Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
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Posted in Uncategorized
BE MY VOICE
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
CHILD NOT CHOICE
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
TEACH ME LORD
In the misty morning – at the break of dawn;
With sleepy eyes and – muddy mind I fawn;
Send your assistance and blessing my way;
Dear Heavenly Father – teach me today!
I fall on my knees to give glory and praise;
I sing with the angels – our song we raise;
In thanksgiving – I thank You for all I have;
For Your comfort – consolation – and salve!
Teach me – to love – as You willingly do;
To be servant of all – just like You;
Help me to learn to be humble and last;
Help me let go of mistakes of the past!
Teach me compassion – for my neighbor today;
Help me understand – his distress – if I may;
Help me bring comfort – condolence to him;
Lift up his spirit – when his faith is slim!
Help me be more like You – assured in love;
With confidence in my Father above;
With trust in Your steadfast faithfulness;
With fidelity – teach me – gratefulness!
Teach me – to invite – the Spirit within;
Through repentance and grace – let Him in;
To guide and chide me – when I should fall short;
Help me – to His wisdom – quickly resort!
Teach me – not my will – but His will be done;
Through Him and with Him – the battle is won;
Teach me – acceptance – when I find it hard;
To repent – reconcile – and pride discard!
Teach me – patience – a gift of the Spirit;
A virtue through which – I can endear it;
Give me Grace to hang on – and persevere;
Through fasting and prayer – help me volunteer!
Teach me – hope – a gift – to which I must cling;
Patient hope – endurance – blessings will bring;
Goodness and longsuffering – grant me these;
Precious gifts of the Spirit – grant them please!
Teach me – faith – that I may share it with all;
To lighten the burden – what might befall;
Calm my fears – and brighten earthly sorrow;
Increase my faith – childlike trust in tomorrow!
D01: 10/26/2013
Beautiful Dear Duchess
That is a lovely rose bush,, Corny. Bet it smells heavenly.
Hi Woo
Yes, this one is delightful.
I’m always surprised that some of the prettiest have almost no scent.
Hope it’s a nice long weekend for you and Savannah. I’m really enjoying the journey you are both on to shape her future. ❤️
I wish I was enjoying this journey more. I’m pretty tired of being angry. 10 years of private schooling being systematically dismantled over these last 3 years of indoctrination is just violating. If anything, Savannah learned how good she HAD it.
To bring her home is daunting. I thought COVID would kill me… both the illness itself and the homeschooling. Trying to do both my job and proctor her is really hard.
I’m concerned about her learning erosion .. so guess I’ll roll up my sleeves and find out. Told a faithful friend the other day… if she’s going to fail than better to do so at home feeding her with nourishing curriculum than at the trough of the filth and smut they are shoving towards her. She’s most certain to fail then.
My hope is that we can turn her scores around to show the college her potential and raise her GPA up just a smidge to qualify. The college says the hardest part for this program is the correspondence portion, so if she’s conditioned for a year prior… than maybe it’ll be a blessing for her.
I’m just plain MAD. It’ll cost me over $4,500 to try to fix what they broke and it just goes to show you that “I’m with the government and I’m here to help” is the worst message one can hear.
Thank God my boss trusts me wholly as I sought his blessing to do this. He told me he had complete faith that I would get what needed to be done, done, and he helped me financially with a loan to buy the computer and printer. Our budget wasn’t ready for this hit, but we will get by. I already was removing child support from the budget trying to set it aside for daughter to buy a car… we will just have to delay that a bit… but she must have a car and be fully driving before the college course starts. We have until June 2025. (No pressure!)
I wish I could say I’m happy, relieved, etc… I’m not. I’m worried I can’t help her with curriculum I haven’t seen myself in 35 years. I’m worried that the parent as teacher dynamic won’t go over well. She takes me less seriously than others and she is a teenager. I have just been drilling into her that this is her ONE SHOT that is going to alter the course of her life and she must take it quite seriously. Then she talks of wanting to go to the drive in, or out to dinner, or this or that… honey, the money well is dry and thus we must get very very small to pull this all off. We have our weekend trip in September, so that will be nice to look forward to.
I couldn’t possibly do any WORSE than they did. We are either going to emerge from this triumphant, or hating each other.
