Winner

I am so totally excited that I am the winner... from over at GUSSY. She has some awesome things!!! She was giving away a signed copy of Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman. You can read about it here.
http://www.gussysews.com/2011/04/win-a-signed-copy-of-vintage-notions-by-amy-barickman/
This is the most awesome prize!!!!! One of those give aways that I REALLY wanted!!!
Blessings to you all,
Lori

In transition

My life is truly in transitional place right now and while on this trip the Lord is helping me as I’m making some much needed changes in my life. One is my blog, I have struggled over the last few months in doing what “I” want with my blog. I love contest, crafting, blog hops and reading everyone’s blogs. But that takes tons of the time I have left from just life. It is so easy to get caught up in it all and let the things that you need to do go. So after opening up and letting God work and knowing that I need to put Him first in my life I will be using this blog a little differently. If I have stopped following you, I hope you will understand. I will still be following those that have craft ideas and will be saving those that I really like and want to make when the time is right. I will enter some contest but only those that I have time for and those that are really something I’d like to have (Silhouette for sure). I may offer a give away from time to time and will have our products from time to time but mostly I will blog about my life, my family and my Lord. That will take lot of time cause we are a busy bunch. My prayer is that you will see the love of the Lord in my blog. I wanted to share with you the following.
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http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/2011/04/quitting-can-be-ok.html

During my struggle, I was reading this post from Rachel and began to giggle. God is so funny at times. He knew just what I needed that day. Showing me just what He had for me through the words from a sister in Christ. I am so thankful that He loves me no matter what.                                                                            Blessings, Lori

A Little Birdy told me….

Ladies, I am way late in getting this to you. But you still have time to play. Over at Just Birdy she is having an awesome give-away I think you should go over and check it out. Jess has beautiful blog, one of my favorites!!! She also does some blog designing, I’m just finding out. Very talented!!! As part of the give-away I am giving away one of the most precious diaper covers I’ve ever seen. One of my blog buddies, Melissa from Preserved Photography is sharing some photo image blocks. They are beautiful and I would love to have them. There are lots of other treats in this give-away!!! So check out the link below (I hope it works, I’m not to techy), you won’t be disappointed. <a href=http://justbirdyblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/birdys-big-give-away.html#>Birdy’s Big Give-Away</a> Thank you, Jess for choosing me to participate in this give-away!! I do love a good give-away… I also love to win!!!!! LOL                                             Blessings, Lori

The Greatest Spot/Stain Remover

I have been wanting to share some different things which I hope will be of some help to everyone. So today I’m starting with this wonderful stain remover that I found about a year ago. Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover. I was checking out at Hancocks in Shreveport  and the sales clerk talked me into to buying it. Boy I’m glad that she did. I had a white polo that I had gotten makeup on a few years ago and had been washed and dried a many times. I decided to try to get these spots out first. I put the remover on the spots a few times over a couple of days, washed it and it was just like brand new!!! I couldn’t believe it. There hasn’t been one time that I’ve used it that the stains didn’t come out. You can purchase this at most fabric stores. This is just a personal review. I didn’t receive anything for this. Hope you will check it out and let me know what you think.                                                                                 
Blessings, Lori

March Craft Swap & Special Gifts

Good Evening, I hope this finds you doing well today. I am so happy to be sharing with you this wonderful craft I made for the March craft swap. I sent it out weeks ago but forgot to take a picture. I wanted to do something special for the ladies staying with the Story’s and I thought this would be perfect. Don’t you just love this?????

                       

                  This is what it looks like in the frame!

                            

         

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did making it! Blessings, Lori

Smocking for love…

I am smocking for one special baby that should be born in the next month. One of the young ladies that works with us who is also my daughters life long best friend and my other child is going to have a baby in late April and I told her I would smock something for the baby to come home in. We know that the baby is a “He” and his name is Harlin. I am going to make a bubble outfit. This is how much I have done.                                                             I have a few ducks to add along with some buttons. I think it’s going to be beautiful. The last smocked item I made was a gown for the birth of my 4th grandchild. We didn’t know the sex until Graham was born. We had a family gown that I made 12 years ago but had a little accident with it. I’ll have to share that another time. I worked on this today while I took the day shift with the Story’s. We are still needing help for the weekends. Hopefully we will be set by next weekend. God has been so awesome providing the help he has. Mrs. Story has been lots better the last two days. Thank you, Lord. Hope you have a wonderful week. I have lots to share this week. I hope to have the time.

Blessings, Lori

24 Hours in a Day

This evening I'm still at work while the embroidery machine is still running a job that has over 54000 stitches, and I'm tired. I got here at 6:30AM and been on the run since.
These last few days have been really stressful. Hospice is in place for Mrs. Story and we have secured at home care during the day. We spoke with the nurse today and she suggested that we begin to find round the clock care. That is 24 hours!!!!!! It is hard to find someone that wants to work for 8 hours let alone 24. It's just almost more than my mind can get around! I hate managing people, in fact I'm horrible at it. God just didn't give me that gift. I can but I stink at it. I just want everyone to do their job. I have two employees at the store and now it looks like I'm gonna have at least 5 more!!!!!
The lady we have for the day is AWESOME!!!!!!! She does a great job and I don't have to worry about anything while she is there.
I am so THANKFUL!!! There is always a beautiful flower in the garden you just have to look for it.
As you can see I'm really tired and rambling.
Hope to share soon.
Because He first loved me,
Lori

Life Touch Hospice

Heading down to the Story's to get Hospice set up. Mrs. Story is not feeling well today, her breathing is labored, more than usual. I am hoping to get her some antiobatic for the lung infection that I know she has. No I'm not a doctor or nurse but I have taken care of her and my parents long enough to know when they need something medical. Guess I should have been a nurse.
Blessings, Lori
P. S. While I'm waiting I will be smocking something special. Can't wait to finish it and show you.

Sharing My Heart

Today I just want to share what is really on my heart. We are in the process of making decisions concerning my in-laws. They are precious Christians who love the Lord but need lots of help. They have needed help for several years but the their sons (my husband & his brother) just couldn’t bring themselves to make them do it. Here is a little background. Mrs. Story (AKA Nanny) is 88 years old, she has COPD (never smoked a day in her life) and RA. She can do very little for herself and it’s been that way for years. Mr. Story (AKA Papaw) is 87 and has Alzheimer's or Dementia. I think there both the same. He can remember a few things but not much. For the last 15 years he has been the hands & feet in the relationship and she has been the brains. He can no longer remember the things he needs to do for her and she is unable to make him understand what to do. She has lost over 10lbs in the last 3 months. Most of us would say that would be Great, however that bring her weight to 68lbs. She is all skin & bones. I tried for a couple of years to get them to agree to some help. No way was that happening. My husband has the most tender heart and doesn’t want to hurt their feelings or make them mad. His brother is unengaged and not ready to deal with the fact they are old and can’t care for themselves any longer. Lynn goes to their house in the morning during the day and in the evening. Over the last few weeks they have called at night for him to come over for something. He is completely worn out!!! This evening we had a family meeting with Lynn’s parents & his brother. They decided to have hospice come and we would see about the other help. Mrs. Story is just unwilling to help us help her. I plan to move forward in getting help for them full time. Thank you for allowing me to vent! Please pray for us as we make these necessary changes.                                                                              Blessings, Lori