In Remembrance

Hi friends!  Today is blog hop day for Coffee Loving Paper Crafters, so welcome!  It's the start of the weekend and our special coffee hop celebration but it is also the start of a very important US holiday.  But before I share my project and the inspiration behind it, let me share this.  If you're here for the Coffee Lovers' blog hop then you'll want to be sure to visit the Stamp Simply blog for more information when you're finished here.   

Stamp Simply

Today is National Poppy Day 2026, the Friday before Memorial Day, a day that Americans are encouraged to wear a red poppy to honor those military members who gave their lives in the service of our country, and their "Gold Star" families.  My card is meant to be both a tribute to those we've lost and a comfort to their remaining loved ones.    

Hopefully for most of you there are no particular names or faces that come to mind in remembrance on Memorial Day but for most military families including ours, there's at least one person whose life and loss is quietly remembered over these next several days.  (Our friend was killed in a training accident that occurred on 5-28-92 after he'd returned from the first Gulf War, Desert Storm).  We truly will never forget, and we reverently acknowledge the precious price that has been paid for our freedom.  We solemnly pray for God's blessings over every Gold Star family, for their comfort and strength in the wake of their loss.

I tried to incorporate that Gold Star symbolism and into today's project.  I really love that it's a coffee card, since having coffee (or tea!) is such a simple everyday mind and body "fortification" that includes the opportunity to slow down and connect with the ones you love.  What could be more important?!  It is truly mind-boggling to think of how coffee and tea have sustained humanity through the major and minor challenges of life!    

I was going to include a pocket for a gift card on the inside of my card but then I had a mishap!  The back of my card ended up smeared with ink, so I opted for some creative camouflage.  

I covered the ink smudges with designer paper, and then adhered the gift card pocket to the back of the card.  Here's a little printed tag from the designer paper pad for the front of it.

And here it is, opened.  I tucked in a little card stock place holder inside since I still need to purchase a gift card, but this gives you an idea of how it would look. 

I'm so happy that I finished my flag shawl in time to wear it this weekend.  I followed the pattern instructions "to the T" except for making my stripes wider...including starting with a white stripe as the pattern directed which of course is WRONG!  Our flag's stripes start and end with red, but in having made this mistake (and I was especially frustrated that I made it because I *knew* better!) I learned about the 1776 "Bennington" flag, so I'm just gonna pretend that it is a mistake that I made on purpose! ❤️

Stamp Simply

If you've made it this far, thank you for your attentiveness and perseverance through this sad and somber heart-felt tribute.  I hope you have a great weekend!  Enjoy your freedom, your family and your friends!  Go with grace, peace, and gratitude!  God bless you and God bless America!