Lord grant me peace and serenity. Let me not carry anger or grudge over what was done, or wasn’t done, to cause such frustration. Let us bind tightly, joyfully, and may the course content be edifying, engaging, and uplifting, to improve her grades, give her confidence, and light the fires of her imagination again to spring forth and conquer. More importantly, may she learn to love learning again and may her Spirit be moved and give her an increase of wisdom and maturity. In Jesus’s Holy and Saving Name, AMEN
God Has a Plan for her… so we pray, commit our ways to Him, and He’ll make paths straight. A friend in the Purple 4 Parents movement recommended an attorney. The school shouldn’t be playing games with a parents’
access to their children’s course work.
I’ve been sent a “warning” that I can only come in under their terms and conditions, 2 page NDA, under resource officer supervision, to view her documents for a brief time and I’m not allowed to bring anyone else. I checked the laws and there’s nothing in copywrite law for them to be so secretive… they just don’t want us to see what they are doing… or not doing.
These devils are not looking out for the best interest of children.
Her new computer and printer will be here Thursday
Wow . . . This all sounds highly illegal. Have you had an ARD meeting with Savannah?
She is covered by ADA law which has real teeth. I suggest that you give your local EEOC office a call and tell them what’s happening.
The Ia. branch of the Learning Disability Association of America. May also be of
some help.
Sorry you have so much on your plate, love. Be well friend.
Garrison,
They don’t care what’s illegal. They don’t play by rules anymore.
I’m not sure what an ARD meeting is, but we had an IEP meeting… the final one where I demanded that she use a daily agenda as I had nicely requested a year ago and they ignored.
But it is more of the same B.S. that has obviously not worked. They are doing nothing for her.
I just can’t go further into it, I’m so angry. God knows exactly what they are doing and He’ll draw each of them into account for it. I must pass it to Him because I’m “too human” for this.
Try an ARD meeting
Thank you, Ps and Garrison, I wonder if they are calling an ARD meeting something else, as we have annual reviews of the IEP which just say more of the same nonsense. Over the last three years the metrics of her transcripts tell a story. I’m no longer pliable and open to discussion or giving any benefit of the doubt. I’m done. They’ve wasted enough of our time and I hope that what they have put out into the world, they get back sevenfold.
If we ever get our country out of this mess, the crimes against our children are the most severe.
Understand. Despite my inner red-neck’s urging, I’m not going to get directive. 🙂 Promise. That said, I’m just an email away. So, if I can help, I will. .
ARD = Admission, Review, Dismissal These kinds of meetings can be useful because the school, the teachers are expected to put all their cards on the table—face up.
JWOO, former SPED teacher here, there is a document, commonly referred to as Parental Rights for Students With Disabilities. The school keeps many copies available as they are required to give it to you, and Savannah, every year at IEP Meetings. I know Admin. ignores the rules, but if you commit this document to memory and can quote chapter and verse, they will listen.
Also, there are some hard nosed advocates for Students with Disabilities that can muscle their way past the toughest of petty principals, and they do it for funzies.
I always told my parents that the best predictor or student success was parental involvement. I got many a scare for fighting for my students and am damn proud of every one.
Sorry this is your burden, but happy for Savannah you have her back. They have no idea who they are messing with. You got a Treehouse of Warriors behind you!
Blessings on you, Smelly Dave. I’m not sure I’m up for a big fight with them… my energy is best spent getting daughter where she needs to go to fulfill her Divine Purpose. Time is a precious commodity and I don’t tend to waste it on stupid people… and what they’re doing is highly stupid.
But when we are passed this and I have “free time”… this is not over for me. I’ve been writing ideas on legislation and I may run for office.. who knows? School board so they’re forced to look at my mug every day? Maybe become one of those advocates who give them hell for funzies. They need a big wake up call and there are more kids than just my own suffering. I cringe thinking they’ll be in the news someday.
They’re evil and I’m simply not done with this. I’m trying not to hold onto grudges, but God keeps pulling me back into these battles and He’s got me here for some reason. Kiddo has one amazing life testimony being built up.
Blessings and hugs to you, brother Dave.
Start a give send go so we can help.
Good idea. I’m in!
I could not ever possibly do that, Bulldog. It is so sweet of you to consider. I simply could not. My father brought me up, that if we didn’t have it… we didn’t need it. We’ll be okay.
We have learned much in our lifetime about struggle and we are at the final mile in the marathon. My daughter has never needed, or wanted, for anything. I asked if her if she ever felt slighted – we were quite literally the POOREST family at an incredibly prestigious Christian private school. (Can’t believe they even let us in!) We couldn’t play reindeer games with them, but Savannah never felt “less than”… probably from her ADHD and not picking up on social queues, so those stones couldn’t be thrown at her.
