Sunday, August 9, 2009

To Everything There Is A Season



Today I'm sharing the second of the two cards I made for the Scrapbook News & Review feature back in April. It's Divine Design day, too, a day set aside each month to share a papercrafting project that helps us commit more of God's Word to memory. (I haven't played along in a while.)

I don't share a lot of personal stuff on my blog, but I am today - a little Sunday sermon of sorts. The week before last, I had a particularly tough week. I was cranky, stressed out, and feeling especially frazzled trying to keep up with my super curious, strong-willed, tw0-year-old mess-maker. You know it's bad when it's only Tuesday and only 9:30 in the morning at that, and you're already silently vowing to yourself, "I will not yell at anyone today, I will not yell at anyone today, I will not yell at anyone today." Have days like that? Weeks like that?

Many years ago, when I was similarly frazzled by my now-8-year-old (is it a boy thing? my dd was so EASY), I happened upon a wonderful devotional that I can't even think about without choking up. It spoke that powerfully to me. It was an excerpt from Cheri Fuller's Quiet Whispers from God's Heart for Women, and it had to do with feeling like your days as a mom of young children are like stringing beads all day only to find out at the end of the day that you forgot to tie a knot at the end of the string. I can relate ... beds that are made get slept in, floors that are swept clean get spilled on, toys that are picked up get strewn around again. The week before last, I needed God's gentle reminder (through re-reading this devotional) that by serving my little ones, I am serving Him. This is a season, and one that will pass far too quickly. I am so blessed that I get to make beds, fold clothes, prepare meals, clean up spills, pick up toys, wipe runny noses, etc. - though those things may not always look or feel like blessings at the time. I never want to take for granted this amazing responsibility God Himself has given me - being mom to these three precious children of mine.

Thanks for visiting! Hugs!



Stamps: Scripture Collection I (Our Daily Bread Designs)
Paper: Prismatics card stock, K&Co dp, Stampin' Up Always Artichoke, Papertrey Vintage Cream
Ink: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke
Accessories: May Arts satin ribbon, Michael's brad (wedding section), Kaiser Craft adhesive pearls, yellow flowers (Michael's floral dept), Martha Stewart punches, Spellbinders dies, sewing machine, paper piercer, foam adhesive

42 comments:

Lynne in NI said...

Wow, what an absolute stunner!

Jessie/knightrone said...

This is gorgeous Amy!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful card...and a beautiful post. And yes...it IS a boy thing! :-)

Andrea said...

So beautiful.

Linda Carson said...

Elegant!! You are truly blessed & truly blessed to realize it!!

Danni said...

This is so beautiful!

Unknown said...

what a beautiful card!!!I love it! You added alot of detail and it looks lovely!TFS

Anonymous said...

Card is beautiful and also thanks for the Sunday Sermon! I needed to hear it and be reminded that through these tasks we are indeed serving him. THANK YOU!
Anne-Marie

Danielle said...

Oh Amy, this is stunning! So very classy and stylish .....and thank you so much for your 'message' today too! We all have such trying days/weeks with our kids that we so easily forget what a true blessing they are! And raising them with morals and values (amongst everything else)is definitely serving Him!
Hugs, Danielle

Latisha said...

Amy,
What a wonderful testimony and reminder how blessed we really are.
Absolutely gorgeous card!
hugs
latisha

CraftyViolet said...

Truly beautiful card. You are gifted. ...and yes, being a mom is great but it sure has its moments!!!!

pescbrico said...

Your card is really wonderful. You are very talented. Thanks for sharing your personnal stuff... I can relate!

Linda Beeson said...

Wow is your card stunning! Love everything about it.

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

This is absolutely stunning Amy!! Love the layout and colors!! What a wonderful message too!! You are an inspiration in so many ways! Missing you!

Lee-Anne said...

Hi Amy

This is such a stunning card, your work never ceases to amaze me. You are a very talented, gifted lady and I love seeing all your amazing creations.

Thanks also for the Sunday sermon, it was a great reminder. My children are older now, but I struggle with working and being a Mum and often times I am already feeling frazzled by Tuesday afternoon. Your words were a great reminder to me that everything does have a purpose and that this is a season of my life that I need to cherish, because all too soon I will probably be missing the chaos.

So, thank you for the lovely inspiration and the gentle reminder.

Have a wonderful week.

Lee-Anne
xox

Erin Smetak said...

WOW!!!! This is SO gorgeous! Can you do training? Your cards are just out of this world wonderful! Words can truly not express how fabulous your cards are! Every day I get your posts, I am more amazed! (does that make sense?!)

You are my card making hero! :)

Marisa said...

Gorgeous card, Amy!

Love the devotional too! I can totally relate to how you are feeling even though my kids are now 8 and 10. There are still days when I feel they way you are right now. I too realize it is a HUGE blessing to be able to stay at home with my kids, to be able to pour God's love into them, to be able to teach them His ways, to help shape their character so they can grow in their relationship with Him and serve him as they grow up etc. etc. I pray often that God would leave His fingerprints on their hearts through using me as their mom and at times I am overwhelmed at the thought that I have been entrusted with these two little lives for the duration of my life on earth.

They grow up waaaaaaay too quickly (there are times I wish I could "freeze frame" them for a while) and I know there will be a time when I wish there were messes to clean up, things to pick up etc.

I thank God for bringing this devotional to you when you needed it (isn't He wonderful that way) and for your open heart to listening to what He wanted to share with you through it. ((((hugs)))) from one busy mommy to another!

Kathie Bailey said...

