Red Velet and a Favor

During the Fall and Thanksgiving season this year I was blessed with MANY…yummy new recipes to try; but NONE could top  this amazing recipe that by sweet friend Christy shared with me.  I made oodles of patches….some for home, some for church, and some for work.  To say my co-workers LOVE Pumpkin Whoopie pies would seriously be an understatement.  In fact, this past Tuesday as we were (once again) dreaming….I mean, talking about the Pumpkin Whoopie pies we began to wonder if we could make them….sorta like a Red Velvet cake????  

My co-workers and I wrapped up our conversation and got back to work.  As I was wrapping up my day, I picked up a magazine that someone dropped off at my desk and I thought I’d take a few minutes and thumb through the recipes before I left for home; and you’ll NEVER guess what recipe I found!!!???

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!!!!!!  I was so excited, and now, I want to share them with you.  

2-Cups of flour

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 Cup butter, softened

1 Cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 Cup buttermilk

1-1 oz. bottle of red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)

1 recipe Whoopie Pie filling below

Preheat oer to 375 degrees

Line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.  In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium high 30 seconds.  Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.

Spoon batter in 1 or 2 inch diameter rounds about 1/2 inch high on prepared baking sheet, allowing 1 inch between each round.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set.  Cool completely on baking sheet on rack.  Remove cooled cookies from baking sheet.

Whoopie Pie Filling:

In a medium mixing bowl beat 1/4 Cup softened butter and half an 8-oz package softened cream cheese until smooth.  Fold in one 7-oz jar marshmallow creme.

To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling on flat sides of half the cookies.  Top with remaining cookie, flat side down.

These look SO yummy and they are my list of things I’m planning to make this weekend.

Now that I’ve wet your appetite with this yummy treat, I’ll move on to a FAVOR I’d like to ask of you! 

This week, I’ve met a precious “Bloggie-Sister” and I’ve SO enjoyed meeting her (via email) and visiting her blog.  

Her name is Judy, and you can visit her blog here, at “Just A Little Something.”  Girls, Judy truly is an amazing woman.  She been married for 33 years, and is the Mother of 3 grown beautiful girls, and a Grandma to 4 precious grandchildren.

I’ve spent A LOT of time….reading through her blog and let me tell you….she is someone you will be glad you’ve met, and you will visit again…and again…and again.

Her heart is SO precious…and she shares SO many wonderful recipes, crafts, and photos.

Let’s Welcome Judy to the  blog-world….and Bless her…and I know, she will bless you as well.

Happy Friday. 

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Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving fast approaching I wanted to take a moment to ponder the things I’m “Thankful” for.

*I’m so thankful to live in a free country where I’m free serve my Lord and Savior

*I’m so thankful for my family

*I’m so thankful for God’s provision

*I’m so thankful that in the midst of all of the “stuff” going on around us, there is great peace when I rest in HIM.

*I’m so thankful for God’s protection

*I’m so thankful for warm blankets on cold winter nights

*I’m so thankful for French Vanilla coffee creamer, Starbucks, Dr. Pepper and Pepsi

*I’m so thankful that God’s mercies are new every morning

*I’m so thankful for the humor my kids and husband bring to my life

*I’m so thankful for my real life friends, as well as my bloggie friends 🙂

*I’m so thankful that Andrew has such a kind, caring heart. His tenderness and sensitivity is so neat, and I’m so thankful for the young man he’s growing into

*I’m so thankful that Ashley will be home soon….and she’ll now enter into the “next season” of her life

*I’m so thankful for the transition team in place at our church as we walk through our pastoral change

*I’m so thankful for the open doors the Lord has been opening

*I’m so thankful that I have a warm bed, and a soft pillow to place my head each night

*I’m so thankful that although we will not be able to be with extended family for Thanksgiving we will be together…the 3 of us!

As you gather with those you love, I hope you find many…many reasons to be Thankful this Thanksgiving Holiday!

(*photo from google)

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~*~*~*ThAnKfUlLnEsS~*~*~*

Over the past few weeks my heart has been pondering all the many blessings I have in my life and just how truly THANKFUL am I.

There are SO many Thankful things I could share with you, but today, I’m going to share with you how Thankful I am for Gods FAITHFULNESS, LOVE, and GRACE!!

This week, my husband received an email (see below) from our daughter Ashley, and as he read it to me, I honestly was speechless. I knew the words she had penned were true, yet, I had never heard her express them as she did that day.

