Welcome to Inspire Me Monday
A place to share your creative inspirations
Sharpen your creative vision and
Showcase your creative talents!
I invite you to inspire others and
Nurture your creative spirit by
Joining our Creative Blog Hop!
To participate, simply join my creative community and
Follow the guidelines at the end of this post!
What’s Inspiring You This Week?
Here’s What’s Inspiring Me…
Thought For The Day
Walk where your heart leads you,
There are no restrictions and no burdens.
Gao Xingjian
Novelist, Playwright,
2000 Nobel Prize For Literature Recipient
Art by Gao Xingian
Freedom
This week, I have been thinking about
The glorious freedoms
We often take for granted in our daily lives.
The freedom to think…
The freedom to express ourselves…
The freedom to create…
I am thankful for these freedoms
And reminded that not everyone enjoy these freedoms.
I was recently moved by the
Poignant story and heartfelt performance of
Nigerian native Nelson Emokpae –
Better known as Nelson’s Echo – on The Voice.
Nelson fled to America with his mother and his brothers as a teenager
Because their lives were in danger.
They had to leave his father, who was
Wrongfully imprisoned in a country filled with political unrest, behind.
Nelson says that the moment he came to America,
Everything changed.
“As we walked into the land of America,
I had this distant voice of
Land of opportunity and dreams.”
The name Nelson’s Echo is based on the premise that
Music is a two-way street and the audience is the echo.
I hope you enjoy the Nelson Echo’s blind audition of
Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone as much as I did!
The Berlin Wall – In Los Angeles
The Fine Art And Ramblings Of Lisa Isabella Russo
Did you know that you can see sections of the
Actual Berlin Wall in Los Angeles?
I didn’t until Lisa Isabella Russo shared these
Fabulous photos and the story with us!
Lisa writes:
The Wall Along Wilshire features ten sections
Of the original Berlin Wall.
Measuring nearly forty feet wide,
It is the world’s longest stretch
Of the Wall outside of Germany!
The Wall Along Wilshire was assembled in 2009
As a component of The Wall Project…
And is part of the Wende Museum’s permanent collection!
For more facts and photos, be sure to visit Lisa’s blog!
Book Of The Week
Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic
When was the last time you woke up and
Thanked God that you were able to get out of bed,
Stand on your own two feet and
Wrap your arms around someone you love?
If you’re like most people,
You probably take these gifts for granted.
It’s hard to fathom living in a world without limbs.
It’s harder still to imagine thriving in the world without them.
And yet, that is what Nick Vujicic does.
Nick was born without arms and legs and yet,
He has found a way to inspire people all over the world
With his message of passion, encouragement and faith.
To learn why Nick is Unstoppable,
Check out my book preview and video!
Banned Books Week – 30th Anniversary
September 30 – October 6, 2012
Banned Books Week is an annual event that
Celebrates the freedom to read.
Create With Joy supports an individual’s freedom to
Seek and express ideas,
Even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular!
I encourage you to visit the American Library Association
To learn why books are banned and to
See some of the literary gems that are on the
Banned And Challenged Classics list!
How many banned books have you read?
Highlights From Week 38
Honey And Chocolate Cake
Something Sweet – Winnie’s Blog
Beloved Baker Winnie says that
This scrumptious cake is perfect for
The High Holidays or year round!
Patsy – Heartworks – Shine On!
What do you reflect on as you create?
Patsy from Heartworks reflects on God’s Word!
This week her creations are inspired by Luke 8:15:
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
They are the ones who,
When they heard the Word,
Embrace it with a generous and good heart,
And bear fruit through perseverance.
What Does It Mean To Be Holy?
Chronicles Of Grace – Kelli Woodford
While Patsy reflected on God’s Seed, the Word,
Kelli wondered what it means to be holy.
Her conclusions may surprise you.
I encourage you to read her thought-provoking essay…
And to join her in her ongoing journey of thankfulness!
September Sketchbook Challenge – Patterns
The Storybeader’s Journal
I know that we are saying goodbye September,
Hello October…
But challenges are timeless, and the
Storybeader’s artwork was too beautiful not too share!
