As a young boy growing up, my father told me that I must provide for my family by working hard to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. These were values he learned during his youth.

I grew up to learn that there is more expected when raising a family. Such as teaching them how to give love, receive love, and communicate with spiritual love. Being a husband and a father is something you work on every day by acknowledging your wife and children with simple words; good morning, I love you, have a blessed day! Let them know how important they are in your life by being an example of spiritual love.

Your wife should be your focus everyday. Make sure she feels your love during the good and during the bad times of your relationship. I personally learned the hard way…by doing the opposite and then losing her after twenty five years. The following statement is so true: “You don’t know what you have until you’ve lost it”. I didn’t realize Gods gift to me until after I lost her. You should love your wife with the same passion you felt when you first seen her. Your heart felt love when you kissed her for the first time.

So how did I lose my one? I do believe the reason why I lost her is that I started focusing on loving worldly things, living of flesh, and stopped living spiritually. I remember telling my children, “Keep your relationship with love, and remember to continue dating throughout your relationship.” How sad to say, buy I never took my own advice. If I could turn back the time, I would tell her how beautiful she is, embrace her with a kiss, and tend to her needs everyday. I would not follow in the foot steps before me and instead use the principles that create a loving relationship.

I started to focus on my needs, which separated me from my wife and children. This is why it is so important to have spiritual guidance in your relationship. With spiritual guidance your relationship receives love, joy, peace, forgiveness, understanding, and commitment. Everyday is a challenge and life’s journey may have many difficulties, but love endures all. Love your spouse like you would want to be loved. Men are the leaders of their house, and everyone looks to them for guidance. We must lead them with spiritual love and guidance so as to create a Godly Loving Home. It is never too late to change but you must be a willing vessel to except change, so that you may recover what you lost in time. Spiritual growth allows others to see the change within you.

‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.’
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Paul Romero

It’s early morning and the alarm clock has been going off and on for the last twenty minutes. Your arm and the snooze button are equally tired from repetitive use. The sun is barely peeking over the horizon and you are awake enough to know that you have no other option at this point but to rise out of bed. It’s a quick shower and you are off to work to take on the day. It is now mid morning and the only thing that you crave more than a nap is lunch time. You turn to energy drinks and coffee to increase your energy but it only lasts so long. Sound familiar?

A simple definition of fast fasting is the act of going without food or drink for varying lengths of time. Your first meal of the day, regardless if it is at noon or mid-afternoon is your breakfast. You are “breaking” your “fast” from the last previous meal you had before sleeping that night. It is important that you break the fast each morning for the following reasons:

Breakfast  

If you were raised in a family like mine, you may have heard such things around the breakfast table. “If you don’t eat your breakfast you will stop growing.” “If you don’t eat your breakfast, Santa Clause will eat the Easter Bunny.” These may be exaggerations, but the message isn’t. Breakfast sets the pace for your day and may help you with making better decisions about food choices throughout the day.

Metabolism

Instead of wearing out your snooze button on your alarm clock, try pushing another button. A quick meal replacement is better than skipping breakfast. Pull out the blender and add a scoop of quality protein mix, milk and fresh fruit and start blending. By starting your day with a nutritious breakfast, you may fire up your metabolism to be more efficient at burning fat throughout the day.

Energy

That fifteen minutes spent hitting the snooze button won’t give you extra energy.

Starting your day with quality calories may give you more energy and help you to not feel sluggish come midmorning. An increase in energy may lead to an increase in activity which will help burn calories. That fifteen minutes spent hitting the snooze button won’t give you extra energy.

Here are some healthy breakfast meals that are quick to make:

1. Oatmeal
2. Mixed      Fruit Salad
3. Eggs  (Made to your liking)
4. Protein      Drink/Bars
5. Smoothies

Don’t let Santa eat the Easter Bunny. Set a good example for your kids. A healthy nutritious breakfast for your kids may improve learning and cognition. A good quality breakfast may cut down on a child’s desire to snack throughout the day and in the afternoon.

For more fitness and nutrition tips, follow John at http://www.fittrainer1on1.blogspot.com

Designed by Suzie Shinseki, courtesy of iLoveToCreate®

Start a spending freeze and save your coins in the Duncan® Oh Four® Tiny Tot Chilly Bank. Concepts® Underglazes and Duncan® Fired Snow gives this adorable arctic animal a look that’s a twist on the traditional tuxedo.

