Don’t hate me because I scrapbook

I had no idea scrapbooking was such a controversial subject until I read Lysa TerKeurst’s post and the comments that ensued. So many women commented on why they didn’t scrapbook or why they were so behind and they felt guilty. It kind of made me sad.

I am a scrapbooker. I enjoy chronicling the events of my life and my family’s life so that I can reflect on our memories and so that future generations can, too, should they choose.

But in scrapbooking I recognize that this is an activity that I enjoy. It is for me. Sure, I would like to think that my children (and their children and so on) will cherish my albums for years to come. But the truth is all those albums might end up in a trash can someday.

So what I am doing is really for me. I don’t think I would feel any more loved had my mother passed along volumes of scrapbooks of my life to me. Sure, I’d enjoy flipping through the pages, but I don’t think I would feel any more loved. My mom showed me (and shows me) her love in plenty of other ways.  

Now, when it comes to scrapbooking, I love looking over the photos, re-living the fun or seeing how my friends and family have grown, and making pages to tell those stories. I love flipping though the completed pages and reading what I wrote, sharing stories with my kids about what they remember and giggling at changing bodies, hairstyles, clothes and the like. And yes, I like comparing our children’s photographs with those of my husband and of me when we were much younger.

My pages are not intricate. Some scrapbookers choose to go the more intricate route. And I love seeing the beauty in their pages. But I prefer to focus more on just getting the pages completed and the memories chronicled.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I really enjoy attending scrapbook retreats and crop nights when I can get together with other women (old friends and new ones), be completely selfish with my time and share stories and laughs, eat lots of comfort foods, and play with all sorts of toys for paper and stickers.

Scrapbooking should not be something you feel guilty about… whether that is because you don’t do it, because you are ‘behind’ or whatever reason, unless you are feeling guilty because you are spending so much time recording your memories that you don’t spend enough time making new ones.

And no, those who scrapbook do not have more time than those who do not. Women who scrapbook simply choose to allot their time in a way to allow scrapbooking in their schedule, the same way that some women exercise more, read, sew, bake, talk on the phone, blog, play games, take classes or whatever they do with their time. We all have the same amount. It’s how you choose to spend it that enables you to do different things. And if you choose to allot time to preserving memories… fantastic! If you choose something else… fantastic! And if you are able to fit lots of things in and still serve those you should without pushing yourself too far… fantastic, too!

So, ladies, let’s stop trying to convert others to either “side” of the battle. Share your hobbies with others if you like. But don’t push them. And don’t allow your progress or lack thereof to cause any guilt feelings. Enjoy the blessings God has granted you. And memorialize them however you would like.