Riley's Fall Colors and bein' Thankful!

Good morning, sweet blogging friends!  We've been praying diligently for those in Sandy's path and hope that in her wake you are all doing well and are safe and sound.  Blessings!

Today's post is what I like to call a two-fer :)  The new bi-weekly Riley and Company challenge brought to us by Joy calls for using Fall colors on our Riley cards so I inked up one of my favorites: Wheat Riley.  I decorated the inside of my card with a sentiment I found at a writing sight and loved it - especially since Riley does have his banjo *wink!*

My friend Lorie used to call me the queen of mix and match papers ... that always made me smile when she said that!  So I'm sure I'm channeling her sweet words with this pairing up of papers :) For my Fall colors, I went for my MME paper pack, Happy Heart - my eye drew in on the warm orange-ish colors and it felt like Fall to me :)  Be sure to play along with the Riley challenge this week, too - you can find the challenge blog here. {If you link up to a gallery, please use the keyword 2212}

Another group near and dear to my heart is the Crafters of Faith and once a month, always on the last day of the month, we post a card with a theme chosen by the monthly hostess.  This month, our Sharon asked us to create a card of thankfulness.  In her words, she challenges us with this:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wow, it's hard to believe that there is only 3 more months left of 2012...where has the time gone?? Some of you may know from reading my blog this week that Autumn is my favorite season of the year. In Southern Ontario it is quickly making its appearance and where I'm from the colour of the changing leaves can be quite spectacular. It's so inspiring--I just love it! Autumn also includes my most favourite holiday celebration--THANKSGIVING!! It's hard not to love a holiday that calls on us to give thanks for our blessings. I realize not everyone around the world celebrates this holiday, and our friends in the U.S. don't celebrate until November, so for this challenge you can choose to make either a card for thanksgiving OR a thank you card for someone who has been a blessing to you. Please use at least 2 designer papers and 1 embellishment, and most importantly, have fun! I can't wait to see what you've created!

I am thankful for many many things - from my faith to my family and even the busy-ness that often keeps me going from sun-up to sun-down.  I am thankful that even though the days are stressed, time runs short and there is always "one more thing to do", I'm blessed that I'm able to do it and give Him all the glory for those blessings!  I'm thankful that God has bestowed upon us miracles, that he shines upon our family with a beacon of fresh hope and faith to face each of the days ahead, even the ones that are a little more topsy-turvy than others :)  And of course, I'm thankful for my online friends ~ 

I ♥ you!  

I hope my card represents the beauty of this season and how cultivating a thankful spirit (as my granny used to say!) brings so much joy and beauty to our lives.  

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly