Thinking About The Ways We Evolve

Another long term reader and follower Ali from back in the days when Simon was a toddler and I read your post's dealing with learning about his probable autism. You had me with that kind of vulnerablilty because our truth is in our stories. Yes, as others have said, your blog was the first one I read each day but the blogging world has changed so much. I was up in the air as to whether I wanted to shut down my own blog after 10 years but decided that old posts are there to be scrapped. And scrapping? I learned from you and your first templates on Designer Digitals AE_LayeredTemplateNo2! Oh the agony of my first forays into digital art! At heart I am still a clean scrapper like you and often use your handwriting for journaling. I tell long stories! I know you know how to handle your own path and I will alway be a supporter. Long ago when your marriage was breaking your heart, I wrote you and you answered me. I felt as if I was blessed to have that contact. Actually, you are a blessing to so many. You gave dignity to many of the hard things we have to walk through in life. Grace and dignity. Be well Ali, and i look forward to the new chapters of your life.

Thank you for writing about evolution, i'm doing some catch up and your words definitely spoke to me today...one thing I've always admired is your ability to step back, look at things and then pivot...or not...as the case may be. Lots of evolution here... dad to a nursing home and cleaning out the last of his things from his house... my girls starting their senior year (!) in HS... planning for college... planning for new business...planning for hubby to bow out of his business... talking about what the next season of life will look like for us...so yes to evolution and to starting over, or just a little shift xoxo.

Have been following since about 2006! Miss the more personal stories but still love your blog and completely understand that your life has changed drastically. Can't imagine the time that your pour into your business as it has grown and am appreciative for your commitment to your followers and clients.

Yes things have changed since 2004. Loved all of it. Then and now. But seeing some more stories would-be great. Fan girl here. Bye Irene

I’ve been a quiet supporter a long time and while I understand life/work changes (we are all going through it), I will be honest. I look for your “nugget” stories of your life on your blog not just products stories. For example the Seattle trip was beautiful! I do follow you on IG for the more current updates and maybe that’s where we are heading but I do still like “the nuggets!”

I have been feeling so much the same. All my site is now mostly concert photography and I feel almost silly when it's something personal. But I still want the space to be whatever I want it to be, dammit! I've told you this before that I don't even scrapbook but yours is one of the newsletters I get because I just love your work. So I am happy to hear from you in any way I can. xoxo - Aimee

Not that you'll see this comment since this is an older post but I just adore you and admire you on so many levels. I truly do not see how you juggle all the things in your life. You make it look easy and effortless and I know it must be a mind-boggling amount of actual W-O-R-K. Meanwhile, we all await a morsel of your brilliance here and on social media. No pressure! haha!

Beautiful art Aliedwards! you got a great skill of writing :)

Ali...I have been here since the beginning! and will continue to be here. You have influenced my life and given perspective. My life has changed too...it's part of the process. Remember when you were starting this and said "what do I put on the blog?" and you gave that tip for an easier way to eat kiwi - cut in half? :) Man has it changed! It's great you have this for you, your memories, your friends, your business! Thanks for always being Ali!

I LOVE THIS POST!!! I have been a follower, probably since the beginning (2004), and believe me, my life, my family and my stories have certainly evolved and changed during the past 14 years! So I get it. Totally. I just thank you as always for being so candid and this post has given me an idea of what to say in my own very long overdue blog post. Starting anew is not always a bad thing... so I've learned! Thanks for sharing!!!

I’ve been a long time follower, ever since you came and taught a class at the little scrapbooking store I worked at in Iowa during my college years :). I would say that yes there is a change, but always inspiring. In the beginning I feel like I was inspired to tell my story after reading yours. Now I feel equally inspired by the products, tools, and perspectives you give. Maybe even more so now because having the physical elements give even more push to get the stories told. Thank you for always sharing your love of story, whatever the form may look like.

Here's what I think: The journey is as important as the destination, making it essential to pause, calibrate, adjust, and evolve. How awesome that you are willing to share this process and your progress so far.

Thank you for being you and for having the courage to be seen. You ROCK, my friend!