Archive for October 11th, 2011

reader writes: emily, age 16

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

{ winners }

Congratulations to the following 3 readers who have won a copy of Where Women Create! Email paige@wherewomencreate.com and she’ll take care of you.

1. Melinda in Pinson, Alabama

2. Alisha in Gresham, Oregon

3. Lori C. in Pleasant Grove, Utah

Thank you everyone for sharing your favorite health tips! I’m super inspired. If you haven’t read through the tips in yesterday’s comments, do. Such great ideas!

……….

{ tami, claim your prize }

Oh, speaking of giveaways … can you believe that the winner of the big, giant box of fun that I brought home from The Creative Connection – did NOT claim her prize?? If anyone knows Tami L. in Trabuco Canyon, California please tell her that these goodies are just waiting for her to give us her address. If I don’t hear from her by Thursday, I’ll choose another winner. Announcement was made here.

……….

{ reader writes }

Words can not express how stoked I am to hear from teens who love documenting life. That was so me. At an early age, I loved taking pictures, writing in my journal, and documenting my life – and my family’s life. The following is an email from sweet Emily in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is 16. And completely darling.

……….

Dear Becky,

I grew up loving photography and scrapbooking because I saw my mom doing it constantly. However, when she introduced me to Project Life, capturing memories took on a whole new meaning for me. There are many days when I feel bad about who I am, or doubt that I am truly loved. Flipping through my PL album always reassures my doubts and reminds me that I have a purpose in life, am fine just the way I am, and am loved by many. I am a junior in highschool and recently had to write about something that I believe in for my AP English class. I choose to write about remembering, and thought I would share. Thank you so much for all that you do.
.
This I Believe  |  by Emily
.
I believe in cameras. My parents always went to every school event; one videotaped and the other took pictures. They constantly stressed to get the typical student and teacher picture, the awkward school play shot no one wants to see, and the chubby smiles filled with gaps. Scrapbooks filled our shelves, eagerly awaiting the curious eyes of anyone who came to visit. We plugged the video camera into our TV and laughed at the ice cream stained faces and grubby children captured on film. Mom was always there, hidden behind her precious black box.
I believe in mirror pictures. Every girl spends time capturing various poses on film in their bathroom, whether they hide the pictures or post them online for the entire world to see. Even those goofy pictures are fun to look back through and remember what you once were like. I have my fair share of awkward middle school pictures, full of braces and faces breaking out. The embarrassing school portraits you once wanted to burn don’t seem so bad when they are sitting next to your high school pictures, oozing confidence and glowing skin.
I believe in preserving your pictures. Going back through old scrapbooks, my brothers and I were transported into a past world long forgotten. My youngest brother was captivated as he saw pictures of Christopher and me growing up and was able to glimpse into what our childhood was like. He spent hours asking questions about the books and made sure mom still carried her camera everywhere with her, in hopes that one day he would have a book of his own. Cameras have become a constant in my family’s life. They’re always there, capturing the little moments just as much as the big ones.
Above all, I believe in remembering. There is immeasurable value in a simple photograph. It tells a story, gives meaning, and has multiple memories attached to it. Nothing can describe the feeling of finding an old black and white photo of long lost family, or digging out your high school yearbook and reliving the crazy hairstyles and funky trends. Pictures keep loved ones close by or preserve our memories of them. Pictures give a history. They help us to remember the bad and learn from our mistakes; they show us the good and keep us strong enough to carry on. I believe in memories.

Posted in scrapbooking | 40 Comments »