relationships ...

I have noticed a theme lately in my story telling...
it has been about interpersonal relationships.
Whether it's been my relationship with the subject of the page...
or the relationship being share on the page...

And maybe this is obvious...maybe this is what everyone does when they create layouts of those they love...

Lately for me it has been an intense exercise in relational focus. And when I say intense, I mean bordering on obsessive.

This thing called scrapbooking allows me to really pause. To take a photo and not just scan through it on my phone, or sock it away on my hard drive. But to print it out and actually spend time with the photo, therefore spend time with that subject, speaking into their life and telling them on another dimension how much I love them or how blessed I am that those pictured are sharing a meaningful moment. I mean, what a beautiful way to talk to your kids! Via photo, pretty stuff, and your own personal words. Now, let's be honest, those teenagers may not actually read your words right now...but someday they will. To me that is so impactful. It's a beautiful gift we have. (and hey, grandparents...this is for you too...sharing with your grandchildren in this format? talk about a legacy!!!)

This page shared here today is actually a continued theme in my second daughter's album. She had been gone a few days. The first time for her. It had an impact on me while she was away. It had an impact on all of us.

The layout celebrates our coming together again. And even in that it celebrates her and this different side of her after she was away from her family and focusing on spiritual matters and other relationships.

And creatively speaking it was an exercise in staying very thematic with monotone hues. Favorite  Things from Heidi Swapp stars here and I kept with the black and white and grey hues while creating with a lot of words and sentiments about us, about her. (oh...and p.s...Fav Things is on sale at scrapbook.com today...oh yeah!)

I hope to explore this idea a bit more. I hope to inspire you as well. So many of you I know focus more on relationships by way of creative habit than you do, say, an event. And I love to see those pages. But the theme just really struck me of late, where I am right now in my life as mom, and wife and friend. And I hope you will join me as I throw this thought around even more in the near future on this blog.

Now go...create....and enjoy the journey.