or not my very busy life would allow me the opportunity to get to the finish line. Well, here I am...31 days later...with a stack of 31 stories told.
31 pieces of me in photos and words. What I didn't realize when I signed up for this challenge was how much I would learn in the process.  It was truly a fantastic experience and a wonderful gift I gave myself.  Here are but a few of the things I learned from LOAD:

1. Telling my story helps me to slow down, celebrate, and appreciate my every day.

2. My main focus for telling my stories are the photos, then the words.

3. I gravitate toward a simple, linear design with an occasional eclectic collage thrown in the mix.

4. It's ok to leave the thousands of photos on my hard drive and pick a small percentage to represent    my stories...that lesson is truly liberating.

5. When it's a priority, I can find and make time for myself and to create...even every day!

6. I have an amazingly supportive family (that one I already knew!)

7. I'm a much happier person when I fill my soul with creativity often.

8. My must have embellishments in my stash are mini brads, rick rack, letter stickers, and ink.

9. My family enjoys the stories that I tell just as much as I enjoy telling them.

10. Scrapbookers are wonderful artists that appreciate and celebrate life. They are also kind and encouraging and an amazing group to be a part of.

Thank you Laine and LOAD for the fun, inspiring, and creative month!  I had a blast! 

telling stories

Today is May 20th and I have a stack of 20 layouts to prove it!  The challenge has cut into my blog time but...it's for a good cause!  I'm feeling more creative and energized and just all around happy.  Here are some of the most recent stories I've documented with photos and words...

11 more days.... :)

happy

I'm happy...

that it's Friday and I actually get to sleep in tomorrow morning

to be working on a new class and project that I love for Big Picture

to go on a mother/daughter date this weekend

to be sitting here with my feet up, typing, and drinking a chilled glass of wine

that this is the final weekend of shows for Dylan's show of Joseph and the ATDC

to be able to see summer vacation on the horizon

that I had a successful day of teaching 4th grade

to be 15 for 15 on the layout a day challenge

that my puppy can be left alone (for a bit) without being in her crate

that almost all of the laundry is put away

to participate in Ali's weekend creative challenge

to have good friends in my life

I'm happy.

this boy

i absolutely adore this boy.....

....and just how did i get so lucky?

*have a heart filled mother's day weekend*

in harmony

So far I'm six for six with the layout a day challenge and boy, does it feel good!  It's really amazing how I've managed to squeeze in some time each day to tell a story.  When it's a priority, it really works!

Having this focused creative time each day has been a blessing to me and really is about so much more than completed pages and filling my scrapbooks. it is about filling my soul and spirit with inspiration.
Not only have I found the time for telling stories but, in the process, I've found time for me.

I've found time to slow down, be grateful, and present in the daily busyness of life and motherhood.  And I'm a better person because of it.

Here are the stories I've told so far:

A woman in harmony
with her spirit
is like a river flowing.
-Maya Angelou

I couldn't agree more.