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Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the historical civil rights leader. His birthday is actually on January 15, but is observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was an American Baptist minister and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. King is best known for his role in civil rights in using nonviolent civil disobedience which were based on his Christian beliefs. He led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. King helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 and served as its first president. He helped organize the 1963 nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1963 he helped organize the March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In October 1964, King was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. During the final years of his life, he expanded his focus towards improving poverty levels and the Vietnam War.  Martin Luther King, Jr. King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., called the Poor Peoples Campaign. However, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee before that event took place.
Martin Luther King was awarded two honors posthumously – the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. The federal holiday to honor Dr. King was created by a bill signed by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 2011. A point of interest – King’s legal name at birth was Michael instead of Martin (his father’s name was Michael as well). The elder King changed his and his son’s name in honor of the German reformer Martin Luther after attending the Fifth Baptist World Alliance Congress in Berlin in 1943. Source… To celebrate this special day, King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech text can be found by clicking the link provided below. Click Link for “I Have a Dream” speech.
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 Happy New Year 2023 from Colorado Springs Over 50! We are looking forward to a happy, healthy, and successful 2023 and wish the same for you and yours. Here is a list of Quotes for the New Year by renowned people that will guide you as you traverse through the 365 days of 2023 – Enjoy! 1) “Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.” Charles Kettering 2) “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson 3) “Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you have always wanted to do but could not find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you do not think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You will look 10 years younger. Do not be afraid to say, I love you. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.” Ann Landers 4) “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain 5) “Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad new year to all the earth.” Martin Luther 6) “All of us every single year, we are a different person. I do not think we are the same person all our lives.” Steven Speilberg 7) “Be always at War with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you, a better person.” Benjamin Franklin Happy New Year 2023 – Make It A Great Year! New Year’s Eve is almost here, and most of us enjoy celebrating, however, some of us prefer non-alcoholic beverage choices. These “mocktail” recipes are special enough to wow your guests on New Year’s Eve, and the best part is they’re great for any age, too! Enjoy!! Click on the titles for the full recipe. 1. Sparkling Raspberry Mocktail Pair the grape juice with a few other ingredients and you have an elegant non alcoholic drink on your hands! Something that makes this raspberry mocktail pretty and tasty are the ice cubes. Make them the day before or you can make them in the morning or early afternoon so that by evening they are definitely ready to go.     Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy this beautiful rendition of Carol of the Bells and Christmas Light Show! Interesting facts about Christmas:
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world. This includes many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. For Christians, participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century. Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Traditionally, Christmas carols have often been based on medieval chord patterns. This is what gives them their uniquely characteristic musical sound. Christmas carols such as, “Good King Wenceslas” and “The Holly and the Ivy” can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages. It’s time to get a head start on your Christmas baking. You will love these Christmas cookies you can make now and freeze. What a great feeling to have that task done well before the holiday season! These Santa-special treats can be in the freezer for up to three months. Make sure you wrap the cookies in plastic, stack in an airtight container, seal and freeze. Thaw wrapped cookies at room temperature before serving. These cookies are also perfect for a Christmas Cookie Exchange event. Here is the bonus…these cookies are easy to make! Everyone will think you spent hours and hours making these unique, delicious holiday cookies!      Courtesy of BHG
Christmas Cookies to make now and freeze! How easy is that? For a Delicious Healthier Banana Bread Recipe, Click Here  Are you Ready? Santa Claus is coming to town. You can track him coming into your city! NORAD Deploys their NORAD Santa Tracker! NORAD will be tracking Santa (like they do every year) so get on board and watch when and where Santa Claus arrives in various parts of the world. Go to the NORAD Santa Tracker web page and watch Santa in real time: http://www.noradsanta.org  Background info… The NORAD Tracks Santa program began as an annual event on December 24, 1955. According to legend, a Sears department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs, Colorado, newspaper which told children that they could place a call to Santa Claus. It included the number ME 2-6681. A call allegedly came through to Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center as one digit was misprinted. In some versions of the story, the calls were coming in to the “red telephone” hotline that connected CONAD directly to command authorities at the Strategic Air Command. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was a Crew Commander on duty, answered the first call and supposedly told his staff to give all children who called in later a “current location” for Santa Claus. NORAD Santa Tracker, it’s Fun! Merry Christmas! You will ‘wow’ your guests with this wonderful Cheese Christmas Tree. It’s easy to make and is festive as well. It is made with different flavored cheese cubes. For those limiting their fat intake, look for reduced-fat cheese, such as cheddar and light pepper Jack, which are as delicious as the regular cheddar cheese. Plus, you can make omelets or fondue with any leftovers!  Ingredients •5 eight-ounce bars of different kinds of cheddar cheese, plain and flavored (or substitute other semi-hard cheeses for variety) •1 bundle fresh thyme sprigs •Red grape or “teardrop” tomatoes (can substitute cherry tomatoes or olives) •1 large white button mushroom Preparation 1. Cut each bar of cheese into 1-inch cubes. 2. On large platter or cutting board, arrange cubes in rows to form tree shape, using a different flavor for each row. Separate the rows of cheese with thyme or rosemary sprigs (rosemary looks like an evergreen twig) and rows of grape tomatoes and/or pimento-stuffed green olives. 3. For the star on top, peel the skin from the mushroom and carve a star pattern into it with point of knife. 