God's amazing provision...

I don't have a card for you this morning, but I do have a story of God's amazing provision. It's nearing Jesus birthday...how like our loving God that we get all the presents. This story actually happened in August, but I've never shared it with you, so thought in honor of Jesus birthday I'd share it now. My daughter who is a single mom, is finishing up her schooling in nursing (she has just till May and she graduates!) She has been very blessed to have gotten a couple of scholarships and a student loan to pay for most of the expense of her tuition and books. But as you know schooling is expensive besides all the add ons like uniforms, gas to travel for clinicals and back and forth to classes. She has been blessed by having a PRN (as needed) job at a rural hospital so really doesn't have any set hours, and doesn't always get enough hours to pay her rent and car payment, groceries etc. My husband and I have helped out as we have been able, but we don't always have the extra either. In August she was not going to be able to have enough money for her rent ($500). She had not gotten enough hours of work at the hospital that month. I pray for my kids and grandkids everyday...they believe in God, but don't really have a close relationship with Him. I had been praying for Jenny financially as she tries to get through her schooling and God has come through everytime by either getting her more work or my hubby and I having the extra money she needed. This time however, God provided in an unexpected, amazing way. Two days before her rent was due, she received a refund check from the college for $514.00. She had no refund coming. There was no reason for her to get that check. But even more amazing...the check was written a year ago. She called the college to see what was going on and they verified it was a good check and she could cash it, but they couldn't explain it either! The bank accepted and cashed it even tho it was over a year old and it said "void after 90 days". Do we not serve an amazing God? He knew of Jenny's need a year in advance. The answer to prayer was already provided just awaiting the right moment for it to be answered. I don't know about you, but it sends chills up my spine to know our God loves us that much. This Christmas season don't forget to thank God for all the gifts he's given you...the hug from a friend, a roof over your head, family, too many gifts to mention. But most of all, the gift of His son Jesus who died for us so that we can have this wonderful closeness and eventual home with the God who loves us so much. Merry Christmas to all my papercrafting friends. I'm hoping to get things back on track after the holidays and start posting more artwork again. It's been a crazy couple of weeks for me!

It's just one of those cards.....

Have you ever had one of those cards that you had pictured in your mind to make, but when you were done it just wasn't what you were thinking? That's where I am with this one. I made this card for the Sweet Sunday sketch (flipped it on it's side) and the Stampin' Sisters in Christ "Use your treasures" challenge. I thought that I would like the patterned paper, but it's way too busy once I got it put together. But...I had way too much time invested in it already to start over. So...it is what it is.

Here's a close up of my "treasure". The cookbook charm I've been saving to use for homemade treats I've made for a gift.

And the inside of the card.

And a close up of the inside. Stamps were Magnolia (Tilda) and Holiday Treats from Papertrey Ink, with a Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a wonderful day. I'm getting ready to start my Christmas treat making binge. What do you think the chances are of me not snacking the whole time I'm making....yeah not great!

Stampin Sisters & Friday Sketchers Challenges

I had a little time today so I combined a couple sketch challenges into one card. The pictures don't do justice to the actual colors of the card. It's overcast and yucky outside today, so therefore it's kinda dark in my scrap room :( This card is for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge...to let someone know you're praying for them..and the sketch is from Friday's Sketchers.

Front of the card

Inside of card

And the sentiment....

Hope you're having a wonderful day. We're supposed to get snow this evening. Just not ready for that yet...maybe a couple weeks? Thanks for stopping by.

Swirly Girly....

This card is for Cute Card Thursday sketch challenge. It's all about girls... anything girly will do! I love this stamp from "The Greeting Farm". I've already made several cards with this stamp. She so reminds me of my youngest daughter dragging around her rabbit everywhere she went. I can't use it without thinking about Jenny! Happy Friday everyone...the weekend is on it's way! Have a great one!

Thinking of you....

Wow, it felt really good to be able to get my stuff out and create today. It's been several days since I've had the chance between working and picking out pecans and company from the holidays. This card is for Mercy Tuesday's sketch challenge. I really love the way this turned out. I didn't really have any idea in mind, I just kinda "went" with it. The stamp is from "My Cute Stamps"

and the paper is "Turning a New Leaf" from Papertrey Ink

I also used punches from Martha Stewart for the leaves and the border. Sentiment stamp from "On my couch" also from Papertrey Ink. Hoping to get a couple more cards done today, but I hear the pecans calling me, so don't know if it'll happen or not today. We have to get them picked up before the squirrels and the blue jays and crows eat them all! We leave them the little ones, but pick up the big ones.

Have a great day...thanks for stopping by!

Giving gifts...

The challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week was to create a card that portrayed a gift. I have three of those that will fit the challenge, so am posting all three! I am happy to say I have all my Christmas cards completed and just need to get them mailed. I think that is a first for me this year. There are no two the same this year either. That also is a first. Usually I just have 2 or so designs and make multiples. Because I got an early start this year I was able to take my time and make them all different. That is definitely worth repeating next year!

This card uses the Santa stamp from the Believe set from Papertrey Ink.

I'm not sure what stamp this is. Paper is from Cosmo Cricket.

Here again is the stamp from the Believe set from Papertrey Ink. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!

Giving Thanks....where it belongs

I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to overlook the wonderful things that God does in my life. Oh, not the big, amazing things that you KNOW could have ONLY been divine in origin. ( I have had a couple of those). It's all those little things that I tend to pass off as coincidence. You know, like finding something that I needed when the budget was tight that is suddenly 50% off....or getting to work an overtime shift when I was short just a few dollars from making ends meet this time. I have a feeling that I pass those off too many times when really they are like a "kiss" from God. A heavenly hug sent down that says "hey sheryl, just wanted to let you know I'm here and thinking of you, here's a little gift"

Because I don't ever want to take God for granted, I decided today to make a book of remembrance. I call it "A Journal of the Amazing Things God Has Done In My Life" What better verse could I find then Psalm 98:1 "Oh sing a new song; for He has done marvelous things!" God has done some radical work in my life over the last couple of years. I'm so very grateful to Him for that. I enjoy a peace that I yearned for and now at last have. I hope on this Thanksgiving weekend you remembered to thank the One from whom all blessings flow. Thanks for dropping by and God bless!

Be a Lighthouse...

Jesus described His followers this way: "You are the light of the world...Let your light shine". See yourself as a lighthouse for others in the sea of life. Some may be caught in a storm, some may be drifting aimlessly, and some may be completely lost. To such people, shine some light on their path. Whenever you encounter people in trouble, trauma, or loneliness, be there with the gift of light in the darkness. A small gesture of support or a gentle word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up or going on. May you all be blessed with a wonderful Thanksgiving...remembering to give thanks to the One who gave the most of all.

I totally cased the card from Judy Rozema. So the credit goes to her for design! Thanks Judy wherever you are!

Wow, it seems like forever since I've posted anything. Life gets in the way of creating....that's just not fair! I'm off for the next few days, so hoping to get some challenge cards done and increase my stash of Christmas cards a little. Here's one I've been working on a few minutes here and a few minutes there. I bought a few of the Magnolia stamps to play with; they are fun so fun to color. I've been picking out pecan meats every free chance I get. God has blessed us this year with an abundance of pecans! They make great Christmas gifts...a big bag of pecan meats! My mom and sister will each get one. I'll still have plenty to put in the freezer too! Hope you all have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Farm Fresh Friday sketch challenge

Good Saturday morning! I was excited this morning to ink up my first Magnolia stamp and play using the Farm Fresh Friday sketch challenge. I can tell that these stamps are going to be addictive! They really are sooo cute. I have lots of grandkids stuff to do today so this will be the only challenge I get done today...then four 12 hour shifts in a row starting Sunday, so unfortunately, no time to play for the next few days....

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend and I'll see ya all soon!