In May we found out that our home day care provider, Lorna, would be closing her doors so that she could start student teaching in the fall. All of the families were saddened by this news while being so happy for her to start this wonderful new phase of her life. Being a teacher was her dream and it was going to happen in the fall of 2011.
At the end of June some of us moms decided that it would be a great idea to throw her a going away party. Flo was going to work with Lorna’s husband to set up a day for surprise going away party. I mentioned making a scrapbook as a gift for her. Again the moms were all in agreement that this would be a great idea.
So a date was picked, parents were thinking about what photos they wanted to contribute, and Lorna’s family began looking for photos from the past 14 years of day care to put in the book.
On July 28th I got all the of the photos, children’s art work, and thank you cards to put in the book. I was really nervous that I wouldn’t be able to get the book completed and shipped before her party on August 7th , so I talked with my wonderful consultant, Julie, about my issue. She told me that Heritage Makers offered a “rush” process for publishing a project. Basically someone is assigned to your book and makes sure it gets to the top of the pile for everything.
On Friday July 29th at 10:00am central time I called Heritage Makers, hoping that they would have good news for me. The service representative was really friendly and she said the words I wanted to hear, we can make it happen for you! She told me that I would need to publish the book over the weekend and to call right away Monday morning and have a rush put on the book. She also told me that when I ordered the book that I would need to select the 2 day delivery option.
So Friday night I spent the evening with my husband and kids. After a bath and bedtime sorties it was time to complete the book. I worked for another 4 hours before I was satisfied with the book. I published the book, selected the 2 day delivery option and rested peacefully know that the book would be here for the big day. I then sent off a copy of the book to all the moms to view (I love this feature!!!!). During the next few days moms were sending me messages letting me know how much they loved the book, and couldn't wait to see her reaction to it. Her husband and kids loved it too and were anxious for Sunday to come so they could see her reaction to the book.
Monday August 1st I again called Heritage Makers. This time I had to wait on hold for 14minutes before I got to speak to a representative. The automated message was great at telling me that there was an unusually high call volume, my queue position and my estimated wait time. When I finally got a representative she was super helpful. I explained my situation and what I was told on Friday. She looked up the status of the book and saw that it was already in printing. She said she wanted to check with someone because I might not have to pay the rush fee since the book was already in printing and I had selected 2day shipping. After a couple more minutes on hold she came back on and explained the situation.
Yes the book was in printing, but 400 books were submitted for publishing over the weekend. There was a sale on 8x8 books that ended on July 31st. Looks like there were lots of folks taking advantage of the discount! She said there was good chance that the book would get here without paying the rush fee, but it was my choice on what to do. I told her that I just couldn’t take a chance that the book wouldn’t arrive. She said no problem. She placed the rush fee of $20.00 to my order and explained the process for the book. In my opinion $20.00 was a small price to pay to make sure the book was here on time for the big day. As soon as the book was done printing it would be hand carried the binding station. Since the staff that bind the books were not in on Monday it would be the 1st one done on Tuesday morning. Then my book would be walked to someone in shipping and sent out for delivery.
I got a message Wednesday morning from the representative that I worked with letting me know that the book had been sent to UPS for delivery. An hour later I got a message from UPS letting know the tracking info for my book. On Friday morning August 5th my husband answered the door to greet the UPS delivery man. My book had arrived with 2 days to spare!
So the big day has arrived and we are ready to celebrate this amazing woman who has not only taken care of our children but taken them in as one of her own children. The surprise went off exactly as planned - she was overwhelmed by the showing of love and support from all of her day care families, even some who are no longer with her because their kids had grown up. After some visiting and great food we sat her down to receive her gifts. Her husband, Rob, read her a beautiful letter that was the introduction to the book. She was speechless, and most of the moms cried with her. She said it was just the most beautiful and thoughtful gift. She was overwhelmed by the book and the beautiful letters written by some of the families. It was just perfect.
Thank you Heritage Makers, you really do make lasting memories!
Jen B. Coon Rapids, MN
