Labor of Love

I can remember my mother with boxes of negatives. I remember her painstakingly running to Bi-mart to make 2 copies of this photo, 1 copy of this one, 3 copies of this one....and then one day.....the boxes became stacks and stacks all over our dining room table.

There were stacks of photo albums. Not just ANY photo albums; the very newest and best albums on the market for this labor of love. There were THREE very distinct patterns of albums, each of us children were to have our OWN set of family photo albums, in our OWN pattern. There were stacks of photos sorted by person, year, month. In the end, I was given 12 albums of photos that chronicled my life from birth through graduation. Amazing.

I began with the idea of doing the same for my children. By the time I had 5 young un's under the age of 8, I realized I didn't have the TIME or the DOLLARS to keep x amount of copies for each photo...at this point I would need 10 children albums and 1 family album... it isn't happening.

I decided to keep a family album. It was ALWAYS up to date. Photos came home and immediately went into the current album, complete with quite a bit of writing (which is now called journaling). I was current. A favorite family past time was to sit around and look through all our albums....until, as I've previously shared SCRAPBOOKING took over our albums. Please know that this is not true across the board - but for ME - scrapbooking became an evil. It took away from a great family pleasure. No longer do we have albums that are fun to look through on family night. I'm now over 5 years behind. I can't possibly put photos in an album without coordinating paper, stickers, cropping etc. Oh, I've played around with various styles. I've tried various systems. It comes back to the fact that I don't have time for keeping our family history as a craft outlet for me. I need to get the photos and stories in an album. Others have told me to go for it - that later in life I can "do it right". ::snort:: I've not been able to bring myself to open those beautiful 12 x 12 Creative Memory albums and simply put photos on the page and write.....but I plan to do just that. It will be a terrible shock to those looking at my album. From plain - to works of art - back to plain! But so be it. I want to have fun with our photos again and not feel like it is a constant undone huge project hanging over my head. DON'T TAKE ANY MORE PHOTOS - DON'T YOU KNOW I'M FIVE YEARS BEHIND - OH 5 1/2 NOW!!!!

I planned to simply make myself stick photos from 2002 on a page and write - regardless of stickers, mats, shapes etc. That was the plan for TOMORROW night.....somehow all the photos from 2002 - 2003 have gone missing.

I needed to come up with another plan....back to my Mother's Early Labor of Love. Since learning about acid free albums and such, I've been meaning to do something with those lovely albums. Some have suggested I could do them in classic albums, vellum and eyelets (since evidently I'm an ANTIQUE)....and I thought of it. I couldn't bring myself to take those albums apart. I remember the hours it took mom to create this keepsake. My older girls loved looking over these albums...BUT the pages are yellowing, the magnetic stuff is coming loose...some photos fall out and some are stuck. I don't want the younger ones looking at them because they may ruin a photo. I need to do something. I don't want to change what Mom did. I decided I'd scan her words into the computer, use much the same layout as she did and matt her words on the page..... I'll begin that tomorrow. This should help me save my mom's Labor of Love, and get over my fear of going simple!!!

I scanned - the words don't show up. I now need to decide if I will simply copy the words in my handwriting....or cut out the part of the page with words and somehow matt those onto the pages. What would you all do?

And yes...this is all an exercise in ginning up the courage for me to follow through with my plan - get the photos in the album so that my family can begin enjoying them again. Oh - and on top of the 13 albums Mom gave me....I added 21 HUGE 3 ring magnetic albums of our early family years. I need to get THOSE into safe albums too.....and then I'll hit those 3 years of masterpieces...a craft I began when I wasn't teaching Bible Studies, when I had young women at home who worked on them with me.....and then I'll be back to simple.....and my family will not care. My children and Mike will be thrilled to be able to thumb through the albums again and remember family fun!

Mom and Dad

Me at 16 weeks (cone head @ 4 hours yikes!)

Me at 18 months - if Stacia had hair I think we'd look alike! ::snort::

...and one day - I CAN do them "right" - though I'm not sure who should define right. ::snort:: Now I only need to figure out what to do with oodles and oodles of supplies...more supplies than a person should ever have as I sold for one of the makers of such things. LOL

Fibromyalgia

Mom, this one's for you. Ladies, my mom was diagnosed with FM about 8 years ago {?}. If any of you have info, websites etc to share - would you leave them in the comment section for Mom.

