CM Life

You Gotta Get Off of That Green Square

Julie Lindstrom got her first camera in fifth grade and she’s been passionate about photos ever since. “My father died when he was just 35,” she explains. “Not having many photos of him has always made me really aware of how important it is to take, keep and celebrate those pictures.”

She’s always loved taking pictures … she’s just never been all that great at it. “I’m not terrible,” laughs Julie. “Just nothing special. I point. I shoot.”

So a few years ago when her nephew Wiley started showing her some of his photos, she had a wake-up moment. “Wiley had taken all these exciting, engaging, amazing pictures. So much more dramatic than mine. And when I questioned him about it, he told me something I’ll never forget. He said, ‘You’ve gotta get off of that green square.’ ”

Now, what Wiley meant was that she needed to switch her camera off the auto setting and start experimenting. And, to a degree, she did. “He inspired me to take a photography class and I learned a lot. Though I’m still not great.”

But beyond that, Wiley’s advice has reminded her how important it is to take control and live a life with meaning, with excitement and with purpose.

As Julie tells it, “Wiley’s an inspiration. Top 3 percent of his class, wrestling, marching band, swimming, playing drums, active in church… He’s the kind of kid who would smuggle a 10-pound bag of suckers into his bag for a church mission trip. Then he’d pull it out with a smile and say, ‘Let’s go make some kids happy.’ ”

He travelled the world with his family. He was well on his way toward his pilot’s license. He was accepted to Arizona State University… And he died last summer in a tragic fall, taking a picture of a waterfall in Hawaii while vacationing with his father.

Eighteen years is a very short life. But Wiley packed a lot into that time. And he had an aunt who understood the importance of capturing and celebrating the time we have. Julie had already prepared a big, beautiful StoryBook photo book project for Wiley’s high school graduation. After he died, she was able to quickly revise it and add even more pages before printing the StoryBook as a gift for Wiley’s father.

“When I made the book for Wiley, it was supposed to be for him to enjoy, not be part of his funeral,” says Julie. “But I’m so glad I did it, because it was able to tell the all-too-short story of his life.” 

“And when I look at it, I see all the places he went and the things he did and the people he touched.” And none of those things happened on the green square.

Thank you for sharing your story, Julie.

What's YOUR story?  Email us at MyStory@creativememories.com.

The Bird Book

Like most grandmothers, Arleen Nicholls adores her 7-year-old granddaughter, Alexandra. And naturally, she cherishes the time they get to spend together. So, to keep track of all the fun and special memories they create, Arleen bought a small journal, which happened to have a bird on the cover. When she showed the journal to Alexandra, her granddaughter came up with a different idea for the book.

“She wanted us to write a non-fiction story called The Bird Book. When I asked her if she knew what non-fiction meant, she said, ‘Oh yes, Grandma. It means it’s true!’ How can you argue with that?” smiled Arleen.

Not wanting to squelch her granddaughter’s creative idea, Arleen got to work transcribing the story that Alexandra unfolded. Each time they got together, Alexandra added new chapters and adventures about a farmer named Sally and an orphaned bird named Jewel in search of Jewel’s family. (And, even though the imaginative plot was clearly fiction, Arleen captured the storyline, just as her granddaughter dreamt it up.)

In order to give the story a more authentic feel, Arleen wrote the words exactly how Alexandra spoke them. “I wanted it to reflect her way of thinking,” said Arleen. “I didn’t care if it wasn’t grammatically correct.”

After the story was completed, Arleen decided to recreate it in a digital StoryBook photo book that she could share with family and friends. Alexandra created illustrations that Arleen scanned and placed in the book. Arleen even included an “About the Author” section at the back of the book where she noted that the fledgling writer enjoys “swimming, golf, softball and Brownies.”

When the printed version arrived in the mail, Arleen did what all publishers do – she held a book signing. “We invited people over for cake and gave them signed copies of the book. It was a great way to cap off the experience,” she added.

