Dear Reader:

When Anne and I attended  an international creative workshop in Provence, France( summer of 2005) one lesson we learned when it came to photography (and/or even just looking at the world in general)…was to look at someone or something through a different pair of lenses…besides your own. That lesson has stuck with me ever since.

For example…instead of just taking a picture of the Eiffel Tower…look at it through the eyes of a child playing in a park or perhaps a flower growing in a window box of a store near this historical structure. How would the Eiffel Tower look to them? Like a moving kaleidoscope visual changes happen instantly when we change perspectives….turning our beautiful world upside down… becoming even more amazing!

So when I found this creative painting among all the other same type posters done of the Solar Eclipse…it became the one I wanted for this momentous occasion today…looking at the Solar Eclipse from the perspective of a butterfly. Perfect!

My first reader/ participant photo came from Debi Baker who had her adorable grandchildren making “Solar Eclipse” cookies from a recipe off last Sunday’s Parade issue…too cute!

From there we got hilarious messages on t-shirts, examples of fun creative ideas from the ocean to the mountains in our state and others by every day people with creative minds and talented hands…all proud to represent their local areas during this once-in-a -lifetime event for most people. And we did get some modeling from our readers too….thank you for being such good sports! Here we go…see if you recognize your memento!

Look what Honey came up with as a wonderful “Solar Eclipse” memento too…she  emailed me yesterday and wrote on it “Late Action”…she was getting ready to put them in the kiln….but like I told Anne (when she ordered more postcards) no one remembers a date when you get a special memento about a big event….years later…you only see the keepsake and it brings back the memory of the event. Adorable keepsakes!

“Solar Eclipse” Sunflowers

Trying on the special solar glasses is so much fun….especially when the girls had just dropped off the Krispy Kreme solar eclipse donuts…oh my goodness! Melts in your mouth!

Patience paid off….Stephanie sent this photo of success after an hour and half wait at Krispy Kreme!  Go girls!!!!

Suzanne Blanton ordered these t-shirts for Miler Country Club for all the workers…Vickie showed me hers…when I took her a “Solar Eclipse” donut over from Krispy Kreme.

Breakfast at Alex’s…the waitress’s solar eclipse socks! Love it!

So until tomorrow…I hope everyone has a special, safe day and never forget…

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Wondering what  other surprise there is today?…Stop, pause and think (for a moment)… statistically how unlikely do you think this (following) personal occurrence in my life is… connected to a once-in-a-lifetime complete solar eclipse?

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TODAY….AUGUST 21, 2017 – marks the entry of my 1000th published blog post since re-starting Chapel of Hope Stories on November 25, 2014. I have excitedly watched the WordPress Count…and a few days ago when I realized the 1000th blog post would occur on the Total Eclipse of the Sun day…I started jumping up and down! What a God Wink I thought to myself over and over!

The number 1000 symbolizes “immensity” “fullness of quantity”…Early church founders saw in the number “The totality of the generations and the perfection of life enveloped in everlasting happiness.” 

And here we are today…talking about the totality of the solar eclipse and the totality of everlasting happiness with God…just a random coincidence…I don’t think so…

If I had space and time I would thank each of you personally for your comments, likes, shared posts, and views….worth more to me than any 1000 anything...you are a thousand times more indispensable to me and my happiness!

*I fell in love with this 1000 piece puzzle…might have to get brave and tackle it…lots and lots of sunflowers!