The Wolf Within

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Terms of Service are always available if you need them in my side bar.

Sorry I have been missing in action..the little one is finished school...for both me and him..that means a big load of stress of our minds..and we have been just enjoying it...

He hates school..smiles...and I am not to fussy about them either up there..

We managed to make some small progress...but in true reality a parent should not have to advocate so hard..to get basic care and things others are trained to do..done..

Sammy has not had a speech thearpy in two years..

he has not had a educational assessment done in two years..not a speech assessment done..

but promises have been made ...to have them done at the beginning of the year..

I am not sure..if I want him returning to that school..I have my reasons..but have the summer to think about it all..and now just want to enjoy him...and forget..it for a bit..

Wolf Within..my dear hubby...loves wolves...him and sammy's recreation area are full of them

For a few years I used to paint wolves for gifts..at christmas time..they are pretty popular around here....but the more I got into digital art..the more...I let go of my regular painting..and then I challenged myself to do a digital tole painting of one of my favorite poses...and I dug it out the other day..and created it into a paper set to share with you..

In my mind it was a bit of a challenge ...as to what frames and elements would go with such a paper...so I left it as is...and hope that it can be something..that you will have other things..that you can use to create with it...hope you enjoy..it...and the wolve spirit..that I think lives somehow with in us all in harmony with mother earth..

Walk softly on mother earth..for it is tomorrow our children's

I should be around a bit more this week...and have some other goodies to share..

Thank you ..to the lovely ladies who kindly give of their time to list freebies..they are diamonds in our gardens..and thank you to all my visitors...and all of you who unconditionally leave me kind words...you are special...and thought of as I create things to share..

Thank you with all of my heart..for our days and nights are brighter just by having you in my world...

Enjoy..and see you soon!

Joanne

Purple Shades of Summer

Purple Shades of Summer...

done..by Lois..

you can visit her gallery here..

to leave her some love

Lois did this as a challenge...

and I was so thrilled to see how wonderfully creative she did this..she did a beautiful job..and thank you for sharing it with me..I could not do such a wonderful layout..as this.

It is so nice to see something you made being used...kind of gives a girl a little pick me upper..when the day had been all the routine of what being a mother and wife..is about..and then..when you get a sweet little comment..and get to see..something you made being used..it sort just makes a girls day...

Thank you Lois for sharing a part of you..with us..and you did a beautiful job...with this lovely layout...Joanne

Inspirational Week

Click on Picture to view Full Size

Credits: Paper, Tape and Photo Frame from Lara Payton

available at DustyBear

Doodle Stars Freebie from Lisa Whitney's Yahoo Group

Visit here blog to join..

She sells at Scrap Artist

Font: Kgd Creative Scribbles from Kimberley Geswein

Kid...Proudly Mommas and Daddy's

It has been an inspirational week...

thank you for making it so special for Sammy and me too...smiles..

Sammy for a few days..was checking his comments..ever few seconds..but like most kids..after a few days...he slowed down with it..but we saved them and will print them off..from both 4 shared and blogger to put into this years scrap book...Thank you so very much for those beautiful special moments of happiness and excitement in our garden...

How Beautiful is That...

See how inspirational that was for him..and me too!

Okay that was the first inspiration this week..

Absolutely Beautiful You all Are so Special

Thank you.. Silvia and to Ikea Goddess for being so special to bring folks together to enjoy each other...that in my book is pretty cool..and if I missed someone..please forgive me and just let me know..as I would not want to miss thanking you.

Inspiration Two

The Amazing Paul Potts

Hear him..Here

I am like Paul Potts..with my art..his words are really my words in with a different..passion...maybe that is where we go when it hurts and we are little children..

I think God watches over us...somehow...Sammy too!

Sammy loves to sing...will sing in his room..and his momma..silently listens to him..and he don't miss a word...but he can't say his alphabet..or a nursery rhyme completely..and I blame the school for that..you see my Sammy is a diamond...but the people who work with him have written him off as not being able to ever succeed in life..accomplish anything..they don't believe in him...

So Paul Potts..you are our hero!

Inspiration Three

A special Friend sent me this ..

and I thought it was so special...I wanted to share it with you too.

Why do I always have to be the one that starts to do laundry and there's no detergent? I guess it was time for me to do my "Dollar Store" run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox.

So off I go. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?" "My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.

