English Major Strikes Scrapbook Gold

When I joined blogland, I wondered how writing posts would affect writing in my journal. After four months of blogging, now I know: I haven’t been faithful to either medium! This from the person who, while a teacher, bemoaned the lack of time for anything as introspective as writing in one’s journal or creating a short story. I actually got excited when I had to write an email to parents about their child’s bad behavior – here was a challenging writing assignment with potential negative fallout far beyond a mere failing grade from a professor. Motivation, anyone?

Rachel’s determination to spend more time writing served as a contrast to my lackadaisical attitude toward my own writing. I only work part-time, I don’t have children (yet) – why am I not taking advantage of this season in my life?! It will never come again!

I need to be more intentional about writing regularly – in my journal, on my blog, and now, with scrapbooking.

One thing that I like about Simple Scrapbooks magazine (my new interest since Scrapbook Answers went under) is its emphasis on journaling and narrative. The editors may showcase too many 1-picture layouts (my pet peeve), but they do stress the importance of putting your thoughts and descriptive memories on the page; they even devote entire books to that end. Surprisingly (or not?), the truly creative scrapbooker is not only visually artistic, but a verbal artist as well – one who tells a story or makes you think, in addition to providing a feast for the eyes.

This page (p.79, Sept/Oct 06, Simple Scrapbooks) stood out because of its visual simplicity as well as its verbal ingenuity. There are only so many belly pictures you can take while one is pregnant (seems to me, without speaking from personal experience), but this page goes beyond showing belly size. [Disclaimer: No, this is not an Announcement of any kind. But I am looking forward to the day when I can STOP adding disclaimers!!!! Sheesh, you people!] If you can’t read the words on the page, it says this:

right now, i miss being able to lay down on my stomach.

i miss being able to see my feet.

i miss my old pooch. i miss

being able to get a full

night’s rest. i miss

being able to just get

around. but i know that

in less than two

months…

i'll miss all

your little kicks

and squirms. i'll miss

looking forward to

that next ultrasound.

i'll miss knowing that i

can keep you safe inside.

i'll miss being able to take you

everywhere with me. funny how things work, huh.

Funny how writing that seems so simple can be so complex.