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Western Heritage Interiors in Tyler TX

June 2nd, 2010

As the owner of a small house with a couple extra rooms, I have often made a habit of trying to keep a boarder or two to help pay for expenses. Mine is a bookish house, ok that just sounds snobby… I have too many books! Now I’ll never be featured on TLC’s Buried Alive or anything, I’m at least neat, but there are books in just about every room save the restroom. Periodically I go through and prune but it doesn’t take long before I’ve replaced what I cut. Ok so I digress. It was probably about five summers ago when I and my cousin, who was living with me at the time, went looking for a new book case. It was June or July and we were dressed appropriately for the summer heat i.e. shorts and t-shirts. We stopped off at a local and well known furniture store, and were greeted by an elegantly dressed, attractive, youngish woman, with an attitude that was anything but. As we entered the establishment the woman looked us over and inquired rudely, “What are YOU looking for today?” “Just looking for book cases,” I replied sheepishly and a bit sarcastically. She told us with mock disappointment the store didn’t carry bookcases. We chose to take her at her word even though we could see they had several on the sales floor.

Furniture stores are funny that way. There’s often a great deal of pretention that goes along with selling furnishings. “I don’t think we sell that sort of thing here… We sell exclusively Carl Farbman’s designs. Did he ever design book cases?” Well I found a furniture store with incredible merchandise and without all the snobbery. Western Heritage Interiors is located on highway thirty one, just off the west loop. The products they carry are all western themed and highly unique. The merchandise is all beautifully crafted, and while it is rustic in appearance, it is unlikely that you’ll find too many examples of this kind of quality in an old bunk house. And Western Heritage carries much more than just furniture. The store is filled with all manner of art, from paintings, to sculptures and everything in between. Ok, so lamps and tables made of elk racks, deer antlers or steer horns are a bit too rustic for me. But many people appreciate that sort of oddity. Overall this is a great store where patrons are sure to find all sorts of conversation pieces.

At the time of my visit I was accompanied by a two year old, and had no intention making a purchase, I was simply there for the purpose of writing this review, a fact I didn’t mention by the way. But the gentleman I spoke with was gracious and seemed unconcerned by the presence of a child in his store. Try that at another furniture store in Tyler. I should also mention that the store is locally owned and operated, so most of what is spent there, stays home in Tyler. Western Heritage also has a website, but it appears to be under construction because it doesn’t scratch the surface of the inventory the actually carry in store. I suggest visiting in person for a more realistic look at what they offer. Their web address is www.westernheritageinteriors.com. To reach them by phone, call 903-592-9803.

Pregnancy Resource Center

April 7th, 2010

Pregnancy Advice and Free Sonogram Service

1003 South Baxter Avenue
Tyler, TX 75701-2212
Phone: (903) 592-4495

When you are a teenage girl the world of pregnancy is intimidating and lonely. I do not think that anyone can really understand that statement unless they have been there themselves. I can say this. I remember finding out that I was pregnant and only being 18 years old. I felt so alone even though so many people were around me supporting me. The truth of the matter is that no one around me had been there. I had no idea what to do, what doctor to go to how to get on insurance or Medicaid. I was like a deer caught in head lights. The world seemed so empty and I could see disappointment every time someone looked me in the eyes. I felt like there was no one to talk to about my concerns. But there was someone.

As I walked into the Pregnancy Resource Center I thought that I knew what to expect, because I have grown up having relatives work there and my Bible study group even met there at one time. As I walked in I thought I would get the looks of disappointment and condemnation. After all, I grew up in an extremely Christian home, went to a Christian school and I did and still do have a very true relationship with Jesus Christ. How could I screw up? How can I be pregnant? I figured that they would not understand that everyone sinned; I just wore the evidence of my sins under my shirt. I did not just want to be preached to, but I needed to be heard, and understood.

