A letter to Tamy on Isabella's birthday

Hi Tamy!

How are you doing there in heaven? How is it there my baby girl? Today is Isabella's 10 birthday! Can you believe it? She is ten already. I know she misses you a lot. She doesn't want to talk about it, you know Isabella, she keeps everything to herself, just like you. I wish I knew what was going on with you Tamy, I wish you had told me about that bastard.I never thought I would lose you like that baby girl... I keep wondering what might have gone through your mind when you were cowardly attacked by that piece of shit...

We raised so with so much love, we dreamed the best for you Tamy, and a monster who you knew for a few months mistreated you and took your life away...

I know you can see what is going on in our lives. I know you can see how many people loved you dearly, it's unbelievable Tamy, the support from your friends. I wish we had met them all while you were still here. They are such wonderful kids. Blaine's mom joined our Pilot International group, I wish I had met her before as well. She is such a sweet lady.

Tamy, they say if we dont let go, if we cry and suffer when a loved one leaves this earth, they cant have peace in heaven, is that true? If so, I am so sorry Tamy. I want you to have peace at least there in heaven. Have you met Beth? Grandma Virginia? Grandpa Salvador? If so, give them a hug and kiss for me. I dont think I will ever be able to let go baby girl. It hurts so much... I miss you like crazy...

It's Isabella's birthday and I am here crying, wishing you were here with us.

Who would guess the day we left to Brazil it would be the last day I would hug you my beautiful daughter? I know that now it's too late but I wish we had made you go with us. There is so many things I wish it had been different Tamy, but how could I guess?

Isabella now is afraid of leaving the house, she doesn't like African American people no more, I guess she thinks they are all murderers. The other day I asked her if she wanted to talk about you and she said "no". She doesnt like seeing me crying ,maybe that is why she doesnt want to talk about it. But, I know she misses you a lot because she wears the Pokemon hat you had done for Halloween, she wears your pjs and she is reading a book about  angels.

Tamy, Brian misses you too. The other day, when he was leaving to go to the masons meeting, I noticed an angel pin on his suit, I asked what was that for, he said he has been wearing that for you, we got that from the funeral home and he will always wear that pin for you. He loves you so much and he was so proud of you, we both were.

Charles, oh my gosh, he misses you like crazy, you were his little sister and he always adored you. He always protected you and took care of you. His heart is broken as well. That monster destroyed our lives baby girl. What makes me so mad is going to the court and seeing him standing there looking like a statue, he shows no feelings, no regrets, sometimes I feel like jumping over that little fence and grab him by the neck to give him some of his own medicine. Justice will be made, you know your mom Tamy, dont you? I will never give up on fighting for justice...

  

Tamy, one day doesn't go by that I dont think of you and wish you were here. I know I am selfish, some days I wake up in the morning and wish so hard it was a nightmare, I cross my finger and tell myself  "it was a nightmare, everything is fine" but it doesn't take long to realize I am always wrong... You are gone but will be never forgotten my daughter.

I just wanted to let you know that I will be fine, soon I will learn how to live with this pain in my heart and soul. I miss you baby girl, be good in heaven, be at peace and know that we will always love you, forever...

Love you always...

Mom

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

Please help me help as many kids as I can - I'm an MDA Jailbird!

It's been a while since I have posted. Life has been hectic. So many things to get done and so little time. Lots of  My 1st birthday dress have been shipped, lots of embroidered done and lots of community service.
Seems like the more I pray, the more ghosts I see! LOL

The other day I got a phone call, the person told me that I was among one of the most wanted in our County and that I was going to jail. It took me a while to find the strength to ask what the heck was that about.
The reason I was going to jail, it was because I have a BIG HEART :)
Yes, I really have a big heart. Literally speaking!  Three years ago, after a visit to the Prompt Care, I was told that my Mitral Valve was damaged and I had to have it replaced by a mechanical one. The doctor said that my heart worked so hard to compensate for the damaged valve so, my heart increased in size.  Yep, I can tell I have a huge heart LOL
Ok, back to my Jail call,  it was  for a good cause,  I was an MDA Jailbird to help hundreds of kids, adults and their families. Now, I have to ask for donations... Believe me, I think it would be easier to  get somebody to bail me out of a real jail than it's been to get them to donate something to the MDA. It's not easy. I beg and beg and beg and beg!
Sometimes I wonder: Wouldn't that be such a nice surprise  if I woke up in the morning and my inbox  was full of email from the MDA telling me all this people who pitched in ??? That surely would make my day :)
If you are reading this blog, it doesn't need to be much, $5 here, $10 there, at the end it makes a lot of difference.
Please, be thankful that you have a healthy child and don't need help. Open your heart and let together make a difference in the world we live at.
Thank you so much for reading this. The donation is tax deductible and all you have to do to donate secure and direct to the MDA website, please click here.
I'm proud to tell you that I'm going "behind bars" to help in the fight against muscle disease. I'm joining other community leaders to help raise critical funds for MDA, and I need your help to reach my bail!
The Sangamon County, IL 2014 Lock Uptakes place on 06/18/2014, but I'm raising my bail before I go to jail! All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation today. Your support will help families living in our community with muscle disease, and help guarantee that I get out of jail. I will be sure to add you to my list of contributors.
Please support me in this important goal by visiting my fundraising page and making a contribution. Your tax-deductible donation makes a difference to the hundreds of kids, adults and their families who live right here in our local community.
Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with questions.
Thanks,
Zileide Giddings
To make a donation online now, please visit my personal page.

