Sometimes people just need to be listened to

This morning I had a Customer coming to my shop for the second time. I did a pretty nice embroidery for one of his projects restoring classic cars before, so, I was curious to know if his customer had liked my work.

So I asked him: - How about the last Project I had embroidered for you last time. Was your customer satisfied?

Yes he loved the embroidery. He said. But that Customer is giving me a hard time to pay me for my work because I took too long to finish his the restoration of his car.  He went on and on about the project, why he had not met the deadline, his kids got sick, he is one man working person on his shop, his wife got sick, his kid, then, the mother in law etc. The customer wouldn't stop talking about the hard time he was having, I was just listening to him and thinking to myself, “holly crap, I have so much work to get done for today… I wonder if there is ever an end to his talking” 

Well I haven’t been feeling great myself, I have been working sick to get my orders done and lots of things going on. I thought to myself, maybe it is OK to listen to him and get some break from work.

After he was done telling me about his life and how disappointed he was with that last customer, I couldn't help myself, when I realized I had already told in clear and unbroken English “WHAT A SON OF A BITCH!!!!”  As soon as I finished that phrase, I was so ashamed of myself! The customer busted into laughing so hard and I went along with him. After I almost peed in my pants and coughed like crazy from our laughing, he said “OMG I love the way you cuss”!!!
What the customer told me before he left the door is what made me feel so good:

He looked at me and said: “Thanks for listening to me Zee… I needed to vent so bad, plus the good laughing we had, I feel so much “lighter” Have a great day!

I could have gotten a lot done during the time I listened to him but, boy, I feel as good as he felt when he left. If you think that there is nothing that you can do to make a difference in the world without spending your “bread and butter”, Here is a good way to do it! Listen to somebody who just need to vent! But don't cuss, it is not very nice LOL

WELL, but if you do have a few “Bucks” that you could use to help your community, how about making a $10.00 donation to this MDA Jailbird? :))))

http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?px=2224748&pg=personal&fr_id=9371&s_subsrc=bfIphEmPfMsg&s_src=boundlessfundraising

I thought it was a funny story to share with you my dear friends!
Blessings to all
Zee

Life is this beautiful undefined miracle...

Hi there :)

It's Monday morning, the sun is shinning and I feel thankful because I was able to wake up for one more day.

Some people who has been battling cancer or any terminal disease might think that their lives is almost over and forget to live it  as they were supposed to, focusing instead on finding the cure for their illness. Don't let the fact that you have been dealing with a terrible disease stop you from living your life. It doesn't really matter if I have heart conditions, if you have cancer, the other person has AIDS, the other carries the genes that will make him sick one day or another.

Don't let the fact that you live with a disease fool you. I am pretty sure that not even for a minute, it crossed the mind of all those passengers who disappeared on the flight 370, I imagine that none of them thought that they might had seen their loved ones for the last time once they left their homes. Sad huh? Life is this beautiful undefined  miracle...

I believe that we all came to this world with an expiration date. We don't know when our is going to be, we wont leave here until we have accomplished the plan that God has for each one of us. For this reason, don't forget to Live your life like your were supposed to. Love, laugh, be thankful and forgive always.

Yesterday, when I talked to my family from Brazil, I got the news that one of our relative who was only 20 years old passed away last week. He was coming back from college when he was hit by a truck and died instantly. A totally healthy 20 years old young man who was the father of a small child ...

Let's think about this, let's stop worrying and live life like there would not be tomorrow.

What is your plan for the this day? I have planning on spending sometime working on my beautiful little birthday dresses among all the other embroidery work that I have to get done. Embroidery is my passion, any kind of embroidery but working with my first birthday dresses is what I love the most :) like a customer who was mad at me because she got me working on the dresses instead doing her embroidery, once she told me,  "the birthday dresses don't pay your bill" no they don't, if they did, I would be only embroidering the first birthday dresses full time. They are my hobby and it makes me forget about everything while I am working on them :)

Let's try to do something that makes us happy today ;) Let's smile no matter what, let's live today because it is a precious gift that we got when we first woke up, the gift of life.

