What Is Your Why?

That is the question I get asked all the time.  Why do I own and run a scrapbooking retreat, homeschool my children, be active in the church and still feel the need to teach scrapbooking. It is one thing to just scrapbook for the fun of it, to preserve the memories (especially because my brain is forgetting details quickly these days), and to use it as another means to spend time with friends but why teach people and work Close to My Heart as a “business”.  Well, to be honest my time with Close to My Heart has never felt like a business.  Sure I have made money from it, enough to full my husbands dream of owning a boat,  but I LOVE to help other people experience the joy of getting “inky” and getting their photos off their phones and onto papers that more and more people can see, to help them tell their stories and share those stories with more people and to give them something that generations to come can look at and learn more about their family that was ever shared before.  

Recently my family had the opportunity to watch two young girls as their parents went out of town. While they were with us, I thought it would be fun for them both to create the Born to Shine mini album.

Close to My Heart taught several months ago. I had all the supplies and I thought it would fun for them to share some of who they were.  I looked up photos off their mom’s facebook account and photos I had taken previously of their family and they went to work. And they loved it!  They didn’t follow all the directions, they took liberties on how they wanted to do and they made it theirs!  They did what scrapbooking is all about.  Making it yours and and telling your story.  The youngest girl took her book with her every where she went and showed it to everyone she saw.  She was so proud of her creation.  The oldest was a little more private with hers but really poured her heart into and saved it in a special place.

Fast forward about a month later, That same girl (the 2nd one) was selling cookies to raise money for summer camp. I went to her stand and purchased enough cookies for the ladies at the retreat for them to enjoy. I love to pour into our children and help them when they are working for things they want.

This last Sunday I went into church, Father’s Day mind you, and there that same girl stood with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a gift bag.  I was excited to see what she was bringing to her dad but then she told me they were for me - FOR ME!  What?  I was beyond stunned, gave her a hug and went to find my seat, because if you know me, you know I am usually late (it’s not my fault, I run a  retreat, remember ;-)).  Anyway, once I got settled, I opened he card at the top of the bag and this is what it said...

This is what was in the bag...

Later I I found out from her mom that she bought these stamp sets and flowers with her own money, without any help or guidance from her parents. I guess this story is more about bragging on what a good heart she has but it reminded me that this is why I scrapbook and make cards.  Because doing so shows those I love, that I care about them and want to remember and share our stories. I teach young girls how to scrapbook because I want them to know how to do the same and have a fun and creative way of expressing themselves. Her heart and action was beautiful but it reminded me that this is why I scrapbook and teach people to scrapbook, because we have no idea how it will impact someone but it might help them say goodbye to someone they lost recently through pictures and telling their story, it might be to try to capture in pictures and journaling the feelings they had during a vacation or family get together and it may just draw a young child to see another part of herself that is amazing and she can use that to keep pouring into other people.  It is my desire to “pass it on”.  To pass on the stories, the love for creativity, the heart for others and the chocolate chip cookies. :)

What is your why for scrapbooking?