No. 8

... and long over due!

Fresh Flowers and Weddings

This weekend I had the honor and [really] the joy of doing the flowers for my friends Katie and Gabe's wedding. Katie pretty much gave me free reign to do what I wanted with a little direction here and there. But then said just make it beautiful and I knew, or should say hoped, I could do that! It was a pretty big job for being my first real flower gig. I have done my own parties before and been helping a wedding florist this summer with her jobs but never anything like this before!

I started Friday morning by picking up all the flowers from the wholesale shop. I am so thankful to have a great guy there who helped me find everything I needed and stay within my budget! Some how I managed to leave and not spend but $45 more than was given to me. And that was really things that had nothing to do with the cost of the flowers! Praise the Lord for that gift!

Then I headed back home to start working with the most beautiful flowers. Katie wanted a garden themed look so everything in the kitchen looked like it was freshly picked from the yard. Not to mention the flower selection in August is pretty stellar! I was nervous driving all those flowers home, but not one of them was lost in the journey! And my car smelled amazing the whole way home!

It was such a fun day! I was surrounded by some of the things I love the most-- flowers and had some of the people I love the most helping me. (Although they all might say it didn't always look like I was having so much fun, but in spite of my stress level soaring at times it was fun!) I was so lucky to have my Uncle Curt and our family friend Velve in town from NYC to help. Velve is a master with flowers and my uncle is super creative! Along with my mom and even a little help from my dad, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Eric! Everyone pitched in to make the work more manageable.

Everyone loved the flowers on Saturday and I have to admit it was so exciting to have my creations be a part of such a wonderful couple's special day. Thank you Katie and Gabe for letting me share my love and passion for flowers with you on your wedding day! And thank you family for all your help and encouragement in getting it done!!

No. 7 [I love the number seven]

Unexpected Blessings... AKA Being Sent Home Early From Work

So maybe this is a real stretch, but hey, that is what I am trying to do here: stretch myself in Trusting the Lord and Praising Him always!

The past few day have been painfully slow at work and when it is slow that means someone has to go home. No fun in anyway when you count on those hours as your income. But today it worked out beautifully! I am doing the flowers for a friend's wedding this weekend and must admit that I have been a bit behind [EEK!] in the whole process. And due to my procrastination have been a tad bit stressed out... and rightfully so, the wedding is on Saturday! Anyhow, today I began winging it, because I had the time to do it and just the right amount of procrastination-inflicted stress to get me going!

I got to the flower shop, walked around, talked to the guy who helps me and actually have a game plan! I am so very thankful for days that I can turn lemons into lemonade!!

No. 6

REI's Amazing Return Policy!

A few weeks ago I stayed with the cutest dog while her family was in Europe... well, for as cute as she was she was also a tad bit naughty. Not bad naughty, just puppy naughty. Anyhow, one day I noticed that my one Chaco was not with the other Chaco and when the lost Chaco was found it suddenly didn't look like its mate. The webbing now had the loving teeth marks of Penny the dog. Needless to say I was pretty bummed about it. I love my Chacos! They have been almost everywhere in the world I've ever been and pretty much like a faithful old friend. But then I remembered, my parents got them for me at REI; REI has pretty much the most amazing return policy ever. I have never personally used it before, but I have heard stories of turning in worn out and broken [well loved] outdoor goods for new ones.

So today I set out to try this amazing return policy for myself. I must admit I was a tiny bit nervous. I didn't know how it worked. Would I be questioned? Would I have the right answers? How in the world are they going to exchange my dog eaten shoes for new ones? Maybe I would just have to get the one shoe repaired and then they would never be the same? I didn't know what to expect. I didn't have a receipt, I had no proof that they were purchased there, I didn't even have the box. But I went right up to the customer service desk and said, a dog ate my Chacos and I heard I can return them. The kind man said sure, no problem. That was it! No questions asked, no rude or judgemental looks. Just a nice, helpful man and a new pair of Chacos for me.

I almost got emotional when he took my Chacos away. I traveled through Israel and Egypt in those shoes. Walked around Italy and Estonia in them too. And planned to have them for ever trip thereafter...

But instead of being sad that they are gone I am so very thankful to have a new pair on the way that will go on my next adventure with me! (and every one thereafter)

No. 5

Tuesdays with Sadie Grace!

Sadie is a sweet little blessing in my life! For the past ten months we have become fast friends spending almost every Tuesday afternoon and evening together. It has worked out beautifully that I leave work at 2 and head straight over to her house. We play horses and blocks, sing songs, take long walks, read stories, sneak in a little PBS kids and just have plain old fun!

When we started hanging out she was still a baby but now she is turning into such a big girl... she willl be two in December. I love it when she babbles on and on about only she knows what! A few weeks ago, right when she started talking, she didn't stop babbling the whole time I was with her. I think I was giggling the whole time we were together! I caught a few little words here and there, but most of it was a mystery to me. I feel totally sure she knew exactly what she was saying and probably wondered why in the world I wasn't responding to anything she was saying to me!

I am so thankful for this precious girl, she is a special little treasure to me! I cherish our time together and am so grateful for the blessing she is!

No. 4

Sweet Customers... who come in and manage to brighten up your whole day (even at 6 PM) with their genuine appreciation, sweet stories, and fun laughs. They remind me why I love my job and make it all worthwhile!

No. 3

Postcards...

best when unexpected and such a sweet surprise!

No. 2

Saturdays Off

Working retail means Saturday is a working day. I never really thought much about having Saturdays and Sundays off before I started my job at the Paper Affair. It was just the weekend. I guess I was usually thankful when it came around, but I'm not sure I truly appreciated it for all it was worth. Two days off, in a row, every week! Those two days are reserved for fun and sometimes errands... I think I wasted most of my Saturdays and Sundays when I had them every week. Now it amazes me how excited I am when I don't have to go into work on Saturday-and thankfully I almost never work on Sundays.

Today I had an unexpected day off and it was quite a treat! I awoke to no alarm clock, or rushing to get ready and out the door. Instead I sat outside, drank my coffee and read... I cleaned out some drawers in my room... took a nap... and I didn't rush at all!

Even though there are other great days in the week I have off and I am thankful for each and every one of them, I have come to appreciate the worth and gift of Saturdays off more than ever before!