Have a precious day my friends. God bless and be with you today and always...
Zee Giddings
http://www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com/First-Birthday-Dress-s/1814.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1814&show=120&page=1

Isabella's words of wisdom

Isabella always comes up with something to talk about in the mornings, there are some stuff that she says that I really need to share. Too funny.

This morning while having her breakfast she asked me:

- Mom how much money do you have?

- Not enough. I replied. (I knew she was going to ask me for more "My Little Pony" )

- How come you never have money? How about all the work you do and all the customers that come over here?

- Well, the Customers always tell me they will send me a check later...

- OK Mom, from now on when they tell you that they will send you a check later, my advise to you is, look them in the eyes and do like this:

- I 'm sorry but I have seen this already. I wont fall for another one, you pay me now or you wont get your embroidery!

- I cant be unpolite with the customers Isabella!

- Mom, listen to me, I know exactly how you feel. it has happened to me once. I had a quarter in my pocket and the boys across the street were selling lemonade, I went there to buy it from them, they told me to give them my quarter because they were going to show me a magic trick  so, I gave them my quarter and they made it disapear. I told them; _ Ok now give me my quarter back.  They told me it had disapeared. I came home very frustrated and daddy took care of it.

- What did daddy do?

Daddy went there and told them to give me my quarter back and told them to give me a lemonade FOR FREE for all the trouble they made me go through. See mom, I came back home with my quarter AND my free lemonade. That is how you do it.  Dont let them tell you they are going to pay you later mom, only give them their embroidery if they pay you right away!

She even finalized her advice with:

- Lets see how you are going to do today, when I come home from school, you show me how much money you  made ok?!  I was speechless...  What to tell her after all this lecture? LOL

GEEZ,  all I wanted  was to get away with saying I wasnt going to buy no more "My little Ponys" to her... Well, at least for this week LOL.

Have a great weekend!!!

God bless

Zee

www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com

Sometimes number 1 is number 1 until it becomes number 2...

Good morning Kids :))

This is how an embroidery machine mother board looks like.

It's FRIDAY!!!  Thank God it's Friday LOL. I think it's really funny when I say that because to me, it doesn't make a difference what day it's today... As long as I am still here in this world confusing people with my broke English LOL. As long as I am alive I am happy LOL

Although I feel tired for not sleeping well last night, I feel so happy for having my three machines back to life again... Ahhhhhhh I love my baby machines :))). I had to exchange machine number 1 and 2 "soul"so, now they confuse me because when number 1 stops for  maintenance, actually it is not number 1 that I have to oil , it is the number 2 one... How did I get myself into this dilemma?  Well,  when my number 1 machine started  skipping registration mark, jumping stitches to the side, I called  Ben  the technician, and he said it could be the "mother board" or the "X motor". He had the X motor but not the mother board with him, what means that if he drove all the way from Indiana to Springfield, with me paying my mileage and then, $70.00 per hour to get here and not be able to fix my baby number 1, I would be in trouble.

I had this idea about taking the mother board from  machine number 2 and  put on number 1 and vice versa,  this way, I would know for sure that if the machine kept having the same problem, it wouldn't be the mother board, what I call their "soul"  then, Ben could drive all the way here without breaking the bank.  So,  we did it, oh boy, there are so many screw and nuts that I really decided we would leave them as they were, number 1 in number 2 and number 2 in number 1. It's just like trading bodies.... It worked. We figure it out, thank Lord that it was for sure the X motor. Ben came and fixed my baby machine :) It's working beautifully again :))

 So, from now on, for a little while, I have to have in mind that number 1 is only really number 1 until she needs maintenance, than she becomes number 2...

I know, it's too confusing isn't it? Now, imagine me, this poor old lady who doesn't speaks English very well and doesn't remember what she had for dinner last night, having to remember all this "fings" It's really not easy being Zee... But it's funny though...It's a CRAZEE life but I wouldn't want it any other way.. Well.... "finking" better, hummm... LOL Nah, just kidding ;)))

You all have a nice not so confusing day and enjoy every minute of it...Find the silver lining in everything bad that happens to you and everything will be GREAT!! lol :)

Yeah... Yeah... Yeah... I better get my babies ready to work way!

