Sunday, December 21, 2008

OK, OK, don't ever pray for snow in Oregon



Big mistake praying for snow here and then rejoicing at being snowed in! This will be a week now, we have 11 inches here with a not-so-soft icing of 1/2 inch of ice. The next 1/2 inch of ice is beginning to fall now with 6-8 inches of snow to follow tonight. We will most certainly lose power with the second coating of ice, so we are preparing by filling the bathtubs for water to flush toilets and use for non-drinking necessities. When we lose power, we lose our well function, so no lights, no water, no fun. Wood is ready for the fireplace, water for drinking, dogs are snugled in. Still nothing like our friends near Houston who lost power for 8 weeks after Ike. Eileen was able to get one pair of kids flown in safely yesterday. The drive to the airport was a major challenge. Now we have one more pair each to get in today and Tuesday. Prayers are with them for safe journeys and comfort for mothers' hearts if they must miss Christmas at home. It is so hard when they are older and splitting time with two families each. We have our son and his wife every other year, so this is a very special family time.... especially for mom, you know! The baby is still the baby even if he is 31.





Obviously I am feeling sorry for myself here. The ice is starting to really come down outside, but I am blessed with an inside to be sheltered in, and a loving family even though we may be scattered. Love binds! I have received so many touching Christmas stories as I am sure you have too. One was my favorite, bringing me back to the true meaning of the holiday. Baby Jesus came in love to give the most precious gift. Christmas is not all of the decorations and mounds of gifts under the tree, but giving love to those without hope and joy to those who have lost everything. Enjoy this story. And have a most wonderful Merry Christmas if we don't talk before then!


CHRISTMAS STORY
Pa never had such compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures.
But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."
I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat with reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood---the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing?
Finally I said something. "Pa, what are you doing?"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so what was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbours than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children---sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last.
I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too.
In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again.
I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs.. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

LOVE & JOY TO YOU ALL! KAREN & EILEEN









Sunday, December 14, 2008

Prayers Answered and We Are Snowed In !!


Many of you probably get snow quite often, but here in Portland (OR) it is infrequent, maybe 4-5 times a year. It is usually slushy and turns to ice, so not very much fun. Last night began a week long storm that will dump who knows how much of the white stuff on us. It still excites me like a kid!! I must admit that even our ice storms still seem like an adventure with the flashlights and closing off rooms to keep each other warm. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all in the North East.

I have spent a lot of time today just staring out the windows into the front and back yards. It truly looks like a snow globe that has been turned upside down and then righted again. With the east wind blowing, the snow is whipping around, flying in circles and pushing onto the windows where it freezes into ice droplets.

So, there are gifts to wrap, trees to decorate and the house to ready for our family to be together. Eileen & I had prayed that we would be given the time to do all of this peacefully, feeling the joy in the traditions and not the rush of our selling season ending. Snow! Thank you!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree Just Like The Pro’s

Join us Friday at Forget Me Not Dreams for a very special Pink Friday. We are teaming up with the other shop owners at Make Mine Pink for Gift Wrap and Holiday Decorating Ideas. We will be sharing “How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree Just Like the Pro’s”, as well as our ongoing 25% off sale in our Pink Friday category. This week our link will take you directly to our home page for our “How to” so you will have to use this other link or sidebar tab to get to our PF sales category. Also, our FREE SHIPPING promotion is coming to a close. Orders placed before Sunday December 14th will still receive FREE SHIPPING. We hope you’ll enjoy our little “how to” and join us in the fun this Friday! Happy Holidays!
Eileen & Karen

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Join us for Pink Friday December 5th for Last Minute Gifts.


We just want to thank you for joining us for "Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink" every week. We have develop quite a loyal following at Forget Me Not Dreams and we are really enjoying getting to know all of you! We look forward to seeing you each and every week for "shopping with a twist."

Please join us this Friday December 5th for Last Minute Gifts.

Do you need last minutes gifts? How can we help you?
The boutique owners at Make Mine Pink understand, because, you see, we are not only boutique owners, we are wives, mothers, daughters, and friends too. We know what it means to find the perfect gift for that special person. We too shop at last minute, at odd hours, or in our Jammie's—so ask! We are willing to help you find the perfect gift, wrap it, and send it on the way. It is our pleasure.Happy Holidays! Karen & Eileen

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Seriously...Don't Miss Pink Friday This Week!



Just flying in to give a shout out for Pink Friday this week. We are featuring most of our best collectible pieces for 25% off and FREE SHIPPING with a purchase over $25 (before shipping). You really don't want to miss this one!

We are so grateful for all our friends and customers! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Eileen & Karen

Monday, November 24, 2008

Candy Bar Snowman Factory!

We’ve had such fun making our Candy Bar Snowmen this year! I love the process, from gathering all the supplies to seeing them completed step by step.




Seeing their little sweet faces are all lined up in a row waiting for the next step in the process to be done. I love it when you get to the very last step and all of a sudden, you have a whole bunch finished just like that!





