An Organization Whose Mission Is To Stimulate Creative Expression, continued...

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I had a very nice chat with Katherine Wilson during our interview meeting. She is very down to earth, sincere in her endeavors and charismatic. It is really nice to know such a warm person is at the top of the Ann Arbor Women Artist Organization (AAWA)!

I found AAWA on-line the July before last. Since then I've taken a few Internet workshops with them and had a few notices posted in their newsletter. It is my goal to be a bit more actively involved over the next year with this very creative group of individuals.

I like how Katherine described her feelings when she found the group, "I felt like I made it home." It does help to motivate when you can lean on the creative energy and inspiration that is emanating from others.

What organization do you belong to in your community? Share your feelings about it with me and my readers.

Miracles, feel this sensation of awe, continued...

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I posted a picture with this article of an oil pastel drawing I did in the past. It is of a little boy running in his yard. To me, it feels full of life. I noted that bringing life to a blank sheet of paper is a miracle to me. I so believe this. It is a heavenly inspiration that comes into me and enables anything that resembles the actual photo to come to life. There is no way I could do this on my own! I feel like I go into this coma type state that blocks everything out when I'm working on a piece of art. It is very serene and peaceful for me! I get to participate in these heavenly drawings and writings on a daily basis, pretty cool, huh?

Tell me about your miracles. I would love to share them with my readers. They make for such inspirational and empowering stories. Help me spread the faith!

This difference makes you memorable, continued...

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I love the name of my art business, Lifetime Art Impressions. At the time I created the business, I knew that someday I would be able to capture memorable moments through my art and I had hoped people would actually pay me to do it:)

I was going through my divorce and, at that time, decided it was the right period in my life to at least create and register the name. I remember thinking, what is memorable and warm? When it came to me, it felt right. It took me 8 years before I actively started writing and drawing for a living. And, what amazes me even more today is that all aspects of my work (as I continue to broaden my work) still fits the name perfectly.

People commission me to write an inspirational piece about their loved one. I'll create it, overlay the piece on one of my nature photos and I'll press a flower and frame the work. It is really touching when my client gets the artwork and I watch their eyes well up with joy. I also get the same fulfillment when I bring life to a sheet of poster board and create a drawing for someone.

These types of impressions become timeless!

Tell me about your most memorable impressions and how they've impacted you. Share your stories!

Memories of tragedy my guardian angel helped me survive, continued...

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Safehouse Center of Ann Arbor, MI. made the connection between me and Rachel Holmes. I've never met anyone who has overcome so much and who is so positive today. She is on a real mission to make the world a better place by empowering others with her story. I believe only the power of God could protect someone like Rachel and guide them through so much.

Do you know anyone who is coping with sexual assault or in a domestic violent intimate relationship? If so, it might help them to read Rachel's story. Please forward it to them if possible.

The National hot line number for those surviving domestic violence is (800) 799-SAFE (7233). If you know anyone please carefully and quietly encourage them to reach out for help. Everyone deserves loving kindness especially from the ones who are supposed to be protecting them not hurting them.

I can only pray for those struggling in this type of unhealthy environment. May you find your way to safety and may God bless you and protect you along the way!

Little things do mean a lot, continued...

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Boy, have I been trying to drill this concept into my teenagers for years. It drives me crazy when they get off of the school bus and walk right by the empty garbage can on their way into house. They are getting better as the years pass. I imagine it will fully set in as they graduate from school!

Little things do mean a lot in every aspect of our lives. I am someone who usually picks up the crumbled piece of paper on the street. I'm not going to chase something down but if it falls right into my path, I will stoop down, pick it up and through it away. It just makes for a cleaner community. No one likes to look at streets that are full of garbage but most won't take the extra second or two to help keep it clean. It amazes me how thoughtless some people are when it comes to this kind of stuff.

I do understand that if we just all cared enough to clean up after ourselves, we wouldn't have messy houses or streets but we have to start some where so why not start here and help with the cause?

What are you doing to make the world a better place? Share some of the little things you do that make a difference!

Is your well running dry, continued...

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Wow, does my well feel drained this week. I'm sure I'm not going to get much sympathy as I'm recovering from a 3 day trip to the Dominican Republic which was supposed to fuel my energy not take away from it. I'm pretty sick this week; I'm sure it was from something I ate or drank while at the resort. When you're physically down, the emotional state follows pretty quickly!

It was a beautiful setting and wonderful to get a little taste of the island but had I known the impact of my get away would have been so dramatic, I would have saved my health. Be careful when you are visiting foreign countries; I basically tried everything to get that hands on experience. Not such a wise choice:(

Otherwise, in my normal life, I feel my work is a daily spiritual renewal for me. I'm very lucky and grateful for each day I'm able to devote time to write and/or bring a blank page to life through a drawing. Pretty amazing and, with each project, I'm in awe with the outcome. Creativity is number one on my list of "things that bring me joy"; Reading, being with family/friends and stepping into nature are all on my list (no particular order).

What are basic or simple things that gift you with joy? Take a moment and share with me and my readers; I always love to hear how others find moments of peace and comfort.

I call hobo a little dog in a cat suit, continued...

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I completely relate with Kevin and his comment about his cat being a dog dressed in a cat suit. My Scruples was the same way. He would fetch, carry socks around and beg just like a dog. Could he have had a dog hanging off his family tree somewhere in the past:)

I love promoting authors like Kevin who work to help other animals in need. He is sharing part of his proceeds with his local animal shelter. Pretty cool!

If you can afford it and you have a child in your life, purchase the book about Hobo and bring a smile to the child and at the same time help a four legged friend!

Click here to purchase his book.
Are you a dog person, cat person or have you been converted to one or the other? Drop me a note and let me know! I love to hear from you.