ALRIGHT - WHO IS IT???

Someone forgot the "not incapacitated" part of the prayer. I think 20 minutes a day would be enough to reassure me. Let's not go overboard with this 24/7 stuff. ::snort::

Seriously, today has been a rough day. I've been real sick most of the day...and the dizziness isn't making it easier to cope with. I'm trying to eat every few hours...and I'm remembering to drink so I don't dehydrate....and I'm smiling because I'd say pregnancy symptoms have finally hit.

Wednesday!

Talked with B a couple of times about getting her luggage. Her departure date from the base has moved up - so I'll need to go pick her suitcases up tomorrow.

We're having a homeschool support group book sale on Saturday and I really want to pull a few things together to sell. I need to find time online to find retail prices and then adjust. Is the going rate still 50% of new if it's used? I've noticed a lot of things going for higher than that online.

Our first PWOC project night is coming up - and I can't find the box that had the photos from our trip to AK and the first year up there. I'm going to have to figure out a different project for the night. The terrible thing is that there is a project I'm wanting to work on for a friend and the photos are in THERE. WHERE could the box have gone?????

Took Jared to get a haircut. Bought groceries at Sam's.

I still can't get a card reader to work. Mike will be home soon.

School Today

I received *Five in a Row* today from Paperback Swap. I need to look it over and see if/how to incorporate it into our school. I don't really "do school" with Zander but have wanted a bit more structure. I think even partially doing this with him a few times a week, will be that "special time" he craves with me.

Arielle watched a lesson and did 4 MuS worksheets in 10 minutes. She aced them all. She then aced the test for that lesson as well. I warned her that eventually we'll have her in the "right spot" and it WILL take longer. At this point the lessons are really great for her because of his trick for quickly doing say 9's and 8's...but it is review.

I didn't get to couch school today. Really, it's o.k. since we've already done 3 weeks of TOG this week...but it has made me think I need to reconsider my schedule. I can't have this going on for very long.

I'm sick - really sick today. I've had lots of phone calls - and I could ease that up if I simply didn't answer the phone during school time. I had errands I HAD to run (milk)...this week has been TOOO busy and it's only Wednesday. I don't do well when I have THINGS on the schedule that I have to be out outside of our house. They take over my focus and our schedule. I know folks that are amazing and can run all over, keep house clean, school on track...and I simply can't. I've proven that to myself over and over. I'll begin by getting to Curves 1/2 an hour earlier...I think that will help. I'll not read any list mail or moderator messages until AFTER couch school - that should help. ::snort:: Not sure what else I can do. I'll pray about this. I do NOT want to end up shorting school on a regular basis - been there/done THAT. LOL

Thinking Blogger Award

Dorothy has tagged me for the Thinking Blogger Award. Dorothy shares life in England, gorgeous photos of places I dream of visiting, and deep insights of the process of sliding into decrepitude. I'm honored that she chose me. I started my blog to chronicle our daily life for far away friends and family....and then I discovered it was a good place to share whatever took my fancy. I'm truly surprised others read it. I'm touched that my ramblings seem to communicate something - at least some of the time. I'm also perplexed.

Here's my problem. For the most part, I read blogs to relax! I also read mostly SHS blogs but if I tag only SHS bloggers eventually they'll run of those to tag. I'm going to try to pick "non SHS" blogs so that others who are tagged on SHS still have a blog pool. ::Snort::

1. Jodi - is the first one who explained blogging to me. Her blog helps me think through the issues and daily life of the autism spectrum, she has given me glimpses into the vegan lifestyle (yes, you CAN still EAT), and has demonstrated how to incorporate fun into our homeschool. Jodi is a constant source of encouragement as we seek solutions for Zander. She truly exhibits the old wisdom that often we walk our paths, in order to help others who follow behind.

