Christmas

I spotted this LO of Christine's on her blog,
and she kindly gave permission for me to share it here,
it looks a little like our sketch even though she didn't use Tanya's sketch.

I trust that you had a blessed Christmas and look forward to seeing the new year in a few days.
I will be posting the reader's roundup,
the winner of the RAK for December and the new prize and challenge for January in the first few days of 2009.

Wilna's Christmas Countdown.

If you visit Wilna's blog she is giving away a full set of psd files to customise your own Christmas album.

I have to confess that I never got it together like Ali Edwards did to make something before hand and Shimelle's countdown to Christmas is a little overwhelming for me... (her prompts started on the first of December and carry on until the 6th of January 2009)
I will take photos from the get go next year with her prompts in mind.

However for now, this is what I've done and I love it... Page 1.

Page 4.

Page 5.

Page 6.

Page 7.

Page 8.

Page 9.

Yes, I know that this is journaling junkie and I haven't done much of that...

part a big part of scrapbooking is living in the moment,

enjoying life as you live it and capturing the memories as they're made.

And I did that!

Festive greetings

You still have time to submit your LO's to me for the Christmas challenge.
I will be posting the next challenge just before the new year with a glimpse at the prize for January.

I trust that as you spend time with family and friends you remember that all we can take with us when we leave this world is realtionships, no-one looking back over their lives has ever said "Oh, I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, that He left heaven to become man and lived in order to die for our sins. Sometimes in the busy-ness our focus shifts to the fat man in the red suit and the gifts we have bought, instead of the Ultimate Gift. He is the reason for the season.

Blessings,
Stefanie.

Tracy K's challenge 47.

One of the best things about the holiday season is sending and receiving Christmas cards.
I love checking the mail in December!
I love getting pictures and those hokey Christmas letters from friends and family.
We exchange cards at work and at church too so there are always tons of cards to display.
Our traditional Christmas card display center?
The back of the living room door, of course!
Isn't that where everyone puts them?

Mia's challenge 47.

Journaling:
Since Daddy's family is in Manila and Mommy's family is in Cagayan de Oro, we usually travel during the holidays --- celebrating Christmas eve in one place and New Year's eve in the other.
This year we spent Christmas Eve in Cagayan de Oro and flew to Manila on Christmas Day and stayed there even after New Year's Day.
How fun to celebrate with both families!
CHRISTMAS 2007

Nicole's challenge 47.

I am a huge fan of tradition, whether it's one that's been handed down through the years or a new one that you make all your own. Over the Christmas season, I try especially hard now that I have children to have lot of little traditions throughout December to extend the fun of the holiday season. Little things like doing Christmas themed crafts, baking pretzel hugs, and exchanging pj's on Christmas Eve are just some of those things. I hope my kids will remember these things fondly and do them one day with their own children.

And the winner is...

Congrats Timi...

Please email me your physical address so that Shannon can pop your prize in the mail to you.
A big thank-you to all you talented ladies who sent in LO's and journaling, sharing your talents with us, to encourage and inspire.
Please remember the challenge for December is on already, I will be posting a pic of the prize very shortly, you have until the 28th of December midnight GMT to have your layouts in to me.

Reader's roundup

This one is from Amy for challenge 47.

Our Christmas traditions include..
~Putting up the Christmas decorations and lights the day after Thanksgiving.
~We use the advent calendar that Grandma gave us to count down the days until Christmas.
~We send out our annual Christmas card, which might include a letter depending on how much time we have.
~The kids always get pictures with Santa.
~ We usually spend a couple days at the mall with our family to shop for Christmas gifts.
~We bake sugar cookies around this time of year, especially the night before Santa comes!
~Christmas Eve we spend with Joe's family in the late afternoon and then we head over to Amy's Mom's house (this year it will be at Laura's). We have fun exchanging gifts and eating together.
~Santa wraps and delivers the gifts the night of Christmas Eve
~Christmas day is usually pretty chaotic with all the excitement, toys and wrapping paper everywhere!
~After opening presents at our house on Christmas day, we head over to my Dad and Jeanie's house to celebrate with them and exchange gifts.
~We want to add going to down town Seattle for one of our traditions. I'd also like to start having the kids write a letter to Santa now that they are old enough.
~Thinking about our Christmas traditions makes me inspired to think of some new ways we can add traditions to our family. These are the things that the kids will (hopefully) remember.

