Name
Diane Smith

Age
78

How long have you lived in Baytown?
74 years; in 2021 I moved out of state with my daughter, my only surviving relative. She was also ready for a change.

Most interesting fact about you
I’m an amateur writer — short stories and novelettes, poetry and derivative works — and retirement now gives more time for this fascinating hobby.

Background
My entire family was from Mississippi. My father settled in Goose Creek after WWII. After retiring from Enterprise Products following 20 years, I operated my own pet-sitting business for six years. It truly was the best job I ever held. I kept 155 dogs and a few cats, and made good friends along the way.

Goals
I said in 2019, ‘If I have a goal now, late in life, it’s simply to move to a cooler climate.’ Goal accomplished in 2021! After doing some research and finally selling the family homestead, we headed due north and didn’t stop until we were only 60 miles from the Canadian border. We had to quickly learn about installing automobile block heaters, placing weights in the trunk for traction, purchasing the right kind of snow boots, equipping the car with a survival kit, and learning how to drive in deep snow. In Baytown, 4 inches shut the town down. Here, we deal with 4 feet. Blizzards are nothing if we keep the larder stocked, and we are free from the fear of hurricanes and the stings of fire ants and wasps!  

Challenges
We suffered a strange set of coincidences for 27 years. We lost a member of our family every nine years, like clockwork. My husband Larry passed in 1991, my father in 2000, my son in 2009 and my brother in 2018. My husband was the victim of a homicide. I lost my son to alcoholism. He had been unable to cope with his father’s death. After court appearances and several interviews with the local victim’s advocate, Click2Houston news and KTRK-TV news, I came to feel as if my story was only filler for their programs. Nothing was done, or could be done, about the seemingly endless rounds of appeals that Larry’s murderer was granted. That sense of helplessness, coupled with the grief over my son’s death, made each day a torment. I had, as my son once told me, ‘a memory on every corner.’ The only solution was to move. I have found peace of mind and a sense of well-being in my new environment. I’ve also found a greater sense of security, because I have never publicly let it be known where I am. It may sound melodramatic, but I had been very outspoken against Larry’s killer and done what little I could to speed his execution. He had Larry’s wallet and all our information. Should Larry’s killer be paroled — and this is in the realm of possibility — he cannot find us. Meanwhile, I fight against privileges he still enjoys, aided by misguided European support groups, and against his publishing a book touting his innocence. Other than that, the State of Texas can tend to its own machinations without me. I’ve made peace with the concept of never receiving justice.

Happiest or saddest moment
Despite my deep roots and attachment to the town of my birth (I precede Baytown, as I was born in Goose Creek), the happiest day to date has been leaving the old home behind, without a backward glance. My quest is to move forward, and this I’ve done since 2021. In addition to never knowing what the weather is going to do, to my daily activities, everything is new and fresh, with endless possibilities, new faces and the friendliest people I’ve ever met.

Advice
I hope to inspire other young widowed women to realize that they have it within themselves to meet life’s hardships, knock them down, step over them and go forward. Change is the only constant in the universe. Prepare to meet it and twist it to your advantage. I have proved that, even in old age, it’s possible.

Currently reading or watching
My favorite books have always been biographies and historical fiction. Currently I’m reading “Young Woman and the Sea” by Glenn Stout. I’m hoping for a fourth season of “Leverage: Redemption.”

Favorite thing to do in Baytown
I miss all the various Baytown restaurants, especially 888! We finally got a Taco Bell here, which soothes my craving considerably. Favorite thing to do here is sit on my fifth-floor balcony, making macrame plant hangers and watching the horses cavort in the meadow nearby. Life is good.

The post Moving forward despite tragedy appeared first on The Baytown Project.

Sky Allen McSpadden proudly served in the United States Navy for nine years, based in Jacksonville, Florida. For five of those years, he was stationed aboard the USS Halyburton, a period of service that took him across the world — to places like Greece, Spain, London, Africa, Bahrain and the Seychelles. His recruiter told him he’d see the world, and he did.

Sky deployed three times to Somalia, where he actively engaged in anti-piracy missions. One of his most memorable deployments was in 2009, when the USS Halyburton played a key role in the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips after he was taken hostage by Somali pirates. Sky was also aboard the ship during the filming of the movie “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks — an experience he never forgot.