Have a precious Friday kids!!!!!!!!!

God bless

Zee

Summer vacation! How to keep our little ones entertained? How to find foster grandparents? LOL

It's Summer, Vacation, we are glad we don't need to get our cranky kids out of the bed for a while but  here is the question? What to do to keep them entertained and not having to hear all the time, "mommy I am bored"? "Mom, I have nothing to do!!!" My answer is always, go clean your room!!! And there she comes with a smart ass comment "I said I am bored, I want something fun to do, I don't want to work" LOL 

Seriously, I have no clue. I know about all the camping they have out there for kids but, my daughter is 7 and I have no clue what to do...

All I know is, I have all this embroidery to get done and  I need to keep an eyes on my daughter. My thoughts are always  what is she doing? She has been riding her scooter on the side walk with kids from our street, is this safe? I mean, lately I don't seen to get focused on anything because my mind is always busy with so many things.

Oh how I wish I had my parents living close to me... My daddy and mommy would keep Isabella entertained all the time, isn't that what grandparents are for anyways? I imagine how life would be so much easier for me if I could focus on my work only, while being sure that my little girl were in good hands. Dream on Zee... Dream on...

They have Foster home for animals and kids but where are the Foster Grandparents home? LOL Yep, I am serious... I so wish I could find Isabella some foster grandparents here in the USA...

If you have any idea what a seven years old daughter could be engaged while on summer vacation, something safe, would you please let me know?

OK, as you have noticed, I have been so busy lately, haven't even had the time to post here, but life will slow down and then I will catch up LOL

You all have a blessed day!

God Bless 

Zee

www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com

Happy 10th Anniversary to us :))

It's Thursday and my heart is singing with joy. Not because it is Thursday and the week is almost over, it is because tomorrow Brian and I will spoil ourselves this weekend. Tomorrow after lunch time we will be leaving to Galena, IL for the weekend. We need so much this time for ourselves... We haven't gone to Brazil this year, w  haven't had a real vacation where we can rest and enjoy each other's company. It's really bugging me that we are leaving Isabella behind, I know for sure I will see things that she loves doing and I will wish she was there with us but, for once in my life I will try to relax. 

Yesterday May 29th was our 10 years anniversary... I remember as it was yesterday, we planned on spending our 10th  anniversary in Venice, Italy. It wont happen this time, maybe ten more years... LOL

It's OK, we are staying at Eagle Ridge SPA Resort in Galena, IL. Their webpage looks beautiful and a beautiful place. Guess what? We are going on a hot air balloon ride :))))))))))) I cant wait for that.

I will try to not touch my phone as much.I am taking my little camera with me :)) Have you guys notice that the smart phones have replaced people? We go to restaurants, go out with friends and there we have our phones on the table... The excuse is our kids but deep inside we know we are addicted to our phones. To me is even worse because I get myself working everywhere, replying e-mails...

I want to fall in love with my husband all over again this weekend. Not that I don't love him... I LOVE him more than life but, falling in love is so necessary, just like the first time :) ( now that reminded of of Bryan Adams song, "please forgive me"

"It still feels like our first night together

Our first anniversary :)

Feels like the first kiss It's getting better baby No one can better this Still holding on You're still the one First time our eyes met Same feeling I get Only feels much stronger I want to love you longer Do you still turn the fire on?"

I have this good feeling inside today. This feeling that tells me that life is going to get much better for us... It's summer and if it wasn't for the tornadoes that have been going on lately, I would say, summer is my favorite season of the year :)) We have tornadoes summer time so, nope, Spring is my favorite one LOL

It's so interesting that I look around and I get myself  surrounded with work to get done. I am so surprised that I am not freaking out about leaving for the weekend tomorrow... I guess Zee is finally realizing that she just can do so much... Life is short, there will always be embroidery to be done but I will take what I can get from this life.. I mean all the good things :) I don't take, haters, sadness, or anything bad, but I will take all the good I can get :)... Sorry, I am feeling a little bit selfish today :) I am allowing myself to do so...