4. Enjoy the compliments! Source… Make this Cheese Christmas Tree for your holiday parties!  Most people enjoy the holidays, because it’s generally a festive and fun time of the year! It’s also one of the busiest! There are lots of parties to attend, social events to plan, family get-togethers, shopping to be done, and cookies to be baked. Add seasonal weather to the mix, finances, cold and flu season and a super long “to-do” list and this time of year can also take a big toll on our health. With all the fun and celebrating it’s easy to forget ourselves sometimes, but it’s so important to remember to take good care of yourself and remain heart healthy during these stressful and busy weeks! Here are easy tips to lessen the stress, strengthen your heart and be heart healthy this holiday season. 1. Don’t sweat the small stuff (or the big stuff) No doubt, all of us have long to-do lists this time of year. Sometimes you can plan way ahead and still not have things work out like you planned. It’s ok! Learn to be gentle on yourself, and when things get overwhelming, force yourself to simplify. Scale back your to-do list. Delegate some errands to your partner, children or friends. Space out your shopping and baking, and don’t overbook your schedule with events and social gatherings. Take deliberate time out of your day to relax and regroup. Force yourself to take a nap! What’s important is that you aren’t stressing yourself out needlessly. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that less is more! 2. Sneak in some exercise Just because you’re “busy” doesn’t mean you’re staying active. Sometimes the cold weather keeps us from our regular exercise routines, and the stress of the holidays can also cause us to overeat and hibernate on the couch a little too long! Park a little farther when you’re out shopping to add some steps to your day. Walk around the mall a little longer than you have to. Dance in the kitchen to Christmas songs on the radio while doing the dishes. Stressful day? Pull out the yoga mat and do some deep breathing and stretching in the evening. Just be sure that you are mindful about moving your body through the Winter months. Your heart will thank you! 3. Be wise about portion control We are literally surrounded this time of year by rich food and alcohol. Sometimes it’s easy to justify a little gluttony when you’re “celebrating”, but when you’ve been celebrating for 2 months, you can come out the other side 15 pounds heavier and with a higher cholesterol count if you’re not careful! Treating yourself is ok, but always make sure the bulk of your calories are coming from real, unprocessed foods. Fill up on the healthy stuff first, and you’ll feel less inclined to eat a sample of every dessert. 4. Make sure you’re getting enough rest Insomnia and sleepless nights can take their toll on our bodies when we constantly have lists of things we need to do going through our brains. Sometimes it feels impossible to shut it off. One good tip is writing down everything you need to do the next day. If you have it on paper, sometimes it’s easier for the brain to let it go. Take time to relax each evening with a good book, a warm bath or a warm drink. Try to stay away from electronics in the late evening, and make sure you’re room isn’t too warm. These are helpful for a good night’s sleep. No matter how busy you are, always aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. A well rested body is a healthy body and helps keep the heart healthy! In 2022, the American Heart Association added sleep duration to its cardiovascular health checklist, now called “Life’s Essential 8.” These science-based guidelines were created to help all Americans improve their heart health. 5. A joyful heart is a happy heart There’s a lot to be said about having a positive outlook and being of good cheer. Not only can a good attitude benefit those around us, but it can keep our blood pressure from rising and keep stress away too! There’s a direct correlation between mental and physical health, so keep your mind positive. Look for ways to serve others, and look for the good in every situation and your whole body will thank you! Stay heart healthy and ‘heart happy’ during the holidays!
 By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. Go: Washington Washington issued a proclamation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26 as a national day of thanks. In his proclamation, Washington declared that the necessity for such a day sprung from the Almighty’s care of Americans prior to the Revolution, assistance to them in achieving independence, and help in establishing the constitutional government. Source: Mount Vernon When President Lincoln made his Thanksgiving proclamation in 1863, the last Thursday of November became standard. Source: Wikipedia So many of us look forward to Thanksgiving with anticipation of friends and family gathering around for a delicious meal as well as good, lively conversation. However, some people may actually dread the holiday, especially this year and see it as a lonely and disappointing time because they are going through a bad time in their life. Tough times don’t take a holiday! For them, Thanksgiving may be the beginning of a long string of “holiday blues” because Christmas is close behind. Here are ideas to shed a different light on the holiday season and calm the Thanksgiving blues for others and will make you feel good as well. Write a card or note of thanks. We all would love to hear words of thanks! Write a quick note, send an email, or make a phone call. Simply say “Thanks for being you!” or “Glad you’re in my life!” Thanksgiving is the perfect time to let them know! Share your Thanksgiving meal if you are comfortable during that this year. An invitation to Thanksgiving dinner is a great way to include others. Do check to see if they have food preferences or restrictions. Extend the invitation ASAP. Sometimes, just anticipating the fun is as enjoyable as the real event. Deliver a Thanksgiving meal. If a person is too sick or too sad to join you for Thanksgiving dinner, deliver the meal to them. This can be for one person or rally others to contribute to a Thanksgiving dinner with a side dish or dessert and deliver meals to several people. Deliver the meal with a caring note and heating instructions. If time doesn’t allow for this, just deliver a piece of your favorite pie.  Plan something fun to do over Thanksgiving weekend. Take some of the loneliness out of the weekend by going shopping, seeing a holiday blockbuster movie, or going skiing or ice skating. Each town has its own fun activities so check online or in the newspaper for ideas. Involve the kids. Help them create a Thanksgiving Day greeting card for a shut in. Provide craft supplies and let the kids create them and have them deliver their homemade cards or send them in the mail. Help with holiday decorations. Make someone’s home a bit cheerier by helping with Thanksgiving decorations. Don’t forget to help take them down at the end of the season. Illness and accidents don’t take a break just because it’s Thanksgiving. Think of visiting someone who is ill (not with COVID) and home bound with a noncommunicable illness, or a person who had an accident who is home bound. If appropriate (especially this year), provide something fun to do, or if time allows, watch a game, movie, or parade. A short visit will be appreciated as well. A little extra time and effort will bring a smile to someone going through a rough time. It might just help to ease their Thanksgiving blues. And, it will make you feel better, too! Source & Additional Info... |
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