Dene Van Winkle, President/Owner of Imagine That! Scrapbooks & Gifts

I have always been a sentimental person. I think that is why I have always loved photography and scrapbooking. I made my very first scrapbook in 1978. Of course I would like to think I have come a long way since then. At the time I NEVER thought that someday I would own my very own scrapbook store. It was in 2003 when my husband took me to Minnesota where I took a class with Mrs. Grossman. It was in that class I got the fever! I remember leaving that class and telling Ronnie “You know, I think I could do it!” I know I had him confused for some time with that statement. For years every time we traveled anywhere Ronnie already knew we had to visit ALL the scrapbook stores around. He was always such a good sport about it. Then it happened! Let’s just say LIFE happened, and in 2005 Imagine That! Scrapbooks & Gifts became a reality. Ronnie believed in me so much that in September of 2005 he handed me the keys to my beautiful building, and said to me “This building is my gift to you; I know you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. I never want you to have to worry about anything, so follow your dreams, and I will always be here to support you.” I can honestly say, I have never met a more wonderful human being in my life than my husband. He really did believe in me, and I thank him for giving me the courage to do something that most people only dream of. It is because of him that I live by the quote… "Don't wait. The time will never be just right." In May of 2009 I lost the love of my life, BUT life does go on, and I am blessed in many ways. I am still actively involved with the store, but I am now “more behind the scenes,” giving me time to spoil Baby Aedan. I have full confidence in Krista running the store, and I have the most wonderful staff and clientel around.

It has always been my belief to provide a store to customers that I would shop in, spend time in and learn in. With this in mind we have created an atmosphere where we can all be comfortable and relax whether we're shopping, creating that perfect album/project or attending one of the many classes, and Krista has taken this concept along with her retail experience and expanded my vision to bigger and better.

One final thought… Another beautiful quote that my kids wrote on their dad’s bulletin board while in the hospital. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Life comes and goes, and things can be taken away from us, but NOTHING can take away our memories. So as I say- Scrapbook Em!