My entire life has been everything and everybody else first and then me... Not this weekend.. Yep, I will post pictures :))

I want to say Happy anniversary to my husband and thank him so much for putting up with me, the workaholic Zee LOL Love you honey...

Happy Anniversary to us!!!!!

Have a great weekend and God bless you all!

Zee

Sometimes I work with birthdays dresses, sometimes I work with goodbye pieces...

Today is Sunday evening. I have just gotten back from my bike ride. My legs are really sore, that is what happen when we get older I guess... LOL

I have always been working on First Birthday dresses, pretty garments, but, today I worked on embroidering the lid insert of a casket. Never thought I would do such a type of work someday. I never liked getting close to caskets, seeing one, or touching it, I don't like anything that is related to death, I have this feeling since I was a child. I was always  scared of walking on the sidewalk of a funeral home, it would remind me about losing my loved ones, not afraid of death  myself but, losing the ones I love, scares me so much. I know this is what life is about but, if I can, I'd rather not to think about it. Today, it was different though, I was doing my work with so much love and when it was done I kissed the piece and said: - Rest in peace young man, I pray that you find the light...

 The sad part is, it is for the casket of fourteen years old boy who killed himself over a girl. The entire time I was working on it I was praying that God give strength to the parents of this kid. I didn't know him,  just an embroidery work that I had to get done for the funeral home but it touched my heart. There is no way in the world that one could do this job and not wonder what this family is going through...

It made me feel like holding my kids close to me and never letting them go. It made me think so much about that mommy and daddy...We hear all kinds of stuff happening out there but, we never think that it can happen to us. We parents, never imagine our children passing away first than us.

I guess when we need to get something done, God give us the strength we need to. It was just like when my grandma passed away.

Last time I saw grandma Virginia Pecanha

My grandma and I were very close, sometimes I would get myself thinking, grandma is over 90 years old and how will it be like life without her? I was always scared.

But it happened. I knew my grandma was getting weaker and very sick. My mom told me, Zee, if you want to see grandma  still alive, you should come soon because I have the feeling she wont be here for too long.

So, I decided we better plan a trip to Brazil soon. I got there late afternoon, it was a tiresome trip, over ten hours in an airplane, I was exhausted when we finally got to my parents home. Some cousins were visiting, one of my cousin told me that grandma had been asking about me the whole day, she wanted to see me when I got in Brazil. I told my cousin I would wait until the next morning, when I would be more rested. She said, you should not wait Zee, grandma wants to see you as soon as you got here. So, there I got to my grandma home. She was so thin, sad expression but her eyes brightened up when she saw me. We talked a lot about all kinds of stuff, but for some reason grandma kept asking me what I thought it would happen to us when we die. Do you believe we will be born again? I didn't like that type of talk with my grandma... So she held my hand and told me: - Zee do you remember that vacation when you were fifteen and we went to Sao Paulo to spend couple weeks at your uncle's home? I said: Yes grandma, I do, why are you asking me this?

She then said: I never forgave myself for shortening the trip and wanting to be back home earlier than we planned before. I remember how mad you got about me, you had planned having a lot of fun with your cousin... I always wanted to ask you to forgive me for that, I felt like I ruined your vacation... Can you please forgive me in the name of God?

I was so weird, I said: -Grandma, that was a long time I go, I never hated you for that, I got over it next day, I cant believe you held that in your heart for all these years! There is nothing to be forgiven grandma. I always loved you and was thankful for you...

I couldn't believe the relief feeling that she had on her expression: _ Oh thank God you were never mad at me, I have always thought about that and couldn't forgive myself for doing that to you. I can die in peace now....

We talked some more and my daddy took grandma to her bed.  That same night at 3:00 AM we were called that my grandma had passed way...

Grandma had nine children of her own and raised two nephews, eleven children total. Guess who was the one who took care of all arrangement for grandma's funeral?  Yes, you are right, it was me, the one who is afraid of cemetery, caskets and everything related to death. I even took care of all my grandma's burial place and picked the clothes she was buried with. I was so strong... After all was over with, I couldn't believe all the stuff I did. I was telling my uncles and daddy what to do and how, like a pro. I will always love you Grandma... I know you are resting and enjoying a better life now...

