Friday, October 26, 2012

Sotos Syndrome FUNdraiser at California Pizza Kitchen

We have felt the love, support and prayers of so many as we have been through these past couple of years.  Many of you have asked if there was anything you could do, and here is something you can do:
Please enjoy some food at any California Pizza Kitchen in Utah on November 7th and 8th 2012 and mention that you are there to support Sotos Syndrome.  20% of the proceeds will go to the Sotos Syndrome Support Association.


Sotos is very rare affecting an estimated 1 in every 15,000 -20,000 births, so the chances of interacting with others with Sotos are very slim.  This also means that most of Lucy's doctors have never even heard of Sotos, let alone ever dealt with a patient who has Sotos.
When Lucy was diagnosed, her geneticists told me about the Sotos Syndrome Support Association, and as luck would have it, their annual conference was just two short weeks later... in Vancouver Canada.  It was a whirlwind getting all the arrangements made to get there.   I am so incredibly grateful that we got everything together and made the trip.  There are so many things you can learn from doctors, nurses and hospital staff and there are so many things you can learn from the internet, but being able to learn from other individuals with Sotos and their families and the doctors who have dedicated themselves to studying Sotos is something else.  
When I walked into the conference, all of a sudden, we belonged, the other kids even looked like Lucy.  Many of the other moms would stop and gasp and then want to hold her, it was like we had turned back time and they were looking at their own baby.  They have shared their baby photos and it is fascinating how much they look alike.  
As I attended the classes and met with the doctors and socialized with the other families, so many things started to fall into place and make more sense, the whole picture became more clear.
Needless to say, I love being part of this network.
I feel so much more prepared and supported.  By supporting the SSSA they will be able to continue to provide these services.  

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Deseret Book Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship Program

Last Spring I was featured at a "Lunch and Learn"  at the Deseret Book Flagship Store at City Creek.  My daughter sent one of her paintings with me and everyone loved it so much that they asked both of us to paint blocks for the Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship Program auction. 

We had so much fun working on these in my studio together.  I love how simple and sweet Grace's turned out.  I kept looking at hers and it made me keep working and working on mine because I wanted it to feel more like hers!  I love how they both turned out, you really ought to go see them in person.





There are many wonderful little paintings that will be auctioned off from many great artists.  I feel honored to be among them.

Participating Scholarship Bock Artists:

Annie Henrie Cristall Harper
James Christensen Brian kershisnik
Ben Behunin Howard Lyon
Amy Tolk Richards J. Kirk Richards
Sarah Samuelson Grace Samuelson
Linda Curly Christensen Robert A. Boyd
Scott Sumner Robert T. Barrett
Jenny Elizabeth Shirley McKay Britsch
Justin Kunz Julie Rogers
Christopher Young Mary Summerhays
Sandra Rast Cassandra Barney
Elandra Garbett Glenda Gleave
Rose Datoc Dall           Jennifer Thompson
Liz Lemon Swindle

I told my daughter that it is amazing for her to be included in such a list as a five year old, to which she replied, "I was a four year old when I painted it"  She makes me smile.  I am glad we got to do this.




The auction runs from October 26th through December 10th.  100% of the proceeds will go to the 2012 Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship program.


To bid contact Linda Howard: 801-328-8191
lindarubyhoward@gmail.com.

Monday, October 22, 2012

tiny shiny tulips


Here is a tiny painting I recently did, interestingly, painting little doesn't necessarily mean painting faster, sometimes I spend more time on a little one than I do on a bigger one.
This one has metallic gold and silver and some glitter too.