I received a wonderful letter from my cousin Cheri in the mail today - and have spent the last hour crying my eyes out. You see, when I was 7 years old my Mom left my father. Long story - but my Dad was a great guy - she just didn't love him, and found someone else. My step father was and still is a very jealous man....and every photo, slide - anything having to do with my father was destroyed. I've never had any photos of him, or of him with me or my brothers...nothing. To make matters worse, after two years of every other weekend 'visitation' my mother put a halt to that, too. I stayed pretty close to my Dad, tho. I would secretly write him letters (even tho we lived in the same darned city), and sneak in a short phone call when I could. My Dad, and his entire family are all gone now - and in today's letter from Cheri (my father's brother's daughter) were photo's. LOTS of photos! I have my fathers graduation photo, pictures of him when he was a kid. Photos of my Grandma and Grandpa - and my Great Grandparents on both sides. I've never seen any of these except my Dad's graduation photo, and that's only because he was in my Mom's yearbook. It's been a wonderful afternoon..and I am still a bit overwhelmed with this precious treasure! We are memorykeepers for a reason - and this is why. So we never forget. So we can capture moments in time and remember with a smile :)
This week I have a new collection for road trips, vacations - adventures! A Great Adventure is filled with color and awesome elements and textures to help scrap those pages! It's on sale until Sunday at midnight in my shop at the Digichick. I'm running a bit behind on catching up with retiring products...but hoping to get those in by this weekend, too. I have some awesome, amazing clusters to share - my girls went overboard this week, and I'll be sharing those every night - tonight's cluster is from Chrissy! I'll be staying warm and watching football and designing away this weekend...hope yours is a cozy warm one!
This week I have a new collection for road trips, vacations - adventures! A Great Adventure is filled with color and awesome elements and textures to help scrap those pages! It's on sale until Sunday at midnight in my shop at the Digichick. I'm running a bit behind on catching up with retiring products...but hoping to get those in by this weekend, too. I have some awesome, amazing clusters to share - my girls went overboard this week, and I'll be sharing those every night - tonight's cluster is from Chrissy! I'll be staying warm and watching football and designing away this weekend...hope yours is a cozy warm one!
and a little inspiration!
Aren't those fun and fabulous? I love my Creative Team!
The image above is linked to its direct download. See you tomorrow! -Kim
Love this one Chrissy :)
ReplyDeleteKim, reading your blog of the wonderful gift you received today is heartwarming to say the very least. How lovely your cousin sent you the wonderful photos full of amazing memories for you to view over and over again of your father. She could not have given you a kinder gift to begin this new year.
ReplyDeleteChrissy, this is a wonderful share. Thanks so much.
So happy for you. What a unexpected treasure!
ReplyDeleteI just adore this new kit. That truck looks so much like my dad's old antique only it was green.Thank you so much for all the awesome freebies.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Joyce
I just went back and read your story.....how sad and terrible for you. But Someone was certainly looking out for you when they sent you all of those invaluable pictures. What a treasure!!! I'm thrilled for you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome cluster, love the old pickup! So happy you got the treasures, means so very much I know! Have a fantastic weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love it- thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteYour story is sad, yet awesome at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIts so nice, thank you so much !
ReplyDeleteKim, thanks for sharing about the beautiful gift of photos you received from your cousin! Yes, memory-keeping is so important. Thanks for your beautiful kits and freebies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story, what an amazing prize! Thanks for the download as well, always the best.
ReplyDeleteOh Kim I am so happy for you...holding back happy tears while I write...I totally get it....I have my mother's photos to scan so that I can share them with all of my brothers and sisters...I feel it is so important. Recently I was lucky enough to be able to scan all of my Uncle's photos (Aunt and Uncle wer way better at taking photos than my Mom)...so many that included not only grand parents but some of us kids growing up too! What a priceless gift Chrissy has shared with you! Sad to hear that your step Dad was a bit cruel in keeping your from your father but one big happy smile I have for you today to have those precious photos! Since we only have a small box of photos from my Mom (and a lot were of my older sister-the first born of six) but I cherish each one...it also made me realize that photos (good, bad, and ugly) cannot be bought...so whenever I am with family and on trips with hubby I take an overload of photos...it is so important! Thank you for sharing, I loved reading all about it!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! They are certainly precious indeed...I can't stop looking at them! I've never seen photos of my dad when he was a kid...early 1940's...pictures of his mom's wedding ....and all the great grandparents! Treasure indeed :) Janet - it is indeed important. I was widowed at age 29 - my children never knew their father at all....I learned then and there that journaling and memorykeeping were the way to go!
ReplyDelete