Archive for the ‘Just Some Little Tidbits!’ Category

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my
colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshiped – I am saluted.
I am loved – I am revered.
I am respected – and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne
Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.
Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me, I was there.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers
cheered me And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I
have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of
my country. And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle – it hurts.
But I shall overcome – for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted
frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded
comrades on the battlefield, When I am flown at half-mast to honor my
soldiers, Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at
the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud.

My name is old glory long may I wave.
Dear God in heaven long may I wave.

1 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 5 eggs, at room temperature
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup 7 UP

For the Glaze:

• 1/4 cup 7 UP
• 1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

Combine butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla and almond extract in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt, and add to butter/sugar mixture alternately with 1 cup 7 UP, beating well after each addition.

Spoon batter into prepared 10-inch tube pan, and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert on serving plate and remove pan.

While cake is cooling, make the glaze by stirring together the 1/4 cup 7 UP and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and boil 1 to 2 minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved. Punch holes in top of warm cake with a toothpick. Spoon glaze over cake, and cool completely before serving.

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As you start reading the summer issue, tell us what you think!

An Activity for Illustrating How Words Build or Break

Mrs. Donna Venning

Looking for a fun way to teach kids a practical lesson about how words can build up or tear down?

Consider the recent scene from the Venning home:

It had been a frustrating morning of sibling squabbling, mean words and general not-niceness toward one another, and Mom was desperate to find a way to foster some kindness between the kids.

Since they (like most kids) love building anything, there were ample building toys available.  The frazzled mother grabbed the closest materials…those life size cardboard blocks that are generally red, blue and yellow and look like bricks.  (But any building blocks would work for this activity.)

“Let’s build something!” said the exasperated mother.   

“Great!” said the children, in unison for the first time that day.

“In order to get the materials you need to build your towers–” she began…

“I’m building a parking garage” interrupted one child.

“…as I was saying, in order to build whatever it is you’re going to build, you have to earn your bricks by saying something you like or love about your sister and brother.”

Blank stares.

“Kevin, tell me something nice about Adrienne.” 

Tick tock. Tick tock.

“Kevin, what is something you like about Adrienne?”

Slowly, quietly, looking at his mom, he uttered, “Adrienne, I like that you comfort me when I’m scared at night.”

“Not bad,” thought the mama, as she handed him a brick. “Good job…can you say that again, this time to your sister, not me?” 

He obliged and his sister gave a smile and responded, “Well, that’s okay Kevin coz I’m just brave and you’re scared.” (Mental note, work on teaching kids to be graceful when accepting a compliment…but one lesson at a time.)

“Ok,” the mom interjected.  “Now it’s your turn, Adrienne.  What is something you like about Kevin?”

Well, I’ll let you fill in the rest of the scene.  It took about a half an hour, but it was sure fun.  For each compliment, they received a brick to add to their building.  The kids got more creative (and more sincere) with every few comments.  I had to assist them a little with some things, as they tended to say the same comments just in different ways (for example, Kevin stated about four times that he liked that Adrienne helped him not be scared at night) so if they got stuck I helped out by giving ideas such as, “Adrienne, do you remember if Kevin did something good at his soccer game the other day?”

When Adrienne made an especially nice and sincere comment about Kevin, I rewarded her with two bricks; that “change” added an element of surprise to the game.

You can take this lesson a step further if you desire, and actually “wreck” their building when they’re done. Tearing down what they just worked so hard to build really illustrates that one thoughtless or mean comment can destroy something so easily.  It gives them a visual that they can grasp. Use a toy sword and share Proverbs 12:18 with them.  But be warned, this can also trigger a slew of tears from little ones who are proud of what they just built.  So, choose the right moment to use the “tearing down” version of the game.

Scripture to go along with the game

Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV)
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Proverbs 13:3 (NKJV)

He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.