Saturday, January 21, 2012

Three new scrapbook pages!

I would like to share three new scrapbook pages with you  . . .
 all made using the January "Escape" Scraps of Darkness kit.
I am so sad because I have to stop subscribing to these kits for awhile in order to save that money for Katie's college fund.  She is a senior in high school and will be leaving for college before we know it.  Sniff-Sniff!

My first layout was made using a photo of Katie and Ryan just before they left for their senior "Black and White" formal. 


Even though the kit was made for warm-weather vacations, I thought the colors were perfect for this special occasion in Katie's life!

My second layout is another winter page using the SOD warm weather kit.  I took a photo of the snow globe at my friends' (Barb and Jimmy) home on New Year's Day.  We have been celebrating Christmas and New Year's Day at their home for such a long time - what a wonderful tradition.  My sister and her husband are always there, too, making it even more special.


And, last but not least,  my third layout is a very emotional one for me.  Scraps of Darkness runs a "Skeletons in the Closet" challenge every 3 to 4 months.  This one is about friendships and how they effect us.  We were challenged to print a photo of us on something other than photo paper.  I printed mine on patterned cardstock. 


My journaling reads as follows: 
I met a friend in 1991. I had just gotten married in 1990, moved twice, and was living in West Virginia. She was the employee health nurse at the hospital where I had just gotten a job. She did my pre-employment physical. I was taken by how friendly and funny she was. We hit it off right away. I distinctly remember her telling me about “getting older” and that she was experiencing pain in her right hip. She thought it was from skiing. Funny, I skied, too. Another thing we had in common.

In 1993 I found out I had cancer of the appendix - a very rare form of cancer that had spread throughout my abdomen. I was scared. I was especially scared that I would never be able to have a child. My friend found out that she had cancer right about the same time I did. It was another rare form that began as a lesion in her right hip bone. Ahhhhh - that was why she was having that pain. I had surgery and chemo. She had her chemo at about the same time as me. But hers was much more intense that mine, and she ended up having a bone marrow transplant. She went through so much, but finally passed away in 1995. I survived, and went on to have my daughter, Katie. A happy ending to my story, but not to hers. This experience had a profound effect on me. I felt so many emotions, including guilt for having survived while she passed away.

Time heals all wounds. Through the years I have learned to appreciate each moment, take one day at a time, and to treasure the friendships that I encounter along the way. 

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Sending a great big Thank You to you all out there!  I appreciate your friendship and support more that you can every imagine!

12 comments:

  1. What a story..
    Enjoy, relax and have fun, it`s a great time for it! Best regards, hugs!

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  2. Beautiful projects. That is really powerful journaling on the last- thank you for sharing your story!

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  3. Such pretty layouts! LOVE the color combo on the first one! I love your journaling, it is always so powerful!

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  4. Absolutely powerful journaling on that last one!!! I love love love love all of these!! GORGEOUS colors and layers!! :):):):):):):):):):):)

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  5. you're so brave!

    gorgeous work! certainly your last piece is my favorite, especially the symbolism...this is real life and the only way out is through, right?

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  6. Fabulous stuff Sharon! Love them all my friend!

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  7. Sharon...beautiful job on all of these pages! So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend...sometime's it's so hard to understand why we go through things...and yes feel guilty afterwards. Thanks for sharing with us such heartfelt memories.

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  8. Wow Sharon, what a touching story about your friend. So sorry to hear of your loss. What a beautiful tribute to her!

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  9. Sharon, I would like to give you the Liebster blog award. Please visit my blog for the details!

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  10. Wow, love your pages--they are awesome, but I so very sorry to hear about your loss.

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  11. Ok...that was so hard to read for that last layout, Sharon. So sad but I'm so happy you both shared a special friendship. Beautiful layouts...why does scrapping have to cost so much?! But I guess college is much more important...you are such a wonderful Mom and Friend!

    Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family!!!

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  12. Ohhhh!!!!!!!! The layout "let it snow" is so beautiful!!!!
    I love very much!
    Bises de France...............Sandra

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