"Our scrapbooks are all about the legacies we want to leave, not about pretty photo albums. I think there is much in there that relates to our purpose with Blessed Memories. The crux of Blessed Memories is to share our faith and glorify God - it is so easy to lose that focus! We need to keep pulling ourselves back to it!"
~ MEK, Wisconsin


"I am writing to tell you that the retreat is a little different than an all day crop. The Blessed Memories Retreat is not only enjoying scrapping it is a renewal time with the Lord (or at least it can be). It is sweet fellowship with like minded people. Not to mention all that you learn!!!! There are sometimes tears and hugs and laughs and fun surprises and when you leave you feel like you have really been loved. When you arrive home not only are they thankful to see you but you are ready for several more months of giving to your family your very best. We have so much fun talking and laughing getting to the Retreat. Last Jan. we were stuck in traffic, I mean the car did not move for an hour and we never noticed until the traffic started up again that we had been there an entire hour."
~ PH, Ohio


"I flew to Flint from Texas in November. I live in the Dallas area, so I've been to both of the retreats there, and I drove to Indy last year. I checked all of my scrapping stuff on the plane, including my photos. I've never had luggage lost, so I don't really think about that for some things. And I have all the negatives for my pics, so if they did get lost, I could get them back. However, I usually bring a limited number of photos to the retreats. I try to power plan (if you've never done this before, check out the link on the Blessed Memories website - it's a great way to go to a crop!) before I go, so I have just the pictures I plan to work with. Of course, I overplan because I would hate to run out, though there are some who will tell you it wouldn't matter to me, I'd just keep making pages and add them to my "hope chest" pages, as my daughter calls them!

"The purpose of the retreat is 2-fold, I think. The fellowship that comes from being with like-hearted people who have the same struggles and joys you have. You get a glimpse into their lives through their pictures and hearing and reading their stories. You'll find someone who can give you just the encouragement you need for whatever your struggle is, and you'll also find someone who needs exactly the encouragement you have to offer. There are no accidental meetings, our gracious Father has them all planned out to meet our needs, long before we know we have them sometimes.

"The secondary thing that occurs is getting scrapping done. Some people get a lot done, some get a little done, but are greatly refreshed by the time away, and from being with other believing women. Some people stay up late and some go to bed early. The TC's do a great job of taking care of us - just think, no meals to prepare or clean up after for 3 whole days! No laundry to be done, no one knocking on the bathroom door, - OK, I think you probably get the point.

"Anyway, I highly recommend them, however you get there. If you can find someone to come with you and you can drive, I think that's the "best" way to do it, but whatever works for your budget - both time and moneywise - is worth it.

"Hope to see you there..."
~ KM, Texas


"I think what we do is "fellowscrapping" - that's fellowship while scrapbooking. . . . - I need it! I come away from these weekends so refreshed."
~ MEK, Wisonsin