I wish I believed in Her

I wish I believed in her.

She dances in the dreams of every teen girl and kisses the cheek of the youth.

Her eyes hold a sparkle, a gleam of hope, but always ends in sorrow.

As you mature she disappears, you miss her innocent view but endless tears; That they are somehow worth it in the end because “your heart will be full again and again.”

Her heart becomes stone and bitter she speaks, she just cannot believe in the lie of the creeps. Could it be true? Or is it a hoax? She gave up too early, her last bit of hope.

Mirabella Reese

Easter

Easter started when Jesus was tried and crucified on Good Friday and was dead for three days. Jesus wasn’t dead as we think of today. His earthy body was dead, while his spiritual body was in a place in Hell called Abraham’s Bosom. Abraham’s Bosom is not a place of fire and torment; it is more like a waiting room separated by a chasm from the rest of hell. It was for the Old Testament saints that loved God but Jesus wasn’t born yet. During those three days, Jesus preached to them and in the end, they went to heaven while Jesus went back into his earthy body. He died on Friday and rose on Sunday, which is why we as Christians celebrate Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. 

Easter in modern America has been flipped upside down, focusing on a mythical rabbit called “the Easter Bunny.” Most of these traditions came from the German immigrants that settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s to celebrate the Germanic goddess of fertility. But, some early Christians in Mesopotamia dried eggs and dyed them red to match the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our sins. Unfortunately, today all around the world people don’t celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection. - Jake Wingfield

Heroes of HistoryPart 3

George Washington 

On February 22nd, 1732, George Washington was born to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. He was an excellent general and the very first president of the United States. George had five siblings. As young as eleven years old, George Washington inherited slaves to work on his family’s plantation.

His first job was at the age of 16 as a surveyor. George Washington was paired up with George Fairfax and they started surveying the county of Culpeper, Virginia. Culpeper is 67 miles away from Mount Vernon, where he grew up.   

At the age of 21, he joined the army, and on June 14, 1775, he was chosen by John Adams to serve in the militia to draw other southern states to join in the fight. He served in the House of Burgesses from 1758 until 1776. On January 6th, 1759 George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. On April 30th, 1789, he was sworn in as the United States' first president. He served two four-year terms and refused to serve another term because he wanted a democracy instead of a monarchy like Great Britain. George and Martha both served in the Anglican Church which was the prominent Christian church at the time. 

His legacy will live forever as one of the best presidents in history and as the first leader of The United States of America. 

-Jake Wingfield

Heroes of History Part 2

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States and was known for avoiding the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. During the Cold War, the U.S.S.R. (The former Soviet Union) shipped missiles to a base in Cuba off the coast of Florida. Khrushchev, the leader of the U.S.S.R., did not reply to Kennedy’s phone calls until the day before America decided to declare war on Cuba. Krushchev requested that the U.S. ship missiles out of Turkey and they would ship their missiles out of Cuba. The two parties agreed and shipped their missiles back home. America, and the world, breathed a metaphorical sigh of relief. But, on November 22nd, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Lee Harvey Oswald, assassinated J.F.K. with a sniper rifle through a window in Dallas, Texas. Three years later, a book was written about the murder of J.F.K. called, “Mark Lane’s Rush to Judgement.” The book talks about how Mr. Oswald took a trip to Mexico City in September of 1963 and didn’t return until October. The theory states that it is possible that anti-Castro groups paid Mr. Oswald to assassinate President John F. Kennedy because he didn’t start a war with Cuba. Another theory is that the C.I.A. (Central Intelligence Agency) worked with a pro-Castro group to kill the President because the C.I.A tried to assassinate Fidel Castro over 600 times. On November 24, 1963, Mr. Oswald was murdered by Jack Leon Ruby on live TV. Mr. Oswald was killed before he announced his motives for assassinating J.F.K. This is the reason why so many conspiracy theories thrive in the topic of assassinations with Kennidy’s being one of the most common. But, it is up to us to determine whether he was killed by the C.I.A or not based on our worldviews. -By Jake Wingfield 

