December Daily 2022 - Day 7

Hi hi hi! I'm so excited to be back to share my FAVORITE story so far in my album, for Day 7. Heck, this will probably be one of my FAV stories for years to come! It's about returning to my old high school and seeing my former JROTC instructor! Yes, I was a JROTC girl in high school and at one point, wanted to join the army! Let's get to the story....

 

The quick version of this story is that my sister + I attended a chorus concert at our old high school, where they were honoring our former chorus director. We were both in chorus, and I was excited to go, but wasn't sure how many people I would see there that I knew (since I transferred halfway through my junior year of high school). BUT, when I walked in, I had the best, most giantest surprise! Colonel Wargo!!!

 

I literally squeeled when I saw him. Like LOUD! I ran up to him and jumbled words like "Omgee, Colonel Wargo! It's me! Kelly Hernandez!!!" I honestly didn't think he would remember me. I mean, I graduated in 2005! But as he smiled his warm smile, he said "Cadet Kelly! I wondered what happened to you." (I totally forgot until that moment that he used to call me that when I was in high school, fondly named after the Disney movie named Cadet Kelly). I put more details in my journaling but it was honestly such a sweet + special moment for me.

 

Here's a look at the page in the album. When my sister took this photo of us, I knew I needed to make this a large photo. I decided to tuck my journaling behind the photo, so I cut a slit in the photo and (before adhering it to the back page), I adhered an envelope first (so the extra photos + journaling technically go into an envelope but you can't see it). 

 

For the journaling, I used a card from my Illustrated Faith Advent calendar that I painted white then adhered printed journaling on top. I stapled pieces of ribbon to the card and two extra photos that I tucked behind the large photo.

 

 

In addition to a photo my sister took of me near the JROTC Department, I went through my past photos and found this photo of me marching in a parade in my JROTC uniform (I can't believe how young + little I look!). I really wanted to include a photo of me from JROTC in high school, so I was super happy to find it. 

 

The embellishments used on the top of the large photo page and the 'the best part' cursive stickers were from my friend Audrey. 

 

I'm so so thrilled I was able to document this story that is so very dear to my heart and means so much to me. 

 

xoxo