My clothes came from a girlfriend of mine who quarterly cleaned her closet because she had a clothing expense account and Savannah’s clothes from consignment shops. Food came from ALDI’s that was so good to keep us well stocked and under budget and still eating gourmet! We are good.
I do want my tax dollars back, though. These heathens pilfering the public tills and folks not doing the jobs they were entrusted to do – really piss me off. I don’t see any of them coming in on Mondays to help me do payroll – I expect them to perform their own jobs – and perform them well.
My dream is to launch Savannah into a career she will love and that will sustain her. This one she can survive at year one, and in year five, she would thrive. Plus, probably meet some wonderful, like-minded people, that might lead to a good marriage for her. Let’s PRAY for that and that’s the very best God and I can give her.
Your prayers I covet more than anything.
🌹 💐 🏵 🥀
🥰
Psalm 91.The most powerful prayer from the Bible. God’s protection, healing
#psalm91 #psalms #prayer
Pray Everyday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-8GLitn-KQ&t=0s
____________________________
Sleep Well with Psalms. Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 139.
#faith #god #psalms
Pray Everyday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUPiqPMs8M&t=2s
______________________________
HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY !!! ❤️❤️❤️
Morning duchess ❤️!
WAVES AT GRAMPS FROM FAR AWAY – HEY !!! 💙🧚🏻♀️💙
Very funny.
Trump Perfectly Describes 7 Historic Battles
The Babylon Bee
24 May 2024
Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Treepers!
Our house is making my Ranch Style Texas Beans. When they cool, we portion out in gallon sized bags with some of the broth and freeze them for meal pairings or blending for refried beans for righteous burritos.
Here’s my recipe, takes two days.
Day before cooking, take about 1.5 lb dried pinto beans and soak in salted water in large stock pot. Water should be 4 or 5 inches above the beans for expansion. Cover and soak overnight.
Next day, drain and rinse the beans. Refill stock pot with beans and enough fresh unsalted water to rise about 3 inches past the beans. Add the following:
2 Tablespoons McCormick’s Smokehouse Maple seasoning
1/2 cup chopped TAMED Mezzetta sliced Jalepenos add in about 1/4 cup of the juice
1 lb Chopped Smoked Ham or Hickory Bacon
1/2 Ring of Texas Style Jalepeno Cheese Sausage, chopped
2 large Walla Walla Sweet Onions, chopped
4 Wyler small Beef Bouillon cubes
1 Tablespoon Course Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
Cover and bring to rolling boil on stove top for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Lower heat and cook on low and simmer about two hours.
I do not recommend using fresh jalepenos with this recipe. They’re too spicy. You can always season more later, but you can’t take it back if you over season the pot while cooking. The Mezzetta are TAMED and low on seeds, plus a vinegary kick that makes it delicious.
Sounds really good. dear ‘Woo. Just got back from my favorite taqueria. Delicious chicken fajita taco with, of course, a side of charro beans. Yum.
I was thinking of you, Garrison, when I made this batch. You would like it A LOT. Freezes really easily in small portions. You should make yourself a batch for those stormy days when you don’t feel like leaving home. The broth is super good too.
Big hugs to you my dear friend. You’ve given me much confidence to go out and slay the beasts. It’s nice to know that I’m not crazy in thinking things should be different.
Well, sadly, I’d undoubtedly do a bad job of burning water. Beyond making the occasional grilled-cheese sandwich, I don’t have any cooking skills. None at all. 🙂
Also, I’m also very aware of how annoying getting at-a-distance suggestions (ask me how I know . . .) can be. I hope I’ve been of help. Don’t want to be at all directive. And, yes, things should be very different.
I bet you could do more than boil water. Come on, now. Plus, they’re pretty good for you. Filling and great source of protein. Kid likes them pureed and stuffed in a flour tortilla with shredded cheddar – for breakfast. LOL
You are not in any way… at all… annoying. Nope. You are very much a well-intentioned fatherly, scholarly type and I’m fresh out of those types, so it’s welcome. I’ve just hit a wall with fatigue and frustration, so trying not to get my anger drawn up again. They are simply not worth it. This will go down in history as the greatest organized crime against humanity ever played out.
Garrison, things are just not the same since you stewarded education. There is no legal recourse. There is no civil discourse.