                           

                          

Don’t bother searching for the book on Amazon or the New York Times bestseller list. The only royalties this limited edition will ever bring in are the priceless memories of precious time spent between a grandmother and her only grandchild. Fiction or non-fiction, that’s one plot destined for a happy ending.  

Thanks for sharing your story, Arleen! What's your story? Share it with us at MyStory@creativememories.com.

Building a Home for Memories

A couple years ago, Consultant Julie Krehbiel was on a Habitat for Humanity home tour when a volunteer idea broke free inside of her. As a mother of three in an already bustling household, Julie knew it was pretty unrealistic to think she could dedicate much time behind a hammer or a nail gun. But, compelled to pitch in, she decided to put her energy where her heart and talents naturally intersected—preserving people’s precious memories.   

Julie wanted to create an album for the family building the Habitat house. It would capture the entire process from groundbreaking through the dedication ceremony and be given to the family when the house was finished. “With three active kids, it can be tough fitting a volunteer opportunity into my schedule. This was something I could do right at my kitchen table while my kids were home,” said Julie.

The local staff at Habitat for Humanity loved and supported the idea. In fact, they provided Julie with all the photos and she supplied the album and any other materials she needed. 

While Julie got to work creating her first album, she had no idea that she was capturing much more than a building project. “The first owner I presented the album to had very few pictures of her kids,” said Julie. “Those pictures of the build that included her kids were some of the only ones she had. Imagine giving someone a gift like that!” 

Since then, Julie’s created five more albums commemorating Habitat for Humanity builds. She uses the Nancy O’Dell Gratitude album, paper and embellishments because she likes how the blues, greens and browns coordinate with the outdoor and construction photos. Julie foots the bill for the supplies herself and considers it her way of giving back. 

“To be able to give an album spotlighting such a positive experience to someone who has worked so hard to have a home is truly rewarding. It’s what the Creative Memories Mission is all about,” she adds.  

You rock, Julie! Thank you for being a part of our team.

What's your story? Email us at MyStory@CreativeMemories.com! 

A Match Made In Heaven

Paula Moses always had a thing for photos and journaling.

When Paula was 10 years old, her parents were tired of her monopolizing their camera, so they bought her a neon pink Concord 110 mini … the kind you had to wind between pictures. Paula was ecstatic.

She would write captions and stories on the back of the photos and put them in makeshift albums.

Shortly after she graduated from college, Paula discovered Creative Memories through a local Consultant. “I thought, ‘where have you been all my life?’” recalled Paula.

Exposed to even more ideas and resources for capturing memories,
Paula decided to spend a week with her great grandmother picking through stacks of great old photos that were stored in tins and jotting down notes about the stories behind them.

In the process, Paula heard incredible accounts about her great grandmother’s life, like the story of an older brother who was captured behind enemy lines in WWII. The family was told he’d been killed when, in fact, he was taken prisoner and still alive. After the war was over, a German family took him in and nursed him back to health. He showed up at the family’s doorstep two years later. When his mother saw him, she passed out.

Paula kept a batch of the photos and made a simple scrapbook for her grandmother after she returned home. At the time, her grandmother was 89 and had lost many of the friends and family who had graced her life.

“She loved that album because she said it brought everyone she ever loved and lost into one spot,” said Paula. “She would carry it around and revisit their faces again and again. When your photos are stored away in tins, you don’t take the time to get them out.”

A year later, her grandmother died. 

“I work at a cancer center and I see on a daily basis how people suddenly realize the high value of stories and photos when it’s too late,” explained Paula. “You don’t want to wait until someone is ill or grieving to capture the lives of the ones you love. Those photos and stories always end up being the most valuable thing survivors have left.”  

Not surprisingly, Paula’s since become a Creative Memories Consultant herself and says she’s never felt more at home endorsing a product.

“I can’t get excited about cookware, jewelry or tote bags. But, if I were given wings, I think I could fly selling Creative Memories products,” she said.

We know the feeling, Paula. And, we’re so grateful for Consultants like you who enable our mission to take flight. We'd love to hear your story! Email us at MyStory@creativememories.com.

Learn more about becoming joining the Creative Memories team in the United States or Canada.

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Big first impressions. Small miracles.

The Best Gift I've Ever Given

More of the good things!

Bonnie Schmidt was a police officer in Arlington, Virginia, when an injury forced her to retire at just 27 years old. Not able to work a traditional job, Bonnie spent her time volunteering at her church. And for the most part, life was good. But something was missing.

When Bonnie got pregnant, she thought being a mom would fill the void that plagued her. But it didn’t.

“I wanted something just for me. Something that made me feel good about myself and made me feel I was really contributing to my family’s income,” says Bonnie.

She became a Creative Memories Consultant in April 2002 and says, aside from marrying her husband, starting her own Creative Memories business has been the best decision she’s ever made. 

Bonnie and her husband Rich

“I know that I’m a better wife and mother because of my business,” admits Bonnie. “It stretches me and makes me the best possible person I could be. It’s like when you’re on a plane and the attendant says to give yourself oxygen first. Creative Memories is my oxygen.” 

Over the years, that oxygen has empowered Bonnie to enjoy a lot more of the good things in life.

More TIME to do the things she wants

Bonnie, Rich and their son Matthew 

“My son trains six days a week at the Tae Kwon Do studio. My Creative Memories career allows me the flexibility to work around his demanding schedule. It’s also allowed me to spend critical time with my Dad when he’s been sick. In November I went home for a week when Dad was in the hospital. Because the hospital had wireless access, I was able to work from his room while spending vital time. Despite being away, November was one of our team’s best months."

“This week, Dad lost his battle with cancer. I’m grateful that my business provided the flexibility to be at his side. It was a true blessing to be there.”

More EARNINGS for her family

Bonnie and Matthew

“The great thing about my business is that I get to determine what I make. The harder I work, the more I earn. As a Leader, I have the potential to enjoy 50 percent earnings. And then there are the phenomenal bonuses! Every year I’ve been able to take my family on an incredible incentive trip. My income enables me to pay a portion of our family budget, plus extra things like our son's black belt test fee, summer camp, clothes and Christmas gifts. It feels great contributing so much financially to our family.” 

More meaningful REWARDS

“The biggest and best reward I get from my business is my own personal growth. It’s made me stronger and much more positive. And that’s just the beginning. I get to witness customers love on their families. I get to create great projects for my own family. And I get to watch my downline experience their own success – that’s such a cool feeling! Things like free jewelry and incentive trips are just icing on a rich cake." 

Bonnie and her upline Beckie Belote on the Bahamas Incentive Trip

 

Bonnie's Pacing Partners Beth Beller & Ellen Brown

More MEANING in her life

“Creative Memories gives my life meaning through all of the close-knit friendships I’ve made. I’m surrounded by so many incredible women who embrace me and make me a better person. My business also allows me to bring meaning into other people’s lives. About eight years ago, I made a Mother’s Day album for my Mom. I asked everyone in my family – including my Dad – to write a love note to my Mom that would be included in the album. That album gave Dad a vehicle to say things to her that he’d never said before. Afterwards I told my husband, if I never sell another album, I’m still a success because I made that experience happen. My mother carried that album around for months. And, now that my Dad has passed, that album means even more to us.”

Bonnie's Team

What could you use more of in your life? Learn more about the Creative Memories opportunity in the US and Canada.

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Sarah Fitzgerald's Story

The Best Gift I've Ever Given

"The Baby Whisperer"

Big first impressions. Small miracles.

Anyone who’s applied for a job they really, really wanted knows how stressful it can be. Now imagine the application had to include photos and personal stories … and the job you were applying for was the most important role of your life – becoming a mother.

That’s the kind of pressure Kristi Voeller faced when the social worker at her adoption agency told Kristi and her husband they needed to create a personal album that birth mothers could view online. If viewers liked what they saw, she and her husband might be chosen to adopt a baby. If not, it could mean more months and years of waiting.

