The Magic of Faith, Loss, and 3:30 PM

There are moments in life that change you—moments when faith meets magic, and you realize you were never really alone in your journey. Last Sunday at 3:30 PM was one of those moments for me.

But before I get to that story, I want to take you back to how all of this began.

How It All Started with Sam

When I lost Sam—my soul dog, my child in every way that mattered—it felt like all the color drained from my life. Grief has a way of making everything muted, gray, and heavy. Picking up a paintbrush again wasn’t about creating art for a wall. It was about survival. It was about finding my way back to the joy and brightness I thought I’d lost forever.

Sam, in his own way, brought me back to painting. Every burst of neon pink, every splash of yellow, every messy texture on my canvas carries a little bit of him—his energy, his love, his playfulness.

The Quiet Doubt

Fast forward to this summer.

I’ve been showing up—at markets, at art walks, online—pouring myself into every piece. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have doubts. There were days when I wondered if my art was too much. Too bright. Too bold. Too different.

Would it ever find its people? Was I painting just for myself, while the world quietly walked past?

The Booth Space Sunday Morning

And Then, Magic

Just when I was starting to lose faith, something magical happened.

Last Sunday, at 3:30 PM, two angels sent by Sam walked into my booth.

They weren’t strangers. R & S had bought a piece from me last year. But this time, they came running—literally—from a camping trip just to see me at the Whyte Ave Art Walk. And within 15 minutes, I was sold out.

Not because they bought “a lot” of paintings (though they did), but because they saw me. They saw my work for what it truly is—a reflection of joy, grief, love, and hope—and they believed in it.

I can’t explain what that moment felt like. It wasn’t about the sale. It was about being reminded that magic can find you at any time. That one “yes,” one unexpected twist, can shift everything you thought you knew.

My Booth at 4:00 pm on Sunday

A Reminder for You

If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve been in a slow or heavy season too. Maybe you’ve been waiting for a sign, a breakthrough, a moment when everything starts to make sense.

Here’s what I know: You are always just one breakthrough away.

The key is to keep showing up—even on the days you don’t feel like it. Keep putting your heart out there. Keep believing in the thing that sets your soul on fire. Because magic doesn’t always come when you expect it, but it always comes to those who don’t give up.

Sam’s Legacy and Stella’s Reminder

Sam gave me the courage to start again. Stella, my gentle golden retriever, reminds me every single day why I keep going. And you—whether you’ve ever bought a painting, left a kind word, or simply stopped by my booth—you are part of this journey too.

Every piece I create carries a story, but it’s your stories that give them life once they leave my hands.

Little Joys from This Week

• The moment of being sold out—not because of numbers, but because of belief.

• The love and support from R & S (my angels), who came running from camping just to see my work.

• The beautiful energy of Whyte Ave Art Walk—the smiles, the conversations, and the connection with each of you.

PS: If you’re going through a slow or heavy season, trust that your Sam moment—your breakthrough—is closer than you think. Just keep showing up.