VACATION TIME IS HERE!


AUGUST IS RESTING TIME FOR ME...

I have my daughter's birthday and my own birthday...and do you know what I have planned for my birthday?  I am so excited!  I have asked the CAV's (Veteran Motorcycle Group, which is huge) if I could join them, and ride on the back of one of their motorcycles (even though I have my own GM (motorcycle) license;

WHY? you might be asking...

They are making a ride for Mental Illness across some of our towns on, what better day, but my birthday (August 14th) to join them and hop on the back of one of their motorcycles.  When I found out about their ride for the cause...I was stoked!

There is no better cause I could be involved in; 2 men in my immediate neighbourhood took their lives last year to the disease and I, myself, suffer from a mental illness.

So, along with my fantastic month of beach time and birthdays, I am hoping to be zoom zooming as part of this most worthy cause, to spread the word that Mental Illness is NOT something to hide in the closet with, but rather something that CAN be talked about openly and freely.  We are good, loving, worthy of love people.  We are creative, intelligent and "NORMAL!"

In fact, it is the talking, and the COMMUNICATION about one's disorder that saves lives!  It is how one comes to embrace their mental illness, in the same way one would embrace their diabetic illness, their cancer or their need to be in a wheelchair. I know that communication saved me...openness saved me...self love and love from others saved me...and of course GOD and....TA DA - MY ART!!! (who could forget that!!!!)

HAPPY AUGUST EVERYONE...IF YOU HAVE A BEACH NEAR YOU...TRY TO FREQUENT IT'S HEALING PROPERTIES!  NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE SAND AND WATER (AND GOD OF COURSE) TO KEEP BALANCE IN ONE'S LIFE.

See you, in September...(I feel like I should be singing that song to you!)

LOVING GOD,
Samara

IS IT TRUE WHAT THEY SAY...


...ABOUT EXERCISE?

Today, I would say so!  I am happy, exhilarated, tickled pink (ahhhh pink) by the new type of exercise I just started.

Bee-see-klette!  OK, bicycle.  I actually went out and purchased a zippy bike!  And am I ever glad I did.  WOW...now to most people this is likely an average purchase, but to this person, who makes their cards for/because/inspired by/doesn't sell their cards...money runs low...and I put out for this cool blue 2 wheeler.  But more cool is this "hat!" I guess the really COOL people call it a "helmet!" lol...  It squishes all my curls into one big mop!!!  I LOVE how it feels...this is one great big sensory experience.  Yipee Doodle...doesn't take much to please me!!!

So today's card is dedicated to CHILLAXING!  You will understand when you see the card, thanks to Taylored Expressions.

Happy cycling everyone!!! But make sure the lemonade is ready after you have endured all that passion that comes from new-found exercise!

Click to enlarge picture

Lovingly Made With...

Copics
Prismas
SU brads
Basic Grey Bling
SU Ribbon
Liquid Pearls
CM Flowers

LOVING GOD
Samara



COLOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE SOUL IS ESSENTIAL...


TO BE FELT
ON A REGULAR BASIS
IN THIS BOHEMIAN GAL'S LIFE!


This past weekend I saw vibrant colors coming from around me, in the shapes of HOPE, LOVE, SPIRIT, DETERMINATION, WISDOM, PRESENCE, TOGETHERNESS, STRENGTH....to name just a few.


These, in my mind...are the colors of the rainbow!  It is what comes to mind, when I see a rainbow, when I feel the rainbow's power penetrate straight into my heart.  This is what I experienced at my first visit at a new Church in town...well, new to me.



MUSIC, SWAYING (at least I was,) SINGING, AND A BAND that had such joy boosting from them.  Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks.  I felt more prayerful than I had in a very long time...and I learned more from the PASTOR'S VOICE THAN I BELIEVE I DID IN MY MASTER'S IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES!  His SERMON hit home...had he been eavesdropping on my heart, inside my head, and spending time with some type of super duper secret Sam Detective Microscope on Little Samara's Life?


Well, I can only imagine many, and I might even wage all people in the seats feel the way I do...as there wasn't a seat to be had 10 minutes before service time! 


I AM FULL OF THE RAINBOW OF LOVE...
AND I PRAY TO PASS SOME OF THAT ON TO YOU
 TOO!

THE LOVE RAINBOW - chalkboard art



THE BUTTERFLY RAINBOW - magazine art
Lovingly Made By Samara With....