His time in the Navy gave him a deep sense of pride. But when his sea duty ended and he was assigned to shore duty, things changed. Life behind a desk couldn’t compare to the thrill and purpose he had found at sea. Eventually, Sky made the decision to return home.

After returning, he met the love of his life. Together, they bonded over their shared love of animals. They competed in dog shows, trained dogs at home, and built a life centered on care, companionship and love.

On the morning of April 15, 2024, Sky passed away in his sleep — just days before a trip to Colorado, where he and his wife were to hold their wedding ceremony. His sudden passing left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

Sky was not only a sailor, he was an artist at heart. One of his paintings depicted a solitary sailor with his sea bag, preparing to head out to sea. That image inspired a mural now being painted on our building in his honor. It serves as a tribute to his service and a way to keep his spirit alive in our community.

In his memory, we wear bracelets that say “Sky’s the Limit.” Friends and family carry these bracelets on their own travels and adventures, posting and sharing photos wherever they go — continuing Sky’s journey, one memory at a time.

— Karen Hefner, proud Blue Star Mom

The post Mom honors Navy son’s service appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My husband and I used to work in the refineries, and we made two decent paychecks. But they didn’t last for anything. We struggled buying diapers and formula. So it started with asking people to donate things like that for moms and dads and grandparents taking care of young kids. Now it’s grown to all sorts of food items and necessities. And the response has been great. The community is showing they really care. Whatever goes in the box belongs to whoever grabs it, whoever needs it. A lady across the street says it helps her every single day to feed her kids and have diapers for them. That’s what it’s all about. It’s made an impression on my kids, too. They get excited seeing people drop off stuff, and they have a better appreciation for those needing help.

“There are times when we all just sit down and cry. We really miss our little girl. But through this whole experience, I feel like we’ve gotten so much closer to God. I hope nobody else has to go through what we’ve gone through. I hope I bear all the burden and all the hurt and all the sorrow and all the grief for any other mother. Maybe this is not the testimony that I wanted, but I feel like this is going to help somebody else later on down the road.”

— Roxanna Castillo

The Alicia’s Blessings box is located at 1003 E. James in Baytown. It’s available 24/7 for drop-offs and pickups.

Roxanna also wants to highlight the importance of water safety for young children. A great resource is Teresa Rising, who we featured in a story several years ago. She’s a certified master instructor with Infant Swimming Resource’s Self-Rescue program.

The post Blessing box: ‘Her story doesn’t end here’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“Grief doesn’t just bring tears. It enters your heart, your bones, your spirit, every movement and breath you take. Losing our daughter Cynthia Dawn’s fiancé, Daniel Blanchard, in 2019 to mesothelioma brought such agony to his parents, Edward and Maria Blanchard, and their family, as well as heartbreak to ours. The Blanchards suffered a loss no parent wants to experience, and Dawn faced the loss of the love of her life.

“Dawn had reconnected with Daniel in the fall of 2018. When she was a freshman at Baytown Lee High School, she had a crush on Daniel, but never told him. Ironically, a mutual hairstylist, Raphael Melendez, shared the story of Dawn’s crush with Daniel. Daniel called Dawn, and that phone call turned into a powerful love story.

“Both Cynthia Dawn and Daniel were living their own survival stories filled with incredible pain and medical obstacles. They understood what it was like to greet every morning with questions, doctors, hospitals, fear, hope and setbacks.

“Daniel had been diagnosed in 2013 with mesothelioma. Dawn was diagnosed with lupus in 1995 at the age of 20. Her original diagnosis would change, become a question mark, but ultimately would fall into the catch-all autoimmune disease, until it was finally labeled granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In 2008 she was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which resulted in the loss of her left kidney.

“With all they had suffered, were suffering, none of it diminished the light and love they shared. They literally lit up a room with their smiles and joy.

“Then on Jan. 26, 2022, the unthinkable agony of grief hit again with our family and the Blanchards. Our Cynthia Dawn, our Wonder Woman, who had lived 27 years with devastating disease, gave her last breath as one of her favorite songs played, ‘Magic,’ by Olivia Newton-John. Our families were again joined by the grief of losing a child.