Amy, I can so remember those days you described. Feeling so frazzled and at times so overwhelmed. Those days pass all too quickly and now my babies are 31 and 28. They were then and are now my blessings!

Your card is an incredible work of art. You have such a special gift and an wonderful eye for detail. Thanks for sharing your art and your inspirational reminder with us.

Kathy Jones said...

Amy, as a Mum of 3 (7yrs, 4yrs and 2yrs) I can TOTALLY relate to this, your post has touched me and reminded me that this season will pass and then I'll be looking back wondering where it went. Thank you so much for sharing this!!! (Of course as always your card is exquisite....LOVE IT!!) {hugs}

Unknown said...

Well that's it I'm afraid Amy!! I've finally run out of superlatives. I'll have to start all over again now!LOL
I love your card to bits.
Viv xx

Dawn Easton said...

Amy, your card is beautiful! The colours are so soft and pretty!

Thanks for your sharing your Sunday sermon. I've got tears running down my cheeks. What a wonderful reminder and so true. I'm having trouble with going back to work and being a mom these days and feel like I'm pulled in different directions. BUT it is all worth it in the end. Thank you again for sharing!!!

Anonymous said...

Amy this is another beautiful creation. Your cards truly are a work of art......I know, I've probably said that before!!

Anonymous said...

Amy,
This "Sunday Sermon" really touched my heart - it was exactly the encouragement I needed to hear TODAY. Even though my children are 19 and 21, I still have trying times...the past week was especially a difficult one for me...and I especially needed to be reminded of God's perfect plan and perfect timing for His children.

Thank you so much for sharing from your heart and touching the hearts and lives of so many with your talent. Your cards are beautiful!

Deegee

Anonymous said...

gorgeous card - i so feel ya on the home front - can't be a boy thing cuz my boys were such a BREEZE compared to Pezzy - at least thats how i remember it! there must have been something in the water last week because it sounds like MY HOUSE! i was SO frazzled with the new release and kids just KNOW when to push harder...

BUT you are right - we ARE blessed to have these crazy little growing people in our care and i am always grateful - when the 18 YO STILL hasn't signed up for classes and the 16 YO has just taken out the front of my truck with the front of his car and backed into the mailbox (monday) and pezzy has kicked my computer screen and kicked a cup of coffee all over everything i am still so glad they are here!!!

Kerry Johnson said...

Love your card and your message too Amy! I'm going to seek out that book, because I have a hard time sometimes remembering the "big picture" and remembering that serving my family is serving Him. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the message...I think we all need that reminder! The card is great, too! Thanks for sharing a little of you with all of us. Dana

AHadley said...

Amy, you have such an amazing gift for cards, I come to your blog every day to see what awaits me! I also have an 8 year old son, so what you blogged today really made sense to me.

Jessica Diedrich said...

Simply stated: THUD. ;)

Sharon said...

OMG Amy! This card is absolutely beautiful! And thank you so much for sharing that "sermon". It's been a pretty trying week for me, too and your sermon sure made me stop and take stock of all the wonderful things in my life.
Thanks for sharing!

Sharon

ScrappyKy said...

Great card as always but I soooo needed that reminder about motherhood right now. I have been stringing a lot of beads lately and there hasn't been a knot to help me in a while. Thank you for brightening my day, Amy. Your blog never fails to bring a sunny spot to my day.

America said...

Oh my!! Amy, this is JAW dropping gorgeous!!! Love it!!

Liten scrapper said...

Wow!! This is just sooo Beautiful!!
Everything about it is perfect!
One of the most beautiful cards I have seen!

Merethe

Conniecrafter said...

Beautiful, like the panels and the layering of the flowers, the pearl at the center of the bow is a neat touch!
Yes raising children is the hardest job there is, but the blessings you recieve as they get older and know that all that work you have done by being there for them at all times is so worth it all. "a stay at home mother of a now 19 year old girl"
Hang in there and keep God as your center :)

Marimer said...

Bellísimo este trabajo, muy elaborado y perfecto, todos los detalles, colores son increibles, me encanta. Saludos.

dpkennedy said...

Just stunning!

Amy Johnson said...

What a beautiful card! The layers, and layers of Primas are just gorgeous, and I love your PERFECT bow. Thanks for sharing your devotional. As a mom of two children, now 18 and 21, trust me, childhood does go by way to quickly. It will be over before you know it. Enjoy it.

Marie Bingaman said...

Wow, Amy, and thank you for sharing that "sermon" with us. Even though my girls are only 9 and 10, I sometimes wish I could rewind the clock and enjoy their younger years again. Thank you.

Sherry said...

Oh Amy, this is absolutely stunning! .. and what is your secret for such a lovely and oh so perfect bow?!!

Bonnie said...

I just want to let you know that i look at a lot of blogs, and have been doing it for years. I might not always read the blogs, I'm a visual kind of girl, or just a little lazy, LOL But I have to say you have the prettiest most beautiful cards of all!!!! You do fabulous work and are an inspiration to many of us scrappers and card makers.I just thought you should know that, so keep up the most fabulous work, I love looking at it.

carole (TruCarMa) said...

Oh, Amy. I needed your little sermon like you wouldn't believe. Sometimes I wonder if anything I do makes a difference. Thanks for the reminder that it does. {{{Amy}}}

Anonymous said...

Wow Amy, your card is so great. But all your cards are a dream :)
Hugs Andrea

hobbydiva said...

Awwww....this is stinking fabulous!!! Ok....I give up! Can I just have 1 of all your cards and projects?!? lol