Scrapbooks: Moments on film and the stories too.

By:Joan, Mesa AZ

Scrapbooking is the perfect hobby for me because I love to take pictures and share them with my family and friends. Scrapbooking enables me not just to capture the moment on film but also journal the "story" behind it.

I never considered myself creative when I was growing up but still remember getting my first camera for Christmas one year. Photography always fascinated me and I enjoyed capturing family, friends and my travels in pictures. Unfortunately, the pictures I took often times just ended up in boxes or in photo albums with little description or dates.

Then a few years ago I was invited by a friend to join her at a party and bring pictures. I didn't know what to expect and really went just to enjoy her company. By the end of the evening we were both hooked. Although we have very different styles, even at the beginning, we can scrap together for hours. Since then I have met more people interested in this hobby and scrapbookers are the nicest people.

My children love looking through our scrapbooks and recalling the stories associated with the pictures. My nine year old son has even done a few of his own cub scout activities pages. I was pleasantly surprised at how interested they are in heritage photos of their grandparents and their ancestors.

I too am learning so much about my parents and grandparents as my parents turn over old photos and provide background information. So many stories have come up as we discuss the people and places in the photos. Currently, I'm putting together my father's military career album and as a result having wonderful conversations with him about his love of flying in the Air Force and what he considers his career highlights. I put together a heritage album for my mother and chuckled when my grandmother would tell me about my mother and aunt and their antics as she reviewed photos from their childhood.

My husband is also very encouraging of my scrapbooking hobby. He's thrilled that the pictures I take are being documented and showcased in our family albums. Sometimes he'll help me with journaling or in selecting the pictures he thinks best represents an event or place. Every Christmas I do a year in review layout for him to send to his six sisters who live across the country.

I admit there will still be photos in boxes for many more years (hopefully more organized than in the past). But there will also be albums on the shelves with moments caught on film and as they say "the rest of the story".



Tomorrow at dMarie Daily: A Lasting Legacy, by JenniferC