This page didn't turn out anything like I envisioned. At first I was going to print a list of words I associate with my Mom down the side of the page and then work some other stuff into it. As you can see, it took a completely different route. LOL!

Journaling list: Crossword puzzles, Jean Naté body splash, Barry White & Lou Rawls songs, Chinese food, Linzer and sugar cookies, Beautiful blue eyes and big smiles, Bakeries and baked goods, Jello mold and Idylwilde Farm, The ocean (especially in Maine), Orderly closets and cabinets

Please don't forget to link us up in the comments section of the original post if you tackle this challenge! We'd love to see what you come up with!

This picture isn’t the best of Katherine, but it was a wonderful moment I wanted to capture.  I went on a cruise with Katherine and several family members, a few months before she passed away.  We were all aware that this would be her last vacation, but tried to enjoy each moment.  This picture was on the bus from the airport to the cruise terminal – Katherine was singing, laughing and clapping while talking to a smile child sitting nearby.  This was exactly how she was all the time – always connecting with everyone around us.

Journaling: Daughter, sister, aunt, partner … but she was so much more.  Funny, loving, giving, focused, generous, forgiving, story-telling, present.  But the word that best describes her: joy.

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When I saw this patterned paper, I thought it would be perfect for word association.  I made a list of words I thought of for my Grandma, and started adding the words to the different shapes.  Once it was finished, I realized one important word missing, “missed” so added it to a pop-dotted label to the picture. 

Journaling: She is… faithful, organized, gentle, sensitive, patient, unselfish, poised, devoted, efficient, endearing, grandmother, hospitable, honest, loyal, helpful, fair, loved, caring, independent, nice, tender, beautiful, sweet, practical, trusting, loving, smart, genuine, mom, dedicated, missed.

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Please don't forget to link us up in the comments section of the original post if you tackle this challenge! We'd love to see what you come up with!

Please don't forget to link us up in the comments section of the original post if you tackle this challenge! We'd love to see what you come up with!

Now. This challenge is open to plenty of interpretation. Simply put, use word association. Take that however you want. :) Our contributors have created their own takes on this and we'll explain more in the coming days as we feature the layouts individually. For now, here's what we came up with:

Tania:

Marti:

 
Lisa:

 Jen:

Amanda:
 
How's that for some variety this time? :) We hope you'll join us in this challenge and would love to see your take. Please link us to your layout in the comments of this post. (Even if you don't do a layout, btw, we'd love to hear any thoughts or stories you'd like to share! We love comments!) Thanks!

Don't forget to check back for the stories behind these layouts in the coming days...

Our family gatherings were always so much fun with Katherine … she was the only extrovert in a family of introverts!  She would always make us laugh so hard … and it’s so hard without her.  She also liked taking pictures ‘just because’ so I’m blessed to have so many pictures of these times; this layout includes 3 different gatherings.

Journaling: My favorite place was anywhere, as long as we were all together.  I love our family gatherings, and I know you did too.  We’d laugh, cry, play games and tell stories.  Some of my best memories were during these occasions.  And it’s not the same without you. 

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My grandparents took my entire family to Hawaii twice, and I know it just made Grandma so happy to have us all there.  She loved having her entire family all together.  This picture was taken during one of the trips, when we got her to sit on Forrest Gump’s bench (her skinny leg in the big shoes just make me laugh!)

Journaling:  You loved being on Maui, with all of us there.  We went twice as an entire family.  So much fun … from synchronized swimming to the daily 5:00 conch shell, it was nice for us to all be together.  This picture at Bubba Gumps in Lahaina cracks me up – I still smile looking at you in Forrest Gump’s shoes.  :)  I miss those happy times.

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Remember, we'd still love to see your take on this challenge! Please link us up in the comments of the original challenge post. Thanks!! And, stay tuned for a new challenge on the 1st, okay?

We spent summers in Wells, ME when I was a kid. My parents rented a cottage near the beach. One of our favorite places to go was the Goldenrod in York Beach. You could watch taffy being made through the big picture windows. These pictures were taken in 1998, shortly after one of my sisters got engaged. Where did we go to celebrate? Maine AND the Goldenrod! : )

Journaling: A trip to Maine was never complete without a stop at the Goldenrod in York Beach. The fun started before even going inside...as we watched the delicious taffy being made through the big windows. Peanut butter is the best! So yummy!

Mom, Mo, Lisa, Tom (and Steve) celebrating Mo & Steve's engagement, August '98.

 (You can click on the layout to make it bigger. If you still can't read that journaling, email me and I'm happy to send it to you!) 

So. Then I started thinking about the places I enjoyed with my dad and just started jotting down thoughts about each. And then, as I was writing the journaling, the "by your side" part just came to me and really hit home. Wow. Does that ever happen to you? I find, actually, that it's quite common when I do these memorial layouts...I tend to journal as if I'm talking to my dad (feels less awkward to me) and, just as when I did talk with him, I learn stuff I didn't realize before. Sweet. :)

 
(Again, click to make the layout larger and if you have trouble reading the journaling just let me know!) 

Thanks!

Lisa:

Me: 

(Note that you can enlarge the layouts by clicking on them.) I'll add more layouts as they come in. ;) 

Also, after discussion and reflection, we've decided to stop the prize sponsorships for the time being. Though we feel you're all definitely deserving of prizes, we also believe that the nature of this challenge blog means that simply participating and hopefully being inspired to scrapbook about your lost loved ones is ample reward. We hope you understand and will continue on this journey with us.

That said, please share your own layouts inspired by this challenge! As before, just post them anywhere online (feel free to use the Good Grief Blog Flickr pool linked up over on the right) and then post the link in the comments of this post (makes it easier to go browsing that way). Thanks so much!

Update: Here are two layouts from Jen! Watch for the story behind them...

Remember, we'd love to see your take on the challenge. Link us up in the comments below!

This year it's all FOR HIM. We're traveling it together.

Journaling: Up until now I've kept him hidden in my heart. I've only taken him out when it felt safe. This year will be different. This year I'm truly going to share him with the world. I bought this ornament for his 1st Christmas. I always pack it away with the rest of the ornaments afterwards. Not this year. 2010 will be the beginning of a new tradition. I'm going to keep it on display - front and center. As a reminder of the love and joy he brought into our lives.