Ethnic Scrapbooking

A case for BALANCE

Organize Magazine, one of my new loves really cheered me up with this article, so much so I'll share my organized drawer that I created back in April and it still looks the same today.

U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

Recently, I attended a professional development workshop offered by USPAACC.com (U.S. Pan American Chamber of Commerce).  I was thrilled to be surrounded by the Pan-Asian culture…I tried to take note of all things cultural.  Here’s a short list of what I remembered (lost my notes).

• Centerpieces were ceramic plates designed in honor of the” Year of the Rat”

• There were plenty jokes about short men

• The meal was grilled salmon over a bed of rice and spinach (maybe seaweed, I’m not sure)

• Heard fabulous testimonies of humble beginnings outside the U.S.

• Huge emphasis on learning and higher education

• The USPAAC honored and highlighted their scholarship winners

• There was an air of partnership…building of alliances and willingness to support one another

Some were offended by the rat image in front of our meal, but I thought it was a nice cultural touch.  I really enjoyed one speakers comparison of how she normally might have lunch in Hong Kong.  She said, the fish would have been brought to the table live for selection and then prepared, she might also have had her meal on a moving boat...both of those scenes sound exciting to me compared to the cold and drafty ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in D.C.

Everyone

The Lord is not slow to keeping his promises,

as some understand slowness. 

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.  II Peter 3:9, NIV

 

There are over 29 countries represented in our church and I just love International Sunday when we dress in traditional ethnic clothing.  I couldn’t resist Joseph in this outfit straight from Senegal, West Africa…do you recognize this recreated photo shoot from a layout in my book, Ethnic Scrapbooking?  Believe it or not, it’s a different child at the same age.

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN

History was made this past Tuesday night.  I let my children stay up and watch it unfold on the news.  Once again I was able to stress to them that they are experiencing historical event, live and in living color that school children will one day honor and cherish in a History school lesson.

I thought these three sisters I met in NJ were a great example of embracing change in America and to always have HOPE in your heart.

Heartfelt Memories

Recently a friend of mine shared with me her latest venture…one that pulls on my heartstrings.  She works in a NICU and her ministry is to create pre-decorated memory albums for the parents of premature babies that go onto heaven.  In some cases she also provides touching black and white photography.  WOW!  Now that’s something to look forward to each day as you go to work, to help a family start the healing process when their emotions are so very raw and fresh, what a powerful ministry that is. 

Why do I feel so strongly about this? I lost my second child Jeremiah right after birth in 1994.  The situation leading up to the premature birth was quite tragic, I find comfort in knowing for sure is that he was sent to save my life.  I had Listeria, an infection and had I not been pregnant, it probably would have gone undetected and moved to my heart.

So this is a new project on my Summer to do list…create some pages about the sibiling my kids never got to meet with them.  We do have some hospital mementos and a few Polaroid’s so I’m thankful for that, but most of all it’s an awesome testimony to God in so many ways.

Please check out the website:  www.heartfeltmemories.info  and try to create some pages to donate to this precious cause.

Kid's and scrapbooking

So many "moms"don't think to scrapbook with their children.  I whole-heartedly understand the need to have something for yourself and enjoy some time away from the kids, but I introduce my kids to scrapbooking around the age of four.  My prayer is that it will be a life-long skill they keep in the forefront of their mind.  Not necessarily the paper and glue part of it, but the memories, learning from past experiences, seeing the blessings in their lives, embracing the differences, and thinking twice about wrong behavior for fear that someone may scrapbook about it.

Here's Joseph's introduction of sorts.  He's been cranking on the sizzix machine for about a year now, but here he is making his first paper-bag album...He made two in one week, one for his beloved Grandma and one for his friend R.J.

Fundraising Event

This weekend I hosted a fundraising scrapbook event for "Blacks in Government" Library of Congress chapter.  It was such an honor to expose so many new people into the world of scrapbooking, I hope they weren't overwhelmed by the studio and seriousness of this tradition.

I was even further honored when a repeat attender did a layout about me and the joy she has found in the fellowship aspect of scrapbooking.

Essandra's layout (that's her in the background) touched me and cracked me up.  I asked her where she got the little african mask in the corner and she said from my cricut cartridge!!!  I bought that cartridge for the ethnic symbols and I've never even used it...I really have too much stuff! LOL

Events are all about inspiring each other.  She was inspired by me upon our first meeting and she inspired me.  When we first met she had an album full of photographs she had taken of herself.  Later that week I ran around the house and took photos of myself in different natural light and of course the proverbial bathroom mirror.  She also gave me sheets of paper used in her layout, so now I have the basis for my layout about how she inspired me. Boy, what an example of BALANCE...you know my word for the year.