July 4th 2017

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

-The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"

Galatians 5:1

"For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

"Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand 

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Francis Scott Key 1814

We owe so much to the brave men and women who have served brothers and sisters in love..so that we may enjoy freedom and continue the call to serve. Happy Independence Day!

Cards, Letters & Care Packages

June 3, 2017 was a big day for Pleasanton Military Families. First, they put on the 7th Annual Pancake Breakfast complete with military in uniform and HumVees in attendance. Next up, the PackOut for 32 active military deployed around the world. It was an even bigger day for my neighbors and special friends Reed, Alyssa and me…our first Pack Out together. I invited Reed (11 years old) and Alyssa (2nd year of college) to join me and they were eager to find out what it was all about.

First order of the day for us was to write some messages to the troops to put into the care packages. Cards, colored pencils, stickers, sharpies and practice paper all ready for action. I was so impressed with their sincerity, desire to share meaningful messages and their very creative artwork.Alyssa drew a picture of downtown Pleasanton and our famous arch with an American Flag flying away. Impressive! Reed added his own red, white and blue artwork to his written message.

Cards finished, we headed downtown to the Veterans Memorial Building. Reed and I got to walk right across the park and into the HumVees. A young Army officer asked Reed if he was interested in the military. Reed smiled and answered, "Yes, I am." Who knew??? He climbed into and out of the HV. They chatted and Reed learned that only 20% of recruits are engaged in combat and that the military employs people to do every job inside that exists outside the military…photographers, cooks, journalists accountants and so on.

Inside the hall, boxes were ready for us to fill.

But first, family members of deployed were asked to give an update on their sons/daughters. As if on cue, one father explained that the thing his son loved most about the boxes was the cards and letters that  people wrote to him. WOW! We did that! Reed and Alyssa were beaming. After we walked the rows, filling our boxes, Reed addressed our envelopes with the name of the soldier who would open our box. Personal and heartfelt.

We were lucky that the boxing crew was somewhat small this year so we got to pack 5 boxes in all. (I usually only get to do one box) 

The surprising news is that we ran out of supplies before we filled all the boxes! Never happened before. So we have a big job to refill all of our supplies before the next Pack Out in November. Alyssa wants to be there with her own cards to add to the boxes. Reed and I finished the morning with a medium vanilla cone from MeadowLark Dairy while he told me all about his upcoming summer vacation to Boston where no doubt he will add to his appreciation of the military impact on our nation. According to Reed,

"Thank you for risking your 

life for our freedom."

Love in a Box

Right in my own town, Pleasanton Military Families (PMF) is making a difference every day in the lives of very important people-our men and women in service as well as in the lives of their families here at home. 

The next PMF Pack Out to our deployed military is coming up in March. A flurry of emails has been coming my way regarding preparation for the event. 

I wanted to pass on one of these emails: the thank you letter that arrived in my "IN" box today...from a chaplain stationed in Afghanistan. He has been sharing the contents of PMF care packages that come his way.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Running Away From Home

I was about 4 years old. My mother was waxing the kitchen floor when I wanted to pass over..."NO..you can't walk here now," she shouted. It's still wet. You'll ruin the shine."

I thought, what do you mean "I can't walk on my own kitchen floor and how can you say NO to me?" (I mean, I'm 4 right?)

Off I go into my bedroom. Pouting. Find a suitcase. Start looking for clothes.

I'll show her. I'll run away from home. Then she'll be sorry for yelling at me. I'll show her.

She comes into my bedroom.
What are you doing?

I'm running away.

Oh.

Well you'll need some clothes...pajamas. Undies. Let me help you pack.

What do you want to take?

Yes, I guess I'll need undies.

Off I go. My paper mache suitcase in hand.

I'm down the street about 100 yards with my suitcase, still angry.

I'll show her how to treat me. She can't yell at me...Then I look back...I think...

What will I eat?

Where will I sleep?

What should I do?

I turn around and go back home.

She says. Oh, back already?

Yes. Head down I trundle back to my bedroom to unpack. A warm house, bed, and food looked pretty good even if I had to eat humble pie.

History Made Today

Today Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. This is my favorite line of his speech:

And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.

Our starry-river resonates.

Stormy Weather

We are experiencing the first big storm of the 2016 season. Went down to Monterey for a golf get away as the event was approaching and the waves were getting pretty hairy…when we left they were ramped up quite a bit from what you see below, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Wind, rain, and a downed tree limb from the neighbors yard damaged our awning.

For John: Shadows of Sycamore

My friend John C. Nelson loves Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore…the trails, the sudden chance to get a peak at beautiful wild life, the stately trees, the feeling of peace it always imparts. I visited the other day and took a few photos of my favorite part of the park…the shadow play.

Hope you're doing well my friend…

your park is flourishing these days.