Heroes of History Part 1

General George S. Patton was a war general in the second World War. His nickname was “Blood and Guts” because he wanted his men to understand what would be on the battlefield. He is most famously known for helping invent the M60 Patton Combat Tank, with the help of British Intelligence. He was known for many outstanding achievements, one of which was the lowest mortality rate in American military history.  The “Battle of the Bulge” was won under Patton’s leadership. Patton was interested in military occupations ever since childhood. General George S. Patton, was a four-star ranked general. Although the five-star rank still exists, no general has been awarded this status since 1950. Patton served in the first World War as an assistant to General John Pershing and was awarded a purple heart for his service. Patton’s weapons of choice were two 45-caliber Colts with Ivory handles. Patton was an Olympic athlete. He participated in the 1912 Olympic Summer games in Stockholm, Sweden. He played in the intense Pentathlon (Running, swimming, fencing, shooting, and riding). He was inducted into Pierre de Coubertin’s Sports Hall of Fame. Overall, General George S. Patton was one of America’s greatest war Generals and will go down in history as a legendary war hero.- By Jake Wingfield 

National Treasure

National Treasure is a movie about finding a treasure hidden by the early Masons. This movie stars Nicholas Cage as the main character: Benjamin Franklin Gates. The Gates’ family was known for finding a clue from the last survivor of the Revolutionary War. Before he died he told his relative Thomas Gates  the clue, “the secret lies with Charlotte.” When Benjamin grew up he traveled to Antarctica in search of Charlotte. He found Charlotte and it turned out it was a ship. On the ship was a pipe that had a clue inscribed upon it. Ben reads the riddle and comes to the conclusion that there is a map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Suddenly, two of his co-workers turned against him to steal it for themselves and find the treasure. Ben, and his friend Riley, plot to steal the Declaration to protect it from his former co-workers. They attended a party where the Declaration was kept in an attempt to steal it. They used fingerprint technology to get fingerprints to unlock the door to the cleaning room where the Declaration was kept at that time. Ben was stealing it when his ex-co-workers showed up from the duct system. There was a small shootout but both parties survived the encounter. Ben hid in a souvenir shop when the cashier noticed him trying to steal a fake Declaration of Independence. He pays with a credit card, and just as the FBI notices that the Declaration is missing, they lock down the entire place and check surveillance cameras for evidence. They discovered who stole it and went to track him down. Ben steals his dad's car and goes to Philadelphia to find a set of letters written by Benjamin Franklin. Riley pays a kid to crack a code in the letters that lead them to a brick in Independence Hall. They find a pair of glasses that give them the ability to read the map. Ben is captured by the FBI and made a deal to capture the rest of his coworkers. But, Ben escaped the FBI and made a deal with his coworkers because they were holding his dad hostage. Next, his father, Riley, and Ian explore a cave entrance in a church. They use the pipe as a key and unlock a door that leads to the treasure. The FBI needed to arrest someone for the theft of the Declaration and arrested Ian and his men. Ben donated most of the treasure to charity. Ben turned down 10% of the treasure. Riley received 1% of the treasure. Overall, the movie is great but some of the history is based on conspiracy theories and roomers. -Jake Wingfield

Dust of Snow

By: Robert Frost

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day had ruled

The Flu

Where did the flu come from?

The first report of the flu was from over 1,500 years ago. The flu is a complex virus with many forms like Swine flu, Influenza A-D, Bird flu, and seasonal flu. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic infected 500 million worldwide and killed 20-50 million people. The virus peaked and died down and stopped around mid-1920. There was no cure for the virus; isolation was the only way to stop the spread. Coronavirus is a kind of virus that has many relatives including SARS and MERS which were two smaller coronaviruses. On December 31st, 2019, Covid was created in Wuhan, China. 6.7 million people worldwide have died so far from Covid. In 2017, 52,000 people died from the common flu during the 2017-2018 flu season. Today, we need to keep a healthy balance between staying isolated and building natural immunity for the betterment of humanity. 