Understand that my husband and I are human. We make mistakes, and we continue to make mistakes. Often, our lives have seemed hard and difficult. Yet, reading Ashley’s email was yet another confirmation as to “what really matters”! It’s not our income, it’s not the type of home we live in, it’s not the kind of car we drive…etc…etc… But rather, what matters most is our relationship with Jesus Christ, and how we pour that relationship into the hearts and lives of our children.

Our reality is such that we HAVE had…difficult days with our children. We’ve learned some hard, valuable lessons along the way. There are ways we raised Ashley….that we quickly learned we needed to change with Andrew as they didn’t work. Yet through it all…God’s GRACE….was enough.

Before I begin, please know that my intent of this post is two fold. One, to ENCOURAGE you and two to CHALLENGE you in your FAITH walk.

Please be enouraged as I know that MANY of my blog friends are dealing with “prodical children” and the difficult choices they have made and continue to make. For many of you, their choices grip at your heart in such a powerful way that you are often left feeling breathless.

Proverbs 22:6 says,
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (NIV)

Many of you HAVE trained your child(ren) up in the Lord, yet, for some reason during this season of their life they have choosen to walk away from “their training”! During the trying days and hours that you face with your “prodical child” hold tight to God’s word!! He is, and will always remain faithful.

Secondly, I pray that this post will challenge you! As parents, we often struggle with raising our children, as the worlds system is SO in contrast to the church and often we become confused as to “what is the right way to raise our children?”

Dad’s/Mom’s I challenge you to be the role that your little boy needs!! Teach him how girls need to be treated, loved, nurtured, and cared for. Teach him to “prefer” girls in all things; and teach him how to be loving, tender, and caring. Teach him how to be a good listener. Dad’s/Mom’s, be a Godly example so that your little boy will grow up and marry an amazing woman!!

Dad’s/Mom’s I challenge you to be the role model that your little girl needs!! Teach her how to Love, Honor, and Respect men. Teach her that all men are “not about one thing”. Teach her that she’s the most prized possession in your life, your precious princess and that you love her, just as her Heavenly Father loves her. Dad’s/Mom’s be a Godly example so that your little girl will grow up and marry and marry an amazing man!!

Friend, God has blessed us with the greatest, yet most challenging gift ever given, that being the gift of a Child. Daily seek the master as you “train up”…disciple…..shape…and mold….the next generation of Mom’s and Dad’s.

As you read the below email from Ash…be encouraged. So often, as parents we feel like we are missing the mark…YET….those little eyes and ears ARE watching and listening!

Blessings,
Kim~

Dad~

I was going to call you, so that I could tell you this in person; but I thought I would email you instead.

Over the past two weeks my “Girls Growth Group” has been challenging each of us to really dig deep into our hearts and ask the Lord to root out any negative ideas that we have formed towards men.

All I want to say is that the Lord has truly blessed me with you as my Father. You’ve always treated me, and seen me just as my Heavenly Father treats and sees me and I’m so blessed because of you and the strong stability you have had on my life growing up and still today.

As I listen, and look around the room as each girl shares about past experience and the things that have given them a wrong perception of men; I am just so overwhelmed each and every time I see/hear how many girls have never had a Father figure love them or show them how to be treated.

Even being here, I find many days I am so on edge and just not having a good day because I do not have that Father figure or a “man” figure who complements me or is always encouraging me or telling me how beautiful I am, or how special and loved I am:)

I think that is why I often view Christian guys as being so inadequate because I see how you treat me and Mom and I’m like oh buddy you have a long way to go!!! lol

I’ve noticed that even having someone (a brother in Christ) hold the door for me, or offer to pray with me and ask me how I am doing is REALLY lacking this time while I’m here. In my DTS I always had the guys in my class that were so caring for and about me. But being here a second time, I don’t find that. I’m lucky if the guys in my SBFM program even talk to me on a regular basis. (I know I have to take into account that for some reason guys might find me intimidating…go figure! J )

Wow Dad you are truly amazing and such a man of God. All I know is this: I am around Christian girls and I see just how much my standard of what I want in a husband is set at such a high bar and often (ok..most of the time) people will tell me its to high.

But I know that it’s not and I’m BLESSED because if I didn’t have you in my life setting that high bar I would settle for the next guy who walked into my life. lol

Honestly Dad you are a ONE OF A KIND FATHER. and WOW I’m so blessed 🙂

I LOVE u so much!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoAshley



*photo from google

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Food for Friday…..on a Thursday…

I’m a day early, but tomorrow will certainly shape up to be a busy day so I thought I’d share my “Food for Friday” today, Thursday!  🙂

Tomorrow night I’m hosting a gathering for the younger woman who attend our church and I found this yummy recipe that I’m excited to try.

