*~HaPPy WeeK ~ HaPpY BiRtHdAy USA ~ WeDDiNg BLeSSiNgs NiCoLe & ScOttY! ~*

* H A P P Y *

* B I R T H D A Y *

*U*S*A*

Some fun and creative ideas
to make a memory
and celebrate
this Holiday Week!

Have a camp out in your backyard,
(does anyone else remember throwing a quilt over a clothesline

and creating a tent for you and your camping buddies to sleep in?)

Roast marshmellows,

make smores or Nanner boats
4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup chocolate chips

2 cups marshmallow

graham crackers

1. Slice stems off bananas & make a lengthwise

slit along the top of each banana.

2. Scoop out the bananas and mash with marshmallows.

3. Fill each banana skin with the mashed mixture;

sprinkle tops with chocolate chips.

4. Wrap each boat in foil ~ keeping it upright.

5. Place boats over fire for about 10 minutes.

6. Dip graham crackers in warm gooey mixture.

7. And EnJoy! (Mary Jane's Farm Magazine May, June, July, 2008)

Sleep out in your enclosed porch

(Don't you just love this picture from Country Home

this month? It reminds me of an enclosed porch of a

victorian house I lived in during college. In the summertime

we hung hammocks and slept out on the porch ~ it was wonderful!

and I wonder "why don't I do more things like that now?")
Make homemade ice cream

Go on a float trip

Go out in nature and take pictures!

Buy Sparklers and pass out to all the kids

on your street or in your life.

Go to a parade!

Fly a flag at your house .

Make a Flag Cake.

Eat a popsickle!

Watch a patriotic movie!

Do a random act of kindness

for someone not expecting it.

Make waffles and top them off

with blueberries, strawberries,

and whipped cream!

Please comment and let me know
any suggestions you might have
to add to the list,
I'd love to hear them!

Blessings to Nicole and Scotty!

Married June 28,

What a Beautiful Wedding!

My husband Mark was honored

to be asked to marry Nicole and Scotty!

The Beautiful Bride

The Kiss!

Nicole is just as lovely and sweet

as her mom, Jama

who is a dear friend of mine

and has made a tremendous impact on my life.

Thank You Jama!

~*~Prayer Labyrinth~*~

Prayer Labyrinths

A prayer labyrinth is a series of lanes formulating
a path to the center of the structure and is used
to walk and take time to seek

commune with, and meditate on God.

One walks the labyrinth in prayerful silence
listening to what God may be saying or

directing one to during the journey.
It is an outward visible act of faith

for one seeking an inward presence of God.

Dearest Friends,

On Sunday we went to,

Mystic Trace,

A Retreat Center snuggled into the rolling hills of

our Beautiful Ozarks.

While there we dedicated

A Prayer Labyrinth

Mark had helped with the construction

of the Labyrinth with both labor and prayers.

After the dedication we

were invited to walk the labyrinth in

in prayerful solitude & silence.

Before this day,

I did not know very much about Labyrinths.

Now...

after hearing an explanation about it,

seein it up close, and hearing testimony from

labyrinth prayers,

I am very intrigued.

I chose to walk the labyrinth that day.

Mainly because I never

want to miss an

opportunity to draw closer to God.

The trail leading to the Labyrinth, my mother is in the red polo shirt!

The walking around the intricate webbed walk ways

in deliberate prayer, I communed with God

over all the things that have happened recently as well

as the prayer needs for my small group,

Small Town's Young Life,

and for the needs and safety of others in my life.

Through slow, thoughtful, prayerful meditation,

I prayerfully shared with, thanked, and prayed with God

over all that is going on in my life.

The prayer Labyrinth at Mystic Trace where you are always

welcomed and invited to visit. I will even go with you if you'd like or

you can always go in spirit!

I left the Labyrinth filled with Peace, Gratitude, Hope
and Re-Newed Vision and strength.

It was just what I have been needing.

Who Knew? God Did!

May your walks this week

bring you closer than ever before

to our Loving, creating, and Creative God.

B l e s s i n g s ~ F r i e n d s

**ALL~ShOoK~Up~!~*

Dear Friends,

My 3 most favorite stamps
next to my swirls and flourishes.

I finally finished Relyn's Gift Box

that I have been working on

since April.

I had to get it just right and was missing

that extra special touch until

I got inspired

with an image from

Paper Imagery Designs

Some of the goodies I am putting inside.
This is a picture of the box

almost done....

but needing a few extra touches.

Along the way to finishing Relyn's box,

I made this little broken winged gal.

Her wings are from an old hymnal (flea Mkt. find)

and the paper was so delicate that I tore her wing,

so notice on the right side there is a repair,

but I still love her.

I have been loving using this PID image

to create, her name is Grace.

Another experiment using a ragamuffin image

(from a vintage postcard).

Here is a picture of the finished box
It is filled with even more goodies and I cannot
wait to give it to Relyn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is something fun my high school friend
Beth sent to me. I tried it and found out that
my song fits me well! Thanks Beth for sharing!

*~Do you want to know what the number 1 song~*

was when you were born?

Click here or on the title to this post and find out!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~**Many Blessings this Weekend!**~

*It*WaS*tHe*PeRfeCt*DaY*To*CapTuRe*A*FaiRy*

Dear Friends,

I was looking out my front window

and there on a small stone

stood a wee fairy!

I went outside to get a closer look~
she moved in closer too ~
and ~

I captured her in a small
glass jar.

But I couldn't bear to put a
lid on the jar ~
so I let her free to fly
around in my studio.

She quickly made friends
with my spool fairy.

I found a nice soft
candle box for her to
sleep in ~
but, she asked to be
taken back to the flower garden ~

So I let my small fairy friend
fly away free ~

Because like me,

she seems

more content to be free

to enjoy nature's greenery.

I spent the rest of the afternoon

making two little boxes

filled with tiny creations

for beloved friends.


Many Blessings!`