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The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 MAY | 2024
MOTHER’S DAY’S LOVING ROOTS
DISCOVER THE INSPIRING STORY BEHIND OUR WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION
We often celebrate holidays without knowing how the tradition began. Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world for good reason: The women who raised us deserve a day of appreciation! But have you ever wondered how the holidays we celebrate began? Sure, the 4th of July and New Year’s Day are obvious enough, but the origins of others are more interesting and powerful than you could imagine! Despite being a cheerful holiday commemorated all over the world, the inspiring story behind Mother’s Day is steeped not just in love, but also loss and reconciliation. CHAMPIONING MOTHERHOOD In 1914, activist and writer Anna Jarvis convinced President Woodrow Wilson to commemorate the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day as an official ode to the love and sacrifice of mothers across the nation. This was the culmination of a campaign that Anna had pursued for much of her lifetime, but the accomplishment was not hers alone: It was Anna’s own mother who instilled in her the importance of championing motherhood, and fighting for moms to get the admiration, recognition, and reverence they deserved for their selfless work and sacrifice. The origin of the holiday dates back more than a half-century before its official commemoration, in the humble Appalachian town of Grafton, West Virginia. APPALACHIAN AMBITIONS It was the year 1858, and health care was largely misunderstood and mistrusted. Sanitation and parenting in West Virginia were both lacking and antiquated, and conditions were worsened by polluted water sources and disease-ridden pests. The miserable conditions contributed to the region’s staggering infant mortality rate, which was estimated to be as high as 30%.
Sunday school teacher Ann Jarvis, the mother of Anna Jarvis, had suffered from these deficiencies firsthand: Only four of her 13 children would survive to adulthood. It was this loss that inspired Ann to combat these conditions.
Enlisting the help of her brother, Dr. James Reeves, Ann promoted proper hygiene and parental care to mothers across West Virginia during events she dubbed Mother’s Day Clubs — a name that would later inspire the holiday we celebrate today!
The courses became popular, helping to unify and educate mothers across the state. But Ann’s work toward unification did not stop there. During the Civil War, she established outposts to provide care for Union and Confederate soldiers alike. After the war was over, Ann would host Mother’s Friendship Day events, which promoted reconciliation between veterans on both sides.
HOPE FOR A HOLIDAY Anna Jarvis’ drive to create a holiday to celebrate mothers was inspired not just by her mother’s actions, but her words. In 1876, when Anna was just 12 years old, she remembered that during one of her mother’s Sunday school lessons she had advocated for a commemoration of the selfless service of mothers everywhere. The memory stuck with Anna, and she spent much of her life championing that cause. Because of her efforts, Mother’s Day is celebrated not just in our country, but in countries around the globe. From Japan to Ethiopia, festivals and traditions honoring mothers are held each year, bringing the humble wishes of an Appalachian Sunday school teacher to the world stage! Now, whenever you celebrate Mother’s Day, you can understand the true depth of its meaning, and the wonderful efforts of Anna Jarvis. —John Bledsoe
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INJURY-FREE RUNNING UNTANGLING THE WEALTH
THE COMPLEXITIES OF HIGH NET WORTH DIVORCES
DIFFICULTIES DIVIDING Oftentimes when it comes to divorce, the more a couple owns, the more difficult and time-consuming it becomes. Just like every other couple going through a divorce, wealthy celebrities and billionaires have to disclose their complete financial records. Depending on the size and complexity of investments, stock portfolios, international properties, and number of accounts involved, divorce proceedings may take ages to complete. While financial discovery can often take months, for the rich and famous, it may take years . There are exceptions, of course. The aforementioned Bezos’ split only took six months, but that was because both parties worked to handle things as quickly as possible. While not all things are equal, when it comes to divorce, the ridiculously wealthy are still subject to the same rules and frustrations as the rest of us.
If you follow celebrity gossip — or know someone who does — then you may be familiar with a number of high-profile divorces. There has been no shortage of memorable splits among the rich and famous: Couples like Johnny Depp and Amber Heard; Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott; and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. While it may seem like the spectacularly wealthy are somehow above the law, when it comes to divorce, the same rules and restrictions apply! COMMUNITY PROPERTY AND SEPARATE PROPERTY While the stakes may be higher, unless prenuptial agreements are in place, laws regarding the division of assets apply to couples of all economic classes. California is a community property state, which means whatever property and assets a couple acquires during their marriage are owned — or owed — by both partners. When the couple
split, both partners are owed a fair share of those assets and that property. While most things are shared fairly equally, the exception is what is known as separate property: inheritance, gifts, retirement, and anything owned by either partner before the marriage. While community property is divvied up during the divorce, separate property is not.