I LOVE “Chai Tea Latte’s” and while getting groceries last weekend I found the Christmas “Simple & delicious” Taste of Home magazine while standing in the checkout line.  I normally don’t get sucked into buying magazines while in the checkout line, but this magazine had TOO many great recipes to pass it up.

I tried the “Chai Tea Latte” with the hub’s on Tuesday night and he even liked it which is no small feat considering he’s a staight black coffee drinker.  None of these “fru-fru” (as he refers to them) drinks for him.

If you give it a whirl, let me know what ya think.

Chai Tea Latte

2 individual tea bags

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1 C. water

1 C. Milk (I used soy milk)

1/4 C. packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. refrigerated French vanilla nondairy creamer (yum-oh)

Whipped topping and ground nutmeg-optional

Place the tea bags, cinnamon, ginger and allspice in the coffee filter or a drip coffeemaker.  Add water, brew according to manufacture’s direction.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the milk, brown sugar and creamer.  Cook and stir over mediumheat until heated through and sugar is dissolved.  

Pour milk mixture into mugs, stir in tea.  Dollop with whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg if desired.

Yield: 2 servings

For tomorrow night, I’m going to use my metal tea ball to hold the spices, and I’m going to make it in my crockpot…so that I can make a much larger serving.

Enjoy!!

photo provided by google

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Would you pray??

As many of you know, our daughter Ashley is currently participating in YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in Paia, Hi. Last night, she sent us the following story and I’d ask you each to PLEASE pray for our dear brothers and sisters serving faithfully in Orissa, India.

Friends, as rough as our days may seem….as tight as we may feel our budgets are getting, as stressful as our days may be, we TRULY have nothing to complain about.

As you read this story, I KNOW your heart will be gripped as mine was….we TRULY are a BLESSED people, and in our ‘blessings”, I belive God is asking us if we are willing to get involved, via prayer for those serving in countries that oppose the gospel of Christ.

What a GREAT sacrific many are making…..and friend..they are WILLING to lay down their lives…to win the lost!

On my knees,
Kim~

This is a request for prayer for YWAM (Youth With a Mission) missionaries and their churches in Orissa, India.

The request came from Mabel Hurst, an associate of HCJB Global. Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.

Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India. We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage…. And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media.

Let me explain: A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and ‘reconverting’ people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up, “Kill the Christians!” And the horror began…In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.

Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa–they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and ‘finish the job.’

Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belongings. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace.

In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors, turned them away by saying that here were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore. All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road–even women and children.

At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: ‘We stay with our kids…. we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.’ More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days, supposedly the 14-day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest.

Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times.

Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved–that is our heart’s cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do ? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations… Prayer works! Blessings, Chip & Sandy Wanner (Col 2:2 MBI) Team Facilitators to YWAM Frontlines

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I Bowed on my Knees

Can you imagine…what it will be like when we see HIM…face to face??? This thought has been on my heart for the past few days…and as I ponder it…I’m filled with much anticipation. For soon friend…it WILL NOT be a dream….but our reality.

Let’s get a LITTLE excited..as we anticipate his coming!

(Remember to stop my music below so you can enjoy this video)

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The Stone that the Builders Rejected

Act 4:11-12 says,
“Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

As I’ve been meditating and pondering this scripture for the past week, God has been sharing such amazing truths with my heart.

This passage shed’s light on the very things that happens today, in my own life. Jesus was rejected. People shunned him, people persecuted him, people spoke words of judgment against him, YET, God’s word tells us that although he was rejected, he remains the cornerstone.

Can you relate to this passage? I know I can. Over the course of the past 21 years God’s lead my husband and I on a journey, that at times, was not easy. To say it wasn’t easy is clearly an understatement, when the truth is, some days we frankly wanted to give up!!

Each of us, on our faith walk will have those seasons in our lives when we feel like the Israelites wandering around the wilderness. We feel lost, we feel disconnected, we feel confused, we feel like a failure, AND, often, we feel like God will never make a way.

I’ve walked this “wilderness road”, and often, finding the courage to take “one more step”; was much more than my heart could handle. Yet, with each step I took, God’s hand was leading me, guiding me, and directing my every step.

Trials and hardships are truly “part of life”, and although we don’t like those seasons, I’m learning that it’s in “those seasons”..if I’m teachable, God can do amazing things in my heart to transform me into him image.

