Witty Wednesday [9]

Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster (1782 - 1852), was a famous American politician and diplomat. He is considered one of the greatest orators in American history. He served as a U.S. Congressman, a U.S. Senator and as the Secretary of State for three different Presidents: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore. His political career spanned almost four decades.

---"If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."


---Daniel Webster, in speaking at the bicentennial celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, December 22, 1820, declared: "Lastly, our ancestors established their system of government on morality and religious sentiment. Moral habits, they believed, cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than religious principle, nor any government be secure which is not supported by moral habits....Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.
     Cultivated mind was to act on uncultivated nature; and more than all, a government and a country were to commence, with the very first foundations laid under the divine light of the Christian religion. Happy auspices of a happy futurity! Who would wish that his country's existence had otherwise begun?
    Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in full conviction that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity."


---In a speech at the Bunker Hill Monument, Charleston, Massachusetts, on June 17, 1843, Daniel Webster spoke of the Founding Fathers' regard for the Bible: "The Bible came with them. And it is not to be doubted, that to free and universal reading of the Bible, in that age, men were much indebted for right views of civil liberty.
    The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book for morals, and a book of religion, of special revelation from God; but it is also a book which teaches man his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality with his fellow-man.
     Thank God! I - I also - am an American!"

All quotes and text taken from "America's God and Country" by William J. Federer.

I read several verses in Proverbs 30 today which struck me:

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.     Proverbs 30:11-14

Does this sound like any generation you know? Oh, how far we have come!

I look forward to sharing with you the pictures I took at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio...and especially telling the story of a very special animal named Mac!

Lemon Buttermilk Cookies

I discovered this delightful recipe today and thought I would share it with y'all. I hope you enjoy!

Lemon Buttermilk Cookies

Ingredients:

For cookies

• 3 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups raw sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup well-shaken buttermilk

For glaze

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons well-shaken buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation:

For  cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheight with rack in middle. Grease two large baking sheets.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixng well after each addition, then mix in vanilla and lemon juice.
4. Mix in flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until smooth. The dough will be slightly sticky, but do not add more flour.
5. Drop by the tablespoon onto baking sheet, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart.
6. Bake, one sheet at a time, until cookies are puffed and the edges are golden - about 12 minutes.

For glaze

1. Whisk together all of the glaze ingredients and brush on tops of warm cookies.
2. Let stand until cookies are cooled and the glaze is set.

Enjoy!

Guest Post

I had the privilege of writing a guest post for Elizabeth at The Country Handmaiden....to view it, click here.

Witty Wednesday [8]

John Hancock

John Hancock (1737-1793), an American merchant and Revolutionary leader, was the president of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. He became well-known for have been the first member of the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence.

---On April 15, 1775, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts declared A Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer, signed by the President of the Provincial Congress, John Hancock:
"In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent Measure should be taken to ward off the impending Judgements...all confidence must be withheld from the Means we use; and reposed only on that GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human counsels are but foolishness - and all created Power Vanity;
   It is the Happiness of his Church that, when the Powers of Earth and Hell combine against it...that the Throne of Grace is of the easiest access - and its Appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father of Mercies, who has assured it, that when his Children ask Bread he will not give them a Stone....
   RESOLVED, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the good People of this Colony of all Denominations, that THURSDAY the Eleventh Day of May next be set apart as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer...to confess the sins...to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgression...and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful Employments of this People; and especially that the union of the American Colonies in Defence of their Rights (for hitherto we desire to thank Almighty GOD) may be preserved and confirmed....And that AMERICA may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven.
                         By Order of the [Massachusetts] Provincial Congress,
                         John Hancock, President"

---On November 8, 1783, Governor John Hancock, from Boston Massachusetts, issued A Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving to celebrate the victorious conclusion of the Revolutionary War.
"John Hancock, Esquire
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving:
    Whereas...these United States are not only happily rescued from the Danger and Calamities to which they have been so long exposed, but their Freedom, Sovereignty and Independence ultimately acknowledged.
    And whereas...the Interposition of Divine Providence in our Favor hath been most abundantly and most graciously manifested, and the citizens of these United States have every reason for Praise and Gratitude to the God of their salvation/
    Impressed therefore with an exalted Sense of the Blessings by which we are surrounded, and of our entire Dependence on that Almighty Being from whose Goodness and Bounty they are derived;
    I do by and with the Advice of the Council appoint Thursday the Eleventh Day of December next (the Day recommended by the Congress to all the States) to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, that all the People may then assemble to celebrate...that he hath been pleased to continue to us the Light of the Blessed Gospel;...That we also offer up fervent Supplications...to cause pure Religion and Virtue to flourish...and to fill the World with his glory."