We found darling soft furry fleece for their hats and scarf’s and fun embellishments to dress them up a bit. It’s fun to take an old idea from a magazine, and refresh and update it a bit! Last year everyone on my list received and Candy Bar Snowman in their stocking. They looked so cute peeking out of the top in anticipation for Christmas morning to begin! With lots of colors to choose from and a great price, they are just perfect for everyone on your list. Just click on their picture to jump straight to our website.

Don't forget to check out the Make Mine Pink Holiday Bazaar for some great holiday shopping! Orders placed at Forget Me Not Dreams over $25 (before shipping) will be shipped for FREE!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Make Mine Pink Holiday Bazaar


Great things are always happening at Make Mine Pink and today is no exception! Just in time for the Holiday's, MMP is premiering their online Holiday Bazaar! It's just like strolling through your favorite holiday show, only you can do it in your jammie's! Happy Shopping!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Pink Friday's and Old Fashioned Christmas!


Christmas at Make Mine Pink continues with themed shopping on November 21st! Please join us as we continue celebrating the season with 25% off our Pink Friday category and FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25 (before shipping)!
We loved this story shared by Sharon Wollman from Cest Chouette of her childhood memories of the holidays so we thought we would share it with you!

It happened every year~ right after Thanksgiving dinner. The men would go into the living and laugh and tell stories, and that is where the women wanted them. As the women cleared away the food and washed a dried the fine china and crystal, the discussion began. As children we listened, and waited for the big reveal. "Who will have Christmas?""Well Dale and Anita have the new house." (oh, goody a new house.) "But maybe we should have it at Rosie's, then Uncle Dave could be there" (Rosie had a sitting room that was never used throughout the year but at Christmas opened just like the most gloriously decorated present)"Is it Marilyn's turn?" (oh, yes! Marilyn had the very best sledding hill ever!)"How about Eddie and Ella's farm?" (in the foot hills of Marvin, South Dakota, it was always a scene from an Norman Rockwell painting) Truthfully, it didn't matter much to the cousins, we had Christmas activities planned at everyone house, each a little different. We knew Thanksgiving was just a prelude of the much grander holiday; Christmas was coming. Hundreds of relatives would dress in their Christmas finest, converge at the chosen location, and bring food. Oh the food would be grand; lutefisk, snadbakkels, lefse (with or with out sugar,) sage dressing with turkey liver, cranberries and lingonberries, oyster stew, yams with marshmallows. The finest turkey, the biggest ham and roast beef, too, all products of our farm lifestyle. And the trees, decorated with all the ornaments collected throughout many years of celebrating, some handcrafted, some came in boxes of DUZ©, some newly purchase and some from the old country. And best of all, the 'new' bubble lights. Whoever created bubble lights was a genius to us as kids. We loved looking at each ornament, hoping someone would tell us a story of this one or that one. Each year I buy a little more to decorate, add a new color here or there, purchase new ornament that resembles the old or an old ornament just like Mother had; building new traditions. As we place each ornament on the tree, I retell stories of my Christmases past and my daughters listen. I see in their eyes the understanding that Christmas is more than just us. It is traditions, families and beliefs. Happy Holidays!Sharon Wollman

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Queen of Bazaars,,,, or is that Bizarre?


Here it is, a day in the life of a Bazaar Queen.... or is that Queen
of the Bizarre? This goes on from mid-September to mid- December,
drag it from the attics and garage sort, tag, re-tag, and now slash with
the great green mark down pen for those "Time to Say Good Bye" items.
Getting to be too much for this Nana.





Three more shows and the season is done.
Bazaars, not a career for sissies!


Eileen and I can't wait to get back to our
sewing machines and glue guns!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!
















As far as I am concerned, it IS the most wonderful time of the year! I just love the holidays and preparing for them! Last night I had such fun wandered around the stores, looking at the mounds of decorations they had to offer. Now is the time to start planning and preparing for a beautiful Christmas! Every year I love to do something new, or at least use my favorite things in a new way. If you buy a few things every year that you love, soon your home will be filled with treasured memories and truly Forget Me Not experiences. Isn't that what life should be made of? We think so. That's why we try to make your shopping as easy and pleasant as ever at Forget Me Not Dreams. This holiday season, and just in time for Pink Friday and Christmas at Make Mine Pink this week, we are offering FREE SHIPPING. We know everyone is watching their pennies, so here's to doing our part! Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

We finished.... for this year!!






Phew! We finished breaking down our show last night, loading all of the trucks and vans with props, office needs and leftover product. The bits and pieces we brought in over the week added up to a lot by the time we had to pack everything up to take home.











We had a successful show and enjoyed the time we all spent together. Our board of 6 women having a great time. Now we are excited about getting ready for the Farm Chicks show in June. We will have 3 booths there and are planning the look of our spot and what we are going to make together and collect in our Estate Sale hunts.





Today our first big storm is blowing in. Lots of wind and rain is expected tonight and tomorrow. I have been watching the wind increase all day and the rain moving from a mist to a steady downpour. The poor people who live at the coast will probably have their first flooding of the season tomorrow. I love to watch the happenings outside, make soup and bread for dinner and then just snuggle down and listen to the rain with my husband. Storms in life and about life. Why can't I face my own storms with interest and expectancy, snuggling down with my faith? That warm soup and bread needs to be my study devotions every day. Just another life goal!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Beautiful Transformation and Deals Abound


It's show time once again! This year we are holding

our show in the gorgeous country setting at

Blackbird Farms! I love the transformation process!