My husband and I started off as a young couple who were willing to “give it all up”….”leave family and home” to serve him in ministry. God truly blessed us for many years in ministry as we served as senior pastors, preaching, teaching, discipling, and winning the lost. God was good and so very faithful to us during many lean years when we served in churches that could not provide much along the lines of salary.

As many of you know, ministry can be one of the loneliest professions to work in. You live in a glass bowl….you watch your p’s and q’s because everyone is watching you! You do your best with the juggling act of doing what “God wants”…and “keeping the saints in the pew happy”.

After 10 years of faithfully serving, we found ourselves on the “outside” ….feeling rejected, unwanted, and friendless.

Leaving the ministry is something NO one ever wants to do, yet, (from the statistic’s I’ve read, more and more pastors are leaving fulltime ministry) this was our new reality.

When we left fulltime ministry we struggled for 8 years trying to figure out “where we fit”? We’d visit church after church and we couldn’t find a connection. In fact, some of the churches we visited, turned us away, rejected us…because of “things they heard”..(judgements).

We found it difficult to attend church. For so many years we were the one’s on the platform, and to now be sitting in the pew truly stung at our heart. We were so overwhelmed with no where to go, feeling that no one loved us (aside from our famly), and no one cared.

Yet, my husband and I resolved that although we were in a Wilderness experience, we knew God has a plan for us! The calling he placed on our life to serve in ministry couldn’t be filled by the things of the world; and the calling he placed on our hearts was so strong. Although, we fought it for many years, God kept gently..bidding us back.

Although, just like Jesus, we felt “rejected” we pressed on, seeking the Lord for his perfect will…his perfect timing…his perfect plan. And slowly…God began to open new doors. (and when I say slowly….it was VERY SLOW!!!)

God has so clearly made a way for my husband and I too once again, serve in ministry. He’s opened doors that NO man could open. Currently, we head up a Prayer Counseling Ministry at our church where we spend time ministering to people struggling with “life issue”.

Each week as we meet with people, we are in awe…that God would use us in this ministry. For you see, each week, as we listen to people pour out their hearts, we are gently reminded that we are here…serving in this ministry…..for such a time as this….BECAUSE of our own personal ‘wilderness experience”.

Today, both my husband and I look back over the course of our 21 years together and we can say without hesitation that we are SO thankful for the trials, difficulties, and rejections we faced, because through them, God has done such a work in our heart; and he’s allowing us to have so much “love” and “understanding” for those we minister too…because, “we’ve been there”.

You see, God has so touched our heart with Mark 12:10 which says,
‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. NLT

We felt rejected, unwanted, worthless, un-useable (is this even a word???lol). Yet, in all God’s goodness and mercy, and love, he’s allowed us to now, have a ministry that is serving as a “cornerstone”, for our body.

Friend, today, if you are going through a difficult time (a divorce, a health concern, ministry lose..etc..) know that “this season” is NOT in vain! God LOVES you…and he WILL make a way!

God has been teaching my heart that he’s not as concerned with me “reaching my destination” (my purpose), as he is in my daily journey with him.

My prayer is that as you walk your journey…your wilderness experience, that you hang tight to the hem of his garment. For when you do, he will lead you!

During those difficult days on your journey when you feel as though you cannot trust his hand as he leads you…..(and that’s ok), remember, you can ALWAYS trust his heart!

As God continues to lead each of us on our journey, remember his word found in Haggai 2:9:

‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

God is doing this in my life, and I KNOW, he will do this in yours as well. Rest in him!

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~*~*Countdowns, Marathons, Plans, and Broken Toe Nails~*~*

We’ve almost reaching the “midway” point to the month of November and I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by!!!

At our house, we’ve begun our countdown till this beauty….arrives home!

I know I’m partical..but isn’t she adorable????? I can’t wait to see her and smooch her sweet face!!!! 🙂 33 more days until her feet land in MN and my head is swirling with all the things I want to have ready!

I’m planning/hoping to have all our of Christmas shopping, house decorated, and Christmas baking done by Dec. 14th, so that when we pick Ash up at the airport on the 15th..we’ll have 8 full days with her, (minus the last minute Christmas hustle) before we gather back home to celebrate Christmas with my family.

Ashley will also be turing 20 on Dec. 18th…so we’ll need to be thinking “Happy Birthday” too!!

Recently, Ashley ran a Marthon…(10K) and to say we were proud of her is a HUGE understatement. This, from a girl who doesn’t like to run or sweat!! (lol)

She was SO excited about her accomplishment that she even called her brother to impress him! 🙂 You go girl…I knew you could do it.