Savannah’s school district had three bomb / active shooter threats over two week period of time at the middle school where the kids were fleeing across the field to the high school. There are so many day-to-day incidents of this – no one takes it seriously anymore. How MESSED UP is that?
These kids aren’t focused on academics. They’re passing full-on illiterate people through high school. You should see the grammar, syntax, latent anger, and fully disturbed nature of the threatening letter Savannah got from a known violent offender… with a parole officer as a minor. They keep letting her back in.
They WANT these scenarios. They are ENCOURAGING bad things to happen and are organizing it just like theater because they want to go after 2nd Amendment rights to carry – and kids are the collateral damage to get them there. Mark my words… I am watching it right before me.
Both the R and D candidates for Indy Mayor both wanted 2A restrictions. The R lost – and now he’s ran again for Congress and won. So, one way or another… they’re coming for our guns and using our kids as the catalyst.
Since 1990, teacher’s unions give 94% of the monies they collect to contribute to political campaigns to liberals. And we see what liberals and the Uniparty that aides and abets them have done. They are destroying our nation.
Did anyone read what Chicago’s teachers’ union is demanding ($50 BILLION)?
Unused facilities to house illegal aliens.
Funding of all teachers’ abortions (aren’t they killing off the very offspring they are in place to educate and steward over?)
LGBT blah-bitty-bah-bah in every nook and cranny – boy they love them pawns
9% pay increase with average salary of a Chicago teacher being around $80,000/year
Only 21% of those eighth grade kids are proficient readers.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/chicago-teachers-50b-demands-includes-pay-hikes-abortions-migrant-accommodation
How much of the teachers dues collected by the teachers unions goes to politics
According to the search results, a significant portion of the teachers’ dues collected by teachers’ unions goes to political activities. Here’s a summary:
The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) account for practically all of the contributions made by teachers’ unions, with the NEA contributing around $20 million and the AFT contributing almost $12 million in 2016.
The data from OpenSecrets.org shows that teachers’ unions have steadily increased their political involvement, with donations growing from $4.3 million in 2004 to over $32 million in 2016.
The largest teachers’ union spent twice as much on politics as on member needs, with $66 million going towards political activities and $117 million towards “contributions, gifts, and grants” that were primarily political donations.
A report by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs found that from 1990 to 2020, teachers’ unions donated $91.8 million to Democrats and $3.6 million to Republicans, with a lopsided support for Democrats.
Earlier today I checked out the Ia. GED site. They are ADA compliant and, perhaps best of all, they offer on line support. The GED is gained by passing a test. As I’ve mentioned, the test must be compliant with ADA accommodations.
I think you mentioned that Savannah was diagnosed as ADD (as am I). This would make her eligible for. for instance, taking the exam orally and with extra time among other things.
With a GED and Ia’s open admission policies she shouldn’t have any trouble getting into college.
As a matter of fact open admissions policies usually allow adults to enter college without having graduated with a diploma or GED.
Sending much love to you both, dear ‘Woo.
Thank you, Garrison. Much love accepted and much love returned, my dear friend.
Her GPA needs to come up slightly to qualify. Her SAT score was too, too low, but she can take it again, or she could take the accuplacer tests to qualify. Savannah has off-the-charts ADHD, and slight Aspergers – YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT. Her “tell” is that she is very immature for her age – 18 going on 15, but she will eventually catch up. She is remarkably self-controlled and is a wonderful human being, so not a disciplinary concern. She is completely off of controlled substances and is only taking L-Theanine and some vitamin supplements, along with caffeine.
She is still a teenager, so not perfect. Occassional eye roll or two that gets her in trouble when she’s disrespectful. She was showing off in front of a mature 11 year old today at water aerobics. Yeah, that dog don’t hunt. We had a terse discussion how she sets the standard for that younger girl and she, in no way, needs to give off eye rolling behavior that the younger girl will carry home to her own family. I tie those knots in her butt pretty fast.
Savannah has a little bit more work to do for her HS Diploma. She’ll be enrolled in:
Summer: Study Skills and Creative Writing
Fall: English 5/6/7 College Composition, US Govt & Econ, College Math (Quantitative Reasoning), Christian Apologetics
The college course requires college level Algebra and English Composition.
For those of us, like my dear friend who freaked out at the term thinking apologizing, “apologetics” isn’t apologizing for Christianity. It means this: “Apologetics, in Christianity, the intellectual defense of the truth of the Christian religion, usually considered a branch of theology.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/apologetics
Putting her in that, as she will be in a professional environment and they will require her to take Speech (which she was originally enrolled in for 12th grade anyway). Apologetics is a great segway into that.
