When I finish a scrapbook page, I hang it up by my desk for a little while, and then move it to the large pile of pages that grows on the top of my bookcase. The pile grows for about 6 months before I actually file the pages away into scrapbooks…and it takes me so long because I don’t really like filing the pages away.
Filing the pages away means I’ll see pages I made a long time ago that I feel embarrassed about. And it means I’ll have to face how many scrapbooks I have now and how many of them are FILLED up. And I sort of feel a little embarrassed about that too.
I generally don’t scrapbook to build up my library of pages. I just do it because I like doing it. I like taking the photos and making something interesting and writing down the story. But I almost never pull down the albums to go through them. Last week, however, I bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and sort through the pile and file the pages away.
And…it was great! :) I was *grateful* for how much I’ve done. I could see how some really important parts of our family’s story were recorded…and that that might be useful someday. Pages that I made that didn’t have much “story” to them stood out to me because of the simple story “we have a lot of fun! Here’s proof!” Which, dang it, is an important story too!
There *were* a few pages that I didn’t like…there wasn’t much to them…and I considered removing them (gasp!) and throwing them out (!!! DOUBLE GASP!!!)…and heck! I just may! If they make me cringe and don’t add much to our bigger story…then why not? I think it would be okay to let go of a few here and there.
Not letting go of this one, though. Not much “story”…I just put some facts about each of us and what we’re up to right now. simple and sweet.
After looking through my albums last week, I decided to share the fun.
It took him a little while to wrap his head around that those baby photos were Baby Isaac…but he loved it and wanted to see more. No worries, little buddy. There are a LOT more to see and a LOT more comin’. ;)
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In 10 years you will be more excited about these pages than you are now…reflecting the days and times of these fleeting years. Lucky for all that you are dedicated to documenting your every day life, and all those special moments. Your halo is showing…and glowing!
Triple dittos on everything Janel said!!
I have albums I made 40 years ago. I cringe a bit at the clumsyness but they are a part of our story and my children would be heartbroken if I changed the smallest thing. They have talked about who will have them after we are gone! and they are seriously considering having them for four months of the year each and then meeting up to pass them on – they’ll need a….. what do you call them? a semi !!! to carry them