It’s interesting how a project can seem to take on a life of its own sometimes.  This mini album started as a rather plain project that was included in a Valentine’s Day paper crafting class I took at an Archiver’s store here in Minnesota.  From there, I thought I might expand on it slightly to create a project for this month’s music theme at Pages of the Heart.  While working on it, it metamorphosed into a revealing and interesting look at where I have come from in several aspects of my life since my early childhood.  Working on this album was akin to a scrapbooking therapy session and it is in other ways a milestone for me.  First, out of 20 photo albums I have stuffed full of photos and memories, there are perhaps 2 or 3 pages that are simply about me.  I believe I will change this trend in the future.  Secondly, this is the second mini album project I have completed, and the first one that is meant to keep rather than give as a gift.  I believe I will use this format again in the future because it allowed me to explore and use a large variety of techniques and embellishments on a small scale, which I found very gratifying. Thirdly, this album was very short on pictures and very long on journaling.  It is somewhat more like a journal than an album or scrapbook and I like that, too!  Lastly, this was a topic that I’m pretty sure I would never have attempted to quantify or somehow describe if it weren’t for being on the team here at Pages of the Heart.  It somehow seemed too sacred; I was worried I wouldn’t be able to communicate my feelings effectively.  Basically, that was just faulty thinking.  By setting aside a need for everything to be perfect, I just got started and wrote directly on my pages in my own writing – without worrying about the exact things I would say.  I’m setting out in the future to do more photo-journals to explore interesting, complicated or emotional topics.  I learned a lot of about myself and hope to use the wisdom I’ve gleaned to become a better person, a better wife and a better mom.

My husband sat down and read through these pages last night and by the time he reached the end, tears were streaming down his face.  I am very glad I did this project.

…And some people just call this a hobby!

front cover	back cover
inside title page - L	inside title page R – sticker quote says “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” – Eleanor Roosevelt
accordian	Journaling: In one sense, all my music starts with the accordion since my mom and dad met while they were both teaching at Traficante School of Music.  This is the instrument on which I learned to read music, with my mom sitting on my right, tapping out the beat with her foot on the basement floor.
Journaling: Mom and Dad got me this little organ (electric) for Christmas on year.  The saved it for the end of present opening by hiding it out in the front hall of our houses on Minnehaha St.  I composed my first piece of music (“The Nothing Song”) on that organ.	(I have a picture of me with my little organ but I have to with ‘til my folks get back from Texas to retrieve it!)
violin	Journaling: When I was in the second grade, I started attending a school with a music program called Brava.  I learned to play the violin with a strict but talented music teacher named Mrs. Greidel.  Our orchestra did concerts at elementary schools in St. Paul.  My favorite song was the “Theme from Love Story.”  My dream is to learn to play the violin again one day.
tenor sax	Journaling: When we moved to Woodbury in the middle of my fourth grade year, I was more than dismayed to discover my new school had no orchestra – just a band.  And since it was the middle of the year, I got stuck playing the tenor sax – which meant lugging it back and forth walking to school.  I didn’t like it at all and it was really hard for me to play.  My short saxophone career went into decline when I actually passed out in one of my lessons from blowing so hard without having eaten breakfast.
Journaling: In fifth grade I BEGGED and BEGGED for a piano.  My 2 grandmas helped pay for it and I got a vintage Kohler and Campbell	(waiting to retrieve another photo from Mom and Dad's house)
the mini file folder opens and describes my experiences with my piano teacher	the file folder also opens and describes my opportunities to perform for church and school from junior high through high school
	Journaling: For a period of time after high school, I lost the gift of music in my life.  I chose a technical major in college and my piano did not move out with me.  A ganglion cyst on my wrist shattered hidden dreams of a piano career.  This was a dark and destructive period in my life.  I was not living true to who God had made or called me to be.
rebirth	Journaling: After Jim and I got married, I experienced a rebirth and an opportunity to begin to live up to some of the things that God planted in me.  But it has been a slow process.  I did not start writing music again until 2002; with a few sporadic compositions before that.  Because both my husband and my Lord have been patient, I have been able to grow.
rhapsody	Journaling: February 2005 - Today my life is like a rhapsody…loosely structured and prone to improvisation,  I have wonderful opportunities to use my gifts – writing compositions & Bible memory songs for our kids and the kids at church, directing the kids’ choir and playing in the worship band.  I get to see our kids grow in music talent and interest.  The Spirit of God sings in me, and when I am careful not to let myself get in the way, spills out on to others.