I’ll keep the GED information in mind, though. She has a terrible time with tests, but if we can get her past high school and past driving – I think she’ll do quite well with the vocational trade school.
Let’s pray!
I’m not all that familiar with Ia’s open admission policies. Here in Texas colleges and universities don’t consider grades when someone comes in under open admission.
The who change was to allow people who’d, perhaps, dropped out of HS—sometimes years ago—but wanted to attempt higher education.
Open admission serves these populations who were formally denied admission because they lacked a diploma and/or grades.
I suggest you give a local college a call and talk to one of the admission counselors about how Ia handles open. I know it’s universal for public funded high ed but they will be able to tell you more information.
Me too!!! Lord do I miss the books in our hands! This computer business is terrible.
I just want old fashioned books, I can dog ear and highlight
Me, too!
Me too!
Tough to make book covers (if they even have books) with reusable bags.
Yep. A&P grocery store bags made good book covers….
Amateur astronomers take note….…
6 planets in the planetary alignment on June 3, 2024
The next planetary alignment will take place on June 3, 2024. In the early morning, six planets — Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune — will align in the sky. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be spotted with the naked eye, but you’ll need a telescope or high-powered binoculars to see Neptune and Uranus. Let’s take a closer look at the conditions for observing the planets.
Click link for more: https://starwalk.space/en/news/what-is-planet-parade
I got some 15×70’s that could use a little dusting off . . .
👍 👍
I have a pair of 50 yr old 10×50 binocs that have worked very well for planet sightings in the past. Never saw binoculars as big as 15×70 but they sound awesome.
My son has a 6″ reflector telescope that was excellent in 1986 when we watched Halleys comet and also saw the planets Jupiter and Saturn and some of their moons. Kids in the neighborhood all came over one exceptionally clear night in late summer / early fall and took turns seeing whatever I could find and lock onto. But years later the reflector mirror eventually became contaminated and the image was fuzzy / cloudy.
EVENING PRAYERS
AMEN.
From the Powerlineblog TWIP comments:
Poor Little Rich Girl (1936)
Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) Young heiress, Barbara Barry (Shirley Temple), becomes lost in the city while traveling and is taken in by a pair of down-on-their-luck street performers.
Classic Musical Restored in Colour I Just Around the Corner (1938) I Retrospective
During the Great Depression, young Penny Hale (Shirley Temple) lives with her once-successful father (Charles Farrell) in a hotel where he works as a janitor in order to scrape by. Their humble life inspires wide-eyed Penny to concoct a precocious scheme. Befriending a wealthy but cranky older man (Claude Gillingwater Sr.), she convinces him to do his best to help the country by creating jobs and, in the process, getting her father back on his feet.
Film: Just Around the Corner (1938)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Irving Cummings
Writer: Ethel Hill
Cast: Shirley Temple, Charles Farrell, Bert Lahr, Bill Robinson
https://www.wnd.com/2024/04/100-cancer-remission-achieved-patients-groundbreaking-study/
“A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has yielded groundbreaking results after a monoclonal antibody successfully eradicated rectal cancer in all enrolled patients, ushering them into complete remission without resorting to chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical interventions.”
That monoclonal monkey business scares me as much or more than the rest of their cancer quackery.
Amen
Amen
Amen.
Amen
Amen
AMEN.
Amen
Amen.
Amen.
Amen
Sleep Well with Psalms. Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 139.
#faith #god #psalms
Pray Everyday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUPiqPMs8M&t=2s
We were at the grocery last night and Savannah spotted a $14 military fighter aircraft magazine. She bought it and is now oooo’ing and awwww’ing in her room. Guess those trips to Grissom Air Base and the municipal airports since she was 4 years old… stuck.
God, just get her through college before she does something stupid and joins the military. She’ll have a lot of airport influence there and Purdue Aviation is across the hallway. Did I mention the school’s hanger is next door to the Indianapolis Colts’ hanger and Rolls Royce Aviation.
She’s geeking out.
I love airplanes too!
Always pause to see what’s passing overhead and whether it gets a God Bless or a God Speed!
Maquis,
I’ll have to take a picture of the magazine and post it to you tomorrow. She’s sleeping and it’s probably in her clutches. Lol
Saw you were am incredible narrator again for the Trump speech. Didn’t get to read the thread or watch the speech tonight… but looking forward to doing so tomorrow.
