Soft and Pretty

As a positive, generally cheerful person who dearly loves to laugh, my heart is drawn to bright and happy colors.

As a seeker after calm in life, my heart is drawn to soft pastels and lots of white.

Today, seeking after calm wins.

Today's card was absolutely inspired by a number of cards on Pinterest such as THIS ONE.

It is hard to tell but there's background script on the large circle from Papertrey's Text Style set...a very old and very useful set!

I don't have a circle die set yet, so I used circle punches. Since I have them in 1/8" increments, I could create the circle frames with just the punches. Very cool and easy!

But the edges on die-cut circles look much nicer, so to support American business in its time of need, I ordered the Hero Arts Infinity circle dies...and threw the square ones in my cart just for fun. And a few stamp sets.

Have you done any retail therapy since the quarantine? If so, what did you buy?  Inquiring minds, and all that....

Mercy, grace, peace, love, and hand washing,
Susan

PS This is the weirdest Holy Week I've ever experienced, and those of you who celebrate Easter can probably relate, as can our Jewish brothers and sisters whose Passover has be disrupted by social distancing. My pastor posted the following on Facebook, and it comforted me. Perhaps it will comfort you as well.

From Pastor Amy Haines:
4 weeks. 4 weeks ago life changed drastically on what my sister called "Pandemic Thursday." Schools were closed while the boys rode the bus home. By 8pm that night church was closed for the weekend. And we've been online for worship and connection ever since.

This week is Holy Week. As I journey with Jesus, remembering his final hours, I have a different perspective this year. I think we're closer this year to the emotions of that first year. Uncertainty. Fear. Hope. A seismic shift in life that we're not ready for, meaning change is coming. And the faith to be open to what God is doing in our midst. [Note, God didn't cause this! Rather, God can work through us, even in this time.]

Sure, I miss the crosswalk. And the choir. I miss a full church singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." I miss seeing young and old alike in worship. I miss hugs!

Yet I know that even as we worship in our own homes this year, we are still connected by faith. We are still the body of Christ. We can still celebrate Christ is Risen! And with us now!

And I think of brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who risk their lives to worship in house churches. And I give thanks that we are caring for each other here by not meeting together.

This is a hard week for the faithful, pastors and laity alike. Yet I believe with all my heart and spirit that God is with us. Those bored or overwhelmed. Those grieving or exhausted. Those fearful and hopeful. God is with us. For tonight, for me, that is enough.