Christmas eve ~ Sweet anticipation

Christmas eve is finally here.  Our big season selling dolls is over.  We did well.  There are a LOT of dolls, all over the US and Canada, under many families Christmas tree.   We made bald dolls this year.  This made reborn dolls available to families that otherwise might not have been able to afford them.
We have already been getting pictures from grateful families of our dolls with their new mommies.
In my childhood, I couldn't sleep, knowing that Santa was coming.  Oh, the sweet anticipation.  I remember waking up very early with my sister Susie, sitting on the couch, looking at the beautiful packages and bows and ribbons.
I have a much deeper appreciation for my parents.  I know there were some pretty tough times for our family and for Dad's business.  Somehow, Mom and Dad always were able to make sure we had a fun Christmas.
This year, the lead up to the Christmas season has been fraught with business hiccups, decorating hiccups, getting the house clean hiccups, etc.  I know we will still have fun and family.
We will travel the short distance to my brothers house, play some pinochle, drink eggnog, and relax.   For me, my real treat, will be spending time with them.  I might even put a bow on my big brother.  He will be my present this year. 
For me, Christmas has become much less about any packages, or presents.  Spending time is the truest, most precious commodity.  I can't wait.  Anticipation.  It's delicious!
Merry Christmas to all our family, friends, and customers.

disappointment in the holidays

Woke up this morning to see three messages from a disappointed customer.  Wow.  The presentation was bad, it was missing items, we had promised something extra as it had taken extra time to get there, etc. etc.
I feel badly for the customer.  To spend all that money, wait all that time, and not get what they expected.  Rita and I work so very hard to make each doll special.  We strive to make opening the box to be the answer to all that anticipation.
Dammit.
We will do our very best to make this customer satisfied.  But, the specialness of that first opening of the box is gone.
We have had so many successes, but its hard not to focus on this.  It is not the normal.  It is an aberration. 
Just like in life, we often focus on our failures.  We forget the good we do.  We forget the loving things we do.  We forget the kindnesses we show, and focus on a negative.
I am resolved, today, to focus on our positive, even as we deal with this customer.  We make beautiful dolls.  We have touched many, many lives.  We have made some wonderful Christmas gifts this year. 
Each doll.  Each customer.  One at a time.  The best we can do.  That's all we can strive for. 
This is a great day.  I intend to make it mine!  David

4:30 AM.  All is quiet.  Turbo is softly asleep at my feet.  Waiting for the coffee to finish.  The sun won't come up for a couple of hours.  Flea, my cat, softly mews.  I have read the news.  I played my Sudoku.  I checked eBay and Etsy.
Its December first, and we have had to shut down taking any more orders for dolls.  We are full.  We ran a sale in November, and it was incredibly successful.  Now we just have to make them all.  Phew!
Its Sunday.  Unfortunately we won't be able to go to church today.  Way too much to do.  Maybe our priorities are a little skewed.
It is a real pleasure to make so many Christmas gifts each year.  It is fulfilling to know that so many kids will open a present to find our baby inside.  Kind of cool.
Today will be spent building dolls and continuing to organize all our supplies and orders.  It will be over in three weeks or so. 
Then, time to catch our breath, and enjoy some time to ourselves.  Play scrabble.  Eat.
To all our friends out there, stay busy, but not too busy.   Take time to enjoy this wonderful season.  Stay warm.  Eat good food.  And love.  Most of all, love.  David

Yesterday, I wrote about being content.  Today, such a wide range of emotions!  I am SUPER excited.  The little girl in the picture, is a doll that Rita created.  Her name is Daimy.  I think this is the best doll Rita has ever made.  It blows me away.

The reason for my excitement, is that Daimy sold!  She is leaving today on a two week trip to her new home in St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation!  St Petersburg is a beautiful city with no graffiti, clean streets, impressive buildings, etc. 

She will be living about a mile from the Peter and Paul Fortress.  This is now a tourist trap, with a gold domed cathedral.  Very impressive.

Daimy has been made for almost a month now.  We took her to our doctors office to show her off.  We have been telling them about our dolls, and they always ask to see one.  Finally we took her in. 

The oohs and aahs, the excitement from all the staff, was wonderful.  Gave Rita a big shot in the arm.
Daimy is now our ambassador to St Petersburg.  She represents Rita and I, and also the capability of Americans.  I hope she will bring joy to her new mommy!