Materials List

New Bisque Designs

Tot Chilly  Bank 4 x 4 x 5.86

Tools

TL 411 Stylus

TL 420 Palette Knife

Fired Snow

Duncan® Concepts® Underglazes for Bisque and Majolica

CN 032 Bright Butternut

CN 122 Bright Nautical

CN253 Dark Blue

CN 507 Neon Red

CN 512 Green Apple

Signature Brushes

SB 802 No. 1 Liner

SB 806 No. 6 Round

SB 807 No. 6 Fan Glaze

Duncan® Pure Brilliance® Clear Glaze

Miscellaneous

Pencil

Container for water

Potter’s sponge

Foil or foam plate for palette

Instructions

1. Wipe ware with damp sponge to remove bisque dust.
2. Paint three coats Bright Nautical to penguin’s head, fins and back. Refer to photo. Let dry after each coat.
3. Paint three coats Bright Butternut to beak and feet. Let dry after each coat.
4. Using Liner brush, paint eyes and toenails with two good coats Black. Let dry after each coat.
5. Dip pencil eraser into the Bright Nautical and gently stamp one dot onto center of penguin’s tummy. Next, dip pencil eraser into the Neon Red and make dots around the Bright Nautical dot.
6. Use the back end of paintbrush handle to make a small dot of Bright Butternut on each side of penguin’s cheeks. Make Neon Red dots around Bright Butternut dots. Let dry.
7. Use Liner brush loaded with Apple Green and brush leaves on flippers and leaves on penguin’s back.
8. Make more pencil dots to create Neon Red flower with Bright Butternut center on back of penguin just above the tail. Add Apple Green leaves on each side below flower. Let dry.
9. Scratch in stem between leaves on flippers and back. Scratch deep enough to ensure the white bisque shows through.
10. Carefully sponge on Pure Brilliance to white areas of penguin being careful not to smudge colors in to the light areas. Let dry. Add a second sponging to entire penguin. Let dry.
11. Use Palette Knife to stir Fired Snow. Use palette knife to apply the snow to top of penguin’s head leaving coin slot open. Add a little snow to penguin’s beak, flippers and toes. Let dry.
12. Stilt and fire to witness cone 06.

NOTE: If desired, fire penguin without the Pure Brilliance at witness cone 06. Once the colors have set, brush one coat of Pure Brilliance to face and stomach (white) areas. Let dry. Apply a second, more diluted Pure Brilliance coat to entire penguin. Firing twice may prevent any smearing of colors when brushing on Pure Brilliance.

www.ilovetocreate.com

Sample Chapter 1

January 15, 2011

(a caregiver’s cheat sheet)

I was motivated to put together a cheat sheet on some things I have recently been forced to learn. I don’t know how useful this will be, but here are my thoughts, in no particular order. And keep in mind that this is a man’s view, so feelings are sometimes optional.

I honestly don’t know how some people do this alone. I truly believe that people can die from falling into the cracks. As well-intentioned as our doctors, nurses and medical institutions are, there are wide cracks that patients can fall into where they suffer in some lonely solitude, waiting for a phone call or a prescription from an overloaded medical professional who, in their own human frailty, forgot, or never wrote.

I function as Carole’s advocate. I force communication between doctors. I build a team. Receptionists know my name. Pharmacists and their staff ask how Carole is when I pick up scripts. Even nurses, technicians, on-call doctors, nurses’ aides, anyone who becomes a part of Carole’s care for more than a few minutes is brought up to speed, and is made to feel a part of the treatment. There is no one of insignificance in my wife’s treatment. I try to show respect for their expertise, and in return I get their best efforts.

You have to have mercy on doctors. They’ve spent 12 years of their lives in school getting an MD. As much as they may have a compassionate world view, they only know what they treat, not who they treat. It is up to you to teach them. Speak for your spouse. You’d be surprised at how stoic some people get in front of a medical professional. Tell the doc what YOU saw and HOW she really felt. In many cases, it’s the only honest thing the doc hears in the appointment, especially early in the diagnosis stage.

Guys, when you married your spouse, you didn’t just take her hand in marriage, you got her whole Barbie collection. There is the Happy Spouse Barbie, the Angry Spouse Barbie, the Shy Spouse Barbie, the I Want to Fight Barbie, the I’m Ready to Kiss and Make Up Barbie, etc. We only have a fighting chance when we recognize which Barbie we’re dealing with and act accordingly.

