Perseverance - Chronic Illness

Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the Path of Positivity (PoP) challenge this month.  PoP is a month long challenge with a different theme word each month.  The theme for this month is Perseverance.  You can see my first post for this challenge here.

Dictionary.com defines "perseverance" as: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Whenever I think of "perseverance," I think of our children. Since childhood, they have both battled chronic health issues. Since all their illnesses are "invisible," they have also battled the disbelief of others.  "But you don't look sick," ranks up there as a least favorite comment.  I've learned so much from both of them and they have been such a great example to me of how to trust the Lord even during the difficult times.  They don't complain and just go on day by day doing what they need to do. Most people don't realize how badly they feel because they don't make a big deal of it.  As our son-in-law once put it, "It's sometimes a limitation but never an excuse." Our daughter's college recently wrote an article about how she continued to persevere in order to graduate and posted the article on their website.  You can read the article here.  My husband and I are so proud of them and thankful for them and the attitude they have.  The Lord has truly blessed us.

I chose to use two sets from Deedee's Digis to make encouragement cards for them.  With the exception of the colors used, the cards are very similar. I used the outline version of the cause ribbon in the Passionately Pink set (a FREE set in the store) and colored it with Copic markers.  The sentiment comes from the Greatest Joy set (available for Non-EU Customers and for EU Customers). I handcut the fishtail ends to the sentiment panels. To represent that their health issues are invisible, I chose to use a clear card base. The card design is based on last week's Tuesday Morning Sketch #300 (I'm too late for the challenge but loved the sketch).

Most of our daughter's challenges fall under the purple ribbon on the awareness chart.  For this reason, her card has a purple theme.  I've used the background swirls on several other projects for her during her college years, so that also is another little detail I wanted to include.

A year ago, our daughter-in-law was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  As I've watched her learn to live with this diagnosis and deal with the other auto-immune issues that come with it, I've also seen her persevere to continue to live life as fully as possible.  Due to some new health issues, our son now has to eat gluten free.  So I'm letting the green Celiac Disease ribbon represent both of them. May is also Celiac Awareness month. If you know someone that requires a gluten-free diet, please remember that even just a little gluten can cause great harm to them.

Supplies for both cards:
Cardstock: Papertray Ink (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (white interior message panel), Bazzill (purple and green matting cardstock), Paper Temptress (acetate sheet for card base)
Digi Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Passionately Pink, Greatest Joy)
Clear Stamps:  Autumn Leaves (Swirls)
Rhinestones: Best Occasions
Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear)

Supplies for Purple Card:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink: Passion Flower
Copic Markers: V04, 06, 09; 100; N3
Supplies for Green Card:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink: Green Hills
Copic Markers: G03, 07, 09; 100; N3

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Mod Squad Challenge - Mix it Up (Use stamps from at least two different sets - I used 3)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll come back often.