In This Together
My family has been staying home since March 17th to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 here in BC, Canada. That’s over three weeks of having my family all in the same space, 24 hours a day. I am the elected adult to go out and get groceries once per week and I deliver stamping orders to my customers, maintaining the 2 metres distance from others and being diligent to not touch anything, especially my face! I even go as far as to wipe down everything in my car that I touched (though, I’ve gotten better with hand sanitizer now, so less wiping required) and I wipe down all the packaging before I put my groceries away.
We’re blessed to have a household income that allows my husband to work from home. The kids are doing school online now, which is hard on my youngest, but we’re working it out. I’m grateful that my family has settled into this new pattern that we find ourselves in. We have had a couple breakdowns, me included, but we’re riding out the storm and hoping it doesn’t get worse. We hope our efforts will make a difference. We’re riding out this storm and we’re in this together.
Not everyone has it easy. There are families who don’t have an income because of the pandemic. There are those who live alone and are socially isolated all by themselves. What about the essential service workers who go to work everyday to keep our society from falling apart? Some have even chosen to isolate themselves away from their family and are not able to hug their spouse or snuggle their small kids. People have family members who are sick and they can’t visit them. There are others who are still getting cancer treatments and are among those most at risk. People are scared, stressed, and feeling uneasy. My family has settled into our new routine, but not everyone can say the same. My heart goes out to you.
These are strange times. We can only do the best with what we have and look for opportunities to help where we can – even if that just means sending out a word of encouragement.
Today’s card has been designed with all of this in mind. It began with the theme from the As You See It Challenge blog – rainbows.
I love what rainbows represent. The end of a storm. The promises of God. Acceptance and love. Diversity. Joy.
Today is Good Friday. It’s often an emotional day for me. My emotions are on edge these days as it is, and now I’m also pausing to think of what was done for me and why. When He declares it to be finished, he knows that a promise has been fulfilled. The storm is coming to an end. At the time, it wouldn’t have felt that way, but we know what happens next. What follows is a gift of unconditional acceptance and love. His death is a promise, like a rainbow.
Strips of cardstock create the rainbow on this card. I used Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Pineapple Punch, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, and Gorgeous Grape. I also used Gray Granite cardstock that I embossed with the Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder from Stampin’ Up!. I used the stamps that were in the March Paper Pumpkin kit. The boots and the grass are from the bonus stamp set. I cut them out and coloured them with my Blends Markers – Dark Daffodil Delight and Dark Mango Melody.
Can you see the little clear enamel heart on the one boot? It’s so subtle, but looks like a heart-shaped water droplet. So cute! I think the loopy double bow of Whisper White 1/4″ Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon really finishes the card off well. What do you think?
The sentiment, of course, is very fitting to our current circumstances. We’re in this together.
Think of ways that you can help others during this storm. Send a card to make someone smile. Let them know you’re thinking of them and send them happy thoughts. You could give a card to your grocery clerk to thank them for their service. Donate to your local food bank. Pick up groceries for someone who shouldn’t be risking their health. Call someone or do a video chat – your voice and smile will make all the difference.
Maybe you could be a rainbow.
As always, if you like any of the products you see on my blog, you can go to my online store to purchase or browse. I am donating 20% of all customer orders in April to my local food bank. Thank you in advance for supporting my donation.