As luck (or fate) would have it, Kristi had purchased Memory Manager, Creative Memories’ digital photo organization software, about a year earlier and had already loaded most of her photos into the tool. She had also purchased StoryBook Creator Software but had never gotten around to giving it a try … until her dream of becoming a mom depended on it.

“I called my Creative Memories Consultant and asked if she could give me a quick introduction to the software,” said Kristi. “She told me she was just about to start a four-night class on using StoryBook Creator. She said by the end of the last class, I should have my album completed. The timing couldn’t have been better!”

Just as her Consultant promised, Kristi finished the album in four quick sessions. She included photos and stories of her and her husband, their wedding, their families, their house and even their dog. She also included heartfelt quotes about what it meant to be a family and other digital embellishments and stickers. 

“When I gave the book to our social worker, she told me she doesn't get emotional too often, but our book made her cry. That meant a lot to me,” admitted Kristi.

Within just a few months, a birth mom selected Kristi and her husband as the adoptive parents for her child, based solely on their album.  

“She chose us without even meeting us in person,” said Kristi. “We brought our daughter home last September. She’s now six months old and she's the best thing that’s ever happened to us,” beamed Kristi.

The adoption agency gave a copy of John and Kristi’s book to the birth mom and kept another copy as a sample for other parents. John and Kristi kept a third copy for their new daughter, Emmalena Dawn.

“It’s part of her history,” said Kristi “I’m not sure we’d have her if we hadn’t created that album.”

Kristi was so impressed with StoryBook Creator, she recently signed on to become a Creative Memories Consultant and hopes to help other adoptive parents experience the same fairytale ending.

“Creative Memories is so much more than ‘stuff for scrapbookers.’ The digital products are great for men or woman … anyone interested in preserving their photos and doing more with them than letting them sit on their phones, computers and cameras,” added Kristi.

And, sometimes what you do with those photos can change your whole life.

Here are some more pages from the Voeller's adoption book:

Thank you, Kristi and John, for sharing your adoption story!

What's YOUR story? Email us at MyStory@creativememories.com.

 

My Story: The Mother Years

Being a Creative Memories Consultant for 17 years has always been special to me and has brought many special people into my life. I do not say that too lightly... it seems there is always just the right someone to come into my life at just the right time.

Consider my customer, Aleta. She found me on the Consultant Finder back in December of 2007. She shared that she would like to complete a scrapbook of her mother's life within the next six to eight weeks. Her mother suffered from dementia and was, at that time, in a skilled nursing facility. She would like to complete the album she had begun when her Mom was in an assisted living facility in Macon, Georgia (prior to her being moved to the skilled nursing facility).  

I called her right away and invited her to my January workshop. Aleta attended my Jumpstart January workshop on the 3rd of January, 2008. For some reason, it turned out to be just the two of us. (I love those one-on-ones!)

She brought her project, we pulled it all out and had a look. She had completed a few pages but needed some guidance... "and just how do these pages fit in the album?" she asked.

I offered some guidance, but mostly I just loved how her pages unfolded the story of her mom. As a very young woman, her mother left the south (maybe in the 1930's) and headed to Washington D.C. for a job at the Capitol typing pool. (Being a legal secretary myself I loved this part of the story) There were stories about famous people her mom had met along the way... musicians, celebrities, etc.  I remember being amazed at the wedding photos she had and we had a good chuckle at the story of her mother meeting her new mother-in-law for the first time!  

We committed to getting this album completed for posterity. I was all in. This is what I do!

During the next couple of years, we'd crop together at many monthly workshops. She was learning to make her pages interesting by adding journaling (that was so hard for her to complete). I encouraged her along the way. At my insistence, she sought out some of her parents' siblings to get stories from. Each month the album became more and more complete, with the gaps closing on the stories she had to tell. Then she decided she'd like to make an album for her father as well!

These were the months, however, that I needed HER the most. In 2008, I had just moved my very own mother to a Senior Community (from a 3 BR home, just as Aleta had done with her mother) in Macon, GA, not far from HER mother. As the months passed, my mom's condition worsened and required a move to Assisted Living. Aleta was with me on this move as well. My mother left us for Heaven in March of 2009, before Aleta's mother later that year.  