I've learned that when we have to go through something difficult, somehow we are given all the strength we need.

That is what I thought it happened today. It was a sad work but somebody had to do it. The kid used to go hunting with his grandpa and daddy, they wanted to have a deer embroidered on his casket inside. I did it. I am so glad I could do my best, work on a Sunday for a teenager who has ended his life so early...

God bless you...

Zee

Thank you Lord for this precious day....

Hi there...

it's 7:49 PM and I have replied to my last email of the day. I am ready to finally rest. This has been the second day  with my helper and I think I have been working harder than before LOL

I guess it will take a while for me to get used with this idea... It's really strange... I am not sure if I like the idea yet... We will see...

It's kinda scary... I am not sure how to explain this feeling... Debbie is a very nice lady and seems to know what she is doing but, of course some mistakes always happens. So, now, I am going to rest on my couch and fix the mistakes... As my mommy says "I am going to rest while I  carry some stones" LOL My mommy comes up with the funniest sayings... I love her :)))

Today I have embroidered a First Birthday dress that turned out just BEAUTIFUL. I love embroidering my little dresses... Have I already told you that? LOL They are just like a blank canvas where I can use my imagination... dream with the little baby who is going to wear it... So precious... :))))

Thank you Lord for one more day you has given to me, thank you Lord for being with me and protecting me  all the time.

God be with you and your family,

Have a great evening :))

The CraZee Lady next door .... LOL

Embroidea Custom Embroidery First Employee :)))

Welcome to Embroidea Custom Embroidery Debbie!

It finally happened today, I hired my first employee and she did Wonderful on her first day :) Her name is Debbie and I knew her before. Met Debbie once when we went through the drive through at Taco bell. She saw the Embroidea sticker on my car and asked if I did embroidery. She sounded so excited and friendly  We exchanged business card and became friends. I have been trying to help her build her own embroidery business but poor thing is having a hard time finding Customers, so, I asked her if she would like to work for me. She was so happy about it. She has learned a lot today and she will keep on learning. I know that someday, just like I did one, Debbie will take off and take care of her own business but, I am going to enjoy her company while she is working with me. And I will always be there to help her whenever she needs me...

I was so nervous in the morning. It might sound silly to you but for me, and old lady who treats her machines like babies, take care very well of them, I never thought I could stand seeing another person around my machines...  LOL So silly, I know, but I did good, I got more relaxed as the day went on and I feel much better right now. Everything is just fine...

I feel like I have taken another big step towards my dreams and all I ask God for is to give me patience, and wisdom to deal with all the changes that  are going to happen from now on.

My First Birthday dresses are selling like crazy and I feel so thankful that all this good things have been happening to me. God knows what is in my heart and mind and I trust that at the right time a big door is going to open for me and that will be the answer to my prayers. God has a plan for me, that I know for sure and  I feel like I can understand better what I came in this world for. He has given me many talents and I wont disappoint him.

I wanted to share this wonderful news with you my friends and Customers...I DID IT!!!!! :))))

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! I surely had a good one.

God bless

Zee

Decisions...decisions...decisions...



The day I bought my first embroidery Machine

Wow...Hi there :) It feels like a while since I've posted here. So many things going on, lots of work, me being sick and so many decisions to take, what should I do?

I have a dream and I wont give up on my dream, I have always been cautious about taking decisions I'd rather to take it slow. Just like when I started Embroidea Custom Embroidery. I was so afraid of getting in debt when I bought my first embroidery machine, I was afraid of not having enough work to even pay for it, I am not the kind of person who decides about something and then cry about it later. If I take a decision, that is it. I need to be sure about it.

So, when I first started my business, I was for 6 months without work to do at all. I was new in this Country, I had not too many friends, didn't know what to do. I remember being so scared of not bringing a pay check home and helping my husband. So, I decided to go back and work a little more while I was still building my clientele. I would work all day at another embroidery place, would come home after work and would work some more for myself, embroidering the few things I had to get done, relatives and friends of my husband who would ask me to get some embroidery done for them. So many people helped me at the beginning... I will never forget all the people who helped me.