FIRST IMAGE
Technique:  Chalkboard
Paper:  Black Stampin' Up!
Pencils:  Prisma Colors
Pen: Gel Pen
Ink:  White Stampin' Up!
Stamp:  Technique Tuesday

SECOND IMAGE
Technique: Magazine Art
Paper:  Basic Grey, Stampin' Up!
Magazine: Lou Lou
Ink: Stampin' Up!
Bling: Basic Grey
Fleurs: Basic Grey
Pearls: Stickles
Gel Pen, Sakura Pens, Stampin' Up! Pens, Prisma Pencils

LOVING GOD,
Samara

IN GOD WE TRUST....


Today, as I was driving from my Boyfriend's House, who himself was with the Military for 28 years, toward my house where I travel under many overpasses, I could not help but be filled with tears in my eyes.

Every bridge was LINED WITH CANADIAN FLAGS waiting for the FALLEN SOLDIERS that will be transported to Toronto.

One's heart is torn apart with each flag that waves in the wind, yet we feel, we believe, we hurt, with each ambulance that has stopped on the bridge with huge Canadian Flags on the back of their vehicles, Police Cars, Fire Trucks with Canadian Flags and Flashing lights, all reaching out in respect of OUR BRAVE.

But what startles me each time, is the comradery I feel to each and every one I see on those bridges - in this town...and in all towns I imagine...as the fallen soldier is "TAKEN HOME."

People wait out in the heat, flags in hand, cars are parked on the on ramps, the off ramps and each individual stands "on guard" with their flag...

WE CARE, WE LOVE YOU, WE BELIEVE IN YOU, WE HONOR YOU,  WE STAND TOGETHER...and we always will...FOR YOU.


My Lord God, give me once more the courage to hope;
merciful God, let me hope once again, fructify my barren and infertile mind.
~Soren Kierkegaard

GRATITUDE....


IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EMOTIONS WE CAN HAVE!

Today, I know that GRATITUDE is fully in place within me.  I looked around me and saw how incredibly fortunate I am.  I looked outside of me and saw how incredibly fortunate other's are in my town, I looked at my garden, and saw the devas growing, the birds singing, my dogs playing, my son and his friend laughing and playing their games and KNOW that GOD is all around us.  WE ARE BLESSED

BY "WE"  I mean all of us....you, me, and all the others!

GOD HAS A PLAN...and we have only to do our part.  We have to feel our feelings, to be true to ourselves, to tell ourselves the truth.  There is no one I know better who has done this than Ann Schach, who has the most wonderful blog...you MUST check it out.  SHE IS A MASTER.

When her dog (GOD BACKWARDS IF YOU NOTICE) passed over to the next room, Ann was about the most honest person I know on her blog.  She allowed us to grieve with her.  She shared her grief.  She didn't hold it away from us.  She invited us in to her life, to her world, to her Missy.  Now this is REAL...and this is what I pray for the world.  That WE CAN ALL BE LIKE ANN, IN OUR OWN WAY!

Today, I attempt to KEEP IT REAL!  Having said that, I want to tell you that each and every day, I worry about my Jordan (25) over in Spain for a month.  My children, as you know, are world travellers.  I try to play it cool about this and just tell you where they are, and celebrate that...but inside I go crazy!   Maybe it is time I let you know this!!!  Their mommy worries so...

I MUST WALK AGAIN THE WOODEN PATH

I must walk again the wooden path;
I must stroll the country land
Where sunsets fall like summer plums
and stardust falls like rain.

I must chase again the firefly
on the honeysuckle vine.
And watch an eagle spread its wings
above the tallest pine.

I must see once more a hummingbird
where hollyhocks grow wild.
And run barefoot through Autumn leaves
like I did as a child.

I must stand atop a mountain
when the valley's white with snow.
And linger there till purple haze
spreads twilight far below.

I must do these things lest I forget
how precious life can be.
I must walk again the wooded path
of quaint simplicity.

CLAY HARRISON

I was reminded by a reading this morning to not "sweat the small stuff" and to "let go of that which I have no control over".  Doesn't GOD tell us this all throughout the New Testament?  We all need someone to remind us who we are.  Do you have that someone?

Please click to enlarge picture

Lovingly Made With...

Paper: Stampin Up
Punch: Stampin Up
Frame: stash
Big Bird: Gift
Flourishes: Gift
Ink: Stampin Spots

If you wish any more details, please EMAIL me at scrappyandhappy@sympatico.ca

LOVING GOD
Samara

AFRICA STILL RULES MY ART....

....STAMP-N-DOODLES monthly DIGIS of Africa still seems to rule my art, though I have some pieces in between that I will begin to show tomorrow.

For today though, I will finish up the Africa series.

THE WORLD WE MAKE
We make the world in which we live
By what we gather and what we give,
By our daily deeds and the things we say,
By what we keep or wwe cast away.

We make our world by the beauty we see
In a skylark's song or a lilac tree,
In a butterfly's wing, in the pale moon's rise,
And the wonder that lingers in midnight skies.

We make our world by the life we lead,
By the friends we have, by the books we read,
By the pity we show in the hour of care,
By the loads we lift and the love we share.

We make our world by the goals we pursue,
by the heights we seek and the higher view,
By hopes and dreams that reach the sun
And a will to fight till the heights are won.

What is the place in which we dwell,
A hut or a palace, a heaven or hell,
We gather and scatter, we take and we give,
We make our world - and there we live.

ALFRED GRANT WALTON
(1998-1970)

This poem means alot to me this week, as it has been a difficult week, and a week of pain for me, having lost a person in my life that was precious.  I realize, like the cross, like Jesus, there is anger, there is "WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME GOD" and on the flip side (like the coin) there is EXTREME LOVE to be found.

I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by friends and by loved ones during this time of pain, to be reminded who I am, to reflect on how important it is to "be the Samara that is gregacious and loving, prayerful and puts everything in God's hands", even the things that I love the most and as well the things that hurt the most.

And this is what I have done.  I gave God my anger (like the Psalms of David) because I know God can handle anger, and God returned to me LOVE.  The love that my friends have been trying to remind me that I always try to bring into other people's hearts.

So this day, this very day, I am so thankful to many people - to the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE - for reminding me who I am...a much better person than I believed I was this past week.  And that it is quite possible to move forward with excitement for the future, in wholeness and serenity, even when loss occurs.

I do believe in giving credit where credit is due!  Jesus and Moses taught me so....

Now onto Africa and some beautiful images...

Thank you Karensinspirations.blogspot.com for the die cut and stamped verse with emboss






Lovingly Made With....

DIGI Main (black and white) Image from Stamp-N-Doodle
For greater details, please email me.

LOVING GOD
Samara

LET'S TAKE IT TO AFRICA!

...WITH SOME STAMP-N-DOODLE DIGI IMAGES!

Without a doubt, these are the digis I have enjoyed the most from Stamp-n-Doodle.  I found myself getting literally lost in the "jungle" whilst making and creating the ART for the DIGI IMAGE that Lynne creates.
What do you think?

If you are interested in having your own copy of the DIGI IMAGE, be sure to pop on by Lynne's site...she has THE AFRICA THEME OF THE MONTH this month!  Very exciting!!!

I SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD
Walking through the breezeway into the parking lot at
my church the other day brought me face to beak with a
beautiful red male cardinal.  He startled me as he darted from
a small tree to the ground for a few seconds and back to the
tree.  Parked to my immediate right was a small, attractive,
bright red sports car...a convertible, yet!  It was a beautiful
tribute to modern engineering and creative ability, but it
couldn't compare with the Creator's creature.  The cardinal
was vibrant, alive; in freedom he was able to fly, to investigate,
to care for his young family, to live the life lovingly given him.
His bright red color was even a distraction for the female's
protection.  The convertible "red bird" looked like fun, but
was no match for the beautiful bird.

Perhaps in those few seconds of comparison, I was being
reminded that too often I take God's creation and love for
granted.  Sometimes the shiny, enticing "things" of this world
draw us in and we miss the real beauty all around us.

Maybe I should take up bird-watching!

BY BETTY ANN LEAVITT
from SERENITY PRAYERS
Prayers, Poems, and Prose to Soothe Your Soul
BY JUNE COTNER













AFRICA DIGI IMAGES:  STAMP-N-DOODLE.COM
All other products from many different Co.
If you have specific questions - please email me.

LOVING GOD
Samara

INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR MY AMERICAN FRIENDS...

I AM SO SORRY I AM A DAY LATE!

I was enjoying this 39 degree temperature with my Oldest Son Jordan, in Toronto yesterday.  He just returned from Israel and Egypt after a month, so we had lots to catch up on, and he is off to Spain for a month's music workshop tomorrow, then school again for his MA in a far away town.

Can you hear me sniffing!!!

All of that was a seque to tell you why I didn't post your INDEPENCE DAY CARDS, THAT YOU MOST TRULY DESERVED TO RECEIVE!

I wish you, I wish your country, and I wish your leaders only the best of love, direction and wisdom in the coming year.

May you all be blessed by the mighty hands above!

GOD SAVE YOUR TROOPS!






Digi Images:  STAMP-N-DOODLE
Artwork:  Moi!

LOVING GOD
Samara