Last night I received a voicemail that NO Mom EVER wants to receive…especially at 11:30 at night! The message was from Ash…and she said,

“Mom, you need to call me right away, this is an emergency.”

By the time I picked my heart up off of the floor and called her back, here’s what her emergency was:

“Mom, I dropped something on one of my toes…and my toe nail is bleeding and I think it’s going to fall off.”

I, calmly talked her in, off of the ledge..and explained that she’d be ok.

Then, without missing a beat she said,

“Mom, what am I going to do if I loose a toe nail? You know how important my toes are to me and how I keep them painted for when I wear my flip-flops!”

Then, before I could respond she said this,

“Mom, STOP rollin’ your eye’s at me, cause I know you are!! This is serious!”

(Boy does she know her Mother or what?!?!? lol)

Oh Ash…whatever am I going to do with you!??!?

Thankfully this was a MINOR (at least to me) emergency. 🙂 I proceeded to give her a few pointers on what to do (especially because we DO NOT want her to get another staph infection), and as we said our good-byes she said,

Oh, I left my emergency message on Dad’s cell phone too, so please let him know I’m ok so he doesn’t panic in the morning when he hears my message!”

What a girl….can you tell I miss her!?!?!?

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Veterans Day

Today, as we Honor those who have, and continue to serve our great country; may we remember how “BLESSED” we are, to live in a free country.

I found this story about our flag, and couldn’t help but pass it along.

God Bless America…and ALL of our Veterans and Heros!!

THE FIRST FOLD OF OUR FLAG IS THE SYMBOL OF LIFE.

THE SECOND FOLD IS A SYMBOL OF OUR BELIEF IN THE ETERNAL LIFE.

THE THIRD IS MADE IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE VETERAN DEPARTING OUR RANKS, WHO GAVE A PORTION OF LIFE FOR THE DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY AND TO ATTAIN PEACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE FOURTH FOLD REPRESENTS OUR WEAKER NATURE; FOR, AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TRUSTING IN GOD, IT IS IN HIM WE TURN TO IN TIMES OF PEACE AS WELL AS IN TIMES OF WAR FOR HIS DIVINE GUIDANCE.

THE FIFTH FOLD IS A TRIBUTE TO OUR COUNTRY, FOR IN THE WORDS OF STEPHEN DECATUR, “OUR COUNTRY, IN DEALING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, MAY SHE ALWAYS BE RIGHT; BUT IT STILL IS OUR COUNTRY; RIGHT OR WRONG.”

THE SIXTH FOLD REMINDS US OF THE SIXTH BATTLE-WEARY FIGHTERS WHO VIGILANTLY STRUGGLED TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNT SURIBACHE ON IWO JIMA DURING WORLD WAR II. ONCE THERE, THEY PROUDLY RAISED ABOVE THE BATTLE. OUR FLAG, THE SYMBOL “THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR,” THE SYMBOL OF “FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.” IT IS OUR DUTY TO DEFEND THE FLAG WHICH STANDS FOR THEM ALL.

THE SEVENTH FOLD IS FOR WHERE OUR HEARTS LIE. IT IS WITH OUR HEARTS THAT WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE EIGHTH FOLD IS A TRIBUTE TO THE ONE WHO ENTERED INTO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, THAT WE MIGHT SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY, AND TO HONOR MOTHER, FOR WHOM IT FLIES ON MOTHER’S DAY.

THE NINTH FOLD IS A TRIBUTE TO WOMANHOOD; FOR IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THEIR FAITH, LOVE, LOYALTY, AND DEVOTION THAT THE CHARACTER OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT HAVE BEEN MOLDED.

THE TENTH FOLD IS A TRIBUTE TO FATHER, FOR HE, TOO, HAS GIVEN HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS FOR THE DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY SINCE HE OR SHE WAS FIRST BORN.

THE ELEVENTH FOLD, IN THE EYES OF A HEBREW CITIZEN, REPRESENTS THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAL OF KING DAVID AND KING SOLOMON AND GLORIFIES, IN THEIR EYES, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB.

THE TWELFTH FOLD, IN THE EYES OF A CHRISTIAN CITIZEN, REPRESENTS AN EMBLEM OF ETERNITY AND GLORIFIES, IN THEIR EYES, GOD THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST.
WHEN THE FLAG IS COMPLETELY FOLDED, THE STARS ARE UPPERMOST, REMINDING US OF OUR NATIONAL MOTTO, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

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Our Hope

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