None of that valuable experience helps in this situation.  There is no Barbie for this. You will see your wife, perhaps for the first time, as the naked, vulnerable soul that she really is, and your only purpose in life from that point on is to protect her.

I’m serious. When you actually see how fragile this woman really is, you are born again. You become a new being with a single purpose. You are part warrior, part defender, part comforter, part student, part nurse, but fully focused on one thing: her.

And keep in mind that this new being you have become is disposable. You were designed to survive wounds and stress you never imagined you could withstand. You don’t have armor, but you now have the ability to shed your skin and keep going. Rest for her is recouping strength and healing.  Rest for you is optional.

You have no idea how much strength is inside you. Take my word for it, when you need it, it will be there.

Build a wall around her. Filter who gets in, how long they stay and what they say.  Don’t allow opinion, speculation or ignorance to weaken her. I don’t care how well-intentioned someone is, I don’t want my wife wasting energy listening to miracle cures, trendy diets or local shamans. There is a door to your house. Feel free to use it at this time. Lock it when they leave.

Keep everyone informed with the least amount of energy used by you. Sorry, individual phone calls are out of the question, there are just too many people to update. I use an email list, one email that sends the same message to everyone.  If someone doesn’t have email, then so be it. Ask someone on the list to keep that person informed; your energy needs to be focused on one, not many.

Her care is not an example of democracy in action. Listen carefully and then decide. When it’s their turn, they will understand. Or not.

Manage the meds. She honestly doesn’t remember that she took her pills two hours ago. All she knows is that it hurts.

As much as it may pain others, only you understand her most intimate communications.  The brave face she puts up for friends and family is just a mask, and only you can see through it. Don’t ignore what you see.  Get her to sanctuary, even if she protests.  Sometimes she buys into her own bullshit and denies to herself how much it hurts. Take the beating later, but get her the hell out of there now.  She will only suffer more the longer she stays. And hurting someone else’s feelings in the process of escape is collateral damage, acceptable loss. Don’t try to save everyone, just her.

Your tears are worthless.  They don’t solve anything; they only undermine the strength and trust your spouse sees in you.  If you have to (and you will), do it on your own time and in your own space.

You don’t need to be strong in every moment, just this moment.

The picture at the top of this chapter is my wedding ring.

You Mean, Besides the Cancer? will be available for order January 2012!

For more information on Fresno resident Bob Marcotte (author) and his soon to be released book please visit http://besidesthecancer.org/

A perfect play on creativity, coat this Duncan Oh Four™ Tic Tac Toe in Satin Glazes™ and French Dimensions™ for a fun table accent! Whether you’re entertaining guests or just your imagination, this set is a definite winner!

Materials List

• Satin Glazes®

1. SN 352 White
2. SN 375 Neon Oragne
3. SN 378 Neon Chartreuse
4. SN 380 Neon Purple

• Home Décor Bisque Designs

1. Tic Tac ToeSet 9.75” x 9.75” x 1.5”

• Signature Brushes

1. SB 802 No. 1 Liner
2. SB 806 No. 6 Round
3. SB 807 No. 6 Fan Glaze

• French Dimensions™

1. FD 266 French Papaya
2. FD 271 French Kiwi

• Miscellaneous

1. Foil or foam plates
2. Pencil
3. Water container
4. Sponge

Instructions

1. Lightly wipe ware with a damp sponge to remove any bisque dust.

2. Using a pencil, very lightly sketch the letters on the game board, referring to photo for placement. If desired, print letters in favorite font on computer, then print, cut out and use for tracing. Use pencil to lightly fill each “X” game piece with Xs and each “O” game piece with Os. Refer to photo.

3. Thoroughly shake each French Dimensions™ color. Trace each “O” on “O” game pieces with French Kiwi and each “X” on “X” game pieces with French Papaya. Let dry thoroughly.

4. Pour an amount of each Satin Glaze™ onto foil or foam plate. Add a small amount of water to each glaze for ease of the application and for a smooth fired surface.

5. Using either the No. 1 Liner or the No. 6 Round brushes as needed, apply three flowing coats of each color as follows, letting dry between each coat:
· Neon Orange: all “X” game board pieces and the word “TIC”
· Neon Chartreuse: all “O” game board pieces and the word “TAC”
· Neon Purple: the word “TOE” and the outer band and underside of board
· White: To the background area of the top of board

6. Stilt and fire to witness cone 06.

www.ilovetocreate.com

With the arrival of holiday décor in Costco and the leaves singing their last hurrah in a blaze of autumnal glory we are surrounded by signs that winter is on its way.  But rest assured that you can save your hard-earned bucks for holiday gifts instead of a new winter wardrobe by using these easy tips in order to effectively transition your family’s fall wardrobes to winter!

