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Inspire. August.

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August’s inspiration posts were delayed by the entire month, but I am determined that this post tonight at the latest. It is the last day of August and there is still inspiration to be had.

August began with my being sick, some days quite ill, and I went to the Department of Health to take a covid test, which fortunately came back negative.

We’re still receiving updates from my children’s school and they are almost ready to return; one virtually and one in an in-person hybrid model.

We also were able to take a much needed family vacation, which we understand is a privilege in these uncertain times. I credit that to many things, not the least of which is the seriousness that New York State took in combatting the coronavirus. We remained in New York, and that gave us the ability to travel and to do so without a fourteen day quarantine anywhere else we may have gone. It wasn’t our original plan, but we were all together and we had a great week.

I mention this because the one thing I want to share with you for the August inspire post is a museum that we visited that I would encourage everyone to visit. I will write more about it in later days, but here is a small glimpse:

The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is located at 825 West Depot Avenue West in Niagara Falls, New York. It has only been open for about two years, and was reopened on July 18th after Covid closures.

It is very reasonably priced: $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors (62+), $6 for children 6-12, and Free for children 5 and under.

There is limited parking shared with the Amtrak station and it is on the Discover Niagara Shuttle, a free service in the city of Niagara Falls that operates May through October. They’ve recently reopened after Covid closures.

The Heritage Center is a beautiful balance of the heartbreak of slavery and escape from bondage and the people who helped them flee. It is at once inspiring and emotional. In one instant, a story caused me to weep while others made me feel joy at their new lives in Canada.

It is a small venue, but well worth the time. I would return again to enjoy the few things that were not available due to covid restrictions.

Inside the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. (c)2020
We are *this* close to freedom.
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. (c)2020

Election Connection: 10 Weeks: 71 Days Until the Election

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I would encourage you to watch Day 1 of the RNC Convention from last night, and then rewatch clips from last week’s Democratic Convention. You can find both on C-Span or YouTube.

I would ask you to look critically at the messages being sent out, and ask yourself if this country will survive four more years of a Trump Presidency with its corruption, its lies, and its complete disregard for life.

Then, in seventy-one days (or sooner with early voting), vote as though your life (and the lives of your family and neighbors) depends on it.

Because it does.

Election Connection: 14 Weeks: It’s National Vote By Mail Day

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How do I know it’s National Vote By Mail Day?

Because President Obama and Crooked Media‘s Vote Save America tell me it is.

Also Adopt A State (you don’t have to live in the state that you adopt!). Go here to find out more and pitch in. If we all vote, we win!

NOTE: Last week’s Election Connection has been updated with new names who we want to take back the Senate!

Click to be taken to Vote Save America’s Every Last Vote (c)2020

Election Connection: 16 Weeks: Learn Their Names

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This video was created and produced by The Lincoln Project and it reminds us that voting out Trump isn’t the only goal. We need to replace his enablers. They need to go, and we need people who WORK FOR THE PEOPLE and will uphold the Rule of Law.

 

 

Replace Mitch McConnell with Amy McGrath

Replace Cory Gardner with John Hickenlooper

Replace Lindsey Graham with Jaime Harrison

Replace Susan Collins with Sara Gideon

Replace Devin Nunes with Phil Arballo

Replace Kevin McCarthy with Kim Mangone

Replace Joni Ernst with Theresa Greenfield

Replace Martha McSally with Mark Kelly

Replace Mark Meadows seat with Moe Davis

Replace John Cornyn with MJ Hegar

Replace Jim Jordan with Shannon Freshour

ETA: Replace Thom Tillis with Cal Cunningham

ETA: Replace Matt Gaetz with Phil Ehr

ETA: Replace Dan Crenshaw with Sima Ladjevardian

We can do this and take back our country!

Inspire. July.

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Original art. kbwriting. (c)2020

“There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton: An American Musical

Throughout this pandemic, I have written and arted and journaled and prayed, usually with no rhyme or reason, letting the time at home and the mood of the day take the lead.

Last week, I volunteered, but was also asked and encouraged to write something for our weekly Cursillo newsletter. Our lay director decided to start it during the pandemic to keep everyone in touch.

I was happy to do it, but it took forever to start it. I had three drafts about online retreats; just a paragraph each. I skipped two lines to try again, and then it was July 3rd.

Our day revolved around watching Hamilton on Disney+. It was the premiere and for those of us unable to see the Tony Awared winning Broadway or the traveling shows, it would be the first time to view its magnificence.

I woke my family with shouts of “It’s Hamiltime!“

And that began the piece that would eventually make it into the newsletter.

It was inspired in subtle ways, and then it just came to me while sitting at the keyboard.

Inspiration is everywhere.

Let it catch you when you’re least expecting it.

Election Connection: 18 Weeks until Election Day: Special July 4th Edition

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The Declaration of Independence.

July 4, 1776.

The day that started it all.

Read it today. Clicking the image will take you to the National Archives where you can read it in full. When you’re finished, read the Constitution next. Believe it or not, it’s not that long.

Word Art. (c)2020

Happy 4th of July!

Election Connection: 19 Weeks: GET OUT THE VOTE!

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Today is primary day in Kentucky (1 US Senate seat, 6 US House seats), New York (27 US House seats), and Virginia (1 US Senate seat, 7 US House seats).

I’ve already voted (about two weeks ago) through absentee ballot.

I’ve also already requested an absentee ballot for the November election.

I would encourage you to make sure you’re registered to vote (and check throughout the summer) and if you have any qualms about voting in person get an application for an absentee ballot and send it in. This is the most important election of our lifetimes. Use your right to vote.

Vote Save America can help you find out if you’re registered and you can help in battlground states by adopting a state. The instructions for doing that are right there on their website.

Inspire. June.

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Lilacs. (c)2020

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

John Quincy Adams

This pandemic has taken, but for those of us continuing to live through it, it has also given. More time with our families. More time to think of our priorities, our spirituality, our blessings, and our failings.

As President Adams said above, this pandemic has brought patience and perseverance to all of us in varying degrees of success. We all have both despite having different levels of both, and through it all, in whatever way we are and we can, we are moving through it and adapting.

It is ever with us.

Wear your mask.

Keep your distance.

We’re all in this together.

Be well.

Patience. Perseverance.

Election Connection: 23 Weeks: Democratic National Convention

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NEW DATES: AUGUST 17 – 20, 2020

These are the new dates of the Convention. They were changed from their original July dates due to the covid-19 crisis and it is still undetermined if the convention will be in full force or will be virtual or partially both. Click on the picture to go to the Convention website. To visit Joe Biden’s official website, click here.