Luke's Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

Let me just say a few words about my eldest. He is a really nice guy. A really, really nice guy.

Here are just a few nice guy stories about Luke from recent weeks:

* When he heard his boss was sick at work, he went through Starbucks before his shift and bought her a hot tea. Awww! She was so appreciative!

* When Luke was eating lunch after a shift, an elderly couple saw him in his work shirt and asked him about a product they were looking for. He spent thirty minutes (off the clock!) talking to corporate to find the item for them. And then he drew them a map and gave them instructions, telling them where to go.

* He stayed home to work and watch Jemma so that we could take our Florida trip. Aww! We missed you, Luke!

* He keeps me laughing and sane every day.

Like I said, he's a really nice guy! I'm so proud of him!

Luke works in grocery management. One of his co-workers, who is hispanic, would see Luke coming in to the store to start his shift, and she would say "Loo-cas! My hee-ro!"

That's our guy! A hero!

{Today's Brew: Stylized Sentiments (Papertrey Ink), Hey Pop! Simple Stories collection paper and stickers, bottle cap from my stash}

I'm praying for good things for Luke in the coming year. Good guys deserve good things. :)

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Using Those Pre-Printed Card Front Panels!

Somebody, please stop me. Stop me from buying any more pretty papers!

It is my kryptonite.

Sometimes, I will get a pretty paper pack home, and it will include pre-printed card front panels. They are so pretty that I hoard them. Sure, I will get them out occasionally and look at them, but I have a hard time using them.

So this weekend, I actually used one. woo hoo for me!

I think it's just a matter of finding a way to use them and make them your own creation by adding a little here and there. So that's what I did with this card...a sweet little birdie, and banner sentiment, some ribbon and an accenting piece of paper strip. Done!

{Today's Brew: Petite Pots stamp set (Papertrey Ink), Twig Wreath papers (PTI), PTI inks, linen thread}

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

It's A Snow On Your Nose Kind of Day

Surprise!

We woke up to snow this morning, as did much of the Midwest. Jemma hasn't seen snow for over two months now, so you can imagine the fun she had burying her snout in it!

I worked on some cards this weekend. I have a lot of occasions that need them this month, so I better get busy!

Here's a fun birthday card that needs to get mailed out today!

{Today's Brew: Heart-2-Heart stamp set (PTI), PTI card stock and papers, PTI dies, lace doily, Lawn Fawn sequins, Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle die}

Just a fun card to say "Hope your birthday is fun, too!"

Hey, Jemma. You've got a little something on your nose. Right there.

Never mind. It looks good on you!

Happy Monday, cafe friends!

I Was Blind, But Now I See

A strange thing happened to me two weeks ago. I had some minor eye surgery that left me banged up, bruised up, and bandaged. Luckily for me, my son Luke was there to drive me home from the appointment because I was bandaged up with an eye patch and could not see. I was temporarily blind for a few hours. And even without my sight, I still managed to make a cup of coffee. I could probably do that with one hand tied behind my back, too. LOL!

So there I was, sipping my coffee at the kitchen table, petting Jemma, feeling the sunshine on my face. It was boring, and yet at the same time, it was immensely peaceful. Nothing visually to distract me. No cell phones or tablets or magazines or television.

I was there, enjoying every sip of coffee, totally in the moment.

I couldn't help thinking about my Uncle Jim, who had been blind from childhood. He's one of the altar boys in the photo above.  Jim's blindness was a normal part of our family life. We played card games with braille cards. We served Jim plates of food, telling him that the turkey was at twelve o'clock, the mashed potatoes at 3, the stuffing at six, and the roll at 9. We helped him with his cane, and let him lead so that we wouldn't guide him straight into walls or door jambs.

Even today, when I hear a baseball game on the radio, it takes me right back to my childhood. Summertime, sitting on the front porch of Grandpa and Uncle Jim's house in north Toledo, drinking Vernor's from sweating glass bottles.

Just listening.

Simple, uncomplicated moments in time. I find myself craving more of those lately.

I can't help but think of what a visually distracting world we live in. It's as if the world screams "Look at me!" And oddly, the more we see, the more blind we become to everything else that really matters. Sometimes, I just need to close my eyes and shut it all out.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see."

Grace. My word to meditate on in 2017. I want to hear it. I need to hear it. I never want to be blind to it. Grace, sufficient for the moment.

I came home from Florida to this unexpected gift from my big sister, Tina. A very cool bracelet with the word "GRACE" stamped into the metal. A good reminder for what I have been given. A simple word to remind me of what really matters.

My Uncle Jim is numbered among the saints now. He was blind, but now he sees. All because of amazing grace.

Grace and peace to you, my cafe friends!

Blessed By Mom

My Mom is such a blessing. Look at this beautiful hand crafted card that she made for my birthday!

She stamped the flowers on water color paper, and then went back and painted them. Stunning! I love the effect! Mom has always been so talented with a paint brush.

When she gave me the card, she had to point out the one boo boo (which makes me laugh, because my husband says I do this all the time, too!). Her boo boo was literally a boo boo. She'd finished the entire card, and then looked down and saw that she'd cut her hand and had bled onto the corner. Aaack! I know that feeling. But I cherish this one all the more because my Mom put her blood, sweat and tears into it!

And isn't that just the way with all of us crafty types? We pour our heart and soul into our projects. Some people completely understand that, and others just shrug their shoulders. That's okay. Sometimes, it's about the process even more than the product.

Blessings on your Friday, cafe friends!

Florida and 5.0

I bet I know what you are thinking.

"Mary Rose turned fifty, and then she disappeared!"

Well, not exactly. I turned fifty, and then went to Florida!

It was a fantastic getaway with just Ed and Sam...a chance to soak up the sun and the flowers and celebrate the big 5.0 in a big way.

The Epcot Flower Show had just begun. It is so amazing! The flowers, the topiary, the attention to detail that Disney accomplishes so well.

We love Epcot center...who can pass up the chance to eat and drink our way around the world?

Fish and chips in England...

...not one but two crepes in France! (And we are not even going to mention the macarons!)

Ah, the flowers!

The geeky science nerds in us could not resist a trip to the Kennedy Space Center!

A little space exploration...

A chance for boys to dream.

As long as we are exploring space, why not take a tour of Star Wars?

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with our Pittsburgh people!

The beach beckoned, so we soaked up more sun on the white sands of Siesta Keys.

I think fifty is going to be a great year!