• Buy basics:  Basics are the building blocks of any wardrobe and consist of the items an individual can use to dress appropriately for most of the life functions (work, play, dress, etc.) they perform routinely.  Focus on buying basics in solid colors using prints, patterns, embellished items and trends as accent pieces.  Solids, and especially those purchased in colors complementary to the individual, create the foundation from which to create a wardrobe and serve as layering pieces as the weather becomes colder.

• Buy quality:  In an economic climate of conservative spending it is easy to become seduced by inexpensive apparel.  Keep in mind, however, the age-old saying “You get what you pay for.”  An item costing $20 which is made poorly and rips, frays or otherwise becomes unusable after two wears costs $10 per wear.  Conversely, an item that costs $80, but is of good quality and lasts for 20 wears costs $4 per wear.  Consider value and the anticipated longevity of the garment in order to make wise purchases, especially when buying basics.

• Buy consistent with a color palette:  Considering the individual’s coloring, focus on purchasing neutrals complementary to the individual’s skin tone and a few accent colors that can be used to make outfits “pop,” but that can also be mixed and matched.  If an individual has cooler skin tones, opt for basics in shades of gray and colors with bluer undertones; if an individual has warmer skin tones, opt for basics in shades of brown and colors with more yellow undertones.  Rather than a closet full of haphazardly purchased clothing in all shades of the rainbow, colors in a wardrobe that compliment both the wearer and each other can be utilized in countless ways to add versatility to a wardrobe rather than wearing the same combinations repeatedly.  And for the ultimate in creating a finished look, buy accessories that bring the colors of the wardrobe together.

• Buy a select few warm pieces:  In the Central Valley we are fortunate to enjoy mild winters.  Most fall wardrobe items will serve as great layering pieces for winter temperatures and provide sufficient warmth with the addition of a warm sweater, jacket or coat.  Invest in a few warm pieces and accessories to reach for when the weather requires, but also which augment the individual’s existing fall wardrobe.  Consider that these pieces will transition easily from year to year if purchased consistent with the tips above.

• Make a daily resolution

The traditional “New Year’s Resolution” often becomes the way one can justify putting off their workout or eating unhealthy during the holiday season. I think we have all made that deal with ourselves that if we fall off the wagon during the holidays, we will make it up to ourselves with an aggressive New Year’s resolution. Instead of the New Year’s resolution, make a daily resolution to yourself to make time to exercise and eat healthy.

• Set a goal

Set a weekly goal of how many times you will exercise and for how long. The holiday season can consume a lot of one’s time. If you are limited on time, consider shortening your exercise time. Instead of one hour of exercise, exercise for a half hour. The important thing is to keep yourself focused on achieving a weekly goal.

• Accountability

If keeping yourself on track is difficult for you during the holidays, find someone to whom you can be accountable. Find a friend you can exercise with or a family member you can call when the temptation to eat due to stress becomes too much. Personal trainers can help you plan and set goals and execute them through the holiday season.

Setting a goal and planning ahead is probably one of the most helpful tools you can use to stay focused on staying fit through the holidays. For more helpful tips for staying fit through the holidays, please visit

www.facebook.com/fittrainer1on1

“Today, parents, you will learn about what most educational experts agree are the essential elements of effective teaching. At the end of our tour you’ll be given a Teacher’s Report Card in order to fairly evaluate any grade school teacher. Are there any questions? Yes… Mr. Harvey.”

“Why bother grading teachers, Mr. Pfrizzle? With teacher tenure even failing grades won’t get you fired. I’m a tax attorney – if I don’t do MY job, I get fired. Teaching is more vital to our country’s future than taxes – why aren’t teachers held more accountable?”

Mr. Pfrizzle fights the urge to roll his eyes. “Yes, I do agree with you that teachers are more important to society than tax attorneys. But in a way, we’re held accountable on a daily basis by that classroom of students. If you don’t keep them engaged in interesting and meaningful learning activities, there’ll be problems! But classroom management is just one part of our job. Much of what a teacher does goes unnoticed – that’s why we’re on this tour. Let’s go dig up some facts about teachin’.”

