Shine For Others

Want to bring a little bit of Sunshine to someone else's life? Want to get creative while doing so?

As many of you already know, I work for a non-profit in Utah called SPLORE. SPLORE is an organization that I truly adore and I believe in their mission statement of providing life-enhancing experiences to people with disabilities through outdoor recreation.

Every fall, SPLORE holds a benefit auction to raise funds to provide life-changing outdoor recreation experiences to people with disabilities and special needs. At the auction we sell artwork, crafts and other made-from-the-heart goods. One of the activities at the auction is called "Dart for Art" and it's when guests have paid extra for a ticket with a different sporting event listed on the back. The ballroom where we have our auction is lined with beautiful works of art...made by you! Throughout the evening, we will announce what sporting event is supposed to "dart" for their favorite piece of artwork that is on the walls.

Dart for Art is a fun event that raises a lot of funds for SPLORE and our participants. If you'd like to donate some art to the SPLORE Auction, please contact me at: susanjanae8@gmail.com. It's a great way to shine for others and it's also a great tax write-off!

What's your inspiration?

I'm a Nature lover. It so greatly inspires me. I often find myself wondering, "Is there anyone not awed by the power and beauty of nature?" I'm serious about this question; I know nature inspires me, but does it inspire everyone? It takes a whole menagerie of folks to make the world go round, so what's are you inspired by? I want to know.

A few weeks ago I was camping in the deserts of Southern Utah. I woke-up at 5:30 in the morning, took a glossy-eyed look around me and saw one of the most beautiful sunrises in my life. The cliffs and buttes of the desert canyons were a rich black color with their tops aflame by oranges and yellows of the rising sun. The rest of the sky faded from a very pale green, to light blue to dark blue with nothing else in the sky except a brightly shining crescent moon and a few lone stars. I love sunrises, what a beautiful way to start the day...with a beautiful gift from Mother Nature! The sunrise inspired me to paint a picture from the morning and the results are below.

Last weekend, I had some time to retreat to the mountains and enjoy a hike of beauty and solitude. I hiked to a wonderful place called Donut Falls. I sat along the shores of the waterfall and enjoyed the scenery around me and dazed off into the bubbling water to let all of the other "noise" in my head be washed away with the sound of the waterfalls. On the hike back, I saw a moose grazing in some marshy lowlands and another near-by creek. I was so excited to see the moose, I think it's the first moose that I've seen in Utah!

Yeah, there's no question about it, I'm inspired by nature; but I'm also inspired by good music, volunteers, and 1000s of other tiny little moments that enrich this wonderful journey that we call life.

So, I ask again, what inspires you?

TOMORROW IS...

EARTH DAY!!!

In Celebration of Earth Day, You should....

GO HUG A TREE:

MAKE SOME BEAUTIFUL ART:
(thanks Amber!)

OR, READ THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY BY A VERY INSPIRING WOMAN: http://christinekane.com/blog/take-a-walk-in-your-heart/

A Wonderful Day is Coming!!!

Hey Everyone, Earth Day is soon approaching, WooHoo! A Day to Celebrate Mother Earth, the beautiful world around us and appreciate the wonders of Nature.

In celebration of Earth Day, I'm wondering how everyone else is going to celebrate? A picnic in Peace Park perhaps? Reading a book under a tree? Doing some planting? Picking up trash along hiking trails? What are YOU doing, I want to know and I want you to share with the rest of us.

Does anyone have a piece of art to share? Email me (susanjanae8@gmail.com) some Earth Day art, stories, celebrations, etc. and I will add your wonderful creations to The Sunshine Journal.

Just to get everyone started, here's a painting I did that I wanted to share with all of you!

More Poetry Poker Responses!

Here are the latest Poetry Poker responses we've received. The poems were submitted by Stephanie and TJ Smith, mom and son poets. Thanks guys, these poems are Great!

Pure sunshine filters down through the trees,
Casting dappled shadows in muted colours onto my face and hands.
Pure sunshine filters down through the trees,
Casting warm shapes of pure happiness onto my skin.

-By Stephanie Smith


When the sunshine is out I think of you all day.
I hope you have lots of fun in all you do and say.
Wherever you will be I'll be there to care.
You're the best in all my life, especially our love in the air.
You have a tree in your garden, which lots of birds like to use.
You have bird feeders hanging from it, for all the bird's food.
All the colours in a rainbow, they make me think of you.
Your hands touch me in most loving ways, gentle in all they do.

-By TJ, age 6

Poetry Poker Response

Colleen from solidenergy was the first to reply to the Poetry Poker Game. Thanks, Colleen, it's a GREAT poem!

Sunshine returns with the Spring,
bringing happiness to the heart,
outdoor work for the hands,
lush green colors to the trees.
Gratitude to sunshine after a long winter.