COF ~ Kind Hearts ♥

 

Hi friends! 

 

Today is the day that the COF (Carriers of Faith) post our cards

reflecting a theme that the hostess has chosen. 

 This month, Shelly has chosen a theme of forgiveness,

and these are her words for us:

 

We had a priest come to a prayer group one evening, and he said in confessions the number one comment people make is how they struggle with Forgiveness. I am one who struggles with that as well, so I choose that as my topic for October and our final month together.

"Therefore I tell you, all you ask for in prayer , believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive your transgressions." Mark 11:24-25
So make a card- tell someone you have trouble forgiving that you love them and send it off in the  mail to them! 
 

Well, I'm pretty sure I failed at this challenge as

I didn't have any stamps that really fit the theme.

I remembered one of my very favorite stamps from ODBD

that beautifully talks of kindness.

And in Ephesians 4:32 it tells us ...
 

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

 as God in Christ forgave you.

 

I do think sharing kind words, doing acts of kindness for people

and wonderful services for those in need make this world

such an incredibly more beautiful place.

It takes but a second sometimes to do so,

and sometimes we are just too rushed, too busy, too distracted ...

I really feel that time is the one thing that can often be unforgiving.
I know that's way off topic, and another post altogether :)
But in this hustle and bustle world, and in our family alone,
we are just so incredibly busy with so much to do.
I hear so often "enjoy it while you can!  They grow so fast!" and we do!

It's not easy.
It's not always fun.
It's not always forgiving ~
but through the grace of all that God gives us, asks of us,
truly praying for others and letting go of anything weighing down the soul
is a beautiful gift you can give yourself and others :)

Sadly, this will be my last COF post - for all the reasons above,
time hasn't been in my favor for 'online' life.
The group of ladies have meant the world to me
and I'm grateful for the time we have spent together -
thank you so much for being women of faith and women of my heart!
I ♥ you all :)

Thanks for stopping by today!
Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly
 

 

 I'll enter this into:  ODBD:  Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - AGhttp://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Birthday Friendship ♥ (Carriers of Faith/Cornish Heritage Farms)

 

 

 

What a special day today is ...  

 Today our little man is 10 years old!

Our 'baby' of the family is turning another year old,

joining his 3 big sisters in the "double digits" category!

 

Though he is far from little .. I'm a wee 5'3" and he's already

passing my chin in height :)

Such an incredible little gentlemen he is,
with such compassion for the world, a gentle soul and incredibly bright
and funny ~ oh, how he makes me laugh on a daily basis!
 I'm blessed to be his mommy ♥

 

So imagine how practical it was that today is the day

 the Cornish Heritage Farms posts our challenge cards with a theme by Amber:  Boy/Masculine themed birthday cards.  Perfect!

 

And ...it's also the 9th of the month,
 which is the day that Carriers of Faithpost our cards, too
~ this month, our hostess is Jeanette.

Her challenge this month is a friendship card with the scripture
of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
In our home, we are very close to our children and they to each other
(though I must confess 3 teenage daughters was so not as fun as
I'd imagined it would be, LOL!).
Most of all, they are amazing with their little brother
and I'd imagine that if one falls down, they'll help the other up
as He intended for us to do with our brethren ♥
The scripture tells us that if one is overpowered, two can defend
themselves but a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I imagine my 4 together and hope that their close bond will be forever!

So, here's my card!
I used a digi from Cornish Heritage Farms called Teddy

  

 CHF61 - link it to the challenge blog

 

Carriers of Faith ~ Showing Love ♥

 

Hi friends!

We're off for the weekend for some last moments of summer fun!

We sure wish summer could last all year long

but it's back to school soon ~ meh!

 

Today's card was fun to make :)

The Carriers of Faith have a wonderful theme this month

and our hostess is April!

 

Here's what she said:

 

August Challenge:

Since we post the day after my wedding anniversary, I would like everyone to make a project based on one of the scriptures read at my wedding: 

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7   "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  Your card doesn't need to be based on a spousal love, and as such.   I would love to hear a story of one of your loves!