They handed me a couple sheets of paper to fill out, so that they understand where I am coming from. After a few minutes of waiting, they led me to the small bathroom and handed me that small cup to fill up for the pregnancy test. As I figures the test was positive and instead of words of condemnation, they offered an embrace of love. I had no idea how I was going to face the world, but right at that moment I felt loved and cared for. After they quickly talked to me about my plans of parenting, adoption and discouraging against abortion (which was never ever an option), they let me talk. They answered questions of how to break the news or where to go from here; they ended my time by praying for me. I knew I was going to raise my now two year old daughter, I just did not know where to start. Since I had no insurance they talked to me about how to get on Medicaid and where to go for the best health care. They gave me numbers and even made a few calls for me. I was great to have a little understanding of how to start my new life with this child.

After a couple months they asked me to come back in for a completely free sonogram. That day was one of the most memorable days of my life. I was preparing for my wedding that was going to take pace in a coupe weeks, through all the chaos this day seemed to slow everything down. As I was asked to lie on the padded table, I began to get anxious to see my child. The room was packed by my family and my now in-laws. This was the first day I saw my little girl. I knew she was real. I saw her hear beat, her hands moved, and her legs kicked in excitement. It was almost like she knew I was watching her. When the lady told me that my child was a girl, tears quickly filled the room. I loved her more at that point. I could not afford a sonogram at that point, but the Pregnancy Resource Center in Tyler Texas made it possible for me to see my little girl for the first time.

To this day, I am very thankful for the help that the Resource Center offered to me. I am only one of the many young girls that they support. The women that work there do not do this for a paycheck. They volunteer everyday because they want to help the young women of our society, and to make a difference. Every pregnancy test is free, and every sonogram is free, and run by professionals. They are there for you. To show the love of Christ to women of all ages. I have heard many stories of woman whose lives were changed because they decided to go to the Pregnancy Resource Center. I am just one of those women.

Big Lots On Beckham In Tyler TX

January 15th, 2010

Big Lots is an often looked over or even despised treasure. Looking at the outside of a standard Big Lots you might think you’ve stumbled upon just another depressing grocery store, but you would be wrong. However, the stores do often open up in buildings that used to be grocery stores. The stores are worth looking into. Since being founded in 1967, the Big Lots corporation has expanded to having about fourteen hundred stores in forty-seven states. The thing I never expected to discover is that the Big Lots corporation did over four billion dollars in sales last year! They are a serious force in the retail industry.

The location on Beckham in Tyler is an all time favorite of mine. Like most Big Lots stores the outside has nothing to offer the senses, unless you are particularly drawn to the color orange or large signs. The parking lot is rather depressing and doesn’t have the most attractive neighboring stores. In fact, the inside isn’t exactly appealing either, but it does have a lot to offer in terms of merchandise and surprisingly their sales and support staff.

I first went to this location because they were the only one of the two stores in Tyler that offered a full showroom of large furniture. They sell couches, loveseats, recliners, over-stuffed chairs, ottomans and even mattress sets. My past experiences with Big Lots had only been to find cheap but nice presents for people or attempts at lowering my grocery bill. The company has never been a disappointment to me, but they had never wowed me either…that is, until I went to this location.

My sister and brother-in-law had purchase a couch and matching chair-and-a-half a several months prior to my trip. Ever time my wife and I visited their house we were amazed at how nice their couches were and durable to boot. The furniture was nicer and more comfortable than almost any couch I had ever experienced, and I have sat on some very expensive couches. The crazy thing was that they had bought them at the Big Lots in Tyler, TX. We almost couldn’t believe it. Then they told us that they had only paid about seven hundred dollars total and had managed to pay for it using an in store financing plan with low or no interest.

We walked into this store hoping that we could find something comparable to the set my siblings had found. We were instantly impressed with how many pieces of assembled furniture were available for testing. We began sitting on couch after couch, truly enjoying the process. They all seemed so nice and the price tags were very comforting. Of course, they were higher than yard sale prices, but we were tired of ugly dog-destroyed sofas that were free or cost ten dollars. We were ready for grown up furniture, and the store had it. The experience became even better when we spotted the very couch and chair-and-a-half that we had already fallen in love with at my siblings’ house.

