"{1 of a Kind}" and "Lovingly" by Jen

Here's Jen:

Handwriting is so personal – almost a piece of yourself -  and I realize how much I cherish it even more so now that I’m no longer receiving cards and letters from my aunt and Grandma.  I once heard Karen Russell talk in a class about finding an old recipe from her Grandmother, who had passed away.  Just seeing that one recipe triggered so many memories. In Karen’s words: “It was actually a recipe that she had hand written on the back of a receipt and stuffed it into her recipe book.  When I opened the recipe book one day, it slipped out.  It had been so long since I had seen her handwriting that it just kind of stopped me in my tracks and immediately sent my mind swimming with old memories of her.  The way she smelled, the way she made the best lemonade in the world, the way it felt to hug her, the way she always called me 'darling'.  All that just from some handwriting.  That was when I decided to get over my ridiculous issues with my own handwriting and decided to start including more of my own handwriting in my own scrapbooking pages.  I just started with small, tolerable doses (like writing the date or a very short sentence) until I slowly became more comfortable with my own handwriting.”  Our children and grandchildren won’t care if our writing was perfect, they’ll just connect the script to us.  Ever since hearing Karen’s story, I have switched from mostly typewritten journaling to handwritten.  Plus it’s easier and faster!

My aunt’s handwriting is really one of a kind.  It’s bubbly and cheerful, just like she was!  She wrote the most amazing, heartfelt cards, letters and emails.  She was a doodler too, so the margins and envelope were always filled with fun little pictures.  On my birthday celebration this year (mentioned here) I received this card, which I photocopied for the layout.  I later learned that she had used a few cards up that day, trying to write a message, and getting frustrated that it was illegible.  I can tell what this says though and it’s a card I will always cherish.  Also on the layout are a couple notes from her that truly spoke to me as I looked through saved cards. 

A few quotes from these cards:

“It’s not at all hard to see God’s love when I look at you and laugh with you.  You have a special (just like you) Guardian Angel that watches you & wraps you in her arms each day – whether you see her or not!  I know this as a fact.  Trust.”

“When you were born (nearly 30 years ago), I knew you were an amazing girl & had a lot to give the world.  I knew your life would be one of learning, watching & feeling.  I did not know that you would one day show me more than I could believe was true about familial love & how all-encompassing that gift can be.”

Her words truly are sincere and loving, and I cherish the notes I saved from her.  She continues to inspire me and give me comfort through her words, even though she’s no longer here.

Journaling: Kath’s handwriting is truly one of a kind.  Beyond her fun scrawl, the words she wrote were filled from her heart.  Envelopes were filled with doodles – a bright ray of sunshine in a stack of bills.  Her last card is my favorite, though.  Hardly legible, it took several tries … but it says it all:  “I love you Jenny”.

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My Grandma would always sign the cards from both her and my Grandpa.  She has such a neat, even writing, it too brings back many memories.  I’m not sure I noticed her closing before as much as I did after she passed away, however.  It was then that my Mom started signing emails and cards “Lovingly” (almost in tribute) … each time I see this word, I smile, remembering Grandma.  As a side-note, my Mom recently taught me to sew.  This is the first layout I sewed on with my new machine!  I think Grandma would’ve loved that … even if I did sew on paper, instead of fabric!

Hidden behind the main journaling tag is another tag telling a personal story.  My Grandma was admitted to the hospital several years back, and we weren’t sure she was going to make it.  When I was at home, I needed to be close to her, just see a bit of her … and I went searching for cards, for her handwriting to hold and touch. 

Journaling: These are it – the last bits of her handwriting on cards I received before she passed away.  I love seeing her even script – it brings back so many memories.  The best touch?  Her closing: always ‘Lovingly’.  (Hidden on tag): When she was admitted to Overlake back in 2000, one of the first things I did was look for cards from her.  I sat on my closet floor, crying, just wanting to see her handwriting, hoping the cards wouldn’t end.

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Don't forget to link your take on this challenge up in the comments of the original challenge post for your chance to win the awesome Fiskars punches from Stacey. You have until midnight December 13 to do so. 

Comments

[Brenda]

I love your layouts Jen! They are beautiful and so full of wonderful memories!
(Good job sewing too)

[Stacey Kingman]

Your journaling is so heartfelt and special. I love how you included special samples of their handwriting. And YOU have amazing handwriting!