Happy Memorial Day

I'm feeling a little guilty today. Growing up, I spent every Memorial Day decorating graves with my mother and grandmother. It was a big family holiday and I have wonderful memories. Since I got married, we've spent a few Memorial Days back home and I know my mother is carrying on the tradition well but I always feel a little guilty on Memorial Day not visiting a loved one's grave somewhere.

Friday night, I sat down to put some loose pages in my scrapbooks and spent the next four hours looking through every last page I have created. I read the journaling, I smiled a lot and cried a little bit. This is what I do this for--to remember. It seemed appropriate that I would do this on Memorial Day weekend.

So in memory today, I want to say thank you to my grandfather, Andrew Jackson Moffitt.

He fought in World War II, earned a Silver Star on Attu, and rarely talked about it. I think like many of his generation, he just did what was asked of him and didn't necessarily think there was anything heroic in it. He's been gone for a long time now but I'm still grateful every day for what he and his brothers and his friends and so many others did for this country, then and now.

And then there is my grandma, Twila Oman Fehlman. She didn't fight in any war but she preserved every memory she could. Without her, I would have very few pictures of me as a child. Looking through her photo albums as a child was always a pleasure. She kept them in her bedroom, in the corner, and (when I wasn't playing with her jewelry) I often sat on the floor and looked at her albums. I did this page a few years ago.

She's the oldest of the three sisters. She made my ancestors live for me, not just on Memorial Day. I can't look at a lilac bush or a peony and not think of her. I miss her and my Grandpa Fehlman more than I can possibly express.

Whether you live near or far from the resting place of your ancestors, take a moment today to remember those who helped make you who you are. Say thank you to a soldier or veteran. Smile at a memory. Happy Memorial Day.

It's Been a Good Day

Life has been a little stressful lately. It's the end of the school year, work has been insane for several weeks now, there's been a lot going on. But today, today was a good day.

I wanted to share a page that I did recently, inspired by a page I saw on Instagram posted by Simple Stories. It was so simple and I thought, "I bet I'd have time to do that." So I did. It's just a little reminder that no matter how crazy my life may get, it's still a good one.

Hidden Journaling

Here's to a good day everyone!

Simply Inspired Blog Hop: Free to Be Me

Time for another blog hop. I absolutely love participating in these because the ideas are so beautiful and it keeps me on my creative toes. If you've just arrived here from the sweet and lovely Michelle Snyder's blog, then you are on the right track. At any time if you get lost along the way, you can go to this link to see all the blog hoppers.

And now on to it. Today is National Scrapbooking Day! The whole month of May is National Scrapbooking Month and Close to My Heart's Free to Be Me special is available all month long but today is the perfect day to introduce it to you.

  

I adore these colors. And the textures! And the vellum! Ahhh, there is nothing not to like about this particular paper packet.

 

Here is a close up. Baby Rilo has got to be the cutest little bunny ever but look closely at the paper here. Can you see the texture in the lovely pink sorbet paper? And on the teal? And that beautiful gold polka dot is velllum layered over the pink sorbet paper.

Here is another close up. My cute niece and nephew-in-law are darling parents but look at the paper again for a moment. See the texture in the green? And that feather pattern in the background is also vellum. I adore these people and I adore this paper!

Thank you to Maddie and Jared for letting me feature them and their precious new daughter on this page. I hope I've inspired all of you. And now hop on over to the talented Beckie Lehman's blog for more inspiration.