We continued to crop together until November of 2009. In 2010, Aleta put her house on the market and moved to Savannah.

The last time we cropped together; only at that time I didn't know it!

I actually spoke with her tonight and she told me how much she enjoyed our time together and that meant the world to me. Her words of appreciation encouraged me to write this story.

We were just two kindred spirits that hooked up at just the right time. Was it because she sought me out and I responded? I think it was destiny. 

After hearing from her tonight, I prayed that my daughter would find just the right someone with scrap with during HER mother years! 

I've decided, yet again, THAT'S why I do what I do.  

Cathy Edwards
Creative Memories Consultant
Atlanta, Georgia  

What's your story? Share it with us at MyStory@creativememories.com.

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"The Baby Whisperer"

A Crop for Love and Healing

Sarah Fitzgerald's CM Story

When Lisa, my Creative Memories Consultant, offered me the opportunity to host a party, I said yes. I had been her customer for three years at that point and was thrilled she wanted to do a party for me. I knew we would have fun and I would receive free and discounted products. I was totally in! I love a deal! 
 
While planning my party, Lisa offered the business opportunity to me. I flat out said no. I even giggled because, my idea of "selling anything" was = to being a used car salesman!  I also thought I wouldn't be good at the business, wouldn't have the time and I already have a career that pays well. Basically, I didn't see the value in the Creative Memories opportunity or the benefit it would provide to my family.

Guess what Lisa then did? She kept offering. She shared her story and how she was busy too, with an advanced degree like myself and still did this business. She shared her dreams with me and said that she thought I was a perfect fit for the business. I could use the business to create more meaning in my life, not just get by with the average job. I had to pause because the truth was, I was in a stressful job situation that took away more than it added to my life. She didn't even know that. She also said that this business would allow me to have something fun do in my life.

I could not stop thinking about our conversation! 

We had my party later and it was a smashing success! I received over $200 in free products and other discounted products. My friends could not stop talking about how much fun they had.

A week later she called to offer me a special table at her Team Retreat here in Texas. She said that my invite was special and her team wanted to meet me. I gladly said yes. 

I experienced something amazing at the Team Retreat. I witnessed friendship between these ladies and saw how much fun they had. I learned how intelligent and giving her team was. It was evident how special Lisa's team was to her and then I realized...I wanted that! I wanted her team to be MY TEAM. I wanted more, I wanted to have the excitement of having a fun job to add to my current job to help pay for my student loans.

So I signed up! I'm emotional as I type this because I am so grateful for what I was offered. The mission became my mission. 

The mission is simple.

Every child deserves to hold an album in their hands. Every family deserves an album to tell their story. I want to share Creative Memories with as many people as I can because it is important to tell your story. I want to help as many people as I can to tell their story.

People ask me: "Why should I pay your prices when I can go to the local crafts store with a coupon?" My response is simple. I am not selling stuff. I am sharing an opportunity to infuse more hope into your life and benefit for your family. The opportunity to brighten the smile of a child. To increase a child's self-esteem by gaving them an album about their life, showing them why you care about them. 

Imagine how you would feel if someone said, "I thought of you and I made you an album because I care." Isn't that such a heartfelt thing one person can share with another person?

That is my story. Thank you for reading!

Sarah Fitzgerald
Creative Memories Senior Consultant
San Antonio, TX 

What's YOUR Creative Memories story? Share it with us at MyStory@creativememories.com!

A Crop for Love and Healing

After reading an article in the local newspaper about Consultant Gretchen Naumoff and her brother donating Simply Said Books to the Akron Children's Hospital, Vanessa Swank reached out with a mission of her own. Vanessa had lost a brother at a young age and, knowing what it's like to lose a sibling, she really wanted the brothers and sisters of the children lost at Sandy Hook Elementary to have albums with which to remember their siblings.