Soon I started embroidering Red Hat Society t-shirts and would sell them on EBay. I am very thankful for EBay, it helped me a lot, I used to sell my First Birthday dresses and Red Hat Society apparel online. I started getting really busy, there were days that I worked 20 hours a day. I had no small kids so, it was fine with me... We can build nothing in this work with no sacrifice...

After Isabella was born, when she was five weeks old I started leaving her at the Daycare and go to work. It was a very nice Home Daycare, I am still friends with Deb from the Little Shadows Daycare. I love them all but, but Isabella was always getting sick, she had ear infection constantly and  I hardly had time for my baby girl, didn't see her first steps, first words...Until the day I told myself: - What is the purpose of having a child if I cant spend time with her? I had to choose in between bringing the pay check home at the end of the week and watching my daughter grow up.

I had to take this decision, I trusted that God has a purpose for me in this world and He will never leave me alone. I took the plunge, I quit my job.

I am so glad I did it! I haven't made tons of money, not even close to what I used to make while I worked at the other place but, it's enough. I have many Customers now, I have three embroidery machines and thinking about buying another one, I am growing my website, Isabella is 7 years old now and  I have another decision to take. I need to hire some help.

I have had an open heart surgery two years ago and a week after my surgery, I was working to meet my deadlines. Sometimes after I am done working at the end of the day, I look around and wonder where did I find the strength to do everything by myself. Embroidery, digitizing, invoices, phone, family, sales, taxes...

I think that time has come when I have to take a bigger step and hire some help. I feel all the old worries hunting me again Will I have enough money to pay for my helper every week? I don't even pay myself a salary!

I guess if I don't try it, I will never know... I have someone I know in mind and I have already gotten the phone to call her and offer her the job, but, how much to pay? How much can I afford? Will it work out ok having a friend as an employee? Will she accept my offer? Will I be able to separate friendship and employee? So many concerns....

I guess sometimes I just need to remind myself that I am not that young no more, it comes a time in life that we have to let our fears go and just trust that everything is going to be all right.

Well my friends, I guess this is what we call life. Isn't it?

"Miracles happen to those who believe" and I DO, I DO, I DO!!! :))))))))

Decisions... decisions.. decisions...  Here I go again :)

Everything is back to normal again and life is good :))))))))))

Ahhhh life is really good right now... Everything is ok with the world  :) I have three machines back to work again :))) I have always loved my machines but, no matter when which one of them breaks down, it is always a pain. But now, the sun is shinning, the machine is fixed, my orders are going to get done. I still have this sinuses infection but I know that as soon as the antibiotic kicks in, everything will be all right :))) So, no worries, I have put my "big girl's panties on" LOL

If you ever need a Melco embroidery machine Technician, you have to call Goodday Machine Repair.

Ben is the owner and he is my babies machine's doctor :)) He knows my machines so well... It's been quite a few years dealing with my babies... I am already able to fix many things on them, change motherboard, color thread optical sensor, grabbers and many other parts but this time it drove me crazy. I couldn't figure it out what the heck was wrong with that baby. Ben, said he would be here at 10:00 o'clock this morning and he was exactly on time. He went through everything I had already done to find out the problem, I would just watch him and say, "I have done that"  over and over again... The man changed the color change optical sensor, the motor and nothing... I noticed he was starting to get frustrated. All I did was pray that it had nothing to do with the motherboard of the machine.... That wouldn't be a pretty thing to happen to me at this time... Oh boy not that...

