Out in the Field: A Season of Gratitude and Grace

It’s funny how a simple outing can remind you of the path you’ve walked. At the Farmers Market last weekend, a woman stepped toward my table wearing a small pin that said, “Make America Kind Again.” Before we exchanged a word, that message set the tone for the morning. Moments later, another visitor told me she remembered standing in line with her mother at my studio decades ago, waiting patiently for my annual print giveaway. And then, at Fleet-Plummer, longtime friend Steve Hassenfelt walked up, asked about the Honor Card, listened, and quietly made a generous donation—no card, no print, no fanfare. Just kindness.

Those encounters reminded me that after thirty-eight years, this small $5 gesture still meets people exactly where they are. Whether at a bustling market, a beautiful gift shop, or a community garden club, I continue to be humbled by the people who step forward—not for the art, but for the mission behind it. And none of it happens alone. Cheryl Brandberg and Melinda Billings from CHS, along with my talented associate Joy Ross, make these events possible. They stand beside me, carrying the mission with the same heart I’ve poured into it since 1988.

Three Reflections From the Road

1. The Greatest Generosity Often Comes From the Least Expected

Some friends greet me warmly and move along. Others—quiet, unassuming—reach into their pocket to buy a card I’m not even sure they can afford. That spirit moves me every single time.

2. The Stories Run Deeper Than I Realize

When someone tells me they once stood in line with their mother to get a print from my studio, it sends a wave of gratitude through me. This program has touched generations—far beyond anything I imagined.

3. Kindness Still Leads the Way

A woman handing me a kindness pin… a donor who gives anonymously… a neighbor offering $5 because “every bit helps.” These are the reminders that goodness is still alive and well—and it shows up in the smallest gestures.

A Grateful Takeaway

For 38 years, I’ve simply tried to scatter the seeds of an opportunity—one $5 Honor Card at a time. The price has never changed. The heart behind it hasn’t either. I’m merely a voice, and the good Lord’s hand has been on this effort from the beginning. To see it continue—year after year, generation after generation—is something I never take for granted.