Monday, December 16, 2019

Christmas Cookies

We just had our Cookie/Candy sale at church. We had more candy than ever and even had an overflow table stacked with duplicates to be filled in slots as needed.  It was a very successful 5 hour sale. We also serve chili for lunch.

When my dad worked, on Black Friday mom and I would spend all day making cookies, decorated sugar cookies, spritzes, any kind of Christmas cookie we wanted to make.  We would take a box and cover it with paper and decorate it.  That next Monday dad would take it into work and the guys he worked with enjoyed the benefits of our day.  It was so much fun and the guys enjoyed the cookies so much. 

My last year of working I did this for the guys I worked with. It was a lot of work but it was worth the effort.  The cookies did not last long though and when gone, well I was not making any more.

Make a batch of cookies and take them to someone, it will be one of the best gifts you can give.


The Dollar Bill



Do your children know this? – Do their teachers? – Do you?
Who Was Haym Solomon?
Read this fascinating history of the $1 bill all the way to the bottom to know about Haym Solomon. You may be in for quite a surprise!
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you’ll see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand circle, you’ll see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We hadn’t begun to explore the west or decide what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we weren’t even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
“IN GOD WE TRUST” is on this currency.
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, “God has favored our undertaking.”
The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, “a new order has begun.”
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you’ll learn that it’s on every National Cemetery in the United States. It’s also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most heroes' monuments.
Slightly modified, it’s the seal of the President of the United States, and it’s always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
First, he isn’t afraid of a storm; he’s strong, and he’s smart enough to soar above it.
Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England.
Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own.
At the top of the shield there’s a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.
In the Eagle's beak you read, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” meaning, “from many – one.”
Above the Eagle, we have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
An (untrue) old-fashioned belief says that the number 13 is an unlucky number which is almost a worldwide belief. You’ll almost never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this:
America, which relies on God (not a number) to direct and lead, boldly chose:
13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence ,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the pyramid,
13 letters in “Annuit Coeptis,”
13 letters in “E Pluribus Unum,”
13 stars above the eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits,
and if you look closely,
13 arrows.
And finally, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle. You’ll see that they are arranged as a Star of David.
This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army. Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself, but he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions ... then died a pauper. Haym Solomon gave $25 million to save the Continental Army, money that was sorely needed to help realize America's and our freedom and independence from England.
Therein lies America's Judeo-Christian beginning.
Most American children do NOT know any of this. They aren’t taught because their history teachers do NOT know this. (They were not taught!)
On America's Freedom:
Too many veterans gave up too much to let the meaning fade.
Many veterans came home to an America that did not care.
Too many veterans never came home at all.
They served, they died for you and for me.
I hope you will share this page with many so they can learn about the UNITED STATES DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for.
America is at a critical juncture. Let's do whatever we can to save her while never, ever forgetting:
It is God in whom we put our trust!

Thursday, December 12, 2019

The Sky is on Fire

Sometimes the sunrise only lasts a few minutes but oh is it gorgeous.  This morning for about 5 minutes the sky looked like it was on fire.