Simple Sundays/Carriers of Faith!

Blessings to you this Sunday!
If you are here to read my Simple Sundays or Carriers of Faith,
please scroll down - this post is one in the same! :)

First, thank you all for the wonderful 'virtual' hugs on my hand which

has started to heal - yay!  The dryer (company) is definitely going to be in trouble as dh simply is not going to stand for this, he says ;)

 

I actually LOVE LOVE LOVE line dried clothes!

I mentioned I'd be just as pleased to hang the clothes outdoors,

much to an eyebrow raising and a kiss on my hand to tell me

"Oh no, that just won't do."

I'm married to a most wonderful man, indeed :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this Simple Sunday installment on my blog,
 I created another CAS card literally using all scraps from my desk
 from recent card makings. 
Each piece, small andl large, are all part of something else!
I love creating for Simple Sundays because it gives me a serenity and calmness knowing that this post is never rushed, purposeful other than to be thankful in the blessings in my life.

 From the leftover burlap to the small daisys using a punch and the small wooden tag which I stamped with Archival ink, I came up with this.
This card was designed after seeing a similar one on Pinterest
(unable to find the link now )
 where she used prima flowers and yellow brads and a paper banner.
  I wanted to keep an earthy feel and went with a wooden banner which I stamped onto the wood.
My first attempt with Momento had the worst bleeding - the ink ran into the wood and just spread outward.
I tried it again with Archival and it wasn't as bad - not perfect - just okay.
If anyone has any tips on how to stamp into the wood without bleeding,
please share it with me!  I have many more of these wooden tags
and would love to stamp on them again :)

Today is also the day the Carriers of Faith post to our blogs

with a chosen topic and photo.

This month, our hostess is Zella - who gave us this theme to reflect on:

March Challenge: Thankfullness

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you ~   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately. Then last night I was talking with a friend at church and she said "don't you sometimes feel like our prayers are list a list of requests?". That really challenged me. Yes, we are supposed to take our needs and requests to Him. But our prayers should also be about praise and worship - about thanking Him for ALL He has done for us. These verses are short - but the are packed with power! "Rejoice evermore". It's a choice you know? I chose to rejoice because He has made me exceedingly glad! I chose to rejoice even when things are difficult because He will bring me through and He is right by my side!

So what am I asking for with regards to your posts and pictures? Two things:
1. Share about something that you are thankful for....not the big things that everyone is always thankful for - but those little things that we seem to overlook...that we take for granted.
2. Share about why you rejoice and why you worship Him.
(And of course share photos!)

Thank you, Zella!  What a beautiful scripture and prayerful words to think about.
Being thankful is something I strive for every day and try to incorporate it
in the smallest of ways.
There are days where I do just that, grateful to the heavens and back
for all the joy and wonderful things I have.
And then there are so days where I fail miserably.
But to pray without ceasing is a gift you not only give to yourself,
and back again to our Savior, but to those around you who you touch by witnessing. 

It's hard to narrow down one thing I am thankful for!
So I will share one of the things that touched my heart this past week.
I lost my dad on March 3 when he passed away, 8 years ago.
This is always a difficult time of the year for me
and I'd had a particularly bad week (everything that could go wrong, did!)
I love to sit in my backyard and enjoy the beauty that it offers -
either a leisure dip in the pool and floating around on a lounge chair,
or reading a book at the table, sipping coffee ...
even swinging on the kids swing set, even when they aren't home :)
Thing is, I feel closest to my dad out there, too.
He loved piddling around in the backyard, picking at the weeds,
watering plants, feeding the bird and talking to our dogs we had at the time.
When he passed away, we planted a memorial tree in his honor.
The girls were little at the time (and my son just an infant)
and they picked a 'pretty tree!' at the plant nursery - turns out it was a hibiscus.
This tree has not grown a single blossom ALL YEAR.
Could be this crazy cooky weather we've been having down South -
blazing hot one minute and then freezing the next.
Our citrus trees have gone overboard and we've learned don't stand under
it unless you want to get hit in the head with oranges!
They are literally DROPPING - just like that, no warning!

But dad's tree?
Nothing.
Bare.

Until the first of March.
I saw the first bud sprouting and smiled.
This flowering tree finally heard my prayer and so did Dad ...
I just know it.
Would you believe, on March 3rd - I came outside and there was not just
one beautiful bud open to a gorgeous bloom ...
but 5!!!
It's like I tell my kids -
believe in your heart and it will be so.

I was very thankful indeed :)
Here is one of the gorgeous blooms ...

Wow, what a long post!

Thank you if you made it this far :)

 

This is my 73 card of the year in the 100/100 challenge

 

 

This is a hop and from here you will be off to visit Barb.

Hopefully you arrived from April's blog.

The COF blogs are not always linked

up in blog hop fashion so I merely invite you to stop in and visit

all the COF girls if you can and see what they have to share with you this day.

 

As always, I'm thankful for each of you!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

Card entered into:  HIMCR - Super Scraps

 Word Play Satruday - AG

Lisa's Blogger Challenge - Flowers