I've been in a funk for the past few weeks, hence no posts and very limited Internet activity.
We just discovered a few weeks ago that my FIL who just made it through a lung removal surgery (despite having severe asthma) now has a tumor that started in his shoulder area and has metastasized to his brain. When things around here are bad...they are really bad.
So I've been trying to create a tributary album for my favorite (and only) father-in-law, but the emotions that keep rumbling to the surface have made it hard. Someone once left an incredulity laced comment about my use of scrapbooking for emotional therapy. My reply was that it's very much possible to use crafting as a form of poor-man's therapy. These past few weeks have pretty much proven that anything is possible.
I started off simply writing down some of the funny moments that we've shared, then I moved onto jotting down memorable details stemming from the handful of pictures that I have. Ultimately, I would like to complete an entire scrapbook because he is a man who deserves to be honored. I remember when I took my scrapbooks up with us during the last visit. My FIL actually had tears in his eyes from reading the journaling on the pages that I did about him. He didn't think that anyone had ever held him in that high of a regard! I tried to get everyone to contribute (all of his son's and daughters) but alas, the highway to hell is paved with good intentions and bordered by bouquets of broken promises.
Anyway, so I've spent the past few weeks doing some emotional micro-dermabrasion. Emotionally, I'm pretty raw, but I can feel the healing and the strengthening with every page that I complete. I can say with certainty that this undertaking will definitely smooth his passing (for me) because my testimony to his life will serve as a salve. Some would say that I'm making more out of scrapbooking that I should, some would say that I'm being pretentious and stretching the intent behind scrapbooking. I say that scrapbooking is what each of us makes it and that nobody has the right to thumb their noses at the purpose or importance that one places on such a personal craft. Do you...that's what I say.
I am the CS...and Scrapbooking is my therapy!
TFR
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3 comments:
Hey, I say whatever works :) Losing someone is very hard and if this makes things easier and brings back great memories, then it's the perfect therapy. I hope you get to make your album, sounds like it's been a wonderful process for you so far.
I am so sorry to hear about G. I know how much you love him and how hard this must be on you. But I am also proud of you for jus going through that emotional barrier and create something fantastic.
I am keeping you all in my thoughts in the hope G will be able to see this book too!
Love ya
i'm very sorry - this is very tough on your whole family i'm sure. and you know what - if scrappin helps you then i say do it. if someone says they think its hooey that you use scrapping for therapy - i say hooey to them. you do what works for you. i absolutely believe that it can help - as much as any stress reliever, hobby - whatever you wanna call it. you have to have some way to work thru it. i wish you and your family peace
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