The sales associate was beyond nice and helpful. He told us his personal experiences with the couches we were considering and helped us decide on the set we bought. I asked how long it would take to get them in, and he said that they had them in the back. He offered financing if we needed it and mentioned that they could deliver them. Being the penny pincher that I am, I called some friends and borrowed a truck to pick them up by myself. I went back to the store within an hour and the associate greeted me with a smile, called two more guys and walked with me to the back of the store. The three employees joked and grunted as they lifted the couches into my borrowed truck and helped to tie them down.

I brought the couches home and have been constantly pleased. As I type this, I am sitting incredibly comfortably on a couch that was beyond affordable. I tell everyone I know to go to Big Lots when they tell me they are looking for furniture. Almost everyone responds the same. “No. Not Big Lots! How much did you say you paid?” Big Lots will surprise you if you are looking to save money but still have quality. Just think of better things while you walk in and wait to make your judgment once you’ve checked out their merchandise.

Big Lots #1038
1421 South Beckham Avenue
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 595-0388

Hours:
M-Sat9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sun9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Tyler Public Library

December 3rd, 2009

Tyler Public Library

Tyler Public Library

Our family loves books. In fact, in ten years of marriage, we have moved 6 times. Every move whether before children or after all four kids had come with all of their accessories, the thing that still took up 40% of our moving boxes was books.

So, in an effort to curb the rising tide of literary treasures and still satisfy our need for new reading experiences, I decided it was time to visit the library where we could fill our basket with golden nuggets, read to our hearts content, and return the next week to say goodbye to the adventures of the week before, and start the whole treasure hunt again.

My first visit to the Tyler Public Library was disappointing. Not only did I receive wan looks from staff and patrons upon my arrival with baby in stroller and two well-behaved younguns in tow, I found it impossible find a quiet nook to read aloud the one adventure my daughter just couldn’t wait until we got home to hear. I felt myself glancing around to see who was irritated by our low whispers, and shuttling them about trying to find a section of mother-approved, age appropriate books. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of selection at the Tyler Public Library, but it’s harder to find the best of the best in between the Disney movie regurgitations, and the 49th Golden book that should never have been written, as well as some very obscure out-of-print books which are out of print because…? Yes, well you get my point.

I had such fond memories of going to the Library as a child back home in Minnesota, that I quickly decided my deep disappointment was getting harder to mask, and I didn’t want this place to mar my children’s enthusiasm for going to the library. While I simply wanted to make a hasty exit and pretend I hadn’t just talked up the glory of the Library to such false extremes, I thought I must at least make good on my promise of exciting new books to read. I hurried my two girls along to pick a book apiece and then up to the front to check out and get a Tyler library card.

After glancing at my driver’s license, the lady at the counter looked down her nose and declared, “Oh, you don’t live inside city limits,” as though we were illegal aliens attempting to get food stamps. She went on to describe in a most patronizing tone that we could purchase a punch card for five or ten dollars or spend $25 on a six-month membership (I wanted to yell, “NO Way, Jose!” but restrained myself). After a glance at the $5 punch card and some quick mental calculating, I realized that it was good for ten books. $.50 a book meant that every time we came, I’d have to restrict my indiscriminate young girls to one or two books every time while I myself frantically combed through the rubble to find a few gems. At this point I was just ready to get out of this place, and maybe try to redeem the whole library experience with a quick run through the McDonald’s drive through. Consolation fries for everyone.

Now I recognize that if you do live inside the city limits, you don’t have a passel of kids, and you don’t mind reading rehashed Disney stories to your princess, the Tyler Public Library has a lot to offer: read aloud story time, book clubs, and special events to encourage literacy. But I have to confess…I’ve got a punch card with 8 book rentals left on it, and it’s up for grabs because I’m not going back.