Rally Around the American Flag

I believe this was the first time Taylor was home for Memorial Day. All weekend I made new yummy recipes. On Saturday I made this deee-licious Baked French Toast Casserole, just for the man of the house cause he deserved it! It was amazing....and of course, unhealthy. But I will definitely make it again. And want to try to make a healthier version. Taylor always tells me, you don't enjoy sweets to be healthy! Yeah, it's kinda true, but if it can be more guilt-free, it's worth a shot to me. Since now of course I'm working out like crazy to burn all dat butta off! :P hahaha!

On Sunday I made these Southwest Quesadilla's with sour cream that has cilantro and fresh lime, your taste buds will not be bored with this dish! Mm-mm! a new family favorite! I also added some chopped up seared ribeye steak seasoned with cumin, salt and pepper (since my man has to have his meat.) And on Memorial day we had ribeye steaks with hickory seasonings and red potatoes. I seared the steaks in this Green Earth frying pan I just bought. And let me tell you it cooks amazing! I wanted it because I wanted to replace my current skillet with a skillet that's 100% non-toxic, since I've been concerned about the coatings in most cookware that can leach bad toxins into your food. Read more about the dangers of non-stick cookware here. The safest cookware is ceramic and is pretty costly. So I was thrilled to find this one on Amazon for such a phenomenal price. Words cannot describe how much I love this pan!
The ceramic cooks and cleans off so well. You'll just have to cook with it yourself to believe! ;)

On Memorial Day I prayed and reflected a lot on the past and current wars. And I'm so very grateful for our military and also the border patrol agents that live to protect our lives and freedoms. I know that I can't fathom the experiences they've endured and witnessed. I've also had my thoughts and prayers constant for those affected by the tornadoes. The stories I've read are so heartbreaking. I wish so badly that I could go there to help and just give them love and comfort. But I know the Lord is there for us always and will not leave us comfortless.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, either knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
~John 14:16-18


May those that are grieving be comforted that you will see your lost loved ones again.

I will always love my country and the great history of it. I strive to never lose hope in our country and that we will always remain free and will become stronger through all the conflicts and uncertainty that exists. I know that if we teach our children the real history of our country and the belief in divine providence we can and will have a strong empowered future generation and honorable leaders that will have faith in God and embrace integrity.

I found this awesome picture and poem below from this site (http://www.sonofthesouth.net/). Which quotes:"You are viewing a stunning illustration of Abraham Lincoln and Civil War soldiers and sailors rallying around the flag. This illustration is from the October 1, 1864 edition of Harper's Weekly. At this time, the country was growing weary after 4 long years of bloodshed, and the democratic presidential candidate, George McClellan, was running on a platform of "Compromise with the South". The democrats planned to end the Civil War by appeasing the South, and allowing slavery to continue, and once again Flourish. Lincoln held firm in his position that despite the great cost of life, so causes were worth so great a sacrifice, and the end of slavery was one such cause. This illustration helped stir the nation, and join Lincoln in "Rallying around the American Flag". The illustration was accompanied by this poem:

Rally round the Flag, Boys!
Rally one again;
There are traitors in the camp, boys,
And pirates on the Main:
There are rebels in the front, boys,
And foes across the sea,
Who hate the proud republican
And scoff at you and me.

Rally round the Flag, Boys!
Rally in your might;
Let the nations see how freemen
Can battle for the right;
Make the throbbing mountains echo
With the thunder of your tread;
With music sweet of martial feet
Salute our gallant dead.

Rally round the Flag, boys;
Rally with a cheer;
For all you love and cherish most,
For all that you hold dear,
Defend the brave old banner,
Unsullied from the earth
Within its folds enshrined it holds
All that this life is worth.

Then rally round the Flag, Boys;
Rally, rally still!
Rally from the valley,
And rally from the hill;
Rally from the ship, boys,
And rally from the plow;
Now or never is the word --
Never! failing now.