Teaming up, Gretchen and Vanessa set to work gathering volunteers to attend a “Crop of Love and Healing" to create an album for each child. Each album was sponsored by a family, who was featured in the back of the book. A total of thirty-five croppers attended the event, creating fifty-two albums using Nancy O'Dell's 8x8 Love Album.

“It was truly amazing!" exclaims Gretchen. "These women came together and most created more than one album. They made amazing pages that said things like, 'I miss Noah most when...' or 'My favorite beach memory with Grace was…' We did research to make each album personal. I spent some grueling days with obituaries and newspaper articles.”

Our sincere thanks go to Vanessa and Gretchen for their efforts to capture memories for these children. The books are now complete and on their way to the families!

The Best Gift I've Ever Given

Story submitted by Lisa Smith, Creative Memories Consultant

About five years ago, my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Because they had eloped when they got married, they never had the hoopla of a big wedding. So, I wanted to do something extra special for them. As a Creative Memories Consultant, this was a no-brainer – I would make them an album!

I decided to get family and friends involved in the project. My brother and I – along with our children – each created several pages that included long letters.

Plus I sent out two journal-sized boxes of lined scrapbook paper to their friends in Michigan and Florida and to our extended family, asking them to share their most precious memories of time spent with my parents. I also asked that they send one to four pictures if they could. My parents had decided to take the family on a cruise rather than have a party, so I let everyone know this was a way they could participate in that celebration.

The most wonderful part is that I’m the keeper of my mom’s negatives. So I was not only able to scour my photos and negatives, but I went through her photos from the past 50+ years. (I spent many nights holding negatives up to a light bulb.) I printed hundreds of pictures, even sending some away to Kodak to get old negatives printed because the local shops couldn't do it.

The album began with pictures of them dating, followed by a few of their wedding and the small dinner that was held afterwards. Weeks after they eloped, my grandparents had thrown them a “party” and there were some pictures from that day as well. I followed up with pages of me and my brother and our family growing up. Those pages included the letters we had written. The book ended with the grandchildren’s letters and tons of pictures with Grandma and Grandpa. My parents had been very involved with their grandchildren growing up, so we had a lot of great memories to choose from.

Then the envelopes started pouring in from family and friends. I wept as I read how precious my mom and dad were to so many people. One album quickly became two. The second album was made up of the journaling pages and pictures sent by family and friends. I added more embellishments and artwork on these pages because there were fewer pictures.

I put both albums in the beautiful Creative Memories Ever After Coversets. I wrapped both albums, but I decided to give them the albums on different days.

We traveled to Florida to celebrate with my parents and had taken them out to dinner. When we got back to their home, we gave them a few presents and the first album – the one with their wedding pictures and the pages from my brother, the grandchildren and me. My husband videotaped the entire thing. I wanted to capture all the stories that went with the pictures. Each page brought laughter and tears and, oh my, the great stories. So much fun! My children were in high school and able to really capture the history of their grandparents. 

Unfortunately, we realized that video problems plagued us when we tried to watch it later. The video worked, but the sound kept going in and out. I asked them if they would mind doing the whole thing over again the next day, so we could capture the stories. We set up the video and “rewrapped” the album (ha!). Scene one, take two! My mom kept poo-pooing the re-creation and told us they couldn't have the same reactions and that it would look fake. Nevertheless, she went along with our plan.

They unwrapped the album and tried to act surprised. However, when they opened the first page, they were  so confused and shocked. It wasn't the same page. They turned another page and realized it was a whole new book. Then the tears came! And came ... and came.... And so did the stories of their family and friends, many I had never heard before.

Yes, it was a labor of love. I spent many hours putting together two beautiful albums. And, in return, my parents have spent many hours looking through them – and still pull them out and go through them to this day. Those albums are definitely the best gift I’ve ever given anyone. It was a gift of memories, a gift of history and a gift of love. Making the albums brought such satisfaction to me and they gave my parents great joy. You can’t ask for anything better than that.

- Lisa Smith, Creative Memories Consultant

Thank you for sharing your story, Lisa! We invite you to share your Creative Memories story at MyStory@creativememories.com!