Stampin' Sister in Christ #157

Good morning dear friends.  Welcome to my little spot in blog land.  It's time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week Kris is our lovely hostess.  She chose our verse and challenge this time.

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."  Galatians 6:9

I have always found such comfort in this verse.  I am a stay at home mom with 4 children.  We live in farm country (translated: nothing is close by) and we home school.  So, my children and my home are pretty much my life.  I wouldn't trade my life for anything, but it does have its challenges.  It gets lonely sometimes.  And frustrating.  Maybe not so much now that my children are getting older, but certainly when they were all little.  Nothing stays clean for longer than it took to clean it in the first place.  Meals take a while to prepare and are gone before you know it.  Laundry never ends.  Toys are everywhere.  And when you finally reach the end of the day you collapse on the couch and fall asleep. Only to wake up tomorrow and do it all again.  I know you know what I am talking about.  Whether you work outside the home or not its the same.  But we need to remember that in raising children we have to look at the finish line.  We don't keep our eyes focused on right now.  Because when we do we can get discouraged.  We need to look to the end.  We need to trust that as we walk with the Lord and keep our eyes on Him that He will reward us at the end of the journey.  We are far from the end of our child-raising journey.  We have many years to go (and I'm glad...I love my children more than I could ever say) but we are seeing fruit from our labors.  My boys are 13 and 10.  Just recently we spent the day at our state fair where they walked up to a booth from the US Army.  They were giving away something to the children.  I didn't follow my boys up there and as they walked away I realized the woman behind the table was speaking to my oldest daughter.  Bekah turned and indicated that I was "mom".  The woman came over to me and congratulated me on my boys' good manners.  They were the only ones all day that had said "thank you" at her table.  To me that seems like an obvious thing for them to do, but I guess it's not so common anymore.  Thats a really small example, but its an encouragement that all we pour into them eventually comes back.  It pays off.  We can't grow weary.  As wives, moms, daughters, friends, teachers, what ever you are, press on.  Don't give up.  The Lord will bless what you are doing.  Just keep your focus on Him and He will bless you abundantly.

Kris has asked us to create something that represents fall or a harvest this week.  To go along with our challenge, the kind people over at Sweet n Sassy Stamps are offering our winner 3 digis of their choice.  They have some great images, so won't you join us this week?

I saw these great little guys on Pinterest a while ago and was dying to make them.  I think this link will take you to the inspiration photo.  I was on her blog but couldn't find the post to go with the picture.

 I made my pumpkins in 3 sizes.  The middle one follows her size of 11 pieces 3/4" x 5 1/2"/  The smaller one is 1/2" x 4" and the big one 1" x 7 1/2".  I embossed all the strips after I cut them.  I also inked them with a deep orange ink.  The vines are 1/4" strips twirled around the handle of a small paint brush.  The leaves were a random stamp (closest I could get to a pumpkin leaf) and cut out.  I think these are so fun!

This little guy is certainly my favorite.  I used a paisley embossing folder and the paper seems to be just right.  Not too heavy, not too thin.  I may have to make more!

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by all my Sister's blogs to see what autumnal gorgeousness they have created for you!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle