THE GREATEST GIFT

Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.

Helen Keller

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Oscar Wilde

In the flush of love’s light, we dare be brave. And suddenly we see that love costs all we are, and all we will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.

Maya Angelou

There is no remedy for love but to love more.

Henry David Thoreau

Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination.

Voltaire

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

Mother Teresa

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

Dalai Lama

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

Vincent Van Gogh

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

H. L. Mencken

Love

don’t necessarily spring out of nowhere. It takes a conscious decision by us to be kind. Here are some tried and true ideas for how to be kind with all of the people we encounter in life.

1. Is the book of Nahum in the Old or New Testament? Or neither?

2. From Leviticus 19:25, the fruit of a newly planted tree must not be eaten until which year? Is it the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th?

3. What was Bathsheba doing on the roof when David first saw her? Was she bathing, praying, singing or hiding?

4. Samson’s strength was correlated with what part of his body? Was it his heart, chest, hair or legs?

5. Job suffered from what physical affliction? Was it deafness, boils, blindness or coughs?

Answers

31

1. Who sang the chart-topping song, “Seasons in the Sun” in 1974? Bonus points for knowing what the song is about.

2. Name the group that recorded “The Love You Save.”

3. Who released the popular version of “Wild Thing”?

4. Which Kool & the Gang song was selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry?

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics:

“It’s hard for a back street affair to be easy, For each hour of happiness there’s two hours of pain.”

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME AGAIN!

Sports Quiz

Custom Drapes

1. In October 2022, Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky were charged with multiple felonies in Ohio for allegedly cheating in a tournament of what sport?

2. American ballet dancer Jackson Haines (1840-75) is famous for his innovations in what sport?

3. In March 2012, what New York Yankees relief pitcher suffered an open dislocation of his ankle while at a trampoline jump center?

4. Whose resume includes head football coaching jobs with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, Florida Atlantic Owls and Ole Miss Rebels?

5. Though he was born in the Soviet Union, former light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu represented what country during his pro boxing career?

Walleye fishing (lead weights were found in their fish)

ANSWERS:

Sweet Tooth

1 box cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box 3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks butter), softened

3 c. powdered sugar

3 tbsp. heavy cream

Chocolate-Covered Cake Balls

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Pinch kosher salt

2 c. white chocolate chips

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

4 tbsp. coconut oil, divided Sprinkles, for decorating

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9”-x-13” baking pan with cooking spray. Prepare cake mix according to box instructions and spread evenly into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool then break cake into small crumbs.

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter until smooth, then add sugar and beat until combined. Add cream, vanilla, and salt and mix until smooth. (Add more cream if frosting is too thick.)

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir cake crumbs into frosting, then form mixture into tablespoon-sized balls. Place on a prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.

In a deep-sided heatproof bowl, microwave white chocolate and 2 tablespoons coconut oil in 30 second intervals until melted. Repeat process with semisweet chocolate.

Dip chilled cake balls into melted chocolate, shaking off excess chocolate. Immediately decorate with sprinkles and return to baking sheet. Refrigerate until hardened, 15 minutes.

Are you recently retired or unemployed, at loose ends and wondering what your next steps should be? If you’re looking for ways to help other veterans, here are some fun ideas.

As a place to start, ask if the Habitat for Humanity near you is building a home for a veteran. You might end up as a Habitat employee in charge of volunteer resources or running a Habitat ReStore full of building materials.

Look around online for organizations in your area that are raising and training service dogs for veterans. These puppies need to spend the first year of their lives in a loving environment to get them ready for their allimportant service dog training.

Volunteer on an Honor Flight. Keep an eye on the schedule in your area for the Honor Flights, those allexpenses-paid trips that take hundreds of veterans to Washington, D.C. They need volunteers for every trip to escort mostly elderly veterans to see all of their monuments and spend the day together.