Blog: Archives / April 2012

[caption id="attachment_1255" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="New Signage... Designed by Natalie Chang. CBS Vinyl responsible for sign and Vinyl. (Chris & Shari Barter)"][/caption]   It's official we are open!   Thank you for being so patient.  Dream Baskets is officially back open and we are so pleased that Stephanie Milligan shot photos for  us  while we set up the store as well as the day of the Open House.  We decided to share some of those photos with you so you can appreciate the final product.  With the help of everyone from Dream Baskets and Natalie Chang and Emily Ward,  we pulled off the unthinkable.  From the date of the destruction to the opening date,  47 days passed!!!  You can look back at our blog or the old picture of the damage,  but we were determined to make something awesome from something bad!!  And here it is - a store that started as a Dream and was rebuilt with Faith and Hope!   Many of you have visited the store and know what it looks like today, but a few short weeks ago,  it was all just a drawing on a piece of paper and a glittery Grand  Re-Opening Invitation!  - Thanks to Natalie Ellis - Chang.     Since Natalie was my very first employee at age 16,  it was such  a joy to work with her to restore the  vision of Dream Baskets. The three days we spent in Memphis gave us the opportunity to refocus and regain our momentum to build  a bigger and better  Dream Baskets.   I still  have the voicemail saved from the morning  of the storm and it was sweet Natalie telling me "We" can rebuilt the  store!   We did rebuild and we did it bigger and better than ever!    Check out some of the awesome photos takes by Stephanie Milligan! One of our favorite surprises for our customers is the custom painted bathroom designed and hand painted by Julie Hilliard!  She  did a fabulous job! In whatever you do,  you have to have a vision,  you have to have a dream and you have to have ambition!  If you can possess all of those characteristics in whatever you do,  you will reach your goal. [caption id="attachment_1239" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Custom Designed by Natalie Chang Designs"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1234" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gourmet Foods just for You!"][/caption]   [caption id="attachment_1251" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New Store - After February 29th Tornado"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1252" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Logo Designed by Natalie Chang / Vinyl by CBS Vinyl (Chris & Shari Barter)"][/caption]  

When I first wrote about my experience with the tornado,  it was more for me to reach a place in my life that I could let all of my emotions, feelings and fears go.  I blogged off and on over the past six weeks and many times it was hard to stay positive,  hard to stay focused on the goal,  and even harder to always be smiling and happy when approached by others,  but we did it!!! We made it!! And We are back - bigger and better than before!  You say you've missed us,  we have all missed you!!!  We appreciate all of the calls, cards, text messages and assistance we received!  This journey would never have been as tolerable if it hadn't been all of you that prayed for us daily,  said something encouraging when you saw us,  or just drove by and gave us a smile!   Those of you who are still dealing with the aftermath of this horrible disaster,  it does get better!   I can honestly tell you that if you look for the silver lining in this big black cloud,  there is something greater God has in store you for you.  While you may not see it now,  you will see it in the future.  I pray that this week we find closure,  we find understanding for our friends in the community that are still rebuilding,  and we find great strength from all of you who have made the journey with us! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  Dream Baskets is back and yes - We have missed you!!!