Suddenly Ben came to my computer and I heard him say "I CANT BELIEVE IT!"  I asked him what  was going on and he told me that he had gone through all that trouble and it was a software issue... that time I was the one who said "I CANT BELIEVE IT"  Can you believe it? The Technician drove all the way to Illinois to fix my machine and it was a configuration problem. I have two Amaya XT and an older model red one, that is the one with the issue. Somehow along the way, that machine started to act like it was an XT like the other two but, it doesn't have all the parts that the XTs have, so, there was a conflict. Who knew!?!?!? Even the machines get confused sometimes, even the machines start to act like they are younger than the real thing... Nice try baby machine!!! LOL All you got with that is drive this poor old Zee crazy and made her work harder and longer to keep up with the orders. Don't ever try that trick on me again, I am keeping an eyes on you! LOL

That is too funny! I know a few people who have tried to do that as well and it didn't work out good for them :)))))))

Anyway, Life is good, lets get back to work and make some money to pay for the damage! :))))))  Nah... Money is no a problem... Well it is actually the solution!!!! LOL. Just kidding... As you can tell, Zee is in a good mood now.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a wonderful world... Thanks Ben for figuring out about my baby's trick and for being a good human being and excellent technician. God bless your heart!

God bless the entire world!!!!!!! 

Georgia is on my mind as well Ray Charles :)))

 

I am so glad that I have finally sent one of My First Birthday Dresses to Georgia State today! Wooooo Hoooooo. So far, California and Florida have been the two States that buy my little dresses the most. Of Course I can’t forget, Texas, Virginia, New York, Alaska and many other States but, this was the first one to Georgia! It put a big smile on my face. Thanks Mom for choosing My First Birthday Dress to your little princess! Now Georgia is going to be always on my mind too Ray Charles! :))

I wish you had an idea how much I enjoy embroidering these little birthday dresses... I wish I could embroider them all the time, make it my full time job, but I consider this type of work my hobby, I still can’t make a living selling them... 

I surely appreciate every minute I spend working in each one. I enjoy embroidering the Baby girl's name on them, imagining her little face and praying that God always keep her healthy and safe always. My excitement is not just when I sell them but when YOU mommy send me a picture of your baby so that I can have her on my website. When YOU receive the little dress that I embroidery especially for your little one, when I finally know for sure that you are satisfied with what you've gotten, that is the time when I celebrate the most :). I pray that I keep up the good work and pray that I keep you mommies always happy with the talent that God gave to me.

OK, I need to share this nice thing that happened the other day. Isabella, my daughter has a little girl friend who lives down the street, they play together almost every single day. She is a cute, delicate and adorable Chinese little girl named Lydia. The other day, our doorbell rang and when we checked it was Lydia and her mommy. They were coming back from their church where Lydia won a scooter and a box of skittles. She already had one and she didn't like skittles instead keeping them, she decided that she was going to give to Isabella. How sweet is that? Isabella's scooter broke the other day and both couldn't ride their scooters together no more so, when she won that one she was so happy that she could to give Isabella and both would be able to ride together again.  I thought that was the nicest gesture ever, coming from a little child.  What amazes me, after Lydia and her mommy left our home, Isabella decided to make her a "Thank You" Card and went upstairs to get her crayons.  She came back with brand new box of the littlest pet shops, her favorite toys. Her grandma brought them from Florida to her but she already had that one so, she said: - Here mommy, I am giving this to Lydia, I really appreciate what she just did for me and I am going to help her with her Littlest Pet Shop collection as well. It reminded me about a movie I watched once, "Pay it forward" I loved that movie, we do something nice to somebody and what happens next? It comes right back to us :))) I am so glad I could watch this happening right in front of me with my daughter while she is still a little girl.  Well my friends, it's time to put my legs up for a while on my favorite couch :))

I have a terrible sinus infection and only God knows how I was able to work today. Thank you Lord for giving me the strength when I need... God bless each one of you... AMEN

 

 



Monday.. Monday...

