Star-Spangled Honor Bliss 2024 Summer Yard Art by (sexy! & topps!) aka: robert & sandra #bliss
we didn't necessarily plan it out this way; but great timing for memorial day and 4th of july.. then we have a couple more layers to add. our summer fun project. and, my husband can shape-shift like no other.. he converted the cross into a rectangle shape, and to be honest, i just marvel at how quickly and instinctively he decides/arranges/secures the materials.. and we both enjoyed the new abstract & groovy, very colorful and mix-matched rectangle that resulted from the shift.. like, it seem to work as its own unique art design.. and i'm missing the picture when the groovy rectangle was primed and entirely white, which was also its own kind of cool look.. but, from all white, on then to measurements for the 13 stripes and blue area with 50 stars.. and, honey.. there was some math involved! figuring out what size the stars needed to be and for their placement.. it's all a "Thank You!" prayer
hallelujah! selah! amen! #bliss
#vellumdays may 2024
Sebastian & Valerie, "Thank You!" again for another 5 star camping experience
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and "Thank You!" -extra blessed this year with a custom spotify music playlist, next level advanced pan, handmade gifts, cards, texts, flowers, pictures from all the kids and grandkids -plus an extra special afternoon with my best mom, and best daughter ever
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speaking of extra special and grandkids.. love every game we get to attend.. and i can't be shy.. we do have a future super star.. first time pitching, he went 3 rounds.. 9 pitches; 3 outs.. a no hitter..
and another fav moment.. watching him seek out/get advice from pops
"now with this pitcher, you need to swing the bat under a little [like this/example] not an even swing.. [example]
and then he went up to bat, and got a triple!
fun, fun, fun.. plus dad coaches.. the family and friend visits.. watching all these young athletes develop their skills, learn and master the instincts... everything i loved when i was a parent of little leaguers; i now enjoy as a grandparent of...
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and speaking of extra special and grandparents.. most grateful for a fun and happy birthday for my best dad ever.. sporting his fav T... love a family gathering and celebration that includes bbq steak, cake & ice cream.. xoxo and wild isn't it, how
the past year went by in just a couple weeks..
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and "Thank You!" Wilsons for such a beautiful nature hike! and fantastic lunch!
We had never been to Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve for a hike, or Ladera Grill in morgan hill for lunch.. what a win/win! -and we just cherish your friendship and look forward to more activities
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and we dont have pix for each and every blessing; every special occasion.. but sure are grateful for our afternoons/evenings.. the exchange of spontaneous invitations to share some time, drinks, meals with the georges..
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and thank here too... our neighbor eric for helping with a car repair that allowed us to get to and from petaluma safely.
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the in between times we've been steadily working on our summer yard art...
hallelujah! amen! "cheers!"
Surviving the Unsurvivable; Reigning the most Remarkable (ginkgos!) to (me!) ~sandra
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i've already written -and so, just add on here: as 'the oldest tree on earth' -tree w/longest history on earth based on fossil finds
well, it goes without saying really, that any living thing on earth which lives a long time;
you can already know, it has endured a variety of obstacles; avoiding and/or impervious to certain life-threatening dangers, coupled with containing, attracting life affirming/sustaining attributes
the ginkgos history alone suggests unusual, rare and remarkable survivor powers
but as yet another testament to that truth -prior to our recent visit to the 5 star petaluma KOA campgrounds, i learned about a ginkgo planted at the petaluma community center, which was born from seeds that are descendants from ginkgos which survived the atomic bomb in hiroshima
i'm sure it's just one of many examples of this tree surviving the unsurvivable because, as its fossils pre-date dinosaurs, there is so much more we'll never know -what extent/intensity/duration of environmental elements..
and so worth repeating for me.. 'the more i learn about this tree.. the more i want to learn more about this tree!'
and grateful to have had the opportunity to visit this extra special ginkgo in petaluma -took some pictures; gave it a hug.. communicated telepathically, if you will.. i love you, you are awesome! we have a tree from your family at our house.. i was inspired to write all about the first time i met you..
and when we returned home, i shared with our ginkgo.. met another member of your family..
what a family tree you have!
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all that, and it's so pretty to look at: beauty for ashes; made me think of the scripture:
Isaiah 61:3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion -- to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened and failing spirit -- that they may be called oaks of righteousness [*lofty, strong and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God] the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
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close here w/a thank you to the two gentleman working at the petaluma community center when we stopped by -appreciated your guidance
and one of them shared about an anne frank tree at sonoma state, which we did not get a chance to visit..
but wow! and thank you! to anyone/everyone who is collecting/saving/nurturing/protecting and re-distributing seeds like this -vitally important and noble! contribution
selah! amen & hallelujah #ginkgo #guise
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off topic: *daughter has made a wordle fan out of me.. i can no longer not notice cool 5 letter words..
i.e., we were just at home "depot!" two vowels and great consonants...
