A weekend update and something to read & think about

I am up this morning and on the stationary bike, ready to update my blog while spinning & sweating. I love being able to multi-task :) It has been over a week since I have forced myself out of bed to get on this silly thing and it was a struggle; but the bike finally won the battle this morning even though it will be just an hour spin. Yet, the way things are going an hour on the bike is better than nothing.

Anyway...time to catch ya up on some of the goings on around here...

The weekend's activities...
Both Saturday and Sunday I worked in Store #1 (Saturday DH had to work up at store #2 and Sunday he enjoyed going to Robert's hockey game in the morning, but did come to store #1 around noon). Last weekend was a wedding we were making favors and arrangements for - this was the first time since DH & I purchased the business that we ever did anything to this level. While we have created large fruit arrangements for receptions, this wedding "job" had a lot of componets to it and DH & an employee did go and deliver it all in the van and helped to set up. Here is what we created for the wedding:

The Favors - Table Assignments

The bride and the groom decided they wanted to tie name tags onto our favor boxes - tags had guest's name and their table assignment...

And inside the box...

Chocolate covered strawberries - either a groom in a tux or a bride in a wedding dress

The Dessert Table

The bride and groom wanted to add some healthy alternatives to their dessert table and this is what they ordered from us

Banquet Size Delicious Party arrangment

Sweet Indulgence Platters - includes chocolate covered strawberries: dark chocolate, white chocolate, some dipped in coconut and some in crushed almonds; chocolate covered apples and chocolate dipped oranges

When everything was set up on the dessert table, this is what it looked like. While most of the arrangements we produce are ordered as gifts, which we do deliver and see the excitement on the recipient's face...DH was excited about seeing all the things we produced for this wedding set up in the reception hall...I am glad that they took photos of the set up, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see it.

So working at the store pretty much dominated the weekend once again. However I did manage to put the finishing touches on the ornament for Lisa V's Ornament Swap. It really turned out nice, I think. Now I just need to make sure and get photos before I set it on its long journey to Australia.

Before I go, I wanted to share you something that my mother forwarded me. Normally, I don't care for all those forwarded email messages - those change emails - and normally I don't read them. But I read this one and instead of forwarding it to other friends and family via email, I thought I would post it on my blog. Giving you something to read and think about as well as allowing me to save it in the archives.

It's not what you gather...it is what you scatter!

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about..They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...

An unexpected phone call from an old friend..... Green stoplights on your way to work....

The fastest line at the grocery store....

A good sing-along song on the radio...

Your keys found right where you left them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just did...

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

Until next time...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa