Looking Back

Silhouette America - Cameo - Electronic Cutting System

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$299.99  Sale : $269.99

Pink Paislee - Butterfly Garden Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Flower Blooms

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Pink Paislee - Butterfly Garden Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Butterfly Wings

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Photos of our home in Georgia in 1978. I used some Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden collection papers for this layout. The pine trees were cut from white card stock with the Cameo, colored with Copics, and mounted on clear pop dots. All the little flowers were cut with a Memory Box die from white card stock and colored with Copics. The bunnies are a stamp from Flourishes that I colored and cut out. I stamped some grass with a couple of stamps from Heartfelt Creations. Title work was also cut with the Cameo and I added a touch of doodling to each letter. I made the buckle with a QK die I've had forever...cutting out 4 layers and gluing them together for a chipboard-like buckle. I colored it with Copics and then added glossy accents. I ran the ribbon through either side of the buckle and attached it to the layout with matching brads. The butterflies were cut from the ppr. I added a bit of glossy accents and a touch of glamour dust to each of the butterflies. The two separate mats were one 6 x 12 inch strip that I cut a section out of...then rounded the corners. Journaling is rather long, so I've adhered it to the back of the layout. Journaling reads (in part):


We moved from Gallatin, Tennessee to Fayetteville, Georgia in July 1978. Allen (your daddy) and I purchased this beautiful home on 1 acre of land. We were so excited to get moved into our new home. July 19 was our 8th anniversary. As luck would have it, we were in the process of moving on our anniversary. On Thursday, July 20, the moving van pulled into the driveway of our new home and began unloading our furniture and tons of boxes. Traci was about 3 ½ and Kimberly was only 20 months old at the time. Just before our move, we'd found out that we were expecting our third child (that's you, Matthew). Life was good…new home close to family, lots of yard for the children to play in, and happily married to my best friend.

Looking back, it was a very difficult time in my life, but the experiences I faced each day made me a much stronger person. I became more confident in my abilities to do whatever needed to be done. I found out that it's okay to ask for help occasionally. I found out that family and good neighbors are like gold…priceless.

As I write this to you all, it has been almost 34 years since Allen was killed. In some ways, it seems like yesterday…in other ways, it seem like forever ago. The important thing is, we survived and you three grew up to be amazing adults. I'm proud of each and every one of you.

I guess I've said all of this to say…this house was the beginning of a world of changes for me and for you. Looking back, I think this house holds a lot of heartbreak and tears…but it also holds a lot of joy and happiness.