“Okay parents, everyone, have a seat. Mr. Harvey! PLEASE don’t put your bubblegum in Mr. Stumple’s ear.”

A frustrated Pfrizzle mutters to himself… Geez, their kids are better behaved than they are. Ah… anyway… “Let’s continue our adventure folks!”

“The first stop on the tour is our nation’s capital. Yes, Mr. Harvey, you’re right, that’s Washington DC. No, you can’t have a Jolly Rancher as a reward for answering a question I didn’t ask. But still, good knowledge!”

“As we all know, the best ideas about everything – including education – come out of Washington, right? (I know some of you are grimacing.) That’s probably why the Obama administration is proposing to spend $4 billion – in their words – ‘to identify and cultivate effective teachers.’”

“No, Mr Stumple, effective teachers are not grown like hybrid tomatoes in a green house. But, wow, you really have a creative imagination. Maybe YOU should be working in Washington. As they say in Washington, NO idea is too absurd. Besides, if you dress up any proposal in a $4 billion suit it’s bound to look presentable.”

“Yes Mr. Harvey – you have another question about governmental policy in education? Do I know how many zeroes there are in $4 billion? Mr Harvey, you’re a tax attorney. I’m sure you know the answer is nine. Yes, I know that’s a lot of money. No, I don’t know how far that many dollars lined up end to end would stretch, but I have a feeling it won’t make it to our classrooms here in Central California. Someone should tell Washington we’re sweating just to buy enough pencils and binder paper to last the school year.”

“By the way, Mr. Harvey, if you’d take the bubble gum out of your ears it’d be much easier for you to hear me.” Mr. Pfrizzle mutters to himself… And his daughter is so pleasant… One of my best students. Go figure!

“Okay parents, maybe government doesn’t have all the answers. Let’s go to our next stop. I think you guys are really in for a learning experience.”

The Parent’s Magic School Bus pulls up outside a large glass and concrete building – an educational research facility. “Why is everyone inside so sad?” a curious parent asks. “You’ll understand that far better when your daughter becomes a teenager,” a somber Mr. Pfrizzles informs. “Their sadness comes from years of being ignored.”

Among those sad faces are Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) researchers David Baker and Gerald Letende, who have found from studies on the value of homework dating back to 1994 that “Not only did we fail to find any positive relationships,” but the overall correlations between national average student achievement and national averages in (amount of homework assigned) are all NEGATIVE! Even more disturbing is that further research has shown that the younger the student, the more negative the effect. It seems that kids don’t like pulling double shifts any more than their parents!

“So why are teachers still assigning so much homework?” a concerned parent asks. Mr Pfrizzle can only shake his head. “Tradition… non-existent expectations… fear of being different… It’s just, maybe deep down, we feel that we’re not doing enough during the school day, so we end up putting it back on the kids and parents. It’s really unfair, and it can needlessly cause conflict in otherwise happy families.”

“Okay parents, time to move on. And this time I mean you! Everybody off the bus! We’re going to do some PE!”

“But doesn’t PE take away from academic time, Mr. Pfrizzle?” a perplexed parent asks. “NO! It’s just the opposite! Physical activity is THE essential element in optimum brain performance.”

Mr. Pfrizzle is a big fan of the book “Brain Rules” by molecular biologist John Medina, who presents research that indicates exercise “acts directly on the molecular machinery of the brain itself – it increases the creation and survival of neurons – exercise actively improves cognition.”

“Maybe some of you have forgotten how mind-deadening passive sitting can be,” Mr. Pfrizzle reminds the parents. “Do you pay close attention when you’re bored out of your gourd? Then why would you expect your children to be any different?”

Mr. Pfrizzle hesitates before adding, “According to John Medina, it would be hard to construct a worse environment for learning than your typical classroom!” There is an audible gasp from the parents.

“Maybe we’ve heard enough from the experts, Mr. Pfrizzle,” an obviously distraught parent interjects. “My brain is starting to hurt.”

“But we still haven’t visited the most important of all the educational experts,” Pfrizzle says. He warns, “Don’t you want to hear what they have to say?”

“To be honest, I don’t think I can take in much more,” a tired Mr. Harvey pleads.

“Well, I’m sorry, but you don’t have a choice in this one, parents, because I’m talking about your children. It’s time to get off the bus and ask THEM what makes a good teacher.”

The children are certainly not shy about making their opinions known as to what they think about their teachers.

