Inspiration for TGIFC04 & Ten Minute Tuesday

Prepare yourself for a long post.. And maybe grab a tissue!

This week's challenge over at TGIF Challenges is almost over and I'm just joining in, but honestly it's been quite a weekend.  Friday morning my husband received a text from our landlords telling us new tenants would be moving in July 1st.  We still don't know when or where we will be moving with my new job, so the plan for now is to just put everything in storage and hopefully just find temporary housing for a few months.  This was quite a shock from our landlords as they told us they wouldn't rent out from underneath us until we found out when we were leaving.  We just planted a garden and family was anticipating visiting.  The summer is right around the corner and Eli and his neighbor are inseparable.  Sure was a buzzkill to start the weekend.

 

My husband was out of state for a hockey tournament and I had all three boys to myself.  It was a stressful weekend for sure.  But then Sunday, I was quickly reminded how small my "problem" was...  And reminded that God is in control.

Last year I met a girl named April.  April is in her early 30s with a husband and 3 little girls.  She gave her testimony in church last year and I found out that she was battling cancer.  

This past Sunday was different though.  Here is the news shared this Sunday:

Thank you all for your love and prayers. From this early afternoon; "No evidence of metastatic disease. All clear."  AMEN AMEN! I believed it in my heart but it is still so amazing to hear the doctors say it too. Let's just rewind a moment to 18 months ago from Mass General (to sum it up) -"You have metastatic breast cancer,stage 4 (terminal), the fastest growing and most aggressive type. We will try chemos until they do not work anymore and you have about 2 years to live." or "We do not do mastectomies on metastatic patients." or "You will have to be on hormone therapy for the next 10 years."
Now-18 months later and different doctors but the ONE true doctor: ALL CLEAR- NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!! Amen amen!
I am so humbled and grateful to our loving and merciful God, and to all you who have helped, loved, prayed and believed with us. I will never be told that I am in "remission" like a normal cancer patient because of my particular diagnosis, but I do not go by their reports anyway. Call it what you want, but for us it is simply our amazing miracle. There is so other explanation and we need no other one-we knew from the beginning who we were believing and calling upon when the doctors and world say it is not possible. With God all things are possible.
We do not always know why we go through things or even understand it, but we do not have too. From one of my favorite verses which is on my bracelet; Proverbs 3;5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." I do not understand always, but I do trust Him always. In our suffering we are often taught things we could not otherwise learn, and this is not a journey I certainly would have chosen. However, would I do it again to give Him all the praise and glory and draw others perhaps closer to Him? Absolutely. I am just so thankful that it is His will for me to be healed here and now, in this world we live in. We will all be healed one beautiful day in heaven if we believe in Him and call on Him, but I am so thankful that He has chosen to heal me here as well. Please do not stop praying, as I know this has made all the difference. We will forever be grateful to all of you for that. Our girls do not know the magnitude of the miracle that we have been granted, but one day they will. They will find out just what faith can do.
Love and God bless, April

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Sure makes my house issue seem small!  I'm so incredibly happy for April and her family!

 

Such amazing faith.

 

Such an AMAZING WOMAN!

 

So I decided I wanted to make April a card.  I wanted her to know how amazing I think she is and how I admire her faith in Jesus.  So here's how I was inspired by this week's TGIF Challenge.

I knew immediately that I wanted to use Painted Petals and decided on these colors. Painted Petals is one of my recent favorites and I will dearly miss it!

For the roses I colored them with Pink Pirouette, Calypso Coral and Rich Razzleberry markers.  The yellow background is three shades of yellow stamped on an acrylic block and spritzed with water.

 I used the chevron washi for the front and inside.  The words I wanted to cut up - love that look!  A few pearls and lace doily to make it girly ;)

I can't wait to send this out! We love you April and we are continuing to pray for you! 

...

And now for my Ten Minute Tuesday post :)

I had to make a gift for my niece's teacher.  Since I already had the inks out, I figured I would just continue using them.  I stamped the hydrangea with Tip Top Taupe, but the rest of the colors are the same as above.

I made each banner a different color.

And then I made her just plain cards without a sentiment.  I stamped the flower first in Pink Pirouette, then a little Calypso Coral and rocked the edges with Rich Razzleberry.  I added the So Saffron splatter for a fun detail.

  Now obviously the crumb cake cards are the Ten Minute Tuesday cards as these ones took a lot longer. 

Thanks for joining me late tonight!  Please keep April and her family in your thoughts.  If you'd like to mail her a card too, you can find info at www.help4april.com :)

Happy Stamping!

-Holly