"It's a Beautiful Life"- Genevieve Galvan Frenes

Day 9 –

It’s Saturday. Although Saturday is normally my cleaning day, yesterday and the day before also were actually cleaning days. In fact from now on, there’s no excuse not to clean all of the areas in my home I could never muster the strength to get through before the quarantine.

As a high school teacher, I would normally reserve the weekend to tidy up the house, because everyday I returned exhausted from school. Then, as the mom and cook of the house, I’d get dinner ready, clean up after dinner (with help from my hubby or kids), and then either do homework or take a shower early. This was my routine.

Now, it seems like everyday, I have found new things to organize or clean. I have three big bags of items to either give away or donate to St. Vincent de Paul. I suspect there will be more bags to donate as the weeks continue to pass.

However, today, I revisited one of my hobbies which I thoroughly enjoy – scrap booking. Although it has been probably a year since I tackled this hobby, I have three piles of my children’s school items, awards, pictures, etc. to place into three different albums.

Today, I added pages to my son’s 8th grade album from last year. I organized and sifted through papers, awards, and pictures which seemed endless. Once organized, I could paste items down on the pages and begin to decorate or journal the events on the page.

Keep in mind, I have four children, all of whom are now grown, except my son who is now in high school. That means I have a scrapbook for each child’s school year from kindergarten through 8th grade, my son’s being the last of these school books.

This does not take into account the other scrap books for each child, the ones I get to keep for each year of their life. I have yet to finish these books, since many of their pictures still reside in files on my computer, and are not yet printed.

What about digital scrap booking? Yes, I have a program for that process, too. However, I’m still learning how to navigate and print from that format. So for now, I’m attempting to clean up the piles of each child’s school years in an effort to pass time and enjoy this down time which seems like forever as the clock ticks away.

And as I spent most of today working on my son’s album, I thought about this year’s graduating class, and the up-in-the-air thoughts going around about whether this particular class will actually get a graduation to celebrate.

In the pictures of my scrap book, I see my son in his graduation gown with a clean cut haircut, so proud of his achievement. Beside him, my husband and I beam with pride at his accomplishments. It is such a momentous rite of passage for all students as they move from one level of education to another.

Scrap booking is a hobby which I appreciate, because my pictures suspend time just for an instant and allow me to truly appreciate what existed in one precious moment. I cherish the smiles and the joy of seeing all of my family enjoying one another. I also love to see how my children mature and change in features as the years pass by.

If you haven’t tried this hobby, I challenge you to start small. Maybe purchase a small album and begin with one event. (By the way, Creative Memories is a great resource to start this process). Select one of your children or family members to focus on. This is how I began, and I have loved this pastime ever since.

And to those parents out there, still wondering if graduations are yet to come or not, please remember that all of us, teachers especially, want the same as you. We want to see your children walk the line as their name is read and cheer them on, along with their family members. It is a well deserved event which, even under the conditions, might have to exist a little later in the year.

So, don’t forget to take lots of pictures when your child is ready to take that next step to graduation. Suspend those moments in time — this year of all years, we, meaning all of the nation, will celebrate with great excitement as young adults everywhere finally get to participate in an event they anticipated for so long.

Stay blessed everyone…in your leisure time, find the time to participate in old hobbies or talents and make time for yourself as well as your family.