"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Hal." "Hal like Halloween?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?
"How old am I now Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someones attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a "Blue Rose" and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.
She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?" Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a "daffodil or maybe even a dandelion," but I sure love living in God's garden.

Pastor Hal Steenson - This real life story took place July 12, 2006

Now awhile back I promised a freebie from my post Cat Attack

which is just about down to the end of the page at the moment..or click on Cat Attack to view it..

I put the items in the pkg...seperately...as ..a tab, wordart, ribbon groupie, paper, accent and tag.

They are 300 ppi and in psd format .. created in psp so will open in psp..as well.

Hope you like them and have fun creating with them when you need them.

We have been following Paul Potts news stories and what ever we can find on him..and watching his blog..for updates as they promise them first..

we are loving it..man he has the voice of an angel..

I will be back in a few day...

Happy Father's Day...to all our wonderful men..who stand by us..as we cherish the most precious moments in our life..

I have to say...I am very lucky..for Mario...he is the best father..and his son adores him.

Happy Father's Day...Mario..

Download Cat Attack Here

I will be back soon..have some year end meetings this week..and we are making...small progress...which is a good thing...oh my why do I think of Martha when I hear myself say that.

Thank you for Your patience and a grab bag freebie

You can rest assured when I am gone for a little bit like this..that I am busy doing something..to improve the quality of life for my child..in some form of letters or phone calls in hopes to improve his chances at growing up to become as productive member of society as he can be.

In Labrador..that means many changes have to happen within the health care system and education system in order for him to have those opportunities to do so...leaving here is not a financial option for us.

There are no charity groups or Groups to compensate in a rural area..like in major centers.

There was a recent story in our local paper ..one that in my opinion told it like it really is..for children facing mental and physical challenges..You can read about the story here..and what the family talks about is the truth...Compared to other parts of Canada and the world..what the special children of Labrador get is almost comparable to a third world country. Provincial cut Backs in Health Care and Education are severely having an impact on the future of our children..and they are growing up not being given the opportunity's to become productive members of society..and a future burden to a already over burdened social care system..and will become resented..for being such a burden...(update, the original article has been removed from their site I am planning on emailing them to ask permission to put it on here.

The Labradorian

I was approached by a reporter to do a story regarding things that have happened and are happening to my boy..after hours of reviewing..reports and documents I have written in the last years..I felt so deeply saddened by it all and felt as though I had failed to protect him from people I should have been able to trust.

It was very difficult and painful to look at the battles we have faced..I sat with the reporter..for a few hours..but later that night declined to do a article as I felt it was not in my child's best interest..and the article would not depict the whole picture..which is far greater then just the school board..but lack of funding to attract professionals to work in a rural area.

We are in desperate need..for speech pathologist, educational specialist, nurses, doctors..and there is not enough money going to these things to attract them to come here, which is very sad. There is a need for missionaries and Charity's to get involved, a big brother organization and many many other things..such is the way of rural living in Labrador and Rural Northern Canada.

I opted instead to write yet another letter to the school...At first I thought it would do not good...but when I looked back at a twenty one page report I did..two years ago..when my child went missing in -28 degrees of weather..in February month...from school...with no hat, coat, mitts on..and I was called at my place of work and told he was missing from school..I realized that I had indeed made small changes and showed I was trying hard to communicate with them in a positive way despite the fact that my child could have died..that was very hard, to tuck away the anger I felt at that time and be positive.

When he went missing that time..and they called me..at work.

I asked where is he..they told me that they did not know..that he was off school premises and not there responsibility, now how a nine year old child with left hemiplegic cerebral palsy gets off school premises, who cannot walk very easy when he is supposed to be with a student aid at all times is beyond me but only an indication of the quality of care he gets in school.

We took him out of school after that for over a week....and that was the last time he went missing from school.

Prior to that when he was seven, there were more incidents with him going missing - one time he was found him on the bridge trying to find his way to his mommas work and a young girl in town found him there and took him to me. He was supposed to be on the special needs bus coming home...it has been a long hard experience...his education is sub standard compared to the capital of our province or the rest of Canada .. small .. success's have been made.

The school now has a special education and life skills room.

They are still not wheelchair accessible..but there to...are our hopes for future change...but when I go missing this is what I am at.

Sammy is my first priority.

I let Sammy pick out what to share today...and did a grab bag of what he picked..you won't be disappointed..he likes bright colors..and says all women like flowers momma...

You can download Sammy's Grab Bag of Goodies Here

Thank you for all the lovely comments..you are appreciated and give me happiness and sunshine....and make life easier just by being in it..thank you so much for that...

Thank you to Silvia for listing me.

Thank you to Ikea Goddess for listing me.

Thank you to Selena for listing me

and to others who may have promoted my blog spot that I may not know about..

A New Red Alpha

Download here

I was so encouraged by the comments left so far about the oriental red kit..that I dug into things I was working on and uploaded this lovely alpha I had done in orginally another color..I love the weathered wood and worn glass look...and of course it was done with another one of Larabies wonderful fonts...link in the side bar..

Thank you for that feedback.

Hope you will like this as well..see you have taught me red is cool...smiles..some mentioned tia chi pictures..I would have never thought of that...what a great idea..!
Thank you to Siliva and Selena and any of you who listed my blog...it is so appreciated that you help people find there way here.
Tomorrow is Sammy's Medical Review with the visiting Janeway Rehabilitation Team...and we have like...10 appointments with visiting specialist in one day..the full routine..speech, physio, ot..medical..you get the picture..smiles...so I am off now to get myself and sammy ready to be prepared...for tomorrow..they only come here once a year..so don't want to miss anything..that needs to be addressed for him...
Enjoy..and have a lovely evening..or day..what the case may be..
Joanne

Little Girls Garden Layout by Carole

I just love this wonderful collage Carole shared with me. You can see her gallery at this link here.

Please leave her some love in her gallery..this is what this kit is all about...all about our memories..as we grew up..how we became the women that we are..and why...?

In this photo you can see how she laughed and played..the smile in her face...that inner smile..

thank you for sharing your lovely layout with us Carole...you did a beautiful job.

Oriental Red

Download Here.

This is a mini set and much darker then I use personally..but can be recolored..for those that like it..and hey..just because I am not a red and black lady..don't mean I should not create...other colors...for you..to enjoy..too..smiles...

Set includes papers, alpha and elements

font used in kit..is jandles..of course another one of larabies...gifts to us in the digital scrapbooking world...thank you larabie...link in my side bar...

To those of you...that leave me comments...

you all make me so happy..you are all important to me..you all inspire me...and give me something to look forward to ...you teach me..you heal me...you make me smile...and you help me heal..you are a gift and part of the 10 % of this world ...that leaves comments...and treasured in every way...while I can still be at home with my boy..by my side and do something..with others the same time

Please bookmark my site..

I am not alway listed..and would love you to find your way back here..

I do try to do a post once a week..but sometimes a little late...when I am busier with medical appointments and concerns with Sammy...but I am not going away anywhere and want you to still be able to enjoy...when I do share..

I did this today for Sarah..it was Sarahs Birthday May 31st. This is Sarah's favorite colors.Happy Birthday...Sarah..sorry I am late..I fell asleep this evening and just woke...up..my whole family has had the flu this past two weeks..and neither of us are recovering from fast..I swear these viruses are just getting harder and harder to get over when we get them. My family is in the 3rd week of it..and only today is it starting to break up a bit in our ears and chest...

I feel bad I fell asleep and did not get this up on time as I had intended...please forgive me...

I will be back in a day or two..to catch up on some layouts and questions...thank you for your understanding..and for the red and black lovers..hope you will enjoy this little bit of oriental ...Joanne

I also have a link for those of you that cannot open rar files..I actually have two links..one little program I used lots...called zipalot..and the other a freeware version of winrar..

you can read more about these programs..at their web sites listed below this post..

Little Girls Garden is almost half a cd...and I compete in the house with internet time...it would take me over a week...to reupload it..which will not..allow me...to do any other work when on my computer..as my computer is very old and slow...lol...I mean I am still using psp 7...talk about boonies girls...but hey..I can push that little program to it's max...smiles..

be back in a day or two...thank you ...to all the girls who kindly include me in their freebies list..and to those of you who visit..and enjoy my little blog..I do have some surprises up and coming..I just work a little slower then the rest..and..well ..my little boy..always comes first..and where sammy has cerebral palsy..he do require more care..then some other children...he is my reason for being here...and being with you...too..

have a nice evening...Joanne

Links for programs..

http://www.ractive.ch/gpl/zipalot.html

http://rarlab.com/download.htm