Blessings, Blessings, and more Blessings during the weekend and at Midwest Pilot Convention in IOWA

I had a wonderful weekend with my friends and sisters in Pilot this weekend in Coralville, IOWA at the Pilot  Midwest Convention.

It was a very special occasion for me because we had most of our Pilot Club of West central Illinois  Members attending, except for Diane Grimble one of our newest one who was going to join us but had a last minute emergency. Her sister had an stroke and  Diane's plan had to be changed. We missed Diane but she was present in our prayers and heart all the time. I haven't been able to get a hold of Diane yet, to check on her sister's health but, we all know that she has been taken care by the Best of the Best Doctors in the entire world, this Doctor is our Lord. He is our Shepherd Shaw we not want.

My heart is always filled with joy when I attend the Pilot Midwest or the Pilot International Convention because I enjoy hugging each one of the Pilot Members.  I enjoy seeing the smile on their face, and the desire to be a better human being.

As I had warned our First Timers Members before our trip that they were going to meet the best group of people this weekend. The group of people who has always a smile on their face, the group of people who will always be ready to give you a hug. This Convention has gotten the desire in my heart to increase our membership stronger and I am pretty sure that the more member the better we will be able to do more in our community. 

This morning, I feel a little bit tired but, my wonderful husband just called me inviting to go out for lunch since he can tell I look tired LOL

Chantel, Brian and Isabella

I want to say a special "Thank you" to my husband who has taken care of our daughter and dog so that I could make it to the Convention. Without his help, I couldn't do anything.  He is my wonderful husband, Best Friend, and my helper recruiting New Members to our Pilot Club.

Last Friday, while we drove to IOWA there was the Dance with Dads and daughter going on. My husband not only took our daughter to the dance but, also took one of our daughter's best friend who doesn't have a daddy. He acted as the Daddy for the two of them. My Hat is off to my wonderful husband for this beautiful act of love.

 What a lucky woman I am. No money in this world could buy all the things that I appreciate the most in this life, my wonderful little family and friends.

Sometimes I stop everything I am doing and ask myself: "How in the world did I get so luck?" I don't  have the answer for that question but if our Lord thinks that it is something that I deserve, I will always say "THANK YOU LORD" for all the blessings in my life. 

Thank you my friends and sisters in Pilot and hope to see each one of you soon.

If you are reading this post and have no idea who Pilot International is about. Please, ask me and I will be so glad to tell you a little bit of what Mission is about.

Blessings

Zee Giddings

Sometimes, the answer for something we are looking for is exactly where we don't expect it to be.

 This morning, while getting ready for my shower, I wanted to get all my hair in a pony tail so that I wouldn't get them wet but, I couldn't find an elastic band. I looked in my drawers, I looked everywhere. I was in a hurry, so, I took the first thing I thought it could work, the elastic band bracelet that Isabella made for me and somehow I got my hair tied up. 

On my way to the shower, I looked and saw the plant that I have in the bedroom, I remembered that I had not watered  it for a while, but I was late, I thought I could do it later, too many things to get done in  the morning, plus today I have to get a First Birthday Dress Shipped before my trip to the Pilot International Midwest Convention tomorrow. 

when I was in the shower box I thought, if I don't water it now, I will probably forget and it will die like many other plants that I have had. So, I got out and poured a cup of water on my pretty plant, suddenly I noticed that the elastic band that I was looking for to get my hair up, was right there on  top of the dirt  LOL. I smiled and said : Thank you dear plant! if I had not stopped to water you, I wouldn't have found what I was looking for :).

Just a simple gesture that taught me an important life lesson.

Sometimes when we are really busy and thinking we cant stop for a minute to do something we should, we miss the opportunity to find what we really need.