“In the days following Dawn’s death, my husband, Charlie, our youngest daughter, Carrie, and I barely functioned. All we could do was put one foot in front of the other. All we could ask one another was, ‘What do we do now?’

“In an attempt to do something other than cry, Charlie and I started making earrings. It was something we had done prior to the COVID pandemic. We even attended events where we sold them. Creating became therapeutic. It was as if wire and beads became a guide to help us move forward.

“One day Carrie said, ‘You have so many of them now. Why don’t you give them away, because the act of giving is healing.’ That is how our project we’ve titled ‘4 Cynthia Dawn’ began.

“We knew Dawn and Daniel wouldn’t want to be remembered for their illnesses. They were two people filled with so much life and accomplishment. That is the story they would want told. It is an inspiring story of moving forward when life is doing everything it can to stop you. So we give away the earrings we make with hope whomever receives them will share the story, be encouraged when they wear them, or perhaps pass the gift on to someone else who needs encouragement.

“Dawn and Daniel’s story is one of love, passion to move forward, to not give up or give in to despair. Our families, the Blanchards and the Clevengers, want others to know what it was like to be Dawn Wonder Woman and Daniel Strong. So here’s a little about what each accomplished while battling illness.

“Dawn attended University of Houston, where she was co-president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society at UH. She interned for Houston City Council, as well as Galveston-Houston Association of Smog Prevention. In 2007 Dawn was selected by Senator Rodney Ellis to serve as a Texas state legislative aide. In December 2007, she graduated magna cum laude with double bachelor of arts degrees in political science and communications-journalism. She later went to work for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where she oversaw the Back the Bay Program. She worked with TV and radio as well as developed PSA posters aimed at improving the environmental quality of Galveston Bay by increasing the public’s awareness of the bay’s value. The campaign was later revamped, and Dawn promoted the slogan, ‘What Happens in Houston, Ends Up in Galveston Bay.’ She loved to travel. Twice she journeyed to London and once to Australia alone, to explore both destinations. Dawn wasn’t concerned about traveling without friends or family. She knew wherever she went, there were strangers waiting to become friends.

“After his devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma, Daniel created his motto for life, ‘Live Life Forward,’ and he did that with passion. He did it knowing his disease was terminal. He did it while taking chemotherapy. He skydived, traveled to Italy, and in 2016 became a marathon runner. He ran 15 full and half-marathons, which included the Houston-Galveston area, Austin, San Antonio as well as Big Sur in California. His chemotherapy sessions at MD Anderson Cancer Center connected him with strangers who all had a story to tell, and a need for encouragement. Daniel would listen to them, learn a bit about them, and even on the days when he wasn’t getting his own chemotherapy, he would return with gifts, give encouragement, and sit with those who were facing the biggest struggle of their lives. Daniel didn’t just speak about love, he lived it.”

— Susie Clevenger

The post Earring project helps keep couple’s story alive appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I was born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. At school, I was in the same class with this girl in first grade, third grade and fifth grade. You could say she was my little girlfriend. I would see her in church and think, some day I’m going to marry her. You know how it is at that age.

“We were supposed to be in sixth grade together, but they put us in different classes. That’s kind of the last time we saw each other. She moved away to New York.

“When I was in 11th grade, I moved to New York with my mom. I didn’t really like it. I moved back for 12th grade, and I was living with a friend. Since I already had enough credits, I didn’t have to go to class. So I got my diploma and started working.

“One day, this fellow invited me to church. There was this beautiful girl, and I wanted to marry her. But it wasn’t to be.

“I continued praying for a wife. And guess who walked into the church? It was the girl from elementary school, now a lady. I knew it was Michelle. As soon as I saw her I told myself, I guess this is the one.

“It must have been because she was about to get married to someone else. When she went to get her marriage certificate, they said she couldn’t marry the guy because he was already married. She didn’t know. So the two of us started dating. Before you know it, about six months after we reconnected, we were married.

“It was like we were never apart. It was awesome. She was a very sweet person. Everything I wasn’t, she was. We had five kids together.

“When she got breast cancer, they wanted to give her chemo. But her veins were so small, it was kind of tough for her. In the hospital the day before she passed, she told them to take it out and let her go. So they did, and she passed on. I cried for two years.

