Joy Report & 50 Truths

I am a day late with my weekly Joy Report and my 50 Truths Challenge... and that's for a very good reason. Yesterday (the normal day for this post) was the day that I hosted a Falliday Fest challenge and I wanted it to be the main thing on my blog. That being said, you'll actually see a wee bit of it on my blog today too. That's okay... because crafters have until noon (CST on October 31 to participate. And there are prizes to be won... so you might want to get busy finding some trash to turn into a treasure. Check out all the information about Falliday Fest on SCS... HERE.

So, I've had a great week. It has involved hosting a meeting for the churches of our association - with a great attendance and a good time. There was packing to do - getting my husband ready for his travels (and taking him to the airport, too). Chatting. Crafting. Studying.

Life is good.

I made 17 cards between the 13th and the 19th, too. Which was fun. The little book 50 Truths Worth Knowing was the inspiration for this card... but it also includes some trash on it (recycled items) because it did double duty as a Falliday Fest inspiration card for my From Trash to Treasure Challenge.

Chapter 42

Even the Wounded Have the Capacity to Heal Others

This chapter literally brought me to tears. It was such a sweet story. Eric spoke of his daughter Kate. Shortly after Kate's 14th birthday she had been hit by a car and nearly died. It was through the careful medical attention of some fabulous professionals that she was able to recover and go home.

Some time later Kate needed to return to the hospital where she had been treated for some follow up surgery. The day after the surgery - while she was still woozy from the sedative - staff member after staff member stopped by to see how she was doing. Each one would walk to her bedside and say, "Kate, you wouldn't remember me..." and then they would share how they had worked with her when she was there after the accident and they would tell her it was good to see her.

After a dozen or so such visitors, Eric pulled one aside and tole her that it was wonderful that staff was taking the time to stop by and see Kate. He said how much he appreciated it. But then he said, "I get the sense there's something more going on here than meets the eye. I get the sense  you folks need to do this."

The nurse assured him that he was right. Kate was one who beat the odds. So many others that they had cared for hadn't. It was the joy they felt with success stories like Kate's that carried them through when they faced the sadness of others who were not so fortunate.  Then the nurse said something profound. "It's what keeps us coming back and doing our job."

Yes, Eric and the rest of Kate's family - and Kate too - had much to thank the medical personnel for, but they, too, had much to thank Kate for.

Eric's final words in his story were these: "Here was Kate, healing them, giving them reason to hope, and showing them that in final analysis we are not alone; we all have the capacity to sustain one another through our shadowed valleys."

Here's a closeup view of the flower I made:

I used two recycled items to make the flower - a Chipotle paper (they put them in the basket of food and I pulled it out before it got a chance to get dirty) and a little bag that came with my Unity Stamps order (they always include a few freebie items with each order).

Here's the inside of my card:

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp: Thank You from an unknown vendor and stamped with Gina K Black Onyx Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White CS and all other papers from my scrap file

Punch (to make flower): SU Scalloped Circle

Embellishments: Brad and Washi Tape from unknown vendors