I’ve thrown myself into the work and learned a lot. The training videos I created are being fully translated into 10 different languages. The challenge with this is that everything needed to be created in English with the foresight that it would eventually be shared in the different languages as well.

Translation impacts the way things are said in English, the graphics you share, and more. There are language and cultural considerations. My favorite leap forward was discovering a way to use technology to translate the project into almost 50 languages. It’s fun to find a way to make technology do the work!

Along the way, I also dived headfirst into InDesign, mastered Camtasia and Adobe Premiere along with closed captioning and translation. The things I’ve learned will help the training videos to be translated into roughly over 50 languages… perfect for archive volunteers in places like Hungary and Africa.

It’s been fun to start a project with a blank slate and leave your mark. I’ve not only been able to create the videos, but also map out a technical process that will continue to be followed even after I leave. Creating the Flow (processes and systems for the video project) has been very rewarding.

One of my biggest reasons for saying yes to this project was the bigger picture. I love doing work that makes a difference. The software I created training around helps operators to digitize records all over the world.

For me this project wasn’t just about creating training, it was about having a tiny part to help others preserve history. This isn’t just about genealogy, it’s about records being archived in a way that preserves them for generations.

This video shares the story of just one place where the work camera operators do made a difference. As you can see, this isn’t just about genealogy, it’s so much more.
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It will be interesting to see where things go from here. I have a few projects on the table to choose from. I’m excited to move on, but grateful for the work I’ve been able to do.

As you know, I’ve taken on a few projects outside the scrapbooking industry. In these past few weeks I’ve learned a lot about digital image quality, historic documents, digital archiving methods and more. In fact, I’m learning something new just about everyday. I LOVE it.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an instructor it is this – there’s always something new to learn. For that reason I’ve always worked to be ahead of the curve, running to the edge of technology and immersing myself to glean what is helpful to my students. After five years teaching digital photo organization, I believe it’s time to move on.

However, after many heartfelt emails, I’ve realized that many of you still would like access to the content I’ve created. For that reason, I’ve decided to share what I’ve created here for free, as my Christmas gift to you.

In the coming days you will see all the content from my Finding Photo Flow 101 class go live on the blog. I am committed to having the class fully up by the first of the year, just in time for everyone to start running with their photo organization goals.

Additionally, I will also be posting my Creatively Organized with ACDSee in Windows class content in the first part of January 2013. My ACDSee Mac content will not be published as I cannot in good faith recommend that program for Mac users.

As my time is limited and pretty consumed with the projects and consulting I’m doing, I hope that you all will help one another in the comments section of this blog.

For those of you asking when I will release my next class, honestly I’m not sure. I believe the best class ideas come during creative hiatuses when one can freely explore and learn and experiment until they create something that inspires them to the point of having to share the information. This was the basis for both my Lightroom For Memory Keepers and Finding Photo Flow. Who knows what I’ll come up with next.

I hope you all have a wonderfully Merry Christmas! No matter what the future holds for me, you can be assured that I’ll share pieces of the journey here.

It’s been a lot of work around here and very little play… however, last weekend we took to the new neighborhood and got some pics of the kids…

And before you ask where Joe is – two birthday parties on Saturday meant he literally snuck out of the picture. However, our foreign exchange student from China is visiting for Christmas, so we plan to do another shoot soon… we’ll get him next time.

These shoots are taking on a distinctly different vibe from previous years. They’re just not as much stress or energy as before. I think it has something to do with the kids getting older. It is getting easier to get the shots I need in less time – the wind was freezing and we were still able to get quite a few shots in less than 20 mins…

In other news Kate’s Basketball season officially started with preseason games on Tuesday… I’ve also agreed to coach Grace’s Jr. Jazz team – all those games keep our family running…

Quite honestly I’ve never had a December that’s been this busy – between basketball games, wrapping up old projects in the evenings, working on new projects, and basketball my days start around 5am and don’t often end until 11pm. (Don’t worry mom I sleep a lot on the weekends…) Thankfully my husband is a saint and helps with the cooking, cleaning, shopping and the kids are great too. I’m just so grateful for our family…

There is light at the end of the tunnel – I completed several old projects last week which means that the next couple of weeks things should wind down nicely to truly enjoy the holiday season with my family… I can’t wait! I’m loving my new work gig and truly finding flow in the things I am working on and creating… feeling very blessed to be able to do the work I do even if it means being crazy busy during the transition…

Life – is always moving forward. I finished our Christmas cards this weekend and as I reviewed my Instagram photos for 2012, I honestly can’t believe how much has happened in ONE year. It’s been an epic year. One that I need to take the time and write so many feelings from my heart before I forget.

One thing’s for certain, I’m not the same Kayla Lamoreaux I was in January 2012. For that I’m very grateful. Sometimes transition and change is really hard. Then there are other times when you feel like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon – it’s been one of those years… so much growth personally, professionally and emotionally. wow.

Today I am grateful for so many things – but most definitely for the courage to open my heart to new  twists and turns in this wonderful journey of life… It’s never easy but always worth it.

Finding the Silhouette Pinterest board didn’t help me stay away either – there were too many fun ideas – plus free shapes every week!!

I withstood the Silhouette temptation for a month but I finally caved and splurged on the Silhouette Cameo… I’ve been taking these classes learning more about it and today I’m excited to share some Black Friday deals with you all!

Just use the code KAYLA at checkout for your savings – enjoy!  I’m so excited to play with this machine – I can’t even tell you all – so many little projects I want to do in my new home. I’ll pop in and share the results as I finish them…

Happy Black Friday!

I love the work I’ve been privileged to do in this industry, the people I’ve been so lucky to work with, the many friends I’ve made and the many awesome students I’ve been blessed to teach. In fact, many of my dear friends are those I’ve worked with, taught and met along the way.

Thank you all for listening, for encouraging, for being so excited to learn! I’ve loved every minute of my time here.

Which is why I’m a little verklempt as I write this post…

It all started with a call out of the blue from a recruiter that left me with one question. Seeking the answer to that question pointed me in another direction which put me on the path to an amazing opportunity I’ve decided to run with.

The crazy thing is that when that recruiter originally called, I wasn’t looking to change anything. In fact, if I would have hung up the phone and left it at that… nothing would have changed…but I couldn’t leave it alone…

The work I get to be a part of in this new project is something I am very passionate about. It involves eLearning, training and being a part of helping to digitally archive and organize historic documents all over the world…

By the way the last sentence I wrote makes my heart beat a little faster, I’m kind of still pinching myself that I get to be a part of this…

Yes my new project is a full time corporate gig complete with a commute and dress code. The amazing thing is that it’s actually simplifying my life… The structure and hours will actually in the end give me more time with my family. And that’s a very good thing…

Owning your own business and working with multiple projects and clients takes a lot of time and energy. Yet looking back all that energy was so worth it! I’ve loved the people I’ve worked with and the opportunities I’ve been blessed with. Even though it has been crazy at times, it’s been fun to be a part of many projects creating results that made a difference.

Which brings me to the questions I’ve been getting from so many of you. Where do we go from here? What happens now?

Here’s the plan:

• If you are a student of Finding Photo Flow or Creatively Organized on JessicaSprague.com, you should have already received the email which announces that I will be supporting my classes there until the end of this year.

• This blog – I don’t see it going away anytime soon! I’m excited to dig in and be a normal memory keeper again! I’ll be sharing things here and there. I’ll also continue to share the content from the Lightroom Supply Organization class until it is finished.

Lastly, I just want to be clear that I’ve loved my time with JessicaSprague.com – I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Jessica and her team – they are simply AWESOME!  So much so that if I ever decided to come back to working in this industry, her site would be the first door I’d knock on.

I’ve never worked on a site with as much heart going on behind the scenes. Jessica and her team truly care about helping students and making a difference. I’ll miss them all more than words can say!! It was truly one of my favorite experiences ever – big thanks to Jessica, Kristen, Tori, Laurie and Kari.  I love you all…

If I could mention every name of every person and student that’s made a difference in this journey you’d all be reading this forever…

Suffice it to say that every email you’ve sent, every thank you and comment on this blog, every word of encouragement, virtual hug, mention – you’ve all lifted my spirits – many times at critical moments. To you all I will be forever grateful.

Thanks for being you. I mean that with all my heart. I’m going to miss you all more than words can say.