The Story Behind the Frog!

Growing up, I was blessed to have the best Grandpa, “Grandpa Wendel”. He was best known for his inappropriate jokes, constantly spoiling my brother Wade and I, his love of western shows and hunting elk, lots of impromptu phone calls to see what we’re up to, and his ability to make friends with anyone, including the pizza delivery guy!

Here’s where the frog comes in… I remember like it was yesterday, we were at Casa Bonita (of all places haha) with my Grandpa Wendel & fam. As any little kid at the time, I was growing my ticket collection from the few arcade games and ski ball to exchange for some “hard-earned” prizes. I remember going up to the ticket counter and spotting these little plastic frogs… I knew that was what I would gladly be spending all my tickets on. I proudly walked away with 8 different mini frogs in which I gave one each to my family members. I purposefully gave my Grandpa the tan camouflage print one. He loved to hunt so I thought that would suit him perfect. I remember driving away from the restaurant and watching my Grandpa ‘lick and stick’ my “hard-earned” little camo frog, right onto his truck dashboard, which stayed perched on his dash from that day on until he passed.

Another life moment with him I’ll never forget was when I had told my Grandpa how scared and anxious I was to practice driving back when I was 15. Crippling anxiety sure had me in a chokehold! I told him I was so afraid and didn’t want to practice to avoid anything bad that could happen. He heard me, paused, and then looked at me to say, “Abbygirl! You just gotta get in and go!” This phrase of his has always stuck with me, just like the little tan camo frog he kept stuck to his dash. It’s become my motivation to not overthink and ‘just do’. It was even my motivation and push to start Little Red, to embrace the risk and see where it takes me!

I’ll never forget that camo frog and him telling me to just ‘get in and go’. I’ve always associated frogs as my reminder to do just that—get in and go.

A little bonus piece to the frog story took place the day before my husband and I got married back in 2021. Something special happened that I’ll never forget. (For timeline sake: My grandpa passed away when I was in high school, so he couldn’t be there in person at our wedding, but he found a way to show up in spirit.)

It was the evening of our rehearsal run-through at Red Daisy Farm, our wedding venue. All of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were gathered together with my husband and I, waiting for directions on where to line up, when our friend (and groomsman) Alex suddenly pointed out a tiny frog hopping right up to my feet through the grass! It was the same size as the little tan plastic frog I once gave my grandpa and the exact size of the mini plastic frogs I continue to tuck into my Little Red Floral orders for my clients.

Tears filled my eyes as I gently scooped up that 1.5-inch frog into the palm of my hand. I stared at it in awe certain my grandpa had sent it as a little sign from heaven that he was there with me.

So, enjoy my little frog in your order! I hope you perch it somewhere to remind you to ‘just get in and go’ or in frog terms to ‘take the leap’!

Mine is perched on my dashboard ;)

XO, Little Red