“I like my teacher, Mrs. Downs, because I know she misses me when I’m not at school,”
says 2nd grader Amy.

“With Mrs. Mitchell I don’t ever worry about asking a ‘stupid’ question. I know she’ll always support me, and she’s never judgmental,” says 6th grader Trinity.

“Mrs. Espinosa is great! Almost NO homework! I’m learning more in her class because we work like a team. Everyone helps everyone, because everybody is good at something. Like, I’m great at art and music, but not so much at math. Anyway, now I’m getting B’s on my math tests ‘cuz I get so much help. I never got help at home like I do in her class. I really feel good about myself because of her!” says 7th grader Tiana.

As the parents and children pile in their cars, Mr. Pfrizzle looks at the “Teacher’s Report Card.” Hmmm… I wonder how I’d grade myself?

The Teacher’s Report Card

This is a 20 item assessment. Each positive response is worth 5 points to the teacher.

1. Regularly engages the students in an activity-based curriculum.
2. Is basically an empathetic and caring person.
3. Uses testing and grades as a tool to guide and inform instruction.
4. Uses technology to augment instruction.
5. Is open and communicative with parents.
6. Freely admits when mistakes are made, and is willing to make corrections.
7. Has an ongoing commitment to improve teaching practices.
8. Does not assign busy work. Does not track long lists of missing assignments.
9. Incorporates at least four hours of physical activity within the school week.
10. Avoids sending home schoolwork that should be done during the school day.
11. Encourages reading outside the classroom.
12. Teaches good citizenship using real life incidents to demonstrate positive character traits.
13. Advocates for victims of bullying.
14. Keeps records of academic growth based on hard data gained from the use of valid assessment tools.
15. Has an active intervention program for those students who have tested below grade level.
16. Uses small group instruction when possible.
17. Actively engages parents’ help in the classroom for activities like literature circles and art projects.
18. Plans and implements meaningful field trips.
19. Takes on “stipend positions” (extra-curricular activities).
20. Does all of the above without a lot of “belly-aching.”

Sarah co-owns Testament Tattoo & Bazinga! Beauty on East Shields Avenue with Josh Newman. The tattoo parlor opened in March 2010 and Sarah began working as Josh’s apprentice, performing her first tattoo on her trusting mentor. Sarah then signed on as Josh’s partner and expanded the shop to include Bazinga! Beauty where Sarah does hair cuts, color, and extensions.

Sarah’s parents are each others’ first loves and continue to have a strong marriage. She has one 16 year old sister, with whom she says she is very close. Sarah’s parents noticed her artistic talents at a young age and arranged for her to receive classical training in the arts from the age of seven until she was 16. She has experience with various artistic media including painting, drawing and sculpture.

As a child Sarah says she was “silly, boy-crazy, and obnoxious.” She was bullied throughout her junior high and high school years for dressing differently and listening to different types of music. Sarah mentioned that although being bullied was very hurtful and at times overwhelming, it motivated her to make her dreams a reality. She says she has always been passionate about art and music. Another of Sarah’s passions is musical theater, as she mentioned that she is “obsessed” with the musical “Rent.”

Sarah graduated from Bullard High School in 2006 and began modeling for bridal runway shows at the age of 17. She then went to the Paul Mitchell cosmetology school and began doing hair modeling. Sarah has also done some work with alternative modeling that features heavily tattooed women.

Sarah did her first tattoo at the age of 22 and says that the most rewarding thing about tattooing is that “I get the opportunity to put a piece of my artwork permanently on a person. Seeing their response – happiness, joy, excitement – that makes me feel good.”

As a Fresno-based artist, Sarah says she is inspired by the art scene in different areas of the city, including the beautiful murals in the Tower District. She appreciates that the city is family-oriented and diverse. As a person who has spent most of her life in Fresno, Sarah says, “I can’t imagine settling anywhere else. This is home to me.”

Sarah also has a heart for charity work and has plans to get the community motivated to join her in her efforts. She wants to get the shop involved by donating part of the proceeds from pink ribbon tattoos to breast cancer research foundations. Sarah also promotes an annual event in the Tower Theatre called “The Pink Show” that donates part of its proceeds from live music and a silent auction to breast cancer charities.

It is inspiring to see a young woman pursue her goals with strength, confidence and compassion. As Sarah-Rochelle Fisher follows her dreams she will continue to inspire the community that helped shape her into the talented young woman she is today.