Iowa Small Town Woman ~ population 450! Yes this is where your artist lives and I love it, everyone in this town knows my addiction to flowers! In the spring we sell flowers, perennials and annuals and beautiful baskets. The success of this business was overwhelming the past few years! We have found a need in our small town this started when my mother pulled into our yard with a truck load of flowers and said this would be a great project for my daughter.... it certainly was.....we had no idea that it would grow to what it has. I was raised with a terrific work ethic a good old farm kid! I wanted my children to also have that great work ethic, and to see what hard work can do. Phillip and Lauren help with the flowers in the spring, with watering, pricing, selling, listening to the weather for frost, hail and high winds! They have now learned the difference between a petunia and a geranium, what works well in shade and what loves sun.

This is a perfect fit for Garden Cards and More.... real flowers in the spring..... pressed into beautiful artwork to show off the beauty of the spring in the fall!

My love of flowers is no where near, my love for my kids. As I have watch them grow and see them becoming young adults I am so grateful that we have had the time to work and play together. I am proud of who they have become yet excited to see them grow as a person. This has not been easy .... I had no idea of how hard being a parent would be (as many of you smile)  .... Nor did I know how much fun it would be to watch them enjoy what they are doing and to see the smiles on their faces. This fall was the best, to watch Phillip play football...(he loves this sport) and to watch Lauren cheer the team on (Lauren loves cheerleading). Every Friday night I had my camera ready to take pictures ..... the video camera was ready to go.... I was a site in the stands! The kids would be so embarrassed however ... on Sunday nights the computer was always viewing the pictures.... and the TV was showing how much I am not a video lady!

This past year has been so full of new experiences in our personal lives as well as our business lives. There has been times when I sit back and shake my head and wonder if I am doing the right thing. Then the phone will ring and it is my wonderful Mother .... who encourages me all the way. My Mother and Father are my true source of strength, you see  Mom is battling cancer and Dad is beside her every step of the way.... Strength in numbers, power of prayer and positive thinking! 

My best to you ~ Lisa R. Smith