-Jake Wingfield 

No Drama Llama

The theater has been working extra hard to make this year's play a success. We have grown and hope to continue to grow. As part of the growth, the drama team has just returned from an overnight stay in Pennsylvania where they went to see the magical showing of ¨David¨ live at The Sight and Sound Theater. The successful trip led to much inspiration and excitement for the upcoming group and we can't wait to see all that we will continue to do.  The theater group and their producer, Leandra Willis, have many tricks up their sleeves to make this year's production the best it can be. We can not wait to tell you more information about it soon. We hope you join us this year and for many years to come.

Hot Chocolate Bombs

12 ounces high-quality semi-sweet chocolate bars or chips, such as Ghirardelli

6 tablespoons hot cocoa mix

1 cup mini marshmallows

Sprinkles, for decorating (optional)

6 cups whole or 2% milk

Step one: Set up a double boiler. Fill a 4-quart pot halfway with water and set over medium-high heat. Find a heat proof bowl that fits securely on top of the pot without touching the water.

Step two: Chop and temper the chocolate. If using bars, finely chop 12 ounces semisweet chocolate. Set 1/3 aside (about 4 ounces). Transfer the remaining 2/3 (8 ounces) to the bowl and fit over the double boiler. Melt the chocolate in the double boiler, stirring regularly with a silicone spatula to help with melting and keep it from getting too hot. Keep an eye on the chocolate temperature — it should never get too hot to touch but you can check this using a digital probe thermometer — do not exceed 100° F. Remove the bowl from the double boiler. Add the reserved chocolate in 3 increments, stirring until incorporated and melted after each addition. Continue mixing until the chocolate is between 88 and 91°F. You can check this with a digital probe thermometer or by touch — the chocolate should be about body temperature, so test on the back of your hand or wrist.

Step three: Coat the molds with the tempered chocolate. Drop 1 tablespoon tempered chocolate into each well of 2 (6-count, 2-inch wide) half sphere silicone mold trays. Use a brush to spread the chocolate up the sides and over the edges of the molds by just a bit. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is hardened, 5 to 15 minutes. Brush the wells with more tempered chocolate (about 1 teaspoon each) to achieve a thick, even coating. Let sit at room temperature until completely hardened, 15 to 30 minutes.

Step four: Fill half the spheres with cocoa and marshmallows. Place 1 tablespoon hot cocoa mix, 1 heaping tablespoon mini marshmallows, and 1/2 teaspoon sprinkles if desired into each of half of the wells

Step five: Paint or pipe a border of chocolate on the unfilled shells and assemble the bombs. Wearing nitrile or latex gloves, gently release the remaining 6 unfilled shells from their molds, but keep them resting in the well. Use a pastry brush or a small piping bag to coat their edges with tempered chocolate. (If the chocolate has cooled and lost its temper, place it back briefly over the double boiler until warmed back to between 88 and 91°F.) Top each marshmallow-filled shell with a coated, unfilled shell to form a sphere. Let sit at room temperature to harden and set, at least 15 minutes.

Step six: Coat cupcake liners with chocolate. Drop 1 tablespoon tempered chocolate into each of 6 parchment paper cupcake liners. Use a brush to coat the bottom and sides of the liners with the chocolate. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is hardened, 5 to 15 minutes. Brush the liners with more tempered chocolate (about 1 teaspoon each) to achieve a thick, even coating. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is completely hardened, 15 to 30 minutes.

Step seven: Fill with cocoa and marshmallows. Place 1 tablespoon hot cocoa mix, 1 heaping tablespoon mini marshmallows, and 1/2 teaspoon sprinkles if desired into each liner.