In the opening paragraph I wrote of my wide range of emotions.  I am excited.  But also a little sad.  This little girl is our pride and joy.   It will be sad to pack her up into a box and never see her again.  I am proud.  I am please we made some money to help us make a good Christmas for those we love.  And last, I feel accomplished.  Someone from fifteen thousand miles away, wanted our doll.  Was willing to pay to have her shipped all the way there.  Wow.

What a great day.  What a great country we live in.  What a great marriage I have.  I am happy.  I hope you find your joy today!   David

I.  Am.  Content.

Are you?  I find contentment in my daily life. Not that everything is perfect.  Its not.  My relationship with Rita isn't perfect.  Pretty darn close though.  Our finances are not perfect.  Far from it.  Neighbors?  Don't get me started.

And yet.  I am content.  Go figure.  Every morning I wake up and have my cup of coffee.  The sun rises.  The dogs poop outside.  My toilet flushes.  My hair (what little I have) sticks straight out.  Kind of like Bozo the clown.  And so the day begins.

Every day I make the conscious decision to love my wife.  I make the conscious decision to love the Lord.  I make the conscious decision to be thankful for all the many blessings He has given me.

I make plans for my day.  I live my life.  At the end of the day, I thank Rita for spending it with me.  I am so very grateful she has chosen me.  She doesn't have to.  She chooses me. 

How cool is that?

I think I need to tell the Lord that I am grateful He has spent the day with me as well.  He doesn't have to.  He could ignore me.  But, He chooses me.  Little old me.  Well, maybe not so little.  Six feet and six inches of little old me. 

I am blessed.  And I am content.  Are you?

Rita and I get to spend the next month making the most special Christmas presents for little girls all over the country!  How cool is that???!!!

Welcome!  I just recently found out that some people are viewing this blog!  How exciting!

Rita and I are in full swing for the Christmas season.  This year, we are producing some dolls that are more child friendly.  They are bald or have a wig.  The hand rooted mohair can be very fragile and takes some special handling and care.

The bald dolls are adorable!  We give them a crocheted hat or headband.  The Holly doll is, by far, our most popular. 

Holly

 

Rita and I, every morning, start our day on the porch with a cup of coffee.  I cherish that.  Yesterday, we were talking about how very hectic the Christmas season is.  Long days, worrying about having enough product and supplies to fill all the orders, worrying about whether our health and bodies will carry us through this season.  Worry, worry, worry. 

 

But then we talked about our many customers.  We have been chosen by many parents to make that one special gift for their little girl.  What an incredible blessing!  Rita and I have prayed that God would find a way for us to bless others.  We were looking outside our business for opportunities.  Turns out He has some pretty great plans for us. 

 

I am hoping this year we can find a needy family or two that we can bless.  How awesome it would be to surprise a young family with an awesome gift for a little girl!  We shall see.  I know the need is out there.  Maybe I will call our pastor.  Hmmm

 

Anyway, all you wonderful folks out there have a blessed day!  David



Last Sunday I was able to go to church.  Rita wasn't well, so I went alone.  I got to sit with my aunt.  She is truly a rock for her family.  What an awesome lady.  I am so proud to be her nephew.  Seeing her makes me miss Mom though. 
Auntie Dot (Dorothy) has, all my life, given the best hugs.  I know when I see her, I am loved.  Period.  My only hope is that some day, I can be more like her. 
A smile.  A hug.  A greeting.  A loving scolding.  Caring compassion.  Genuine concern.  She is getting pretty old.  A very big hole will be left on this earth when she gets to meet Christ.  I want to cherish every day. 
Father, please help me to be more like her.  And thank you for giving her to this family for so long.

Whew!  Things are ramping up here.  Christmas season is in full swing.  Our days are packed full.  During the rest of the year, we stay busy, but now every minute counts. 
Didn't even get to play Scrabble yesterday.  Damn.
Looking forward to some rest Sunday!

Bingo! Bango! Bongo! Pow! 
Looking forward to a new week.  Rita and I sat up last night organizing our new work week.  New dolls to list, putting up our custom orders on our new dry erase boards, shipping, etc.  I am looking forward to it.
We didn't make it to church yesterday though.  Bummer.  I missed that.  Rita has been taking medication for complications from her diabetes.  Makes her feel sick and very unstable.  Instead, we made it a day of rest.  I made chili (yum), she crocheted, and we watched football.  Later on we played a game of scrabble, and I won.  Sounds like a pretty good day to me!
We are working very hard to get to the point of being able to afford Christmas presents and a trip to Baltimore to see our kids out there.  Its been about five years too long.  I really want to go!
Anyway, we pray that the Good Lord use us to bless other people, that he use our talents and hard work to bless those that receive our dolls.  He works in mysterious ways.... 
Have a great day all!

