OUT ON A LIMB...finale.

First off, sorry for the missing in action action going on lately (no good excuses, just working on getting my ducks in a row for the new year and all that, ya know?). Gonna do better now. :)

Secondly, after my holiday break from Out on a Limb, I'm back. But. I've decided after much deliberation to stop my weekly challenges on this topic. I know that part of it was just the holiday busyness and all. But part of it is that it was starting to feel like work...coming up with weekly topics and layouts. And I have enough scrapbooking that's technically work and this particular topic is so dear to my heart that I just feel the need to keep it *mine* for awhile longer. Does that make sense? I'll still post inspiration and ideas from time to time, but I just can't commit to doing it on a regular basis. I hope you understand.

That said. Here's a layout that I finished about my dad's birthday last month. It's not the coolest looking layout in the world, but I really love the journaling. It came together so well and was just perfect.

 

For those who don't want to squint at that, the picture is of my dad and his twin sister on their 20th birthday and the journaling reads:

Happy birthday, Dad! You’d have been 58 today. I’ve been trying to think of something we can do as a family every year to celebrate your birthday…some little tradition we can start so that we can feel together even when we’re not. When I asked Joe if he had any ideas, he mentioned that every year he’d ask you what you wanted for your birthday and you’d say simply “go to church and say a rosary.” So very like you. I wasn’t able to convince all the others, but I did go to church today for you. Nathan came home early so we could go to the evening service as a family. The homily was amazingly fitting. The priest talked about advent and the word “prepare.” He emphasized how we must prepare not only for the material trappings of the season but how we must prepare our lives for God…how we must live a life of faith and service. Dad, I can’t think of a single person who was more prepared to meet God than you. I wish you were here to blow out your candles, but I know that you are in a better place and that you are at peace. The way you lived your life simply leaves no alternative. So, even though we were not at all “prepared” for your death, I find comfort in the fact that you were. And so, today, I celebrated your prepared life. I have no present for you, but you’ve given me a priceless one…your example.

What number was I on? I think it was three. Yes. Three. So, thirdly, things here are going fine...nothing too out of the ordinary. Boys are still heavy on the Transformer stuff (as I type they're playing Transformer Risk with Uncle Zach in the next room and have declared that while playing you must talk in a robot voice). Micah continues to delight and is now a self-proclaimed copy cat. He likes to pat his own chest and declare, "me, cat!" (meaning copy cat). Uncle Zach's wife and youngest daughter came out to visit last weekend and Makenna and Micah (both 2) entertained us with some good robot dancing (ala "Robots" movie dvd bonus features). I had a grand girls' night last weekend...fun times. (So have to remember to take the camera next time, gals!) 

Fourth, dude. Scrapbooking is exciting me lately...so many ideas! I've been finishing up a few deadlines (still have a few to go) and am looking forward to doing a bunch more non-deadline stuff...gotta use up all these cool goodies I've been accumulating! :) I feel a little like I've been on a "scrapbooking for me" hiatus lately...focusing instead on memorial layouts and gifts and deadlines (which hasn't been at all bad). Getting excited to be excited again. :)

Okay, I have more to say, but will save it and actually blog some more tomorrow. ;) Happy night! 

OUT ON A LIMB...taking a wee break...

As I'm sure you understand, busy stuff around here. :) So, because I feel my OUT ON A LIMB challenges deserve my more full attention, I'm officially taking a wee break until January 10. Hope you'll stay tuned and check back!

Off now to wrap more stuff... ;) 

OUT ON A LIMB, week 5...

Dude. It’s Thursday again already! Okay, if you're on the west coast, it's not technically Thursday yet, but I'm up and figured I'd mark this off my to do list early. Also, I’m gonna be up front here and state that it is highly probable that I will not post any more layouts until the new year…too many holiday projects vying for my attention. I was hopeful but it’s come to the point where I have to be realistic *laugh*. Sorry! (And if I do manage to find time to post some, it’ll just be that much sweeter, right?)

But. I still have challenges for those of you who actually got your “schtuff” done in advance. (One day I aspire to be like you.) Or, if you’re like me, challenges for you to simply ponder during this holiday time and come back to later. :) This week’s challenge…create a layout about your loved one using a poem…one that touches you, one that makes you think of your loved one, one that your loved one particularly enjoyed, one that you wrote, etc.

As an alternative (if you don’t want to work on a layout focusing on a loved one), simply challenge yourself to use a poem…any poem…on your layout. I know, for myself, I often notice little poems or quotes and think to myself that they’re so appropriate but then inevitably neglect to include them on my work. I even have a spot where I jot these down for future use, just haven’t actually *used* them.

Okay, off to get some of these projects tackled...meanwhile, stay warm and have fun!

OUT ON A LIMB, week 4...

Thursday again! Ready for another OUT ON A LIMB challenge? Good. Given the holiday season, this week’s challenge is to think of a gift you’d give your loved one this holiday season if he/she were here to receive it. I’ve got a layout in mind for this one, but haven’t finished it yet (sorry!)…will post here when I do!

Alternately (or additionally), do a layout about a gift this year that you’re excited to GIVE. I’m loving seeing all the layouts about wish lists (especially kids’ wish lists! Totally going to do some of those soon…), but got to thinking that we rarely celebrate the giving. Let’s change that up! Why not do a layout about a gift you’ve got for someone and why you chose it?

That’s it. :) Due to the holidays, I’m guessing many of us are more swamped than usual. Please, though, do let me know if you do the challenge...or even just that it inspires you but you haven't tackled it yet. I love hearing your stories!

OUT ON A LIMB, week 3...

This week’s OUT ON A LIMB challenge is a little bit different. I’ve been thinking about it lately and really want to start some new traditions to honor my dad…ways my family and I can celebrate his life even when we can’t all be together. This Christmas I plan to select a star/ornament from a giving tree that matches up with a man, possibly a father. I can then shop for him in the same manner that I’d shop for my dad. The giving tree thing is something I’ve done in the past and isn’t some grand new idea, but I like the thought of doing it with this new intention. I think my dad would appreciate the gesture, as he was a truly self-less soul. I’m going to talk to my siblings and mom about doing the same thing…starting this new tradition with me.

So. This week’s challenge is to think of some sort of tradition YOU can start in honor of a loved one. It doesn’t have to revolve around Christmas at all, though it might be an easier starting point. Please, too, would you mind sharing your ideas with me? If you don’t want to post a public comment here, feel free to email me privately. Thank you!