Everyone knows that it’s so easy to scrap the fun things, the events, the laughter and joy. But scrapping something that is less than that? Well, more often, it goes left undone and unsaid.

Jennifer S. Wilson, at her Simple Scrapper site, posted today about scrapping infertility. Infertility and loss are definitely difficult things to scrap. Jennifer has some links to wonderful digital kits that can help to work through the emotions and record these life events too. (Side note: digital kits can be used for paper scrappers too so don’t discount using them!)

Why scrap this? Because our lives really aren’t just happy thoughts and butterflies even if that’s what we want them to be. There are tough things we all go through. From accidents that may be life changing to the difficulties of trying to bring a child into your life.

Two years ago, we lost a grandchild to stillbirth. The anticipation of a grandchild was wonderful! But as the 20th week approached, our daughter learned that the baby had some issues that would make life difficult if he survived. Ultimately, he was stillborn. As difficult as that was, we did document his birth. After several months, I put a small book together for her and found myself crying often as I was doing it. The process for me was very therapeutic. Hopefully, the book became therapeutic for her too.

When I created the mini book for my daughter, I left places within the book for her to record some of her thoughts as well as some “hidden” places, envelopes for her to write notes to the son she would never know.

note the envelope attached with the binding for hidden notes

Now, I need to do a page for myself, one for grandma to save and put away. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do that yet. Doing the mini book was “easy” for some reason. But scrapping a page for some reason is going to be more difficult for me.

Ultimately, I encourage, no CHALLENGE everyone to scrap the difficult stuff in life. Because life isn’t a bed of roses and by looking at what you have lived through that was difficult, you learn to appreciate the simple, fun and easy stuff of life. In 50 years, when someone looks back through your books, you want them to know, it wasn’t all Christmas, days at the beach and birthday parties.