This one is from Lynette for challenge 46.

Journaling:

Sisters trying to stop the last day from ending.

Giggling and whispering through the last night.

If I could turn back time...I would not have given myself to idle words.

Damaging forever the realtionship we had

Thanks ladies, I will be doing the draw for the Oct Nov prize a later today.

Liza's challenge 47.

Since I got married four years ago, we've been spending Christmas with Nelo's family. We've tried to make it a point to spend Christmas with them and spend New Year's with my family.
Year 2006 was no different. Our Christmas celebration begins with Noche Buena on Christmas Eve. We attend mass in the evening and celebrate afterwards together as family. Christmas Day, we get ready to distribute and open our presents together.
After that, we proceed to Loyola to visit Raya. It's a sad moment and yet we have to do it, it's the only way we can actually "spend" Christmas with her.
Then it's off to lunch and celebrate this joyous day once more.
Christmas is time with family and that is how we celebrate it every year.
(December 25, 2006)

Cabbie's challenge 47

i am inspired by the lights of our christmas tree and the food which we will prepare during Christmas eve. Christmas is the most joyous season of all and during this time we give gifts to people we love and share with them the bountiful blessings that we have. Parties and reunions are always held because togetherness bring us closer to each other. With that, we bond and create a sense of gratitude, we also forgive and repay. And yet we should always remember that our feelings for one another should not only be limited to the christmas season but all throughout the year. The true spirit of christmas is measured when we give love and when there is love, happiness abound. Thus the most joyous season of all... a Christmas day for all of us.

Mel's challenge 47

Journaling:
Another special Christmas celebrated at Grannie A and Oupa's house.
Was really special 'cause Uncle D was visiting from America and I was pregnant with your brother.
Uncle S was away and we did miss him.
Both you girls were spoilt rotten and had a wonderful time.

Tis the season (challenge 47)

Tanya has graciously given us permission to use her sketch for our Christmas challenge.

She hosts a sketches blog so if you're looking for a challenge then pop along to her blog. This is my LO.

Journaling as follows:

Our Christmas traditions remain pretty much the same year after year.

Sometime in October I try and photograph the three of you in red and Santa hats…ha ha.

Then from the beginning of December we take down the family handprints quilt and put up the Father Christmas and the Ark quilt.

The handmade ornaments are unearthed and displayed and the tree with all it’s baubles is unpacked.

I usually have a colour scheme in mind ~purple and gold was royalty and silver and red was the blood of Jesus and our redemption.

She loves playing with the knitted Nativity set, especially the mother Mary and the baby Jesus.

Christmas eve you put out milk and biscuits for Father Christmas and carrots and greenery for the reindeer. The presents arrive under the tree some time during the night of the 24th and you children wake up incredibly early and cannot contain your excitement. You have to wait until I’m up and awake enough to take photos. Then you rip into the wrapping papers and squeal and exclaim when you get what you wanted most desperately.

We get ready for church and then come home; you play with your toys while I start roasting the gammon. Sometimes we have salads with it and sometimes hot veg, but always we have the crackers and wear the hot plastic hats for the duration of the meal…It’s a family thing!

Pudding starts with trifle and usually later we’ll have tea with minced pies, shortbread, stollen and liebkuchen. Sometimes it is a family affair and other times we’re with friends, but we always eat too much and enjoy these precious family traditions.

This challenge runs from now (the 9th of December) until the end of December,

when I will post the new one for 2009.

Please have your submissions in to me before the 30th of December midnight GMT.

I will be putting together a prize for the lucky draw for entries in December, posting a pic soon.

The LO has to reflect the sketch and you need to share some Christmas traditions or journaling around the festive season. Once again you can email it to me or leave a comment with your URL for me to collect it there and upload to the JJ blog. (eyeore-at-telkomsa-dot-net)

Many thanks and best wishes for a love filled peaceful Christmas time.

Another one.