I am totally guilty here for not taking a time to message a friend to say "Hi", reply emails but, I have learned something today. Maybe if we  made a time for  talking to a friend, the answer to some of our problems, must come right out of their mouth. Sometimes, just a good laughing will release endorphin and will give you the feeling that, everything is going to be all right!! :)

Have you stopped to "water your plants" today? :)

Have a precious day :)

Blessings to all!

Zee Giddings
www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com

Talking about my friend Lisa Pierce

Lisa calculating the key finders price

I am supposed to write something about my friend Lisa Pierce who is the President of the Non Profit Organization we belong to, Pilot International. 

Oh my.. What can I say about my friend Lisa Pierce? Me and my "broke English" :)

Lisa introduced me to this amazing organization where the main goal is to promote awareness for brain-safe practices, injury prevention and mindful behavior through our various BrainMinders programs...

Garage sale 2013

I would like to start this saying that Lisa is the most unselfish person I have ever known. She is passionate about the organization, she is a fighter trying to keep our club going and she inspires me in so many different ways. Being a mother, wife and Business woman has always kept Lisa really busy but, no matter what, she will always find a time to grab her box full of Pilots booklets, printed emails,information, etc, and come to the meetings full of ideas, She always find a time to focus on growing our chapter. Lisa is the one who always knows what to do when we are facing some difficult times, she stands by us the members in whatever we do and she is always there whenever we need her. From the moment I met Lisa, I knew she was special.What I couldn't have known is that she would become one of my best and truest friend. Someone who is reliable, humble, honest and happy. Well, she can be pretty grumpy sometimes, specially in the mornings LOL.

Garage sale at Midwest Convention 2012

 We all love Lisa no matter what. She has been doing an awesome as the President of our chapter and keeping our members together. She is always cheerful when she comes to the meetings and if I could give Lisa Pierce an Award, it would be the best one that a friend in Pilot could ever get.

We all love you my friend and I am so lucky that you put up with all my craZEEnes and is always there whenever we need you!

God bless and always be with you

You friend and sister in Pilot

Zee Giddings

Happy Easter to each and everyone of you :) Blessings to all!

I have been not posting lately, so many things going on at the same time. I have been trying to juggle between my family, that is the most important thing in this world to me, my First Birthday embroidered dress, Embroidea Custom Embroidery and re doing  My First Birthday Dress Website. It's turning out good and I am very satisfied. Other than that, I had a short visit to the ER with abdomen cramps and it turned out I have diverticulitis. What the heck!?!??! LOL that is a name that I cant even pronounce ! Yeah, once somebody told me that after the 40s, we start going down the hill LOL. That is too funny but, boy isn't it true? LOL

I am not complaining, as long as I am alive and able to do my work of Art and take care of my family, I am thankful for each and every day I get to be in this beautiful world. :)

Today I wanted to share something I found to be very cute coming from our eight years old daughter Isabella.

I have this thing with me, I have always had it and I got it from my father. I have a "look" for everything that sometimes I don't even have to say a word, I look at my husband or one of my kids and they know exactly what I don't need to say LOL It's a very good thing though because sometimes we are in public places where I don't want to yell at my daughter, all I have to do is look at her and she will know what I mean.

Today, at lunch time, I cooked Isabella fries for lunch, what she calls "Brazilian fries" I cut the potatoes a little thicker and fry them, for some reason Isabella thinks that my fries are the best!

Today at lunch time, she told me : "Mom, you make the best fries EVER!" I said "Thank you Isabella, do you know the difference in between my fries and the McDonald one?



Working on my first birthday dresses

"What is it mom?" Mine has a special ingredient, I call it love. Everything we make with love, tastes much better, looks better and feels better!

She said: "You will have to teach me how to do this because someday I will make this fries to my kids"

Yeah, I said: "You can tell them that your mom "used" to cook you great fries" I used the verb in the past.

She gave  me "the look" The one that there is no need for words but, she completed: "NO mom, I will tell them that my mom COOKS the best fries" 

Ok, I said, that works... I knew eaxctly what she meant...

I am so proud of our eight years old daughter... Actually I am proud of all my kids. They all turned out to be wonderful human beings. Thank you Lord.

Tonight we are having a "family night", we are all going to the movies to watch "Rio2" We loved the first one :))) Yeah there is nothing to do with the fact that we are Brazilians!! LOL

OK,  this turned out to be a long posting LOL. I just wanted to say "Hi" and wish you all a VERY HAPPY EASTER!

Enjoy as much time as you can with your family, they are the ones who loves us no matter what!

God bless and be with you all!

Zee

My First Birthday Dress