“The funny thing is, a year or so earlier she told me, ‘When I pass, I want you to marry again.’ And I told her, ‘When I pass, I want you to marry again.’ I don’t know why she said that, unless she knew what was coming.

“I haven’t remarried. I’m thinking about it. But it’s hard because you might try to compare, and that wouldn’t be fair.

“We were together 41 years. For me, it was a dream come true.”

— Randall Bascombe

The post Finding his wife ‘was a dream come true’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My dad passed away in June. He was at home. It was just a few days after Father’s Day. He had been dealing with cancer for eight years. This time, it was the final K.O.

“It was also roughly a month before he was able to retire officially. In a sense, at least to me, that was adding insult to injury.

“It’s been hard, for my sisters and my mom especially. She told me that she’s cried herself to sleep. That’s how much it hurts. They were married 41 years.

“I’ve been looking for a job. The last place I worked was 7-Eleven. That guy let me go due to my being too slow. One day he just said, ‘OK, you’re off the schedule,’ and that was it. He didn’t bother to discuss things with me like, ‘Any way I can help you out with this?’ I’m still agitated about that.

“I’ve applied for other jobs since then. I’m just trying to stay positive and keep my spirits up by saying, ‘Everything will be OK. Just keep on trucking. You’re not the only one going through this.’ It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve just got to keep trying.”

— Kevin Alford, 38, who’s living life with autism

Related:

• Autism isn’t keeping him from enjoying life

The post Trying to keep spirits up after losing father, job appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“It began late July last year. I had the COVID delta variant. I spent 40 days in the hospital. It kind of freaks me out to talk about it.

“I started at Patients ER. Then I was transferred to El Campo Memorial Hospital. My lungs were in such bad shape, I was on a breathing machine 24/7. I was getting 32 liters of oxygen at one time.

“I was in ICU on a Saturday evening when a father came in to pray with me. I’ve seen enough movies to know when that happens, it’s not good.

“I lost a couple childhood friends while I was going through my stuff. I saw one of them while I was in ICU. So I was wondering, am I next? Those were very dark days. I felt like I was on an island, and I didn’t have a chance to get off.

“But I gradually started to improve. As I got out of ICU, I started saying, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to survive this. I’m going to fight this. And I’m going to win.’

“When I got transferred to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Pearland, I couldn’t do anything for myself. Basically, I had to start my life over again. I owe those guys so much. They helped me learn how to eat. I had to learn how to walk. I had to learn how to take a shower and brush my teeth — all the basic stuff.

“I busted my butt in physical therapy. My therapist would tell me, ‘OK, that’s it.’ But I’d say, ‘That’s not it. I’m going to do five more reps.’ I really pushed myself.

“After I finally came home, I had a relapse two weeks later and spent five days at Houston Methodist in Baytown. But since December 1st, I’ve been pretty good.

“COVID fog is a real thing, where you forget stuff. And I have some numbness in my right hip area. They say a lot of COVID patients have nerve problems. I also keep my little oxygen machine in the back seat, but I haven’t had to use it for about six months.

“Through the whole ordeal, I had a lot of support, especially from my three sisters and my two boys. And I had a lot of faith. My mom passed in 2018. So during the worst parts, I spent a lot of time praying to her. I also prayed to the man above. It was a tough deal. But I’m here today, and I’m feeling very blessed.”

— Jerry Michalsky

Related:

• ‘The Foot’ kicks his way to Hall of Fame

The post ‘I busted my butt’ to recover from COVID appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“One of my duties at work was to create ID badges for all the employees. They had to be renewed on everyone’s birthday. When Juan came to see me, I made his ID and we flirted a little bit.

“Afterward, I jokingly said to my assistant, ‘Oh, my gosh. Tell him that I would rock his world.’ It was a ‘90s thing back then. I was really just joking. But she went and told him, and came back with his phone number.

“He and I talked five or six hours that night. We went out that Friday. Then after three weeks of going out, spending all that time together, he proposed. We made plans really quick. We got married three months later.

“It was pretty much a fairy tale marriage. Everybody would comment on how he’d walk into a room, and his face would light up to see me. They were like, ‘You could be a stranger in the room and know that you were his mate.’

