So this past week I’ve taken on a task. A task that has seemed endless at times. But I’m making huge progress so far and that makes me happy.
A few weeks ago I took 2 large containers full of old pictures from my mom’s house. I wanted to look through all of them because I love going through old pics. It was such a jumbled up mess though, that I felt led to organize it.
hmm. It sounded like a good idea in my head…but soon turned into a long, time consuming process.
Not to mention the fact that I don’t know who some of these people are, and therefore can’t put them into any category except random.
I’ve been using ziplocs to organize different events, holidays, etc. And along with all of these photos, there were newspaper clippings, documents and cards in the mix. As I was organizing, I came across this…

A scratch off game with the expiration date, September 30, 1988. And it was never scratched off. So out of curiosity I did it just to see, but there was no $100,000 prize money left unclaimed. (and I’m sure my dad was just certain that my mom had thrown this away
)
Anyway.
During this picture sorting process, I’ve laughed and I’ve cried…and I’ve said to myself…who the heck is that and what the heck are they wearing?
I’ve laughed at all of the crazy hairdos and wardrobe choices. (oh my) I’ve cried over our loved ones who are no longer with us. There are so many. And the pictures of a smiling, happy toddler got me really choked up…because he’s all grown up now and struggling hard through life as a teen. Where did that happy little boy go?
Talk about a roller coaster of emotions.

So many stages of life. So many memories. All captured in these photos that were tucked away in boxes.
I’m so thankful that I have these to look at. The fact that I can show my children pictures from my past and tell the stories behind them, is so special to me. I started to think about people who have lost their pictures in fires or in floods and it rips my heart out. Pictures are irreplaceable. You can never get back those moments in time.
And as I was looking through them, the phrase, time goes by so fast…
…really sunk in.
On a random note: the shorts that boys used to wear were way too short! oh. my. gosh. (Rex and Eric, if you’re reading this…be glad that my scanner is broke…be very glad
)
Oh and checkered Vans were just as cool then as they are now. Puffy, teased hair…not so much.
I gotta go finish organizing now.
So…
Go make some beautiful memories, and take lots of pictures.