Mastering the Marathon 3 Ways to Build Healthy Habits
The journey to healthier habits is a marathon, not a sprint, and as such, it is a daunting task. Here are three tips to help you begin your journey, whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your diet, work out regularly, or just establish a more balanced lifestyle. NO. 1 — START SMALL Start your journey to better health in small ways, as attempting drastic change can be overwhelming. You should first focus on incremental adjustments to your routine. If your goal is to exercise more, start with short walks in the evenings after dinner or take the stairs in the office instead of elevators. These changes lay the foundation for long-term success. Starting small will make it easier to transition to larger changes, like adding a morning workout or speeding up your evening walk into a jog. NO. 2 — SET SPECIFIC GOALS Setting clear, attainable goals can easily motivate you. Rather than vague aspirations,
like “exercise more” or “eat healthy,” define your goals into objectives like “walk 20 minutes every day” or “eat vegetables with every meal.” These goals can be a road map for your journey as you can track your progress as time goes on. Consistently achieving these milestones will solidify your commitment to your new healthy habits. NO. 3 — STAY CONSISTENT Consistency is at the core of building a habit — establishing a routine that aligns with your health goals. A structured routine supports habit formation, and consistency reinforces it. If you miss a day of your new habit, a routine helps you bounce back into the structure without being hard on yourself. As you continue building healthy habits, consistency will help ingrain them into your lifestyle. You can lay the groundwork for lasting, healthy habits by embracing these three tips. Small, gradual changes become the foundation for
continued success, while clear objectives serve as milestones to celebrate success along the way. So, take joy in the process, celebrate the victories, and know that building these healthy habits is a marathon worth running.
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W ord S earch
VIRTUAL DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS IN CALIFORNIA With Zoom meetings and remote work taking over the office world, it seems like more and more activities that traditionally required us to go to the office are instead performed from the comfort of home. Given the evolving digital landscape, it is no wonder that there is also significant interest in skipping the courthouse or wedding chapel in lieu of a virtual ceremony. However, in California, not only can you legally get married over the internet, but you can also get divorced. There are plenty of online services promising an easy fix for couples ending their marriages, but in reality, there are significant restrictions and stipulations that apply. Here is what you need to know if you are considering getting a digital divorce. AMICABLE REQUIREMENT While you can file for divorce over the internet in the state of California, it must be an uncontested divorce. This means that both parties have to agree on the division of assets, as well as a parenting plan. A parenting plan includes living arrangements, visitation time, and caretaking responsibilities for any children of the divorcing parties, which must be mutually agreed upon ahead of time. Additionally, if either party wants alimony, then online divorce is not an option; only divorces without any points of contention are realistically possible over the internet. However, if all requirements are met, online divorces can be completed for a fraction of the cost of traditional divorce, and in around half a year’s time. However, if there are any disagreements between the divorcing parents, those will have to be settled in court, through mediation, or by their attorneys. In the vast majority of cases, divorces are not entirely amicable, and details are instead hashed out by legal representatives. While online divorces sound like an economic and timely option for couples going through a split, they are very rarely a viable option. Navigating Divorce in the Digital Age
Bloom Cinco Comic Derby Emerald Gemini Graduation Lily Memorial
Mother Renewal Veterans
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
Olive Oil Cake With Honey-Yogurt Cream and Strawberries
INGREDIENTS •
1 1/2 cups almond flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda
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1 tsp lime zest
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3 1/2 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 qts fresh strawberries, quartered 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt 1/4 cup heavy cream
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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4 large eggs
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1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup honey
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease 8-inch springform pan. Line with parchment paper and lightly grease. 2. In medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, and baking soda. 3. In a stand mixer, whisk sugar and eggs on medium-high, about 3 minutes. Add oil, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla. On low, gradually add flour mixture until just incorporated. 4. Pour batter into pan. Bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out with crumbs, 40–45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake out of pan onto wire rack and let cool completely. 5. Whisk yogurt, cream, and honey. Top each cake slice with spoonfuls of yogurt mixture and strawberries.
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Inside
The History and Meaning of Mother’s Day
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What Happens When Wealthy Couples Split
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3 Tips for Building Healthy Habits
Virtual Divorce Trials Transform California’s Legal Landscape
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Olive Oil Cake With Honey-Yogurt Cream and Strawberries
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Artful Adventures for Spring
PALETTE OF POSSIBILITIES
3 Painting Ideas to Bring in Spring
In spring, nature shows us everything new: budding plants to blooms galore. Kids see this metamorphosis, too, so why not use this season to help your kids grow their own creativity? Here are three ways to encourage their creativity through painting.
home. This activity can introduce kids of all ages to various textures and printmaking. These textures will often look organic and mimic shapes in the outside world, bringing another natural element into your activity. GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PAINTING You can approach this magical project in a couple of different ways. All you need is glow-in-the-dark paint
NATURE-INFUSED MASTERPIECES For this activity, encourage kids to spend about half an hour outside picking their favorite leaves, flowers, or small twigs and rocks. While they’re collecting, set up paper and paint on a flat surface, but don’t add paintbrushes! Once they’ve picked their favorite bits of nature, bring them inside. Explain that they’ll be using these pieces of nature to stamp and brush, or they can even glue them onto the paper. This activity not only sparks creativity but also connects children with natural objects. They must think creatively to use these unconventional materials to construct a painting.
and some paper. One option is to have them paint a nature-inspired picture and then, when it dries, charge it under some light to reveal beautiful colors. You can also tell them to draw a secret message or picture and then paint over it. When the paint dries, it becomes transparent and even more colorful — watch their wonder as their hidden pictures appear. This fun twist can provide a unique angle to a conventional art session.
Painting isn’t just about colors on paper; for kids, it’s about unlocking their imagination and allowing them to explore the endless possibilities of artistic expression. Simple materials upcycled with innovative techniques can transform painting into a joyful and educational pastime. These three projects are just the beginning of a beautiful journey into art for the whole family.
BUBBLE WRAP PRINTING With this next project, you can recycle the bubble wrap from any packages you receive during the week. Kids can dip bubble wrap into different paint colors and press it into paper or even the cardboard of those same boxes. This will create a textured and unique print you can hang up in your
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