Family & Friends Friday - A Flashback and Reflection with SG

Fridays are meant for Friends & Family

Friends and Family Friday is the day I will highlight a craft, project, outing, fun food idea, anything that is something to do with friends or family!

I was not prepared this week and to be honest, my craft space is a disaster area! I have a couple swaps that I am working on, so I wasn't able to give you anything new. I decided to do a combo blog today, both a reflection piece. 

The first is a flashback from a few years back. The second is a reflection on my trip to Poland this last summer with a Holocaust survivor, Eva Mozes Kor. 

Flashback: 
Reflection of Poland:Day 1
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My grandmother taught me to sew, make quilts, and love the hobby. I got into scrap-booking about 12 years ago and drew a ton of inspiration from YouTube videos and how-tos. Two of my favorite were Laura with Following the Paper Trail and Kathy with Paper Phenomenon. I got really into the paper bag album hype and made several. I have to admit that this one was and still is a favorite. I used a variety of methods and explain most in the video. I do not remember what paper line I used, but I hope that you enjoy the creation and pull some inspiration to create your own vintage heirloom album!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJmEvm4v968&t=469s

I kept a journal of my experiences, thoughts, feelings, and traveling while I went on the most incredible journey of a lifetime. I was blessed to have an opportunity to join Eva Mozes Kor, a Holocaust Survivor, Mengele Twin, and forgiveness advocate on a visit to Krakow, Poland and Auschwitz. She told of her experiences, horrors, devastation, and to hear of her life journey to a place of strength and forgiveness. The journal takes up nearly half a book, so this reflection will be best in stages. I warn readers, some is hard to hear. The atrocities and horrors that occurred in Auschwitz and all around Europe during the war are terrible memories and lessons in history we must never forget. Reader discretion is advised.

Day 1: June 30, 2016

The purpose of this journal is to document, record, and preserve what I imagine to be one of the most meaningful experiences I'll have in my life. I am going to Krakow, Poland on a trip with Holocaust survivor Eva Kor. We have a full scheduled trip planned through CANDLES museum and I hope I'll be able to reflect upon my journey and document the journey here [in my journal]. We leave one week from today . . . We will leave for Chicago on July 8, then meet the group in Chicago O'Hare on July 9 to depart for Poland. We will spend an entire week there learning the history of Krakow and also bearing witness first hand the testimony of Eva and her experiences as a victim, a prisoner, a girl, a survivor. I would be foolish to say that the content of this journal will not approach a level of deep emotion and horrors as I document my experiences, but I know that I will cherish these memories and hope to impart a legacy to those who read it of tolerance, acceptance, strength, and the tenacity to always strive to do what is right, even if the whole world is against you. 

I decided to begin my entry a little earlier as there is some background and historical events occurring in their own right which I feel may impact the trip, our experiences, and the environment in which we are about to be exposed. 

On June 28, 2016, three attackers arrived in a taxi to Istanbul, Turkey international airport, opening fire, before killing themselves via suicide bombing. The attack left 41 dead and over 230 hurt (these numbers may change but are accurate as of the journal entry). This heinous crime is being claimed to have been organized by [an extreme radical group] and their attacks around the world continue. They have targeted several airports, which leaves [my friend] and I a little nervous, to say the least. Additionally, UK/GB has left the European Union. Although on the surface there may seem to be nothing wrong, what I fear is the aftermath such a political and economic move can create. Anit-Semitism has been on the rise in the last several years and, to me, the political enviornment in the world right now is scary, mirroring a lot of the same (or similar)chain of events [that] occurred, leading up and into WWII. We know if they [*meaning the tour group*] it would be unsafe they would cancel or postpone the trip, but so far, all things are a go. My Faith will keep me strong, and I know there are limited opportunities for such experiences. I just pray for a safe and humbling journey.

-------------------- END DAY 1: POLAND EXPERIENCE UNFOLDED -----------------------

Keep checking in each Friday for the next part of the journey....