Our newest baby!  Raine is a bald baby up for auction.  This is a new marketing strategy to bring customers into our ebay store.  The bidding starts at 99 cents!  We shall see!  :-)

Had fun making her!  More to come!

Just tried posting one our new bald babies using our html format.  Kind of corrupted.  May take some tweaking.

Anyway, a great day was had yesterday.  Rita took me out to dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Pepito's in Riverside.   Awesome food and margaritas.  Yum.

Came home to lots of birthday wishes on the phone and facebook.  What a fun day! 

Little Darlins Nursery Professional Reborn Artist Rita Meese   For that one-of-a-kind gift that will never be forgotten:    Little Darlins Nursery can help make a memorable Christmas.   Visit My eBay Store: Little Darlin's Nursery       Welcoming baby Eliza (or you choose name) Date of reborn November 1, 2013  Weight Four pounds thirteen ounces  LENGTH Twenty inches  Eliza is a sculpt from one of my favorite artists, Donna Rubert.  Donna has studied with a number of well known artists and has taught in the college system in California.  Of all the artwork she has done, doll sculpts are what she is best known for.  She combines sculpting, painting, and design all in one place.  She has become one of the best known doll artists in the world.  A DOTY winner, Donna loves her work with the dolls. My name is Rita Meese and I have been reborning dolls since 2007. Together, with my husband David, we have brought over one thousand “Little Darlins” to life. These babies have been adopted to families all over the world.  David and I take great pride in the work we do, and only the highest quality materials are used in our babies. Our goal is to create babies of “heirloom quality” that will bring joy for many years to come.   To achieve the most realistic skin tones I used only Genesis Heat Set Paints. I do not use pre-mixed colors, but prefer to mix my own paints for each baby so that no two are ever identical, but all have their own unique baby complexion. The paint was applied in many thin layers and each layer was baked into the vinyl so it will never fade or peel. The creases and dimples received blushing for realism. Many hours were spent on each baby to get the complexion just right. Eliza has ¾ limbs and a fully jointed, doe suede body. She is stuffed and weighted in her head, body, and limbs with fiberfill and small pellets for a very realistic feel. Sand is never used so travel overseas is no problem. Eliza's nose has been opened and backed with dark felt for a very realistic look. The eyebrows were painted on in fine, delicate strokes. Eyelashes were then applied to frame her pretty eyes. Eliza was given a manicure and pedicure for that just clipped baby look. The nails, as well as the mouth, were glossed and sealed. Her mouth has a slightly moist look. Visit My eBay Store: Little Darlin's Nursery Ritas Reborn Gallery Receive my email newsletters Customers with less than five feedbacks please contact us before bidding.  We reserve the right to cancel bids.                              Eliza will come home dressed in the outfit shown.  She has a diaper, socks, and sleeper.  Her onesie matches her sleeper.  She will also have her hand-crocheted hat as well as her headband.  She will arrive in her custom made fleece blanket.  She also has a magnetic pacifier.  Earrings may be added at no extra charge.   Please be aware these magnets are very strong and should not be used around pacemakers or near electronic equipment. We appreciate you all - every one of our doll customers has helped to make our days happy and profitable. We love what we do here at Little Darlins Nursery - and want to continue selling the finest dolls we can to our wonderful customers. Thank you so much for always "making our day"... Rita and David Meese Visit My eBay Store: Little Darlin's Nursery Ritas Reborn Gallery Receive my email newsletters   Payment must be made within 48 hours Paypal only please. International buyers PLEASE be aware that delays, customs charges, and tariffs may occur. Your baby will be completed and ready to ship within 30 business days of cleared payment.  * INTERNATIONAL BUYERS : Please do not ask me to mark this item as a gift or lower the value of the item. E-bay is very strict about following proper shipping rules and regulations. Customers with less than five feedbacks please contact us before bidding.  We reserve the right to cancel bids.   All of our babies come from a clean, smoke free environment. A note from one of our satisfied customers:    Little Darlins Nursery Limited Warranty: Custom made dolls are made to the buyers' specifications and are made to the highest standards.  The buyer chooses many aspects of the final product, such as hair, eyes, and complexion.  For this reason, Little Darlins Nursery is unable to give refunds on custom made dolls.    We do, however, stand behind our product.  We are proud of our dolls, of our workmanship, and we do not ship a doll until we are satisfied.  We stand behind our workmanship, the materials used, and our descriptions in the eBay listings.   If you are not satisfied with the doll, please contact us with pictures highlighting the problem.  If we believe this is our error, the buyer must ship the doll back to us within fourteen days upon delivery, at the buyers' expense, with tracking numbers and delivery confirmation.  We recommend purchasing postal insurance as well.   We will correct the defect to our best ability, and return the doll to you, return postage and shipping insurance paid by us.   Ready-made dolls (not custom made) are made to the highest standards.  We only use new, quality materials.  We strive to make a doll that will be a joy to you and last for years.    We stand behind our product.  We are proud of our dolls, of our quality, and we do not ship a doll until we are satisfied.  We stand behind our workmanship, the materials used, and our descriptions in the eBay listings.   If you are not satisfied with the doll, please contact us with pictures highlighting the problem.  If we believe this is our error, the buyer must ship the doll back to us within fourteen days upon delivery, at the buyers' expense, with tracking numbers and delivery confirmation.  We recommend purchasing postal insurance as well.   Little Darlins Nursery will choose whether to repair or replace your doll.  We will replace your doll or correct the defect to our best ability.  Please allow up to thirty business days for repair or replacement.  We will return the doll to you, return postage paid and insured.   This warranty is subject to eBays “Buyer Protection Program.”   David and Rita Meese   Little Darlins Nursery Template By Bettys LittleAngels

