“St. Thérèse, Kelly, and the Rose”

Welcome to Petals of Grace — a place where I share the stories, inspirations, and moments of grace that have shaped the Shower of Roses Shoppe. Every post is offered as a prayer — a small act of love in the spirit of St. Thérèse’s Little Way.

A Petition of the Heart

In 1982, I entrusted a special prayer to St. Thérèse, asking for a good husband — a man to share my life with. I wrote my request on a small piece of paper and asked St. Thérèse to send me a sign: a single pink rose from the man who would become my husband. It was a secret hope I held close to my heart, sharing it with no one.

Years passed. I dated different men and received many flowers, but never a single pink rose. At times I wondered if my prayer had been heard, yet I continued to trust in St. Thérèse, believing she knew the right time.

The Meeting

Then, in 1989 — seven years after I first entrusted my prayer — I met Kelly, a wonderful young man from Anchorage, Alaska. (We met through an Alaskan newspaper ad for singles, but that’s a story in itself!)

We began talking on the phone for hours, getting to know each other from a distance. Our conversations felt easy, and I found him passionate, sincere, and very kind. Soon we began writing letters, sharing more about our lives. By the time we met in person on November 3, 1989, I already felt a strong connection. Meeting face-to-face only deepened that bond.

Before long, I decided to move to Alaska so we could be closer to one another. We set our wedding date for November 3, 1990 — exactly one year from the day we first met.

The Rose in the Snow

Two days before the wedding was my birthday, and we were busy with last-minute preparations. As we drove back from getting our marriage license, Kelly suddenly pulled over to the side of the road. I watched as he opened the trunk and returned with a small package wrapped in delicate pink paper.

“What’s this?” I asked, curious.
“Happy birthday, Colana,” he smiled. “We’ve had so much going on with the wedding, but I wanted to give you a little something.”

I slowly unwrapped the paper. Inside was a small box. I opened the lid to find a glass snow globe — and within it, a single pink rose, its petals just beginning to unfold. I turned the globe gently; snowflakes swirled around the rose, catching the light in a soft, shimmering glow.

For a moment I just stared. My breath caught, and tears filled my eyes. A warmth flooded through me, as if St. Thérèse herself were whispering, “See, I have not forgotten.”

She had answered my prayer in the most beautiful way — waiting until my birthday, just two days before my wedding, to send me the pink rose I had longed for.

Heaven’s Signature

The snow in the globe spoke to me too. I was about to begin a new life in Alaska — a land where snow blankets the ground for months. I remembered that St. Thérèse loved snow so much that on the day of her First Profession of Vows, she prayed for it to snow in early May — and it did. A gentle snowfall graced that sacred day.

Could it be coincidence that St. Thérèse is also the Patroness of Alaska? I felt her presence woven into every step of my journey, offering gentle reminders that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

A Calling in the Little Way

From my very first novena to her, St. Thérèse has answered my prayers in mysterious ways. She promised to shower roses after her death, and she has kept that promise. This time, through a pink rose inside a snow globe, she gave me a sign wrapped in beauty and meaning — a sign I will cherish forever.

Moved by this blessing, I felt called to do more to honor her and share her message with others. In 2016, I began the Shower of Roses Shoppe to spread her message of love, faith, and trust in Divine Timing. Designing products became my way of continuing her Little Way — passing along the blessings I have received.

Every creation from the Shower of Roses Shoppe is a prayer of the heart — a reflection of St. Thérèse’s grace, made to inspire devotion, comfort the soul, and share the beauty of our Catholic faith.

The Rose That Remains

Now, whenever I see a rose — whether in my designs, in a garden, or in the hands of a customer — I’m reminded that St. Thérèse still listens, still answers, and still showers us with her love from heaven.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Thérèse or explore the designs inspired by her and other saints, please visit
👉 Shower of Roses Shoppe

May you find inspiration and feel the gentle presence of the Little Flower — and all the saints — in your life.