This verse was also in our wedding, too ♥

 

So, I had my husband in mind when creating my card.

He is the center of my world and one of the BEST men on the planet :)

He's my high school sweetie and here we are ...

30 years and 4 kids later!

 

For the card I made today,

I finally opened one of my new SU! Stamp sets "See Ya Later"

 that I bought but hadn't had the chance to ink up.

I also wanted to emboss the sentiment, which says

"Once in a lifetime you meet someone

who changes everything."

 

So sweet!
 

I went with a Cherry Cobbler color

{our wedding color was *dusty rose* for my mom :)

but ohhhhh, I'm so NOT a pink girl!}

I found this card pattern on Pinterest

and fell in love with it, too,

and wanted to recreate it with my own spin ♥

 

 I hope you are able to visit my COF sistahs, too!

You can find them listed in my sidebar!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

I'll enter my card into:  Little Red Wagon - Embossing
Eclectic Paperie - Embossing
Path to Positivity - Possibilities

COF "For the Men" meets Riley & Co "Texture!"

Howdy, Friends!

How's that for a catchy title?

LOL!

 

If you are here for the Riley and Company's Challenge,

or the

Carriers of Faith monthly post,

you're in the luck - they are one in the same!

Yes, my card is pulling double duty this time around --

sometimes we just get lucky that way ;)

 

For my Riley and Company post, I am the hostess this challenge -

HI! ♥

I chose the challenge to be one in which you can create a card/project

using 'Terrific Textures!'

 Mine is pretty obvious ~ I went with one of my FAVES of all time - burlap.

I love to work with this stuff!

I love feel, the smell, the memories it brings

of grand-dad's farm ~ counless burlap bags filled to the brim with peaches.

They lived on the property where the owners had huge orchards just

filled with acres and acres of peaches ... I can still visualize it.

I used the Riley and Company stamps "God's Got This"

which I LOVE!  Simple and to the point!

Indeed He does ♥

 

We'd be thrilled if you could play along with our challenge -

you can link up your cards in the challenge area

right here starting 6/10 :)

Also, for the Carriers of Faith, our hostess this month is Paula!

Her theme is this one:

Celebrate the Men in your life...
 

Challenge: I want you to create a card or gift for your father or a male figure who has been influential in your Christian life. Create multiple projects if you wish for more than one of those special men.
2. Give the project to that man or men that you hold dear to you. Celebrate these people on or before Father's Day!
3. Use any scripture you like on your project. Just make sure the scripture has a prominent place somewhere on your project and share a pic where you used the scripture.
4. Tell us why you chose this person or persons and how they played a part in your walk with Christ.
5. Explain why you chose a particular scripture on your project.

 

 

For me, Father's Day is one of the hardest days of the year.

I lost dad 7 years ago and not a day goes by that I don't think of him

and he's not with me. 

My father and I were very close, as close as a parent and child could be

and his passing left a void in my heart.

I have so many wonderful memories of him and the man he was

before cancer riddled him of his mind and body

and hold fast to that to guide me through this journey of life ♥

 

Yes, I have a WONDERFUL and most incredible husband ~

and a fabulously crazy brother as well :)

But mostly, Father's Day tends to be raw, emotional ...

so this card was a reminder to myself that above all things,

we are never forsaken.

Truly .... GOD'S GOT THIS,

as with many things if we just seek him in refuge!

 

For my card inside, I added a sentiment that was computer

generated ~ one that brings me comfort over and over

and was fitting with the stamp .... Psalm 46:1.

 

Be sure to stop in and see what the rest of the COF sisters

have created this month - you can find them  listed

in my sidebar!

 

As Always,

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

I'd like to enter this to:  Word Art Wednesday - AG
Sunday Stamps - Color Palette
 



Carriers of Faith: All God's Children ♥

Good Morning, sweet friends!

