I was cleaning up my laptop bag, it had been awhile since I used it last and Squeak(my cat) must think I need all his extra fur, when I came across an old paper. I almost just tossed it, looked like an old coupon. But the writing on the back caught my eye. It was an old newspaper clipping of my grandma’s accident when she was 4 years old. My Great Grandma Ula had written on the back. Here is a picture of Grandma around the age of 4 yrs old with Aunt Lovella, sitting on a car.
Article reads
Child’s Face Cut When Cars Collide
The four year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Durbin, 1218 South Walter Street, was cut on the face Tuesday after-noon when thrown against the windshield of the family car in a collision at Fourth street and Tijeras avenue. The child was taken to a doctor’s office, where several stitches were taken in one cut.
The car driven by the child’s mother was going west on Tijeras avenue, crossing the inter-section, when struck by George Hanosh of 517 West Fruit avenue, according to police. The youth was turning from Tijeras avenue into Fourth street at the time.
on the back in Great Grandma Ula’s writing, says
” I was going east tho, he was coming west and cut the corner. Never held out his hand or nothing.”
🍀 Vintage Shamrock Traditions: Preserving Irish Family Memories
Every March, I find myself drawn to the same simple symbol—the shamrock.
Not just for luck, but for the memories it carries.
There’s something about the soft green tones, the delicate shape, and the quiet history behind it that feels… familiar. Like something passed down, even if we don’t always know the full story.
For me, the shamrock isn’t just a decoration. It’s a reminder of how small traditions connect us to the people who came before us.
🌿 The Meaning Behind the Shamrock
The shamrock has long been associated with Irish heritage and storytelling. Over time, it became more than just a symbol—it represents connection, resilience, and family roots.
Even if your family isn’t Irish, we all have symbols like this—small traditions that carry meaning through generations.
📜 A Personal Connection to Irish Roots
Some of my family’s roots can be traced back to Ireland and Scotland, when my Akin ancestors migrated to America in the 1700s.
I’ve been blessed to have a lot of this history preserved through my Great-Great Aunt Lovella. She was only a few years older than my grandmother, and the two of them were like sisters.
I remember spending time at her home in Corona, New Mexico, where she lived her entire life. We would sit together going through old stories and photographs she had carefully collected over the years from her father, Gip Akin.
Those moments—quiet, meaningful, and full of history—are something I carry with me. They are a reminder of how important it is to preserve not just names and dates, but the stories behind them.
🍀 Creating with a Vintage Shamrock Kit
Here is another wonderful vintage kit from Touched by a Butterfly—Vintage Shamrock.
When I saw this kit created by Celeste, I immediately knew which photos I wanted to use. It felt like the perfect way to bring together both my love for vintage design and my family’s Irish roots.
There’s something special about taking old photographs and giving them a new life through creative layouts. It becomes more than just a project—it becomes a way of honoring the past.
I hope you enjoy these creations as much as I enjoyed making them.
Mary Agnes Akin
Laura May Akin, sister to Gip Akin
Mary Tryon and her sons
Grandma Ola & Grandpa Elmer, at their Holy Communion celebration. Both were Roman Catholic.
💻 How I Preserve These Memories
Over time, I realized I didn’t want these traditions and stories to fade away.
So I started capturing them—photos, seasonal inspirations, and family moments—and turning them into something lasting.
One of my favorite ways to do this is using MyMemories Suite.
It allows me to:
Organize family photos
Create beautiful digital scrapbook pages
Preserve the stories behind each image
Instead of everything sitting in boxes or folders, it becomes something meaningful—something that can be passed down.
✨ A Simple Way to Start
If you’ve been wanting to preserve your family memories but aren’t sure where to begin, start small:
Choose one tradition
Gather a few photos
Write down what you remember
Create one simple layout
That’s it. Just begin.
💛 Holding Onto What Matters
The older I get, the more I realize—it’s not about perfection.
It’s about remembering.
The shamrock may be simple, but the meaning behind it isn’t. It’s a quiet reminder that our stories matter, and that even the smallest traditions are worth holding onto.
Last month my computer crashed, thankfully I had already backed up all my photos and didn’t lose to much. Now I have a new computer and in the process of placing things back onto my laptop, I rediscovered so many old family photos.
Touched by a Butterfly has been creating so many wonderful antique style kits this last month. Sparkle and Shine was the perfect kit to highlight some photos of my Ancestors. Here is a 4 page template I created using her full kit Sparkle and Shine.
Using Touched by a Butterfly Kit Be Mine, I created this cute template. It is now available at Touched by a Butterfly store on My Memories. Perfect for all those lovely Valentine’s Day Photos.
I have a working new computer! My other laptop was giving me a lot of headaches and finally decided to quit a couple weeks ago. My new laptop arrived late Monday and I have been working on setting it up. I was able to actually design some kits for Touched by a Butterfly tonight. She has been releasing so many lovely new kits, I could barely wait for my new laptop. This cute kit Antique Memories really compliments my families old photos. I can’t wait to have all my photos uploaded on my new computer and start preserving them again.
One of our family past times is going out to visit old trains. When I started working with Celeste, I asked if she could put together a kit for trains. She created this kit called Choo Choo. Each year we have gone to visit trains, and Thomas the Train- these colors that Celeste created are so beautiful.
Here are a couple creations that I created using her beautiful kit. You can find her kit here and the below kit here and everything at My Memories is now 25% off.
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