Scrapbooking (or maybe the word should be papercrafting)

I was able to spend this Friday and Saturday scrapbooking, or maybe it should be called papercrafting. I have a group of ladies that I have scrapbooked with for the last 6-7 years. The group used to be quite large but now because of people moving and life changes (miss you guys!) we are down to about 5 that are regulars. We try to get together every other month but it doesn't usually happen. These weekends are therapeutic for me! We get to spend 2 days (and usually late into the night) visiting, laughing, commiserating and enjoying each other. We always get to eat good food and of course we scrapbook! (Although this weekend I did a couple of crafts and a WHOLE bunch of Christmas cards.) I've been thinking about this need I have to do this. I've decided that it is the whole activity together. Sure it's fun to get together, and I LOVE the joy of saving my families memories or making a cute decorations for my home and, of course, I love eating good food. But really, they all go together. I come home physically exhausted, this old body is not use to staying up so late, but emotionally and mentally I am rejuvenated. I can face life again and guess what, I really like my kids! There is something about looking at those pictures and remembering the good memories that makes me appreciate what I have and how wonderful my life is. I know some people think scrapbooking is a silly hobby- a waste of time, money, etc... but to me it is my life line. It is my "quilting bee." And along the way I am hopefully creating something that will let my children know how important they are to me and how important Doug is to me and what my values are. I've also been very blessed because for the last 9 years scrapbooking has also been a way for me to bring in a little extra income. Wow! Am I a lucky girl or what!?!

Along these same lines I have to give a major shout out to Doug! These wonderful weekends would not happen without him. He is so good to let me go and he totally takes care of the kids. He gets them to where they need to be and he even gets work done around the house. Thanks Doug! Love ya!

Maybe tomorrow I will post some pictures of my projects I did. I love them!