Craftiness!!

In between hanging with the fam, seeing friends, and shopping I did manage to find time to do what I love….CRAFT!

Thursday mid-day before company came over I was checking my email and noticed that Walgreens had their calendars 50% off, so I decide to make one! Originally I was just going to use pics of friends and family and add quotes about life for each month, but then I was really digging some of my picnicked photos. So, I elected to go the picnicked photos and Bible verse route….which meant I got to spend way too much time picnicking more photos!! (Soooo addicting) I have to admit that I really love how it turned out, and am quite excited for the new year because of it!

Inspired by the Rock n’ Rollin Craft Fair Saturday morning I set to work in the afternoon and managed to whip out a hairband and clip in about 1 ½ hours or so. The headband was simply newspaper wrapped around an old headband I no longer used, and then I added the newspaper bow!

Than the bow was a little more complex, but once I covered the clip I just added another bow like the one above!

Gotta love crafting! Such a great way to spend some time relaxing while still being productive!

Be a STAR!

This past weekend, I was blessed with the opportunity to go on a short, 24-hour, silent retreat at Conception Abbey with a handful of other Rockhurst students. First off, if you haven’t been on a silent retreat, get yourself on one at some point in your life. And secondly, it you haven’t been to Conception Abbey, get there at some point….simply beautiful grounds…Moving right along to the point of the post.

Saturday afternoon I found myself lying on the floor of the Basilica behind the altar, with a dear friend April, staring at the ceiling. Yes. Laying on the floor of a church staring at the ceiling….why would perfectly sane people be doing this? (well…our sanity is under question, but that is beside the point) This is why :

BEAUTY. Simple beauty is what kept my gaze transfixed upon the ceiling for more than an hour that afternoon. It was during this time, that a thought entered my mind: We are all called to be stars. And not just any stars, but her stars.

What does that even mean, to be a star of Mary? It means that you live in a manner so as to shine, not for yourself, but for Mary to enhance her beauty. It is your job to adorn Mary, to be a beautiful witness to her through your life. You shine, so that Mary, Queen of the Universe, can be seen more clearly and loved more dearly. That all who may come into contact with you will come to know Mary, who will in turn take them to her son, Jesus. Being a star cannot be a self-seeking lifestyle, but a selfless one; where you desire nothing for yourself and everything for the greater glory of God through Mary.

May you shine, today and always for the greater glory of God.