 

Forgive my short post today, I'm going 100 mph in 100 different directions

with no chance of stopping in the next few days.  I see lots and lots of Starbucks coffee in my future! ♥

 

Today the Carriers of Faith post our monthly cards based on a theme
 chosen by our hostess. This month, Carol was up and her theme
 and scripture are just wonderful!   This is what she said:

 

Theme: "All God's Children"...  For your card/project and/or photo, please create something depicting a baby, child, teen, adult ("as we are all special in his eyes")

Scripture: "And Jesus took a child and put him in this midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. " ~Mark 9:36-37

Please forgive my card! 
 I ended up rushing and I am quite unhappy with the results. 
 I have so many stamps with little children/teens/ladies on them but just could not find my mojo or wrap my head around an idea :(   I wish I had a better card to showcase on this hop as I did so love Carol's theme.  Alas, time is up and this is what I have to show. Rather than interrupt the hop, I'll post this and fix the card sometime today :( 

 

I'm using a Whipper Snapper stamp lovingly sent to me by Barb ~ what a thoughtful gift and reminds me so much of my son .... a darling, faith-filled, prayerful little boy!  Thank you, Barb! ♥

 

If you are hopping along, you should have arrived from April's

amazing blog!  From here, you'll continue on over to Barb's

beautiful blog and see what she's made today.

Thanks for hopping along with us!
Big hugs, Bigger Blessings ...
~Kelly

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

 

 

Carriers of Faith - "Be Still" ... Blog Hop!

Blessings to you on this wonderful, brand new year
 and welcome to the first Carriers of Faith blog hop!
2014 holds many possibilities

 ~ a blank slate, yours to be written.
Many of us have goals, resolutions, ambitions, dreams, ideas ....
many things that give us hope for a new start, a new outlook. 
 There is something uniquely beautiful about a fresh new start and
I’m so blessed you joined me today for a new start to the
 ~ Carriers of Faith ~
a group of ladies shining their beacons of faith as a light towards God.
While we won’t always have time to be crafty,
we are creative, faith-filled, and connected by prayer!

{The COF might sound familiar, we're formerly the Crafters of Faith,

much the same with a small twist that we will have a 

monthly feature with a chosen bible scripture, moment of reflection, 

and photo inspirations to share with you on fellowship and friendship!}

This month, I'm the hostess and challenged them
 to reflect on this scripture:

“Be still and know that I am God.”  ~Psalm 46:10 

I chose this scripture to reflect on the beauty of a fresh start

 and growing in grace.  Part of the walk we take

as christians is knowing when to stop and listen and be still,

maturing in our faith!

I also challenged the ladies this month to share with us ...

 Where are you still?

Where do you connect with God?

Where do you open your heart, clasp your hands in prayer, 

lift your voice to Him,  read your bible, devote time and reconnect in your walk?

 Show us your still.

 My favorite spot in the house to read my bible,

 to work on my bible studies, or to spend time 

without interuption of phones, computers, messages ... 

is in my front living room Wingbat Chair and ottoman :)

I sit there with a cup of tea or my coffee and wrap myself up with 

the throw blanket of quotes from famous authors

 that my daughter bought me :)

The chair is not the most comfortable chair.

It's more for decoration when you walk into the house.

But it comforts ME.

It's soothing.

It comforts my soul.

It makes me smile :)

I'm still.

God's love strengthens me here. 

 In this chair, I'm able to unwind, or refocus, or be inspired, 

write, plan, dream, pray ... and 

fulfill my duty towards being a better, committed christian.

Romans 8:28 reminds us  "And we know that all things work together

 for good to those who love God, 

to those who are the called according to His purpose."

May today bring you blessings, peace, togetherness, fellowship and

stillness :) 

This is a blog hop so hopefully you'll be able to visit

all of the COF sisters today.  From here, you'll hop on
over to my beautiful friend, Barb!  Thank you for your visit
and the blessing of YOU!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly