Good Sunday morning to you!! This week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge was challenging for sure. But as with any good challenge, the outcome can be so gratifying! Today's challenge was given by MariLynn from Mississippi McGyver.
You can view today's devotional and challenge in detail by visiting the Stampin Sisters in Christ blog. I'm sure you will be blessed!
The Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind."
The challenge:
Try something that you have been AFRAID to try before. Examples: A color combination, a different style than you would normally use (layers instead of CAS or CAS if you normally lay on the layers...) You get the idea!!
The Prize: A 15.00 gift voucher from the generous Paper Fashions Etc.!!
I really had to rack the recesses of my tired brain to figure out what to do for this challenge. I thought and I thought and I thought...and I could not think of what I was afraid to do. Most things I have wanted to do (stamping related,) I have attempted before. The reason I don't do it is either because it isn't my style, or I've discovered I don't do it well. And I have learned that over spending hours and hours on a card or project and wondered why I tortured myself? I call that a learning curve...and happily I have moved on to a style that reflects me and doesn't leave me frustrated. Except every once in awhile I see something one of you does and have to give it a try! It's always good to challenge yourself a bit!
When it comes to living life, I know I am not nearly as brave as I would like to be. In the past two years I have found my knees weak and thoughts rambling and my fingers trembling. The word that can evoke so much fear has touched all three of my family members...husband, oldest and youngest daughter. Each have required numerous surgeries to rid of tumors. I am afraid of cancer. I am afraid of surgery. While in this waiting mode of wondering if the cancer recurs in another suspect looking mole on one of my daughter's bodies...I find myself avoiding the sun and being fearful of the damaging rays. I still go outside, but I am not one to go uncovered...I have shade and a hat.
Those relationships that I have consistently relied on for strength have been slowly taken away. My mom recently made the decision to be permanently placed in a nursing home in the town where she and my Dad live and I grew up in. I am fearful for her physic well being as every day she loses weight and she is so frail to begin with. I am worried for her emotional well-being as she is such a lovely woman and yet she spends most of her time alone. But more than that, I am afraid at times of not being the daughter to her and my Dad and the support that I need to be when they live in a town that is many miles across several mountain passes. How do you flip family responsibilities and become the mother to the mother when you miss your mother? And how do you let go of being the daughter that could go to her mom when she was scared? I wrestle with this often and the role I now play. And am I able to meet the responsibilities of handling all the financial and health decisions when the time comes?
These are just a few of the ways the Lord has steered my life and those I love recently. And at times I feel I have lost my equilibrium.I have had the feeling of being suspended in the unknown rather than walking a steady path the Lord has set out for me. When feeling this way, the one thing that has helped is confessing my fears to the Lord...not that he doesn't already know them!! Reeling in those thoughts that tend to take me captive and down a side street of doom. Lately I am coming to the realization that whatever the Lord is doing...it is truly for my good. I am growing closer to Him. I am putting away the distractions and spending much more time in seeking him out. We have a lot of conversations on my bed at night. When I find myself unsteady, I think on his attributes and how he is unchanging...He is a rock. He is my rock.
We all need encouragement in this life...and I have found so much through God's continued grace and the ways he continues to reveal his care, his goodness, and provision over me and those I love...oftentimes through friends like you!!
2 Samuel 22
"As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
(23) It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (24) He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to stand on the heights. (37) You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."
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One thing I am a little intimidated by is alterable items. They usually require more time than a card...but the results can be gratifying! This gift tin has been sitting in my closet for a long time. I went to work with paper, dies, stamps perfect for food gifts, spritzing roses, adding ribbon, etc...
I filled it with pretty gold foil wrapped candy. And for now it will sit in my stamp room or kitchen...until I find the perfect occasion for gift giving. You can click on the picture for a closer view. I love these stamps from Waltzingmouse work for the canister lids also!
Paper: Daisy D's designer, PTI rustic
Ink: Versafine Sepia, Always Artichoke
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Victorian Fripperie and Labels Four
Accessories: Spellbinder dies, prima roses, shimmer mist, satin ribbon
Thanks for visiting today! I hope this project encourages you to try something you've been afraid to attempt before. I just thought of something else I am afraid to do...digital!! Oh my goodness, I would need a class for that one!! But I need to learn, because that seems to be a trend here to stay!!
Have a blessed Sunday!
That is a gorgeous can..love the design paper and the lace is a fabulous touch, so isn't the candy :).
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulously blessed week
Hugs :)
Digi is easy.....just hope it doesn't replace 'real' stamping......
ReplyDeletebeautiful packaging here, gf.....happy weekend
Hi Traci! Oh how I love your project! It's a beautiful tin and would make a wonderful gift! I also enjoyed reading your thoughts on today's Scripture! The Lord takes all of us down different paths, and many are filled with bumps and curves which cause fear yet they make us flee to Him just as you have stated! I love that on this journey we are all learning to turn it all over to Him and take our refuge under His care! I just got back from my travels and having been gone 3 of the last 4 weeks has left me behind in everything, but had to stop by and thank you not only for stepping in as a SUPER guest designer, but also for all the spiritual blessings you bring this team!
ReplyDeletehugs and blessings,
Grace
wow Traci, you have made an amazingly gorgeous tin...so glad you gave it a try, it is perfect...I hope your week is super and filled with lots of blessings!
ReplyDeleteenjoy *~*
Your tin came out beautiful. It has a Victorian feel to it. I feel the same way as you about altered items, especially altered books. I congratulate you on trying something that intimidates you. It came out great. The lace accent is so cute! I really love the flowers and the french words on the lid. The entire project looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what happened yesterday. I tried leaving you a comment on you blog three times and it said I was not authorized! Yikes! Anyway, wanted to try from this computer......so I could say....
ReplyDeletethese are so wonderful! What a great thing you altered! I love them Traci.....cross you fingers, I hope this comment goes!
I would never know that you were intimidated by alterable items, Traci. This is very lovely and beautiful. If you need a recipient, I am always a most grateful one. :-) thanks for sharing your story and lesson, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous altered canister, so pretty!
ReplyDeleteTraci, you're not alone in your fears and I think anyone reading this would appreciate your expression of those fears many of us share. I think of how devastating and heartbreaking an experience my mother's sudden diagnosis of cancer and her quick decline was, and then I read this and I appreciate how she lived nearby and I was able to care for her and spend those days with her. You're a beautiful, thoughtful, caring person, and your family is fortunate to have you on their team.
ReplyDeleteYou've done a beautiful job with your tin. Quite beautiful. Here is another fear we share. I so admire altered items, but never seem to know what to do with them. Your tin looks like something you might find in a fine gift shop. I love it!
Such a pretty container! I love the project and hope you won't be as "fearful" to do the next one. You did a lovely job. Still consistently praying for you sister. Haven't taken you out of my prayer journal yet! :)
ReplyDelete