Gifts

We're going to do something a little different this time, friends. Janet Lee Stinson has volunteered to guest blog for us. Janet Lee is a shining star in the SHAMc Collective and we are so honored to have her words here. 

Janet Lee has written a blog about her experience at LuWOW, SHAMc's most recent fundraiser at Earthscapes Garden Room in Palm Harbor. The event was magical, and if you read Janet Lee's blog, you'll understand why. 

So, here's a little bit about our current guest blogger. Then you can read the first 2 paragraphs of her blog. We didn't post the whole blog post here, because we want you to have the gift of discovery yourself. You'll see what I mean when you read and click through to her site. It's beautiful. You may need a tissue or two. You've been warned. 

Bio: Janet Lee Stinson grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When her first career (professional ballerina) fell through because of an injury she decided to work with teenagers as a high school English teacher. For several years, Janet Lee taught inner-city students from the Washington, DC area. She met her Canadian husband, Brian, (an Airline Pilot) in 1998 and the couple moved to Ontario, Canada. Janet Lee spent the next thirteen years teaching, consulting, speaking, writing and shoveling snow. This spring, Janet Lee and Brian sold most of their belongings headed for an exciting Floridian chapter in their lives. Brian commutes back and forth to Toronto maintaining his Airline Captain position while Janet Lee continues her education consulting work as moderator and writer for Nelson Education's WeInspireFutures.com professional website.

Janet Lee is inspired by the growing Safety Harbor writing scene and SHAMc project. Since arriving in the area, she has enjoyed attending/supporting local Safety Harbor events, the Safety Harbor Writer's and Poet's Group and basking in the sun of her new life as a professional writer by the Bay. Janet Lee's personal blog site, This Side of the Mirror is a place to reflect on life and teaching and why it all matters. 

Last weekend, I attended a very special Hawaiian themed fundraising party called LuWow. This party was held in an enchanted garden amongst tropical trees and babbling brooks. I was pleased to see familiar faces dressed in Hawaiian garb. I knew it was going to be a lovely evening, but I did not know that I was going to receive a gift from a delightful seven year old named Elena.

Elena arrived with her Dad. She was dressed in a teal polka dotted dress with little black shoes. She had several Hawaiian Leis around her neck and on top of her head she wore pink blinky lights. These lights are a staple at these kind of events. They come in many different colours and have white lights inside each tendril. It is a happy kind of headdress that helps you to stand out at any party in the Safety Harbor area. I have hesitated to purchase these blinky lights for myself because I never knew what colour would be the best or how I might look in this extravagant head dress. Tonight was going to change all that. Read more here....