This one is from J.Journalling:

" How would be your reaction knowing that you would have a grandson...you always told us you liked girls....How would be to see me pregnant, I know you would be so happy...It really breaks my heart that you're not here physically, to see all this change, to see that we 're carrying on what you've began makes me really wonder sometimes why life takes this path,but I have no control other than the feeling that in way you know what's going on..."

Reader's roundup

These are both from Shayne - challenges 45 and 46. 101 reasons why I love Woolies.

"Leaving Cape Town was one of the hardest (and happiest) moments of my life.
Leaving behind everyone and everything I'd ever known - to start again with
Dean was one of the bravest things I've ever done. I was taking a giant
leap of faith in Dean, and in our fairly new relationship. But as "they"
always say - "you'll never know if you haven't tried". And try I did - the
first few years weren't easy at all. But now (almost 5 years down the line)
I can say it was the best decision I've ever made. Yes, I miss CT and my
friends, but my husband, family and life we share is the most precious gift
I've been given - and I thank the Lord daily for blessing me in this way."

Thanks Shayne.

Stefanie's

My Father, my daughter holding hands

She doesn't hesitate to trust,

Me?

I'm the one holding back,

removed and taking photos

~it's easier than dealing with the emotion of how badly I want to be " my daddy's little girl"

the fear of rejection stings too painfully

and I can't overcome the need to protect myself rather than take that risk...

The result ? Two adults unable to show their love for one another.

Why can't I be mature enough to trust like a little child?

Shannon's challenge 46

the journaling reads:

I can remember what it felt like to wake up on Christmas morning and feel the magic and joy...the eager anticipation, it was almost fuzzy as if it was slightly out of focus - but very clear that Christmas had come. Now I get to experience that with you - getting excited seeing your cute faces light up and big smiles spread across your sweet, sweet faces, my heart filling up as i watch you live in the moment, I get to relive it too!

Tracy K's challenge 46

without. without you its just not the same to go there. to visit your
house. to see your things. to know that you aren’t there anymore. its hard to
see mom. she wears her pain like a cloak. she misses you so much. its
evident in every conversation, in every action, in every sigh. without you she’s
dying a little bit everyday. you were her life. her only love. her
completeness since she was 15. without you she is worried. without you she seems
unsure. helpless. lost. i love her so much, but i don’t know what to do.
for once I don’t have the words. without you I feel without too.

Nicole's challenge 46 LO.

There's something about regrets that doesn't sit well with me. Wasted time. Wasted energy. All over things that are finished and past and can not be changed, no matter how much you want to. Wouldn't it be more productive to look to tomorrow and how you can make things better rather than ruminating on the past? That's not to say I've lived a perfect life and that I'm not sad about some things and how they've turned out. I'm just not willing to beat myself up over it any more. No Regrets.


Journaling Junkie posted it's first official challenge on the 2nd of December 2007 so we're officially One year old. Ta da! Thanks firstly to Stella Crupko whose vision began it and to the wonderful ladies of the design teams (both past and present) who help to inspire every week, and to our loyal followers and participators, thanks for making it such a success.

Dedra Long

I spotted this LO here and asked Dedra Long for her kind permission to feature her work here.
This kind of journaling is the reason that I scrapbook and how I am inspired by the awesome talents of others. A huge thanks to Ronda and Dedra for sharing their art, heart and talents with us.
Please vist their blogs and let them know you appreciate them too.
The journaling reads:

I lied, I lied when I was a teenager and said I was over it….I was OK, that my heart and soul was mended….Because I was not even close to being OK….My heart and soul was screaming because I couldn’tunderstand why my Dad had not kept in touch….not a card, not even a phone call….NOTHING….We were so close and it was like he fell of the face of the earth….I grew up and to this day, sometimes, I still wonder was it ME? Now, that I have children of my own I can’t even imagine not seeing them grow up….The special women they will become….I know it was my Dad’s choice not to be apart of my life, even to this day….Why? Why doesn’t he try now, now that I’m older and he has granddaughters that he will never know….I have realized I was shaped as a person more by his absence then his presence….There is no doubt and I will admit that my heart and soul still hurt….BUT, I will continue to move forward and GROW to be the best person I can be…..