Thursday 17 January 2013

Lucky Snapping Nostalgia - New Beginnings

When I logged on, on Monday to look at Kathijo's challenge I wasnt sure what I would blog about.

Hhmmm nostalgia and new beginnings, it was a toughie for me.

Should I hunt for a happy version or go with the first thing that popped into my head.  I turned 50 last year and decided at the start of the year to Make a Project Life type album to mark the year.  Im not quite up to date with it yet but am determined to finish it as I really enjoyed it and its been a great record of the year.

I wanted the year I turned 50 to be a happier year in my life because the last big birthday in my life was my 40th and at a party in the house with family and friends all around I remember thinking how truly blessed I was.  This thought was shattered into pieces some two months later When I discovered that my husband of then almost 20 years had been seeing one.of my very close friends.  I was devaststed and after a couple of years of trying to hold my family together he eventually left and last year finally married her.  Turbulent years followed him leaving as I began to slowly put back the.pieces of my life and hold it together, not always successfully, for my two kids.  I became determined that as I approached 50 it would mark my "Life Begins" and that I would start to see the glass was half full and not half empty.  In my 21 year old son and my 19 year old daughter I have two fantastic reasons to have a better life and in changing jobs due to redundancy four years ago I now work with the most supportive and lovely crowd of people who keep me going on a daily basis
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I have slowly emerged from my shell, discovered scrapbooking, co run a local crop, joined a Team on UK Scrappers where I have met the most fantastic friends a girl could have who have been the the greatest support and we now meet up several times a year and we have the best ever retreats in Moffat, Scotland a couple of times a year where we scrap and laugh till we cry.

Life can still be tough but I am learning to love the litle things and count my blessings once again. The former me would never have been brave enough to do any of these things.

I think I will mark these prompts in a mini book or art journal as the year goes on so Im looking around for a suitable format.

I will leave you with a pic of four of us friends and teamies at Lochhouse, our wee scrapping paradise

10 comments :

  1. Suzy, Thank you for sharing such a difficult time in your life. I'm so glad you've come out of it now.
    I'm wishing you Happy 50's

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  2. You are a strong woman Suzie. Congratulations for holding on and starting again after such a bad time. You can be proud of yourself. Their loss ! Lovely photo. xx

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  3. I can only echo what the others have said. A post to be proud of.

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  4. Thank you for sharing this with us and well done on being a winner and not a loser! Definitely new beginnings!!
    I was 35 when I discovered my husband was having an affair, he too later married her but sadly died last year. Being single again I had a few flings to boost my moral and finally met and married Peter at 40!

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  5. They say that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. You have proven that saying to be true. Thank you for sharing what must have been a very painful time in your life. I am glad you are doing so well. Be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished.

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  6. Hi Suzy, thank you for joining our challenge and for being so honest. I hope too that 50+ is a great time for you. I must apologise for not checking in before but I have been on Nannie mode caring for two under 5's whilst Mum gets to grip with a new baby! Scrapbooking and the friends I have made have been a bit element of my last five years, I lost my Mum, Mum in law and became a Nannie in that time and remembering good days and spending me time with others has been a big part on realising what the cyle of life is all about! I look forward to reading all your news and thoughts as the year goes by! Kathi x

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  7. The 40's years are such busy ones with children growing up and it must have been so difficult for you on your own. I hope turning 50 will be a turning point for you, but these are just man made numbers, I believe you have to treat every day as a new beginning. Nice to see you join us for Lucky Snapping.

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  8. Suzy this a wonderful post and such an inspiration, good for you for coming so far and doing so well. I too turn 50 this year and really like your idea of doing an album to record all the things I have planned for my 50th year. Love JoyJoy comment "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" you have proved that. Thanks for sharing. x

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  9. Suzy what a wonderful heartbeat post. Love that at 50 u saw the chance to make it momentous and give it meaning. Thank you for sharingx

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  10. Suzy you reduced me to tears and I am proud to be one of those friends - you too make life very special for me.... and this will be your year xxx

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