Last week I shared a post with some layouts from my Mother-in-law's heritage scrapbook she created many years ago. She made several albums during her "scrapbooking years" and they are such treasures to our family, especially now that she suffers from Alzheimer's disease. You can read the first post here.
Today I'm going to share some more layouts from her side of the family (this album also has family photos tracing back my FIL's family). I love the nostalgia to the old photos and the neat ways she decorated each page. I love, also, that so much of the album is done in her handwriting and with her memories.
I love the old stamp stickers she put all around these photos involving her grandfather.
And I love these photos of her grandma with her American Legion group and her bowling group. Aren't the matching outfits beyond adorable?? Lol
And isn't this "grandmother" sticker just beautiful? So perfect for a heritage album. And the sweet hearts my MIL drew on the bottom...makes my heart full.
The full layout all together.
Love the background paper for these pages with photos of my MIL's grandparents, mom, and her grandma's cousin. Like old wallpaper.
I love how my MIL added her own sweet little captions...
and precious stickers to show the passage of time.
I love how on the full layout of this one my MIL made the paper look connected from one page to the next by the bridge of background paper. Such a cool idea.
This next layout is so neat because on one page is a personal letter by my MIL sharing her memories of her grandma and grandpa and what they meant to her.
And the next page is a letter from President Harry Truman to my MIL's grandma for her service as a registrar. Pretty cool!!
And I love that she added this on the first page too. ;)
The full layout.
This is the final page of her family's section of the heritage album. The next section begins my FIL's family background.
Hope you enjoy these neat old photos - and the love behind them - as much as I do! Happy Tuesday! xo
I haven't talked about my Mom-in-law for a bit and I thought you might like to get an update on things with her.
My MIL and Ruby
As many of you that visit me regularly know - I have been a caregiver part time for my MIL with Alzheimer's for years now. Well recently she had worsened in her condition and due to increased depression, anxiety and behaviors my Father-in-law had decreased his work time (because she does the best at home and with him) - so I was caregiving only part of "part time".
Unfortunately a few weeks ago she has even worsened more and meds were increased and my FIL made the brave and loving decision to stop working for now and stay home with her full time. We talked to him about burn out...about other options etc. He was adamant that he wanted to do this and have as much time with her as possible, while he can still manage things and she's safe to be there. So we have respected his decision. We are however still involved regularly and helping whenever we're able. My Mom just took her for a haircut a few days ago. I still take her for MD appointments and make sure her fungal toenails are taken care of (clipped and to pedi appointments). I still bring them meals at least 2 days a week. My hubby & bro-in-law (their sons) often have lunch with them during the work week when they take a break. I call and check in. As the weather improves I will go get her for walks and visits here to give my FIL more of a break. They go out to dinner with other relatives one night a week. So for now there is a rhythm and routine that appears to be working. My FIL said when he feels the time is right he will let us help him look at facilities for her.
Many years ago now I talked my MIL into going to a scrapbooking class with me. I knew I was going to get into it no matter what - but I'd thought it'd be so much more fun to share with someone and she had always been really artistic and liked things like that. She agreed and thankfully the rest is history! For many years we scrapbooked regularly together. Due to that we have the wonderful gifts of the scrapbooks she made during that time. They're a legacy of love - as well as a history of the family that we wouldn't probably know if she hadn't done that. I believe it was God's hand and we're all incredibly grateful for it!! I have looked through the books with her many times and she used to have some connection and genuinely triggers of some memories of family/relatives. Now there appears to be no real memory to any of it. So sad and feels unfair.
Anyway, I know this post is lengthy but I wanted to give you the update and share this info - as I thought that for a time here on Tuesdays I would share some of the pages of her different scrapbooks she made. Today I'll start with the gift of the heritage scrapbook she made for each side of their family - my MIL's and my FIL's. They're so beautiful and special and I feel this is a way I can honor her a bit. So here are a few pages from her side of the family. I may share a few more next week and then my FIL's side after that. She made family trees that I won't share here due to privacy of names etc.
The inscription she put on the inside cover of this album.
Her grandparents are the young man in the front right of the first photo and the young lady in the front left of the second photo.
Different photos of her grandparents. Aren't old photos just the coolest?
I love the blue paper she used in that top one - like old wallpaper. I love looking at the old cars and styles of their clothes!!
My MIL said this was a photo of her grandpa up in a tree with a friend. Love the caption that was on the back! Lol
Look at those old cars. And the hats and boots of the ladies! Right out of Downton Abbey don't ya think? ;)
Here are those pages side by side in full layout so you can see the together how they are in the book.
This is my MIL's grandparents. I believe Alzheimer's can have a genetic component as this maternal grandma of hers also had Alzheimer's/dementia fairly young (started in their 60's) like my MIL.
I love the way she pieced the borders on these pages - looks so old fashioned. And I love the stickers like the old trunk & the watch.
My MIL's mom. She was an only child.
These are those pages side by side to see the full layouts.
Thank you for tolerating this lengthy post. In the future series of posts they won't be nearly as long. This one was due to all the updating as well. Thank you for all of the kind thoughts and prayers you've shared as we go through this journey. They mean so much, and I've shared them with hubby too and he has thought it's wonderful that I'm finding such sweet friends in blogland. So again -thank you and blessings to you!!
