Teenagers

One of my nephews turned 13 this year. He has already exhibited the traits of a teenager. He no longer tells his mother he loves her in front of his friends. He walks into another room when his cell phone rings. And of course, he knows everything.

Let me tell you how difficult it is to design a card for a teenage boy. I don't know that I succeed but at least he said, "This one pops up." It could be worse. He could have said, "This sucks."

It's the little things really.

Happy Birthday Mama

My mother's birthday is this week. We never know what to get her for her birthday. If you ask her, she says he doesn't want anything or need anything. There are only so many perfume bottles, lottery tickets, and Sears gift cards a lady needs. I still don't know what to get her but at least I have her card ready to go.

I picked this patterned paper because she is an amazing seamstress. She doesn't need a pattern to make anything. She just needs to look at a garment, make a few notes, and she is able to reproduce it perfectly. Same goes for knitting, crochet,  embroidery etc. I wish I could do half the things she is able to do.

Happy Birthday Mama - I love you.

Kid at Heart

Some of the best fathers are those who are kids at heart. The ones that look forward to racing home to play with their children. Although they realize the importance of doing homework and completing chores, they love to play everything from Wii to Candy Land to a game of basketball with their little ones. This card goes out to the biggest kid at heart I know.

I have seen him play video games with his 11 year old son and 15 year old daughter. Taunting them the entire time, even laughing an evil little laugh when he won. Then he hugs them, kisses them on the cheek, and asks them to play another game. This time, in between taunts, he asks about their day. He knows how to be their friend but still their father.

Happy Father's Day to the Kid at Heart!!!
The next time I am in town, I challenge you to a mean game of Pac Man!

My Friend

Fathers, like mothers, should be celebrated and praised for all that they do. This series of cards will honor the fathers in my life.

There is no guide book, no manual, or perfect way to raise a child. Bringing a new life - a new soul into this world is not an easy decision. Fears, doubts, and the uncertainty of the future all way on the hearts and minds of soon to be parents. Being the man of the house, the provider, these fears way  more heavily on the the father.

The father that is receiving this card is a new father. His wish is not unlike the wish of many new father - to be the best father he can be to his son and to be a better father than his father.

No matter how tired he is, how stressed he might be, he always greets his son with such love and excitement. His day is made 100 times better by seeing the smile on his son's face as he enters the door and hearing his son's laugh. He loves spending time with his baby and often spends a full day together, just him and his son. Although my friend has only been a father for a short period of time, he has already fulfilled his wish - he is the best father his son could ever ask for. 

Happy Father's Day friend!

Hats off to the Graduate

This is one of my favorite times of year - graduation time. There are only a handful of events that can compare to the feeling that comes with graduation. The bitter sweet feeling of knowing a part of your life has ended and a new life is fast approaching. Thus far I have graduated 4 times - kindergarten, middle school, high school, and college (soon that number will be 5). Each time I felt the excitement and fear of the unknown. What a great feeling.

This year one of my nieces is graduating from high school. She lives out of state so I only get to see her once or twice a year, but I swear she was 12 only yesterday. I am so very proud of her; of the young woman she has become; of the wonderful person she is. She is going to college in the fall - studying to be an engineer. She is one of those people who knows what she wants, works hard to achieve her goals, and doesn't settle. I can't wait to see how she takes over the world.

Congratulations to all the Grads!! Job well done.

The Loss of a Fighting Irishman

The loss of someone you love,whether expected or unexpected, is very difficult to bare. Going from one day having that person in your life to the next never seeing him again is more than heartbreaking, it can change your soul. 

Recently, one of my sister-in-laws lost her father. Although she was surrounded by loving family and friends (she lives out of state), we wanted to be there for her, my brother, and my niece and nephews. We all called and tried to put into words what our hearts were feeling but words failed us. We knew nothing we said would bring him back or ease their pain. We simply said we loved them and we were thinking of them.

I am not a fan of sympathy cards but I felt I should send them something. This is what I came up with. I hope it warmed their hearts - if only for a moment. 

Working Mama

Stay at home mothers are never fully appreciated for all that they do. They not only run the house, they are taxi drivers, coaches, tutors, and sometimes medics. They do so much for others that they often forget about themselves and their needs. As if all of this was not enough, there are those mothers that also work - they must be superhuman.

The woman that is recieving this card rejoined the work force after more than 15yrs as a stay at home mom. She was nervous at first. Unsure if she could handle the stress and demand of a job. She wondered what skills she possessed and what she could offer an employer. Turns out she had nothing to worry about. She is hard working, reliable and capable of anything.

Happy Mother's Day Working Mom!!! I always knew you had it in you!

Adoptive Mama

Adoptive parents are wonderful souls. They open their homes and hearts to another human being and become a family. Some people adopt a baby because they can't have one on their own. Others adopt because they want to share their family with someone who lost theirs.

The lovely lady that is receiving this card adopted a beautiful baby girl, not because she couldn't have any of her own (she gave birth to three babies) but because she fell in love with this little girl the moment she saw her. She new this little girl was family from day one.

Love is thicker than blood.
Happy Mother's Day Adoptive Mama!

Salsa Mama

Mothers can make you feel better when you are having a bad day.....or make you feel like you should have worn a cardigan over your v-neck shirt even though you ARE leaving something to the imagination. And then there are those mothers that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside....by feeding you chips and salsa when you go visit.

I will never admit this out loud and I will swear on a stack of bibles that I did not type this on my blog, but there is one lovely lady I know who makes salsa better than my mother. I can (and possibly have), drink this stuff.

She is a mother of three and there is nothing she wouldn't do for them. Her two oldest are grown but always go to her for advice and guidance. Her youngest has the energy of three little boys (and the sweat to prove it). She tries her best to keep up with him and most of the time she is successful. There is however, this rumor going around that she watched and cheered her heart of for her son during a football game....only the little boy on the field was not her son.....nor was she watching the right game......nor was she cheering for the correct jersey number. But you know what they say about rumors - the funny ones are always true.

I made this card for her because after I eat her salsa all I want to do is give her a big hug and kiss....and drink a big cup of water.

Happy Mother's Day Salsa Mama! Your salsa rocks but it is NOT better than my moms ;) Hi mom! I love you mom!