2. Trish - my friend from our assignment in Anchorage. She challenged me to be sure that women leaving my Bible Studies were not "stuffed with fluff". Mostly her blog makes me think I need to find my pictures so I can scrapbook...but she also shares great info on fibromyalgia (which Trish has) and reminds me to "rejoice in everything". Trish is a great thinker in real life and that comes through in her posts (from felt purses to bearing fruit with a chronic illness).

3. Large Family Logistics - I'm sure they've been chosen a zillion times and no longer participate - BUT I continually find food for thought at this blog, as well as meal tips, laundry tips and more. "The art and science of managing a large family."

I've tried ya'll (YES - I KNOW there are two ways to spell this and I checked with a life long Texan - two of them - they said to spell it this way ::snort:: Let's NOT go there again - ok?) but I mainly read SHS blogs...SO....I tried not to pick 5 and make it harder on them to find 5 - but ya'll are on your own. ::snort::

4. Kristine's blog makes me think about curriculum, books, and gorgeous spots to visit. I've been trying to get a family here to start a GH bakery...I've been craving GH for two weeks. Kristine's last post is about Great Harvest - so I pick her. ::snort::

I've counted at least 20 other SHS blog friends that I could put on here. Please know that I read and enjoy all your blogs...but I must choose one more blog here and get on with the day.

5. Debbie in NY - this family makes me think about how wonderful family is. How awe-inspiring that families such as theirs will go miles away and bring sibling groups a second chance at happiness in a new home, together. Debbie has made me think about HOW I juggle a large family, how hard it would be to add 3 at one time....and shes done it with GRACE. You've done amazingly well this year, Deb - and so I choose you for my 5th entry....

If any of you would rather have your link removed from my blog - please let me know. I'll leave your name and remove the link. LOL

This meme seems to have originated with the *The Thinking Blog* (A quick skimming of this blog leads me to conclude that though his blog may make me think, I do not necessarily agree with all his conclusions). Here are the rules:

Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging. I thought it would be appropriate to include them with the meme.

The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post (his original post on the award)so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

Book Review: "Fragments of Isabella..."

*Fragments of Isabella: A Memoir of Auschwitz by Isabella Leitner and Irving A. Leitner

I began hunting for the adult books by this author after reading * The Big Lie* - a children's book which she wrote about her family's experiences during WW2. You can see my review of that book here.

This is a SHORT book. It's a POWERFUL book. It's a REAL book. It's a PAINFUL book. I feel it is IMPORTANT for the books written by holocaust survivors to remain in print...unfortunately, many are no longer in print. The words are carefully chosen. The author states that "each word in this book stands for one hundred other words that were too painful to express" and I got that sense as I read.

In 1939 Isabella's father left Germany to try to find a haven for his family. He helplessly watched WW2 engulf his country of Hungary while he fought for visas for his family. His wife and 6 children were eventually sent to Auschwitz. The mother and youngest sister were immediately selected by Mengele to die. The mother's last words to her children were "live". The struggled to live and survive and this book documents their struggle. In the end 4 of the 7 that were deported are reunited with the father.

I recommend this book, though it wasn't full of the hope and happy ending that say The Hiding Place has. I have unearthed the second adult book written by Mrs. Leitner and will read it soon. I'm hoping to find healing as she moves on through life. *Isabella: From Auschwitz to Freedom*, Published by Ex Libris is available from Amazon.com. This is different from the other books in that it contains new materials plus the other two earlier books. This is the relevant title that is print. Available in hard cover or paperback. (I found the orginal two used).

I couldn't help comparing this book with Corrie ten Boom's book. This book was shorter and somehow more "vivid"....both relied on God for strength. Their relationships with God are different. Corrie relied heavily on her daily personal relationship with God to forgive her captors. This contrast was vividly seen in a retelling of a situation in 1975 where Isabella is surrounded by Germans of the age of her captors that remind her of one guard. I do NOT find fault - only point out that she was devastated and wanted revenge of some sort. Corrie encountered an actual guard who had beaten her and her sister...and was able to forgive. This whole time period boggles my mind. I'm amazed at the courage and strength of the survivors to live.

This was another spring reading thing book. I'm thinking of moving my list to the top of the blog until June so it's easier to find and mark books read....I'd like to figure out how to cross out books from the list. LOL