This is the "barn" (I know, what a barn!)
before we started....












and after we finished!














We also just started the Make Mine Pink

Shop Hop! We have listed tons of new

Christmas product and deals galore! Check it out!









Each day at Forget Me Not Dreams we will celebrate with a freebie or special discount available to you only that day, so don't miss out! Here's a peek at what's in store...


Nov. 2nd - FREE SHIPPING
Nov. 3rd - 20% off your order over $25(before shipping)
Nov. 4th - FREE Ornament with every purchase.
Nov. 5th - 15% off one Christmas Felting figure by Stephanie Saponas
Nov. 6th - Half off your total shipping fee.
Nov. 7th - Half off one item from our Tag Sale category with purchase over $25 (before shipping)
Nov. 8th - 20% off all items in our Celebrate Christmas category.
Nov. 9th - FREE Ornament with every purchase.
Nov. 10th - 20% off your entire purchase over $50(before shipping)
Nov. 11th - Free gift with every purchase.
Nov. 12th - $10 FMND gift certificate with every purchase.
(all discounts apply before shipping fees are added, and will be refunded to you at time of shipping...that's how our shopping cart works)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Happiest Place On Earth



















We had the most fun this past week celebrating

our daughters College Graduation in Disneyland!

It was all deced out for Halloween and looking so

cute! Here is Heidi and Deric looking so fab in their

3D glasses waiting to ride the Toy Story Midway

Game ride...which was way fun!



















The fireworks show was amazing. We were smack

in front of the Castle so the view was amazing!





















We also went to Universal Studios for a day!

Couldn't pass us a pic with Sponge bob! Our

favorite ride was the new Simpson's ride! What

a fun trip!























Deric is a huge Simpson fan!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

What an Honor!

We are honored to receive the Marie
Antoinette Award, bestowed upon us
by Melissa of The Casual Cameo. We hope
you will visit her beautiful site. Thanks
Melissa...your such a sweetie!





Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pink Friday Coming Up Roses


Please join us Friday October 24th for "Coming Up Roses"

I’ve never seen a rose I didn’t love. From the first blossom of spring, gently swaying in the breeze, to an intricately stitched needlepoint, rich in history, I love them all.
Roses represent so many wonderful things and are often used to celebrate special milestones such as weddings, births and anniversaries. Roses have also been used throughout the centuries in estate and cottage gardens, home décor and fashion. Milliners used silk roses to embellish the finest hats, while seamstresses stitches the richest brocade drapes adorned with roses. Throughout the years, famous artists have studied and painted every aspect of the rose. Antique lithographs and post cards from the 1800s grace our homes today with their everlasting beauty while roses continue to gracefully fit every lifestyle and décor. If you have a soft spot for roses, won’t you please join us for PINK FRIDAY at Make Mine Pink on Friday October 24th. The boutiques at Make Mine Pink are pleased to present “Coming up Roses.”

Monday, October 13, 2008

Wedding Before And After


What a dramatic transformation! I thought you might enjoy taking a peek at our past wedding. Take a large gymnasium, a few thousand yards of tulle, organza and silk, thousands of twinkle lights, hundreds of flowers and a Bella Day Production design team and an amazing transformation takes place!














Our dramatic before and after pics show you just what can be done to what some might consider to be a less desirable wedding venue. A church or school gym, or even a National Guard Armory often rents for a fraction of the cost of other wedding venues.

So if your wedding budget is a bit tight, don’t give up on your dream wedding, with an open mind and a good designer anything is possible! What a dramatic transformation!





Sunday, October 5, 2008

25% OFF In Support of Pink October








Virtually everyone knows someone who has had cancer, and in particular breast cancer. This month as women, we have the opportunity to come together and join the fight. Forget Me Not Dreams are joining the shops at Make Mine Pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Please join us for Make Mine Pink's PINK OCTOBER SHOP HOP! Monday October 6-12th. Winners will be announced the week of the 12th. Click here to register now. Please visit http://www.makeminepink.com/ for details.

For the first time ever we are offering our customers a 25% discount on our PINK OCTOBER category. It has been our honor to support the Cancer Institute at OHSU with our charitable donations for the past several years. We look forward to making another donations in honor of our FMND customers.

Friday, October 3, 2008

So Gorgeous!

Here are the rest of the displays from the Make Mine Pink Retreat Business Recognition Award Contest. Aren’t they just gorgeous! Every one of these ladies did an amazing job! Be sure and visit their sites by clicking on their photo. Just beautiful!


































































Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Amazing Talent

As promised, we thought you would enjoy seeing some of the other displays from the Make Mine Pink Retreat Business Recognition Award Contest. As you can see, all of these ladies have amazing talents! Just click on their photo to visit their sites. Enjoy! The rest are coming in a day or two…stay tuned!