Vintage Grace

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Spring Forward

Cloche form Home Goods over Natural Dye Eggs and
Rebecca Ersfeld Spring Nest

For Such A Time As This

"Mildred" always thinks she is going to be Center Stage
at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS-The Esther Story as the reminder
that we are all daughters of the King
and might at any time be called to move out of our comfort zone
to have a Kingdom Impact
Great medallion banner- design by Robyn Smith

Glamour Glitter Girls - getting final things ready for the Big Weekend-
Left to right- Deshua Joyce, Robyn Smith and Robin Cary

Katie Stam- Miss America 2009 - on the right-
having supper and getting to know the team
at the home of the Denninger's
Media specialist Sarah Schafer- in the center-
listening carefully for newsworthy notes

Paper Medallions added to the centerpieces-
all designs by Joen Schultz

We covered the glass vases with burlap
for a contrast to the delicate flowers

upcycled old hymnal pages served as part of the design

you can't go wrong with a peony arrangement-
original design was "reinvented"
by floral designer - Susan Wenger

The buffet table was edged
with a garland of grouped yarns, fiber and jute
with an added pearl heart to dangle over the side

A chair for the special guest.
Katie's pink pillow with rhinestone crown reminded the guests
that we all have a spot marked with crown-
one that blesses each of His daughters with an eternal reward.

These crowns awaited the young ladies attending the event
Miss America 2009 crowned each girl with her own crown

Nearly 200 guests gathered in the sanctuary as

Katie Stam gave an inspiring tribute to a faithful God
and to highlight the challenge of being ready -
when God says NOW!
She is a genuine and humble
and makes a wonderful ambassador for Christ.
She is also an amazing vocalist.
Katie made our gathering event
one to remember for a long time.
It was a blessing to have her join us to encourage us
to be Women of Influence
to a world that does not know what it is looking for-- Jesus.

Shipshewana, Indiana Retreating

Welcoming fireplace and cozy gathering center
at the Farmstead Inn in Shipshewana, Indiana

The buggy greeting tells you that maybe
you have stepped into new territory-
Welcome Emmanuel Lutheran Church
This area is smack dab in the middle of a huge Amish settlement

The challenges of taking our own photo
of the Three Graft sisters--
hard to get it so we all looked good.

And yes, that is Teresa wearing a crown-
She won the fiercely competitive spoon card game.

stopping by the old stomping grounds in LaGrange, Indiana
and remembering Corn School

Grabbing a bite to eat downtown and we saw an old pay phone

Stopping by to catch up
Liz- on left- high school friend that became a sister in law
Pam on the right - a grade school friend
still loving the Lake Living

The trailer on the channel on Adams Lake----
a first home out of college- newlywed and teaching

Catching up with the rest of the Grafts
and hearing about Matt and Brianne's engagement
and the summer 2012 wedding plans

Can't be all bad to catch up with connections from the past- AND
a wonderful retreat weekend with my two sisters- a dream come true-
Living Life as Prayer- certainly alot more to explore on that life journey.

Dancing Light Mosaic

A Day can't start bad when you wake to see
this blooming on your dining room table
How does magic like this happen over night?

gather together some Valentine Day
things together in one spot

A favorite purchase from Glory Be in Occoquan, Virginia
Simple and eloquent

then TODAY I captured the dancing lights in the living room.
The glass hurricane has caught the winter's sun on just right sunny days
and sparkled light prisms all the way around the room.
I would walk through and see them and them get busy "Doing"
and come back to take a picture
and then it would be too late and they were gone.
So for days I have hunted the sparkles and either I was not home
at the right time or just missed them somehow-
or cloudy overcast mornings kept the magic from happening.
But today--- it was here....
Too bad you really can't capture all the rainbow hues set on the walls and furniture.
But, at least I have proof that it isn't "my imagination".

you can see a little of the color here

And then a dear friend stood at the classroom door
holding tulips, card and
"Treats"

Bonnie has always had "heart love"
and her creative talents were lent to paper and fabric

Valentine greetings have eternal generosity
attached with the verse from 1 John 4:9-11

gorgeous tulips in a tin pitcher......
isn't it wonderful when friends
can give you tin and know it warms your heart?

the tale and story of how the factory
that made the tin was "her family"
and Kreamer means something very personal now

And two heart cards are added to my collection -
the gift of a friend who sees hearts as the Big Picture story
of all that Jesus has done and continues to do in her life.
And a reminder to me- no matter what--
tell the metanarrative story
even on snapshot days of dancing light mosaic.