“My husband was a total gentleman, too. I took care of the household. He did a lot of the outdoor stuff. He didn’t want me to do any yard work. I’d be like, ‘Let me help you with the weeds, then we can be finished sooner.’ And he’d say, ‘No, I don’t want you sweating. You go inside and sit pretty.’ People used to laugh about it. But that’s just the type of relationship we had for 20 years.”

Difficult decision

“My first pregnancy, I was having twins. At seven months, I got sick and had to go into the hospital. I spent about five days in labor. They were trying to stop it, but they couldn’t. So I had an emergency C-section. The boys were born premie. One was 3.4 pounds. The other was 4.6 pounds.

“The first born, Aaron, got sick a week later. His intestines weren’t fully developed. They were kind of perforated and causing problems. So they did surgery and took out a third of his colon, I guess with the hope of him having a normal life. It didn’t work.

“A week later, we had to make the decision to take him off life support. But the thing is, he continued to live another week after that. And that was brutal. When they asked us to make the decision, they didn’t expect him to live long. So during that week after, we questioned ourselves so much. Did we make the right choice?

“I revisit his grave from time to time. I went on Mother’s Day to clean his headstone.

“The other twin, Abel, will be 26 in July. You know how they say that twins have a special connection? Definitely, when he was younger, he would cry a lot. Even though he never really got to meet his brother, he would say that he missed him. Because it was this missing piece for him.

“He’s high-functioning autistic. He has Asperger’s. So he’s fully functional to a certain extent. I look at Abel daily, and can’t help but wonder what Aaron would have been like. What would he be interested in? What would his personality be like? It’s tough for me, no matter how much time passes.”

Another son, Chris, will be 22 in September.

No ordinary day

“Juan was a service technician for gas stations in the Houston area. He fixed the gas pumps, the price signs, the cash registers. Basically, all the electronics that needed attention.

“Our normal routine was to text each other around 10 a.m. Every couple hours, we would communicate. He would check on me, and see how my day was going. At noon, during my lunch hour, we’d have a phone conversation.

“Well, on this particular day, his speech started slurring. He said, ‘Something’s wrong.’ I could tell in his voice. Then he said, ‘I can’t see. I’m getting dizzy. I have ringing in my ears. I’m having trouble breathing. I don’t think I can drive.’ Just all these things.

“I told him to pull over and call 911. After a few minutes, I called him back. He hadn’t called 911. He was struggling to drive, and his speech had gotten worse. I couldn’t understand a word.

“So I called 911. I work in La Porte, and my call got routed to Deer Park Police. We were on a three-way, trying to figure out where he was so they could send help. They pinged his phone and got a general area. They dispatched police, fire, ambulance and even tow trucks to look for him. They circled for about an hour.

“Imagine your loved one dying, and you’re on the other end of the phone listening to him struggle. You’re desperately praying and reassuring him that they would find him.

“I finally thought about calling his supervisor. I forgot they used a tracker on their trucks, to see who’s closest for service calls. A few minutes after that, they found him.

“A police officer was the first to arrive. He grabbed his phone and said, ‘It appears your husband had a stroke. I’ll call you back after EMS gets here and assesses him.’

“When I learned what hospital they were taking him to, I told my boss, ‘I have to go. It looks like Juan had a stroke.’ While I was leaving, I called my church. I asked for prayers.”

Juan had a major hemorrhage in his brain stem. After many ups and downs in his recovery, he passed away about six weeks later on April 12, 2015, at age 44. It was two weeks before his oldest son’s high school graduation.

Family still grieving

“I don’t like it when people say, ‘God doesn’t give you more than what you can handle.’ I’m like, OK, I guess I’m Wonder Woman then. I must be so powerful. It hasn’t been easy. I have good days. I have bad days.

“I try to make light of things every day. I laugh. After Juan passed away, I used a lot of widow humor. Some people didn’t like that. I guess it was just my way of coping.

“It’s been really hard with my kids. They lost their best friend, too. He was that dad who was there for them the whole time. To watch them struggle throughout that experience was very difficult.

“They were 18 and 14 when he died. I had to work a lot of hours, so they spent a lot of time alone. They missed out on a lot. But I didn’t have a choice. I had to work.

“We all needed each other’s comfort. Everyone goes through grieving at different times and in different ways. One can go through the anger phase, while the other may just want to hide away and not deal with anything. Seven years later, we’re still dealing with it.

