Friends Are Friends Forever

Have you ever heard the song, "Friends Are Friends Forever" by Michael W. Smith?  It is a song about having true Proverbs 17:17 friends.  Michael W. Smith a contemporary Christian singer.  I don't know a lot of his music, but I heard this song many years ago when a family was moving away and leaving our church after 25+ years at the church.  It was the first time I really thought about what it means to be, and to have, that kind of Proverbs 17:17 friend.  It's truly rare.  I know that I am forever grateful to God for the people in my life who have shown that kind of friendship toward me.  God is just SO good to give us the gift of friendship.

I made this Friendship card using My Mind's Eye patterned papers, a Crafty Secrets friendship sentiment stamp, Papertrey Ink heart die-cuts, some mini rose buds, inking and machine stitching.  I followed a sketch at Papertrey Ink's Challenge Blog in their Make it Monday Challenge.  You can view their tutorial and see the suggested inspiration suggestions on their blog.

Here are the challenges that inspired my card, and a little bit about each one.

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/make-it-monday-69-inspiration-into-unique-sketches-participants.html%20 - PTI Make it Monday - Challenge #69 - Inspiration Into Unique Sketches

I was inspired by a Baby Shower invitation that was on my scrapbook table.  I also incorporated some of the elements from one of the sketches shown on the challenge.  My PTI products are the heart die-cuts (which I absolutely LOVE).

http://www.heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com/2012/06/welcome-to-our-3rd-linky-party.html - Crafty Secrets 3rd Linky Party

I can't say enough nice things about Crafty Secrets.  I love this company.  They have the cutest stamps and products in the world, and the nicest staff I've ever encountered.  My Friendship sentiment stamp is from Crafty Secrets Garden Girl stamp set.

http://www.creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2012/06/challenge-12-song-inspired.html - Creative Card Crew/Song Inspired
Since making this card made me think about the Song "Friends Are Friends Forever" by Michael W. Smith, I decided to enter thid card in this fun song-inspired challenge.

These are all really fun challenges.  I enjoy being inspired in new ways, and I need to get more cards finished anyway, so I keep creating.  I love every minute of it.

Here is the chorus to the song, Friends Are Friends Forever by Michael W. Smith:

And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say, "never", cuz the welcome will not end.
Though it's hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know
That a  lifetime's not too long. . . . to live as friends.

This is a link to where you can see and hear the song performed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPKaIozS-c

I also wanted to write a little update about my foot.  Since my surgery, I've had a few set-backs.  I tried remaining positive; thinking it was just a slow healing process.  I have one spot on my incision that just would NOT heal.  I finally got the surgeon to take a closer look at it, and he thought that perhaps there really was a problem. Well, come to find out - there was a stitch left in my skin and that's why the incision wouldn't close/heal properly.  I had a procedure done yesterday to remove the stitch, and doc put me on some silver nitrate patches to help heal it.  I remain optimistic that this will be the last set-back, and that I'm really finally on my way to a full recovery.

I am grateful today for friends, family, health insurance, well-trained physicians, and air conditioning (among MANY other things).   And, I am grateful to you for stopping by to say hello.

Have a blessed day!
Karen