Talent is timeless.
For more fabulous features,
Visit my creative friends at
Inspire Me Monday – Week 38!
Inspire Me Monday #39 – Week Of October 1, 2012
I like the idea of Inspiration Monday.
Monday’s often get the short end of the stick
But they are fraught with potential!
Judy Palmer
Now it’s time to share your inspirations! You can participate in Inspire Me Monday in the following ways:
1) Share “What’s Inspiring You” by creating your own Inspire Me Monday post! You can include any creative challenges you’ve discovered – any books or quotes you love – any bloggers who have inspired you – anything that has inspired you and will inspire us too!
2) Share your creative projects with us! You’re welcome to link up your Arts & Crafts projects – your Recipes – your DIY, Home Décor and Organizational Ideas – your original Writing, Music & Photography – you get the idea!
3) Visit the participants – share some comment love – let them know what’s inspired you!
When you link up, be sure to include the Inspire Me Monday button and a link back to this post on all of your entries so that your readers can join the fun! The blog code is on the side bar if you need it!
Be sure to link directly to your Inspire Me Monday Posts and Creations using the permalink to the individual posts – not your blog’s home page URL – so that participants can easily find and comment on your creations!
The party will remain open all week so have fun sharing – inspire me with your comments – and please, use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!
Thank you so much for hosting!
Have a wonderful and inspiring week!
Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless!
Thank you for hosting. Inspiring features this week!
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/unending-bending.html
I think this is my first visit to you; I hope I’ve followed the rules!
Thank you for hosting; I’m one of your newest followers! Have a great week!
Nancy
Thanks for hosting and have a fabulous week!
Miz Helen
Twitter: Organizedisland
says:
Hello! Oh I love watching the Voice and I live near Los Angeles and did not know about the Berlin Wall! It was a hectic September for me and I am looking forward to a more stable (and hopefully cooler) October. Thanks for hosting!
thanks for hosting have a wonderful week
Yes, I too sometimes take freedom for granted. Thanks for hosting this week. Aloha, Lori
Hi Ramona,
Wonderful features from last week and a very thought provoking post. I’m joining everyone today with my autumn rake project. Thank you for hosting this lovely party.
I have never appreciated the freedoms we have in America more than when my father, who defected from Hungary in 1956, recounts the oppression he lived through under communism. My brother and I were able to take a trip back to Budapest with him last September…what a wonderful and humbling trip! There was a sculpture of the iron curtain there that I will never forget. It’s so easy to take our liberties for granted, but so important that we don’t!
Thank you so much for your thoughts and inspirations!
This week I’m sharing my recipe for Grain-Free Chocolate Muffins. Made with golden flaxseed meal and coconut flour, these muffins are moist, delicious and guilt-free!
Happy Monday! Thanks for hosting this inspiring party :))
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
Twitter: apriljharris
says:
Wonderful features, and so much inspiration! Thank you for hosting!
Thanks for hosting Ramona!
Oooooh such cool places to visit, recipes to try! Love this hop. Thanks for hosting and have a great week.
Thank you sooooooooooo much for featuring my Honey-Chocolate Cake
I’m very honored 🙂
Thanks for another great party and hope you have a wonderful week!
Hola! Absolutely amazing inspirational content here! Will definitely be looking for the release of the book Unstoppable! I invite you to link-up with my Soul Food Monday-An Inspirational Link-up! I always say the more the merrier and sharing is always caring!
I’ve already linked-up with yours! Tootles!
~SimplyyMayra
Thanks for hosting! Have a great week 🙂
Michelle
Twitter: artbylr
says:
Hi Ramona, thank you so much for featuring my post on the section of the Berlin Wall that’s here in Los Angeles! I’m thrilled you found it interesting. I love your piece by Gao Xingian, it’s so lovely!
So much inspiration here! I love the thought on freedom.
thank you so much for hosting. This book of the week must be incredibel to read…
Thank you for hosting!!! Have a nice day
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
You too! 🙂