*ordinary season*

Hey there! I'm still alive and well......Heart & Soul is still very much alive and well.....the only thing that's 'fizzled' is my blogging. So very sorry about that~ I have a dozen reasons, but no real excuses. Seems it's the first thing I let go when the *going* gets tough. And it has been kinda a tough first half of the year. Some real sadness in our family.But now, thankfully, we head into a season of JOY as my son's wedding approaches this fall! 

I wanted to share with you the new liturgical mobile I made this week at church- to celebrate the season within Pentecost of 'growth' - often called the 'ordinary' season :) My friend and worship team leader suggested a 'vine or branches & greenery' theme and I ran completely with it. As usual. Fortunately I have almost every shade of green paper known to woman, so I just cut out a bunch of leaf shapes and taped them to fishing line. I borrowed some branches from the yard. I think it will look neat when the air currents move it gently in a circle. 

Thanks for hanging in there and not giving up on me :) 

Goodie Bags :)

I made these fun treats to pop into some of our church mailboxes soon :) Who doesn't love a little *surprise chocolate* now and then ??? I used an older SU image ( love this one!) and found some York peppermint bites in the perfect color combo!

Here's the back side- I *tweaked* a Heart & Soul image ( a little something I learned from the amazing Dina Kowal ) - cutting your stamps apart and using them in different ways! 

That's all for now ><>

*Post It* note holder

I used a cheap ( of course!) 3 x 5 easel photo frame~ here's the *before*:

and here's the *after* ~ a cute background paper, Heart & Soul 'just bee' stamp and a button for good measure. I also stamped the SU bee on each page. Fun stuff :)

Like a rushing wind

Happy Pentecost! Today we commemorate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Can you IMAGINE what it must have been like to see flames dancing around people's heads, and hearing so many languages spoken at once praising God? It just gives me goosebumps :) At my church, we also celebrate the Rite of Confirmation on this day~ how sweet to hear the testimonies of our youth as they celebrate this milestone of faith! Behold the Pentecost 'mobile' in the center of the sanctuary. Tomorrow I go back to trim the ribbons that were TOO long and casting shadows on the screens :) Yeehaw! ><>

We just had a lovely week's visit with my nephew and his sweet marine wifey :) whom I loved from the moment I first met her ( apparently that happened to them too :)  He gave me this really awesome star from one of his four tours of duty. It says:

This Star was flown with pride over the home of an American Patriot, until the sun and winds caused it to become tattered and torn.

This Star was sent to a U.S. Marine to remind him that his sacrifices so dearly given upon the Altar of Freedom will never be forgotten.

This Star was flown again in an AV-88 Harrier flown by Capt. 'Jack' Ash, VMA-231 "Ace of Spades" United States Marine Corps on 27 Oct 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Helmand Province Afghanistan.

This Star was sent to you, to remind you that your support is never forgotten and that We Marines will never stop protecting your God given right to Freedom.

PRETTY AWESOME , HUH?!? 

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A Ginormous *God Wink* :)

I have to share this. It's just too incredible not to! This week I was on the 'receiving' end of one of the best *God Winks* I've ever encountered :) I'm a firm believer in the '6 degrees of separation' concept- that we're all connected more closely than we usually figure out. And never is it truer than in the Body of Christ. I also think people are put in our lives for a reason ( HIS reasoning, not ours!) So- I have to say thank you to the sweet new friend I "met" this week who so graciously emailed me and the amazing story that has unfolded throughout the week :) How someone clear across the country could have so many experiences in common with me could only be orchestrated by a really amazing God.  Yay for the internet! And thank you Lord, for 'connecting the dots' this side of Heaven :) 

another Pinterest idea :)

So I tend to spend a little time on Pinterest :) occasionally. Like 10 minutes at a time. Love this idea using a Sharpie and a plain old cup. You're supposed to bake it in the oven to 'set' the ink....but chances are this will never make it out of the 'candy bowl' designation......so I'm thinking the ink will remain just fine. Or maybe I'll come up with something else to write if it wears off :)