All of this text is taken from "America's God and Country" by William J. Federer.

Isn't it amazing how far we have come? We now have a President of the United States openly endorsing gay marriage, against the express commandments of God. I read two articles by Doug Phillips on his blog that gave me chills. To see them, click here and here.

Mother Daughter Trip and Witty Wednesday

The first very important anouncement is:

The Marriage Amendment passed in North Carolina! Praise the Lord...He is so good!

Now, on to two other things:

Several weeks ago, my mom and I went on a trip to Rockford, North Carolina. Rockford is a small historic town about 50 miles south of the Virginia border. We stayed two nights at the Rockford Inn Bed and Breakfast.



Front entrance



Side



Back

Because we were in the Yadkin Valley, there were vineyards everywhere. The Rockford Inn had a very small vineyard and a very pretty backyard.



Some kind of Gardenia. These smelled heavenly

The hosts at the inn were so kind and hospitable. At a bed and breakfast, breakfast is served each morning for the guests. Both breakfasts were delicious, but I especially enjoyed the French Toast with Peaches (I would have gotten some pictures, but I didn't want to get my camera sticky).

On the first day, mom and I drove to Mayberry (actually Mt. Airy), the home of Andy Griffith. We have always been fans of the Andy Griffith Show. The drives we took were filled with beautiful scenery...it is a reminder of how great God is.




Driving down the road



One of many vineyards



Sorry for the window glare on this one...I forgot to roll the window down. The view is beautiful, though!


There were many, many old homes and buildings, and since I am such a fan of old things, I took some snapshots!



This was one of my favorites. It was right up the road from the B&B.



This little house was perfectly situated



Loved this old barn

Another beautifully situated home



 
Once we arrived in Mayberry, we drove by Andy Griffith's old home. It is currently a vacation rental, so we couldn't walk around.

We also visited the Andy Griffith museum just for kicks. In front was the statue of Andy and Opie going fishing - the classic Andy Griffith Show image.

We also visited an Amish store and rode through the "Amish country". In the area there were Amish people living interspersed amongst farmers and such.

Amish X-ing sign

The same building with the sign was an Amish market on the weekend



Not an Amish building, but neat nevertheless!





This building was awesome...I think it was a windmill at one time



I was so excited to see this on a church sign

I know this shot is blurry, but I had to post it anyway. These little animals are groundhogs and they were on someone's porch!

An Amish buggy

An Amish home



The views were beautiful





The next day I took some shots of the little village of Rockford before we left.



The 1830's Methodist church



As you can tell, it was raining!



I just loved this house



I am not sure what this building was, but it was really neat (and isn't the inside of the car awesome? This is the best angle I could get :)



The tavern. It was up a tall hill, so I couldn't get the full building



 

The glass store. This was my favorite building in Rockford

I hope you enjoyed the photos, and that these little snippets of my life are a blessing to you. It is most important to remember how great God is:

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.   1 SAMUEL 22:32-34

As for Witty Wednesday, I will be posting a founding father every other week during the summer, due to the hectic nature of our schedule this year! So, next week is the week for Witty Wednesday.

As usual, I love to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the section below!

Witty Wednesday [7]

Today I am going to do something slightly different. I received a fantastic email yesterday about Thomas Jefferson, and I would like to post the contents for Witty Wednesday.

Thomas Jefferson

"Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied Classical Literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the college of William and Mary.

At 19, studied law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated 'Summary View of the Rights of British America' and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a public education bill and a statute for religious freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected President of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third President of the United States.

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello.

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence [July 4] along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, His laws, and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future.

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: 'This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.'


[Some quotes from Thomas Jefferson:]

'When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.'

'The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.'

'It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.  A principle which is acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.'

'I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.'

'My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.'

'No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.'

'The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government.'

'The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.'

'To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.'

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
   If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless in the continent their fathers conquered.'"

When I read this email I got goose-bumps! To perceive how far we have come is mind-boggling. Our understanding is weak compared to that of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson talked about things that weren't even occurring in his times, but which he had the insight to see could occur under certain circumstances. Thus we have the warnings of these great men, passed down through the ages, about our very times and situations.

 As my Christian Worldview teacher said, "We are so advanced that we are stupid." It is my goal to not only cultivate my mind, but the minds of future generations, to be as acute as these men's minds were. I hope one day to be the strong wife of a man who is seeking to restore our heritage in godliness, just as these men sought to create a godly nation.

As always, I love to hear the thoughts of my readers. Please leave a comment below!