Step eight: Close the bombs with more chocolate. Drizzle 1 tablespoon tempered chocolate over the filling in each liner. Use the back of a small spoon to smooth the chocolate over the filling to completely enclose it. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is completely hardened, 15 to 30 minutes. (If the chocolate has cooled and lost its temper, place it back briefly over the double boiler until warmed back to between 88 and 91°F.) Wearing nitrile or latex gloves, gently release the chocolate bombs from the liners. Drizzle with any remaining chocolate and add sprinkles (optional). Before storing, you can decoratively drizzle the bombs with any remaining chocolate and add sprinkles to garnish if desired. Use gloves when decorating or moving the cocoa bombs to prevent fingerprints.

Step nine: Serve the chocolate bombs. Heat 1 cup milk for each hot chocolate bomb gently on the stovetop or in the microwave for about 2 minutes until very hot, almost to a boil. Pour the hot milk into a large mug and gently add the bomb for the most dramatic explosion

book of the week: A Proper Pursuit by Lilly Austen.

Lily Austin wrote many books, but one of her best is  A Proper Pursuit. It is about a girl who thought her mother had died. Little did she know her mother had run away from home after divorcing her husband to find a better life. So, Violet goes to live with her Aunt to find her mother. In the search for her mother, she finds the real meaning of love and how that can affect other relationships.  After having to go through 4 different relationships with 4 different boys she figures out how and why love is so important. She also figures out a lot about herself with the help of her aunts.  This   Romance book is perfect if you are an 1800’s romantic fan. It talks about historical themes, how dating was in the 1800’s, and how Love is more than just romance. 

Things To Do When You’re Stuck Indoors During Winter

Mirabella Reese

When you’re stuck indoors, it can be difficult to find things to occupy your time. When I was in that situation, I took up a new crafting hobby. From my birthday previously, I was given molding clay and decided it would be a good time to try it out for the first time. Of course the average person doesn’t have clay lying around but crafting in general is a fun, therapeutic activity to occupy your time and express your creativity. I will say that the most prevalent and precious  memories are sitting in front of our fireplace and television in pajamas with a cup of hot chocolate. It’s always a good idea to get cozy underneath a blanket while watching a Christmas movie (or multiple). The Christmas season is full of cheerful nostalgia, making it a perfect time to journal or write a book. Take your positive energy and put it towards something you can read and cherish later. There are so many other activities we may overlook in our daily life. Who can blame you? Life is so chaotic and we can often forget the littles things. It’s good to sit back and ground yourself by doing things you wouldn’t normally do.

Ohio

Ohio was officially declared the seventh state of America on March 1, 1803. This state’s nickname is the Buckeyes state. In 2021, the population of Ohio reached 11.78 million people, making it the seventh most populous state. Ohio is home to many pro athletic teams, such as the Cleveland Browns (NFL) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA). The most popular food in Ohio is Fried Chicken and Hot Dogs. 

Some famous people from Ohio are Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Steven Spielberg. The most followed religion in Ohio is Christianity with Christians making up 79% of religious believers. Ohioan culture is made up of mostly German immigrants from the 1800s, influencing their food, worldview, and religion. The state of Ohio usually votes Republican, making the majority vote 62% to 38%. Overall, Ohio is not a state for taking a vacation. But it is a great spot for tourism in its grand cities. -Jake Wingfield

Family Christmas Gift Ideas!