Monday … Monday…

 

Have I already told you that I love Mondays? LOL

 

Yes, I always do, but, today it’s been one of those days… My machine has a “color change seek error message” I have searched all over the Internet how to fix it without calling the repair guy but, I haven’t had any luck... Maybe tomorrow…

 

Do you know what? Although I feel stressed out, I believe that everything happens for a reason. I guess I have something to learn. Things like not accepting orders to be done next day like I always do J well, how can I do that? I don’t have the heart to say no to my customers. I like to feel useful, help everybody out. It’s 7:42 pm and I am still working. Thank God I love my embroidery work.  When we do what we love, we don’t feel like we are working

 

I won’t lie and say that I haven’t cursed like a sailor today because I do have. That is ok too, I work only by myself... I can do whatever I feel like doing, this is the beauty of being self-employed LOL. Well, but I cursed text messaging with Fred, I wonder if I am going to hell LOL

 

Nobody can go to hell for cursing by themselves right? Ok kids, it doesn’t matter how troubled my day has been, all that matters is, I had one more day of life to spend with the ones I love J Life is good. Isn’t it?

 

I am so glad also for the great friends we have J Poor Fred tried hard to cheer me up today LOL Zee was not a happy camper! LOL

 

It’s all going to be all right when that Mr. Technician comes and gives all my babies machine a tune upJ They are really needing it J

 

Its 8:49 now and I am starving, I think I am going to embroidery two more shirts and call it a day J  there is a good smell of food coming from the kitchen! I wonder what my wonderful husband is making for dinner J Whatever it is I bet it is going to be delicious, as my mom always says “ when we are hungry we don’t pick the color of plate  that we are going to eat off” LOL My mom and her sayings… She makes me laugh and smile only by thinking of her…

 

Thank you Lord for one more day, it’s all good. Tomorrow will be a better day.

 

God bless the entire world.

 

Peace and love

 

Zee

First Brazilian party without you Beth Hall

What a beautiful Sunday! Sun is shinning , life is good :)))

Yesterday we had our Brazilian get together party and had lots of fun. Each one cooked a Brazilian dish and we celebrated Springtime at Juliana and Greg's home. It makes us feel good  and appreciate that even so far away from home, we have each other to speak our Language, laugh, eat, drink and have fun together.  This is how Brazilians are, we always get together there in Brazil, we forget about work, problems and everything else, we enjoy life. When I lived  In Brazil, on the weekends, we always did something fun like having barbecue, going fishing, dancing, having friends and family over, it was a lot of fun. We miss that type of lifestyle living in the USA, so, whenever it is possible our Brazilian community get together and we always find a reason to celebrate. Life goes to fast we have to enjoy it while it last, do the best we can, help others, laugh and be happy. Last year, we lost one of our members and dearest friend Beth Hall  who battled against cancer. She found out she had it when her second child was born and she fought for 17 years straight. She was one of the people who helped me in so many ways when my daughter and I moved to the USA in 2003. She knew about everything, whatever I needed, all I had to do is call Beth.

Last night we missed her at our first get together after she passed away. Beth was always present at our parties, always cooking good food, always full of energy, always laughing, joyful, always looking for something to help with. She said she couldn't stop moving because if she stopped she knew that the cancer would kill her. Last year my friend finally gave up, the cancer got her liver and took her always from us. Although I was making people laugh last night, what I know how to do the best other than my embroidery work, I was feeling her presence with us. I told only to another one of our friends that I was missing Beth because I didn't want to cause sadness to everybody but, God knows I was thinking of Beth, her contagious presence will always be among us. I am so glad that in her last years of life we started this Brazilian group and we got to spend time with her. At the end Beth and I so close, I didn't want to let her go, I wanted her to stay longer but she told me she was ready, she was tired of that fight, her two boy were in college, all grown up so, she felt she was ready. A day before she left this world, she called me and invited me to her house to eat a Brazilian dish that her mommy had made, she knew I loved "coxinha" she called at 4:00 o'clock in the evening and asked me to come over. My husband, my daughter and I went to her home and when I was living to come back to my house, she held me very tight and I felt like that was going to be the last time I would see my friend alive. I was right...

At the end my friend Beth didn't look like herself no more, her skin had turned dark, I guess it had to do with her liver shutting down... Just want to say Beth, right there where you are in heaven, I know you were watching us with that big smile of yours, I knew you were there. I've promised you to run the Relay for life every year in your honor and I will do that. You will never be forgotten my friend...

There is no more chemo, radiation, surgeries, medicines, no more suffering, you are in God's arms. I was so glad I could tell "I love you" before  you left. God bless you!