Inspiration Elevator Guest DT- In memoriam

Hello everyone
Please bear with me through this long post.
Today I am a guest for a challenge group called Inspiration Elevator.
Thank you so much for hosting me ladies!
Below is the text for the challenge as well as a blog hop for the regular design team members.

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The purpose of this challenge group was to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. 

This month, our challenger was the super talented Sue Sykes. Sue writes an ongoing article for Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine called Leaving Your Legacy and her challenge this month for Inspiration Elevator was also featured in the Winter edition. This is what she wrote:

"The idea of “Leave Your Legacy” first came about in 2007 when I was sorting through some vintage photos of my parents. I realized that while I knew most of the standard information about the images, the profound information about my parents and relatives was missing - information that would give me a glimpse of what they had been like when they were younger. 

To me, scrapbooking is, of course, a means of artistic expression, but more than that, it is a way to leave a little piece of history for future generations in each layout. And so, it amazed me, in talking with friends who scrapbook, to learn just how seldom they scrapbook about themselves. All of these incredible people, and their families may not really know anything personal about them: their hopes, dreams, habits, likes, dislikes, fears and accomplishments. With this article, I hope to encourage fellow artists to scrap more about themselves to avoid that from happening.

I think it's important to document your fears as well as your happy times and accomplishments. Many times, things of which we are FEARFUL, often characterize our personalities. It's also rewarding to be able to look back, once you have overcome a fear, to realize how far you have come. On the heels of my husband's heart attack, this was an obvious choice for me, but it's difficult to put into words the FEAR that you feel when faced with the possible loss of your partner. I want to remember the fear that we both felt, so that it will help us to stick to our commitment of living a healthier, less stressful life.

So what is it that you FEAR the most?

Not only do I want you to scrapbook about a FEARFUL topic, but I also want you to include at least ONE product that you have avoided using. Maybe it's because you are hoarding it and are FEARFUL of using it all, or maybe you are intimidated by it. Whatever the reason, spread your wings and challenge yourself to use it."

I hope you will stop by and see what the designers on this adventure have created:

Sue Sykes

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker

Audrey Yeager

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

Michelle Hernandez, Guest Designer

                                               
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I simply have no words for the horror visited upon us as a nation yesterday.

I am a parent.
My baby is three years old.
She is my shinning light,
the reason I strive to be a better person each day,
the proudest moment of my entire adult life.
To imagine her cowering in terror, confused and wanting desperately to be home,
to imagine her gone,
shattering.

Today I attended a vigil for the lives we lost yesterday.
I made a special effort to go and keep those lives foremost in my mind because they are all that should matter in this vast stream of politics and speculation we are now witness to.
Keep those lives first.

When I made my page for this wonderful group of inspiring women, I was watching a comedy show about parenting and laughing.
The content of this page came easily.
I knew immediately what my darkest fear was.
I had no idea it would visit people who lived so close-by only three days later.
I feel like I should apologize.
I feel like it is insensitive to post.

Materials: Kraft paper, Crafter's Workshop stencil, Heidy Swapp Bronzer mist, Instax print. Wood veneer
letters from Studio Calico, American Crafts date stamp, tape from Target and punches from Ek Success

But to be true to the challenge I will post this and admit my biggest fear is that I will fail my daughter.
I will not be there for her and she will perish.
I will not be there for her and she will turn on others.
Like one young man did yesterday.
So I write these words and make the promise I made when my baby was first born.

I will not fail you.
I will listen to you.
I will fight for you.
I will put you first.
And if the time comes when we, as a family, are faced with a mistake you made,
no matter what that mistake is,
I will set aside judgement and think about what is best for you.
It is the only thing I have control over and the most meaningful thing I can do.

Keep your loved ones close.
Michelle