Since my mom retired last year, she’s had more time on her hands to do fun things. Like scrapbook. I cannot tell you how thrilling it is for me to get to share my passion with one of the single most important people in my life. It means so much to me when she emails photos of whatever project she’s working on (for constructive criticism or a little pat on the back); texts me about new web sites she’s just discovered and really excited about, as well as special sales and deals; or phoned me to tell me she is at such-n-such store finding so many cute things “to die for”, and I really need to go look when I can. It’s quite endearing and sweet, and I love how much closer we’ve gotten because of this new-found bond. We have agreed to get together at least once a month (she lives in my hometown, just about an hour south from where I am) to have our ‘scrapbook dates’. These have become very important to us: we take turns going to each other’s home, show and tell what we’ve been doing, talk scrap, and brainstorm ideas, then go shopping to our local craft stores to shop our little hearts out. Oh, and then we have to stop and have lunch so we can oooh and aaaah over what we’ve purchased, trade ideas and inspiration, talk about Project Life, and of course Pinterest (got Mom hooked on both of those recently, too!). By the time we get back to one of our homes, it’s getting late in the day, and we may manage to do a little bit of scrapping….opening the packages, planning what we’ll make, and trying out one stamp. We love it. It’s just her and I, no husbands, no children (excluding yours truly). It’s invigorating, and by the time we get to our respective homes, we’re bursting at the seams to scrap our little hearts out. She’s got more time than I have now, so I don’t have as much to show yet (although my Project Life album has not been ignored yet), but recently she was telling me about a fun idea she came up with, and couldn’t wait to show me. She took the box that her Project Life kit came in, and cut it up to make pages. She then took all the junk mail she received on that given day, and collaged pieces of the mail here and there with words of wisdom……for me. She presented it to me last weekend (our most recent ‘date’), and I was floored. I had no idea this project was intended for me….I know I have been needing a bit of cheering up lately, but I didn’t realize that she took it to heart. So, here is a very special book made from my mother’s heart to add to, to make mine, and to treasure always. Mom, you know I will.

click on photo to enlarge.

I love you, Mom. Thanks a million.