2023: Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum
I started to write this post yesterday on Boxing Day, but felt like a post about something difficult was not just the right timing during the Christmas season. But after some reflection I realized that while Christmas is often seen as a season of joy and togetherness, it is also a poignant time for reflection and mourning.
For many, including me, the holidays bring memories of loved ones who are no longer present, their absence felt more deeply amidst the celebrations. The quiet moments of the season—whether during a candlelit church service, the stillness of a snowy night, or the glow of the Christmas tree—invite reflection on the passage of time and the bonds we hold dear. Mourning during Christmas is a reminder of the depth of love shared and the enduring connection to those we’ve lost. It’s a time to honor their memory, finding comfort in cherished traditions, and seeking peace in the midst of grief.
It is with this in mind that I share this scrapbook spread of the Oklahoma National Memorial Museum. My son and I stopped by to see the grounds on our Spring 2023 day trip to Oklahoma City which was a cold and dreary day. We did not go into the museum – in fact I never have been inside – every time I was in the area I did not feel that I had the emotional energy to give it full attention, but I have been told that it is an incredible museum. I have found that the memorial itself is reflective enough of the events.
The entrance to the Memorial is the large square with an entrance opening. I arranged the pictures on the right-hand page in a square to mimic this, and then also created the same shape to go in the middle of the pictures. I left this page very square to honor the solemnity of the space and to pay homage to the many right angles that are seen everywhere in the memorial. The choice of grey background and matting reflects the weather of that day along with the shades of mourning.
The left-hand page has the logo of the memorial, which in contrast, is vibrant and flowing, and represents the survivor tree that still graces the grounds. I created this using Cricut Design Space and then cut out using my Cricut Maker. I used the left over cut out from one of the layers to help space everything perfectly on the page, which can be seen in the video below:
Categories: Civil Rights Museums, History Museum
MASCrapping 