Bless you, dear friend. ❤️
I’ll look for that!
Half my dreams decades after I retired are still of fixing airplanes and spacecraft and marvelous adventures.
REPEAT part
For several reasons (partly because I’ve been under-informed), I wanted to confirm how many patriotic US holidays there actually are and exactly when they are – I found this list… only 3 months in the year don’t have one – May has 4, the most in any single month; not all are officially designated ‘Federal Holidays’ that give us long weekends however… nevertheless…
{ https://vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/Patriotic-Holidays-updated_2020.pdf }
If anybody has a better list I’d love it shared; I’m just assuming VFWA is a reliable source, correct me if I’m wrong please.
END repeat
The rest of a story in my head & on my Heart…
A patriotic table setting – OR a Decoration Day picnic – with some favorite celebration-type foods seems like a low-key yet highly congruent way to work in a gentle punctuation mark on those days, and some possible inspiration for the wee ones to notice and ask questions about.
We all have to eat anyway… so, why not make it a little bit specifically special with a quiet celebration around the table, indoors or out (?TBD), sharing Love giving thanks for all we have & for all those who gave it all too;
a little education opportunity wouldn’t be a bad idea either, all things considered, would it?
IMO, this is a way to keep our Spirits & prayers UP and live our best life in a simple way, while remembering why & how times got so hard just now.
Why let July 4th take most of the patriotic decoration & Glory?
There are hundreds of recipes in all the categories – especially desserts – in that direction online… 1 or 3 is enough. I’ve made a different version not this recipe but… this one has classic looks & sounds excellent
{ https://www.abeautifulplate.com/flag-cake-recipe/ }
Independent search for “patriotic food recipes” and Ha! there they are
one list is here… that includes #6 -a feta, watermelon, & blueberry salad that I know is great/delicious/easy – I’ve been making mint leaf/watermelon/feta nibbles (cubed, stacked on a toothpick in that order) for family gatherings for years and never have leftovers.
{ https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/patriotic-recipes-4th-of-july-cookout/ }
I’ve been collecting up some Red/Whit/Blue tableware, star-shaped & heart-shaped baking pans (for cake &/or rice crispy treats), & star/heart serving dishes when I find them I chose ones that are plain (rather than specifically seasonal) and simply can be used throughout the year in other ways.
Stars are Christmas & Birthday; red all the above + Valentine. Everything blue is always summery AND wintery indoors, and cowboy blue enamel spatterware for picnics/outdoors is a no-brainer; blue is pretty at Christmas, and is probably someone’s favorite color for their special day meal.
White is always appropriate for whatever by itself (understated or elegant) or mixed in (chameleon).
I only choose seasonal-specific on a few items for the small details = napkins, coasters, bunting, ribbon, etc. I found some little flags new in packaging for adding to a small flower bouquet for a centerpiece.
I think a place setting left empty would also be appropriate – with a big gold star as a placemat for the ones who aren’t with us because they went before us.
It didn’t used to, but in recent years it seems just as easy to do these things this way as not. I think I have more energy for making things pretty with decoration – for focusing in this direction – now than I used to.
I hope everyone here finds their very best way to experience Decoration Day and that it’s meaningful and memorable. I very much wish I could include and experience many of you in my little plan too..
Blessings all around.
Forgot to say… I know that first link omits Paul Revere’s ride/battle of Lexington 🙁
maybe something else?
I would like to say a little prayer for the Indianapolis 500 tomorrow. It’s supposed to rain and I pray for every driver’s safety.
It is also a huge event known for drawing sex trafficking. I pray rebuke to that evil and that no weapon formed against these victims will prosper. I pray for capture and convictions and jail terms for those who are guilty.
My daughter’s favorite driver is Conor Daly. He attended Savannah’s private Christian school when he was a boy. Every year, he brings his car to show the children. His family receives 200 pairs of tickets for the race and Conor’s mother every year donated theirs to Heritage Christian for a fundraiser. They sold them $25/ ticket which is incredible for families to get to see this “greatest spectacle in racing” in the drivers’ family seats. So if you don’t have a favorite… maybe say a prayer for this sweet kid.
Savannah for the longest had a crush on him and wanted to marry him. Tomorrow I’ll be a race widow and she’ll be geeking out over the television. I just cook the meals and stay out of the way.
Pray for a happy and healthy race day.