it would prevent me from posting more vellum days pics, or i would write a few pages here about the distinctions between online/digital and printed/book forms of wordle
Return to the scene of great times! (los gatos, vasona, oak meadow, lexington reservoir!)
that was all 'encore' from previous rides..
but NEW to us this year, and a fantastic finale to an already awesome day:
luna, mexican kitchen, pruneyard, campbell, ca
and it certainly lived up to, perhaps exceeded, every raving review
"thank you!" for this recommendation, the wonderful meals/drinks
and to Juan C, for your excellent, friendly service
"cheers! hallelujah & amen"
patience & perseverance by (me!) ~topps ~writeousmom
i'll never forget the first time i walked into the left handers store at the wharf in san francisco. i did not even know such a store existed.. and how playful and fun to see so many items, from scissors, to notepads; kitchen tools to garden tools.. which had been etched in my mind as i saw them my whole life
suddenly -flipped. re-oriented. -everything was backwards, so to speak
and i do remember the notepads with the metal swirl binding on the opposite side from every school pad i'd ever seen.. and awkwardly adjusted to using
but in truth, it is the paper pads with the binding at the top; not the sides, that are most conducive to writing
i still regard myself as write handed though; write handed lefty
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new topic: part of the writeousmom wisdom i repeated often to my now grown children was this: always pay attention to what money can, and cannot do
i've learned and now teach this: you can pay someone to take care of your yard; you can pay someone to clean your house; you can pay someone to shop for you, cook for you, -even do your homework
you can pay for haircuts, braces, new shoes -vacations..
but you cannot pay anyone to cultivate a relationship with Jesus for you. -there is no amount of money that accomplishes this goal
the only way you can cultivate a relationship with Jesus is by actually doing it yourself via prayer and Bible Teachers and the Bible -and i recommend it in that order
true, people can 'pray for you' [but you should never pay anyone to pray for you!] but the relationship you will cultivate with Jesus; God; love; truth; spirit; its yours to do on your own, at your own pace; for free
entirely up to you. when you are ready.. when you so desire.. Jesus is eternally, so patiently, waiting with love, hope & faith.. in YOU
selah! xoxo hallelujah & amen
/which reminds me.. we are the only species that can and does pray.. the only species which can and does document its existence, thoughts, hopes & dreams.. the only species which can and does invite God to examine their heart, mind, thoughts... i could go on and on..
-like, have you been taught, things that are free have less value than expensive things? laughing to myself here because i wrote about -somewhere in my archives..
playfully being God's publicist/marketing director/CEO 'the problem, you see Jesus.. is that churches are giving the Bible away FOR FREE... -tends to get taken for granted.. but what we can learn here from hostess' business closing, and having twinkies disappear from the shelves.. no longer available after all these years... well, those twinkies are selling for THOU$AND$!"
but! about to post pictures from our awesome bike ride in los gatos; filled with gratitude! and JOY from this experience
National Day of Prayer... oh! it's today
i did not have it memorized on my own, (it is not pre-programmed in my phone calendar as several other days of recognition are; it is not pre-printed on my paper wall calendar, as several other days of recognition are; but rather, just (re)learned via Joyce Meyer's Enjoying Everyday Life program, that today, being the 1st Thursday of may, is
National Day of Prayer
this inspired me to share here, again, an abbreviated version of our morning prayer, which we pray, 7 days a week; 365:
First Robert prays in a very thorough, very detailed way, for every member of our family and extended family; for our friends and neighbors; for leaders, military, first responders.. and more
I always close our prayers with these words: "Jesus, in your praiseworthy, trustworthy, chain-breaking, pain-taking, way-making; all merciful, all grace-filled, all healing, all loving name; this is the day that you have made; we rejoice! are creative and productive, blessed to be a blessing, enormously grateful! we take care of our responsibilities, but cast our cares, Jesus your yoke is light, and we glorify your name by enjoying this day.. amen
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i'd be unable to count the number of scriptures that share about Jesus sacrifice so that we can experience joy; the number of scriptures that include the word JOY
and i could go on and on on this topic today, but we are about to go thoroughly enJOY this gorgeous day
but close here with how we spiritually process our lives: everything is a gratitude prayer; all our spending is tithing
i.e., a bike ride in nature IS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU for the gorgeous landscape, all the plants and flowers, the fresh air, the mobility of our bodies.. our love and relationship to each other; on and on
any spending we do to keep the bikes operating, (local bike business) on food for our picnic, etc. -we regard it all tithing
when we shop/provide for our driveway happy hours 'tithing to our neighborhood & community!'
any shopping at local stores; eating at local restaurants 'tithing to our community!'
money we spend on the paint we use to cover vandalism/destruction of property via graffiti.. 'tithing'
all shopping, spending, investing is tithing in one form or another; helping keep our favorite businesses, eateries open, hire/maintain employees,
it's all support -and here also acknowledge tithing can take the form of spending time & energy; not just money
SELAH!
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