Happy Mother's Day...a day late

I sure hope all my Mom friends had a wonderful day.  I know for me, it was a struggle.  For those of you that are new here and don't know me well, In the last 20 months, I have lost both of my children in separate car accidents.  I won't go into detail and I'm not looking for sympathy, but wanted you to know why it was a rough day for me.  We will never 'get over it,' but have learned to move forward as we don't have any other options.  If we don't, it will destroy us.

So anyway, I have to share my surprise last Friday.  If any of you are local to me, if you listen to Curt & Sue in the Morning on the I-94 radio station, then you probably already know the surprise.  For those of you that don't...here is the story:

My girlfriend sent me a text last Friday morning that said...check your email!  Well, I just happened to be checking it at the time and you just wouldn't believe the message she sent me.  Here is part of it:

Hi Tammy!
I don't know if you guys still listen to I-94 radio anymore but if you do and were listening this morning you would have heard your name. They were running a "Pamper Mom" contest and you had to write in and nominate her to win. Well I wrote in on Tony and Rhonda's behalf - AND YOU WON!!!!!

Here is a copy of the letter I sent them:

Hi Curt and Sue -
As much as I think my mom should be pampered - this letter is not for her. I would like to nominate my friend Tammy Hellstern to be pampered this Mothers Day. Tammy and her husband Dale were blessed with 2 children in this life. Unfortunately in September of 2008 they lost their older child, Tony, in a tragic car accident at the age of 23. But that would not be the end of their story. In an unimaginable twist of fate - only a few months later in July 2009 they lost their 16 yr old daughter in yet another car accident. They say that the hardest thing to live thru is the loss of a child - well, Dale and Tammy lost BOTH children within a year.
So on behalf of her two angels in heaven that are unable to nominate her themselves, I would like to nominate Tammy to be pampered on what will be her first Mothers Day without both of her children.
Thanks,
Sandy XxXxxxxx

Now, you can just imagine the shock, surprise, astonishment, grief, sorrow, happiness...you get the idea.  I was smiling through my tears!  I could not believe it and had absolutely no idea that she had done this.  Here is what I guess I won:

Tell us why your mom should be pampered.  Pampered with flower baskets from Season's Harvest Greenhouse in Menomonie, and pampered with a Season's Harvest Greenhouse shopping spree worth $200, PLUS a getaway for mom at Metropolis Resort in Eau Claire -- including flowers, candy, massages & all the pampering she deserves.  (Imagine mom being able to load up the car or truck with all the plants she wants!)  Submit your reasons why your mom needs to be pampered.  Every Friday, Curt & Sue will announce a winning mom, and she will receive a gorgeous flower basket from Season's Harvest Greenhouse.  And, on May 7th, one of our lucky winners will be drawn to receive the shopping spree.


All I can say is WOW! and THANK YOU, Sandy, you are the best!

Saturday came and I had my Open House to celebrate the new Summer Idea Book and Catalog.  In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, we did a lot of cropping!  Thank you to the ladies that came!  I had a great time.  I truly appreciate all my customers!

Sunday, my husband took me to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre and we saw their adaptation of "Footloose."  It was wonderful!  I truly had a great time!  Thanks honey!

Now that you've made it through a post without any artwork, I will share the card that my Mom made for me.  She has really just gotten started in card-making, but she does a fabulous job!  Just look at the detail of this card!  Thank you, Mom!  I love it!

Happy Scrappin,