Shopping for a family-friendly gift—whether it's your own or someone else's—can be tricky. Everyone has different interests, especially when kids of various ages are involved. In that case, gifts that celebrate family bonds are a great idea. Consider a personalized portrait of everyone together or a pizza-making kit for a movie night are the ultimate present for family bonding. Everyone can appreciate them and have fun as a family. The following thoughtful family Christmas gifts are sure to win over everyone from kids to grandparents alike, whether they prefer a night in on the couch together or traveling the world with their loved ones. The trick is figuring out which is best for your intended recipient so think about their favorite things. If it's coffee in the morning with their kids, consider a custom set of coffee mugs with everyone's names on them. Or are they always reminiscing about memories with a beloved great-grandparent? Then, continuing the family love, have some fun and make creative, homemade and memorable ornaments to look back on. These meaningful gifts get to the heart of the holidays and will be treasured for years to come. But I think some of the most memorable and common gift examples are matching pj’s, custom gifts, family portraits, and even just sitting together, which are truly the greatest gifts any family can give to each other.

By: Leah Weems

Are $1,000 Shoes Worth it?

Mirabella Reese

One word. Absolutely. Money comes and goes, and of course, it’s important to spend mindfully… However… I would rather spend $1,000 on one pair of shoes I adore than twenty pairs of shoes that are just all right. Plus, why not enjoy your money when you have it? I once heard someone say, act like a millionaire and you are one! Not only are the shoes worth the price, but you are worthy of buying luxurious things for yourself. You work so hard every day, stressing about all of the responsibilities of life. You deserve to spoil yourself.

The Most Phenomenal Peppermint Bark Fudge!!

Peppermint bark fudge is an easy no-bake fudge that can be made with condensed milk and without a candy thermometer. An easy few-ingredient recipe that makes a great edible Christmas gift.

Ingredients:

1 14 oz can sweeten condensed milk (396g)

1 cup dark chocolate chips (175g)

1 cup premium white chocolate chips (175g)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract optional

⅓ cup crushed candy canes divided. About 5 regular-sized candy canes, crushed (75g)

Instructions:

1. Line an 8x8 square pan with aluminum foil and lightly butter the sides and bottom of the foil. Set aside.

2. Divide condensed milk equally into two separate small/medium saucepans (just over ½ cup in each pan).

3. Add dark chocolate chips to one pan and white chocolate chips to the other.

4. Melt chocolate chips over medium heat, stirring constantly until completely melted.

5. Once the chocolate has melted, remove the dark chocolate mixture from the heat and stir in vanilla extract. Immediately spread evenly into the prepared pan.

6. Once the white chocolate has melted, remove it from the heat and stir in mint extract if using. Stir in ¼ cup (50g) crushed peppermint pieces and immediately spread evenly over the chocolate layer.

7. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermint pieces.

8. Allow fudge to harden completely before slicing and serving (about 4-6 hours at room temperature, or about 1-2 hours in the refrigerator).

Hope you enjoy this :)

By: Leah Weems

Peppermint Chocolate Cheesecake

By: Emma Wilhelm

Crust:

1 ½ cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (about 32 cookies)

¼ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

Filling:

4 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 

¼ cup sugar

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

⅓ cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs 

Ganache:

¾ cup whipping cream

1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 bag (12 oz) soft peppermint stick, coarsely crushed 

Garnish:

Store bought peppermint bark

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap the outside bottom and side of a 9-inch spring form pan with heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Spray the inside bottom and side of the pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press firmly on the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Cool crust for 10 minutes.

1. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add condensed milk, beating just until blended. Add 1/3 cup whipping cream, the flour and vanilla; beat just until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until blended. Pour over the crust.

1. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until the edge of the cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from the edge of the pan but the center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn the oven off; open the oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in the oven for 30 minutes. Run a small metal spatula around the edge of the pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.

2. Run a small metal spatula around the edge of the cheesecake; carefully remove foil and side of pan. Place cheesecake on a serving plate. In a medium microwavable bowl, microwave 3/4 cup whipping cream on High 1 minute or until hot. Add chocolate chips; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour ganache over cheesecake; smooth ganache with spatula. Let stand for 10 minutes. Gently press crushed peppermint sticks into the side of the cheesecake. Cover; refrigerate any remaining cheesecake. Garnish with peppermint bark, if desired.

Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time is when we lose an hour of daylight in the spring and gain an hour of daylight in the fall. It was originally proposed by Benjamin Franklin, in 1784, to conserve candles. Daylight Savings Time was officially enacted in America on March 18th, 1918, when it was used to save on energy costs during World War I. Surprisingly, the Germans discovered Daylight Savings Time two years prior to the Americans. The Germans would use this theory to save costs on fuel during World War I. The native Americans thought that Daylight Savings Time was a dumb concept and said, “Only a white man would believe you could cut a foot off the top of the blanket, sew it onto the bottom of the blanket, and you'd be left with a longer blanket." 

This is an interesting philosophy about Daylight Saving Time and some states do not support daylight savings time such as Hawaii and Arizona. The senate is retracting Daylight Savings Time from the states of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. This would take effect on November 6th, 2022. 

• Jake Wingfield

The Ultimate Reason Why Christmas is the best Season!!

When someone thinks of Christmas, they think of beautiful decorations, giving gifts, and spending time with family. There’s a reason that many people consider it their favorite holiday. Christmas has a unique cultural impact like no other holiday. It consumes the entire month of December. Christmas is surrounded by movies, music, and food, which no other holiday can boast about. For these reasons, it is the greatest holiday in the world. No other holiday has a cultural impact quite like Christmas. As soon as Thanksgiving is finished, families around the world set up their Christmas lights and trees and begin playing Christmas music. While Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, or Halloween may be celebrated for a day or two, Christmas is celebrated for an entire month. Christmas has also pervaded popular culture. Some of the greatest, most entertaining movies are Christmas movies, from “Elf” and “Frosty the Snowman,” Christmas movies such as “Home Alone” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” have even been celebrated as the most amazing family movies of the holiday season. Christmas music is another example of holiday entertainment. Superstar artists such as Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber have released Christmas albums or songs and gone on to sell millions of copies. And then there is the classic Christmas music from the likes of Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley, which is still played regularly. The prevalence of both Christmas movies and music creates a wondrous atmosphere that surrounds Christmastime. Christmas is also a beautiful time of giving. It is when families and friends come together and give gifts to one another to celebrate their love for each other. There are not many better feelings in the world than when a loved one opens the package you gave them and smiles. Christmas serves as a great reminder of why we come together as friends and family. One cannot mention Christmas without mentioning Santa Claus as well. Santa is a character that brings wonder and joy to children around the world while teaching them to be good to their parents. Christmas is also a deeply religious time for some. As a Christian, Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and the Savior, and serves as a wonderful time to celebrate that. But whether Christmas for you is a religious holiday or just a time to reconnect with family and friends, it still holds an impact. Christmas music, movies, and traditions all help create a wonderful and immersive holiday experience that cannot be topped. That is why Christmas is the best holiday. Truly the whole reason we celebrate Christmas is that it recognizes the birth of our Savior who would one day come and save mankind from sin. That is the ultimate Christmas gift anyone could ask for and ever want!!

By: Leah Weems

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery by Hope

Anne of Green Gables is a beloved classic written by L.M. Montgomery. It has just celebrated its 110th anniversary. L.M. Montgomery was born in New London, Canada where she was able to graduate from college. She has published 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Her most famous series is the Anne of Green Gables books which features a young orphan who came to work for an old brother and sister who live by themselves. She is soon adopted by the siblings after a bit of persuasion. While she lives with the Cuthberts, she meets her best friend Dianna, and a love interest Gilbert Blythe, along with other characters who help Anne learn new things every day. This classic has been a favorite of many and has and will hopefully continue to be read all throughout the world. It has become such a hit that it was made into multiple movies and shows. Some of the best versions are the 20th-century version of Anne of Green Gables and the newest version a four-session show Anne with an E. The late 1900s version shows a good recreation of the books about what Anne goes through. Anne with an E is more of a modern swing on the old tales. It brings more “modern problems' ' into the 1800s and tells about how they would have been dealt with then.