“I was doing pretty well at five years out. But then my best friend of 40 years was a victim of domestic violence. She and her daughter were killed. That set me back again.

“About 10 months after Juan died, his brother told me something. While he was sick, Juan told him to make sure that I moved on. I kind of felt like he gave me his blessing. Not that I was looking for it at that time. But at least I knew it was a possibility, and that he was thinking ahead for me.

“I make fun of my singleness, my singlehood, just because people will say, ‘You’re a real good catch.’ That doesn’t mean anything. That doesn’t mean you’re going to find your soulmate again. Not saying that I won’t. I’ve dated. But I’ve learned that you never know what the future holds.

“My boys are great. They tell me, ‘Mom, we just want you to be happy. We don’t want another dad. We just want another best friend.’”

— Brenda Medina

The post She’s suffered her share of tragic losses appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“Through my films, I’d like to support non-profit organizations and bring attention to certain causes. Because I lost someone to suicide, mental health and suicide prevention are really important to me.

“Mario Arturo Valverde was my cousin. We were born a month apart. I’ve never been privy to the details. It’s just too much to unpack. To open that wound would be too painful. It broke me down. I was lost for a very long time. I delved into everything I could to cope. I felt a lot of complicated emotions, like ’it should have been me.’ His suicide affected our family profoundly.

“He was only 15 when it happened. I vividly remember hearing the news and driving to his house, where there were sirens and lights from the ambulance and cop cars. It felt unreal then, and it still does.

“I wasn’t as close to him when we entered high school. Our families drifted apart, and we grew apart. I regret that I wasn’t there for him. Even if it was always going to happen, I just would have wanted more time to spend with him.

“It’s affected everything in my life — who I want to be, and how I want to help others in need through films and stories. That’s what helped me understand and convey those really complex emotions, and deal with my personal mental health struggles.

“‘For You’ was the only way I really knew how to remember him and honor his memory. It will be the most important and meaningful film I will ever make.”

— Sergio Valverde

“For You,” a short film produced by Pink-Eye Pictures, features Sergio and several of his cousins.

Related:

• Movie lover inspired to make his own films

The post Cousin’s suicide changed filmmaker’s life appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My granddaughter, Addison, turned 2, and we had her birthday party on a Saturday. On Monday, she and my daughter, Emily, were at my house after we’d been shopping. When her phone rang, she didn’t recognize the number. A lady said, ‘I think I’m with your husband. He’s had an accident.’

“My husband, Jay, jumped in our car. I got in a car with Emily and Addison, and we began driving to the location. On the way, the lady called back and said they were taking Allen by Life Flight to Hermann Hospital. So Jay and Emily went to the hospital, and I took Addison home.

“I kept thinking, he’s going to be OK. Then Jay called and said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ I said, ‘Just tell me.’ And he said, ‘He’s not going to make it.’

“Allen was born with an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. Never knew he had it. He stopped for gas on his way home from work, and that’s when it ruptured. A few days later, Emily had to decide to take him off life support. Allen was such a good husband and son-in-law, and a great daddy.

“I had done some sewing and crafty projects. I also had bought an embroidery machine. But I was kind of intimidated by it, and it just sat there for a long time. A few months after Allen died, someone suggested that I make Emily and Addison a memory pillow from one of his shirts. I had a friend do the embroidery because I was afraid to attempt it. Then my sister was like, ‘You can do this.’ So I took another shirt, tried it, and it turned out beautifully. And I felt like I had been doing it my whole life. That’s kind of how Mimi’s Memory Boutique was born.

“I make a lot of pillows, and ornaments in the shapes of crosses, hearts, stars, butterflies, you name it. Whatever people request, I make it as meaningful as possible. A poem I often embroider is, ‘This is a shirt I used to wear. When you hold it, know that I’m there.’ When people send me orders, they may include a picture of their loved one and tell me about the person. There are so many special stories.

“As difficult as it was after Allen died, doing this also was healing for me. It helps keep his memory alive. And when I share my story with others who lost someone, it creates this bond. They know it’s so much more than a business for me. It’s personal.”

— Lisa Joiner

Check out Lisa’s Etsy shop.

The post Keeping memories alive through embroidery appeared first on The Baytown Project.