This is the day the Lord hath made.  Let us be glad and rejoice in it!
A great day to give thanks.  A great day to look around and see the blessings He has given us.
It is so very easy to get sucked into the politics of the day.
Today, I will try to focus on that which matters.  :-)  D

Went to church yesterday with Auntie Dot.  What an amazing woman.  In his sermon, the minister spoke of the gifts that we all bring.  He even spoke of one lady that simply sharpens the pencils for some teachers while she is watching TV.  Such a simple thing, but it speaks volumes to the teachers that they are loved and valued.  It also gives that sweet little lady a good feeling about herself.
He didn't speak of my aunt yesterday, but I thought of her special gift, steadfast love.  Steadfast.  She has been a rock all my life.  ALL my life.  I always felt loved and welcome when I walked in that door. 
She has been the one to be sure her kids graduated and went to college.  She set the standards in that house.  Love one another as I have loved you comes to mind.
An amazing woman.  All her kids are grown and have their own lives.  I am certain there are times when she and Chris get lonely.  I am looking forward to giving back to her some of the love I have received. 
One last thing, You have never felt so loved until you have had a hug from Auntie Dot.  The heart warms, and the troubles melt away.  I am at peace in her presence. 
We will bring her dinner soon.  Can't wait.  D

Had a great day yesterday!  We got a lot done, shipped one doll out, and completed two others.  Pictures to take, listings to do, gotta go, gotta go!
Meanwhile, our evenings are filled with scrabble and the two of us making goo-goo eyes at one another. 
Things are not quite the same around here with our cocker spaniel, Ladybug, not underfoot.  She woke me up every morning for her daily constitutional.  Sure miss that.
I am hoping I can talk to all my kids today.  I miss them a lot.  Long distances sure get in the way.  I missed my grandson Ethan's first birthday.  Bummer.  Got to see pictures though.  Sure is cute.
Looking forward to church tomorrow.  We get to see my Auntie Dot (Dorothy).  Best hugs in town.
All in all, things are good here.  We have ramped up our Christmas doll production early and are hoping to sell a few more this year. 
If things go well, we might be able to pay for Christmas, and even buy plane tickets to see Rita's family in Baltimore.  It has been nearly five years since we have seen them.  Can't wait.
Anyway, go forth, chin up, be positive, and treat each other well.  D

Its been a LOOONG time since I posted here.  I'm going to try to remedy that.  Rita and I have been trying to get back to church.  Been way too long.  We have decided to try my aunts church next Sunday.  Can't go wrong there.  Nice people, and I get a hug from Auntie Dot.  Can't lose!
We didn't make it this Sunday, but we had a short bible study.  Rita chose 1Cor 11:24.  It was the part about the communion Jesus had with his disciples, body and blood of Christ and all that. 
We talked about thankfulness.  I remembered and old friend of my Dads, Ken Whittington, and itinerant preacher.  He once told me that if he ate a meal without saying grace and being thankful, he would have indigestion.  I guess out of guilt.
I need to be more thankful.  The Lord has blessed me so much!  From the pit of despair, he brings this wonderful woman into my life.  It is just simple amazing how my life has turned around.
Yes indeed, I need to be more thankful!

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Whew!  What a day.  Today we finished and Andi sculpt, and put the finishing touches on a Blinkin.  The orders are lining up!
Tomorrow, another Blinkin, and list two more ready made dolls!