"We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor"

Two hundred and thirty six years ago, a brave group of patriots signed their names to a document that would change the course of human history. 

These fifty-six men publicly declared their commitment to the "self-evident truths" that formed the foundation of our nation and which have continued to serve as a beacon of hope for all people around the world who have ever yearned to be free.

Auld Lang Syne

"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."

To those of you who were my friends in 2011, I'm deeply and profoundly grateful. Some of you I've known for years, some of you are new, but you're all a blessing in my life. Thank you.

May you and your loved ones have a happy and blessed 2012.

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

YouTube | Charlie Brown Christmas

"Glory to God in the Highest, and Earth, Peace, and Good Will toward Men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Well said, Linus.

Thanks for sharing my little corner of the internet for another year. May God bless you and your families on this Christmas Day, and continue to do so in 2012 and beyond.

- Sarah

Ronald Reagan's 1981 Christmas Address

Last year on Christmas Eve, I posted the video from President Ronald Reagan's 1981 Christmas address to our country, the end of his first year in office:

May your Thanksgiving be full of Sunshine

In preparation for this post, I spent some time this week looking up past Thanksgiving presidential proclamations and quotes, collected statements from some politicians (at least those who were smart enough to not ask for campaign donations in their Thanksgiving messages. You know who you are. Tsk tsk!), and some other fun stuff. Enjoy:

Happy Veteran's Day

In honor of Veteran's Day today, I wanted to share a quick story with you from my trip to D.C. last week.

After our conference ended, we headed back to our hotel and there were a lot of people in military dress uniforms walking around. It turned out that there was a big gala honoring veterans that evening, and it was a really special group of veterans.

Happy Halloween

Some political Halloween funnies for you (click on the images to enlarge):

L'Shana Tovah, Y'all!

Tonight at sundown marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I saw this video on Facebook and it was just too good not to share:

YouTube | Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem

I love seeing joyful expressions of faith like this. The young men in this video should be proud of themselves for being excellent role models.

‪Happy 4th of July From Marco Rubio‬‏

YouTube | SenatorMarcoRubio | Happy 4th of July from Marco Rubio

Seminole County Voter Outreach During July 4th Weekend

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel has announced a packed schedule of voter outreach activities during the upcoming July 4th weekend.

Ertel, who will be at all of the events this weekend, had this to say:

These events are magnets of patriotism, and hopefully when folks are reflecting on the freedoms we enjoy, they’ll take a few minutes to stop by and either register to vote, change their address on file, request an absentee ballot, or simply chat about the administration of the upcoming elections.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, July 2 – 6-9 p.m.
Red, Rock & Blue
City park next to Lake Mary City Hall
SOE Ertel will be the opening speaker and there will be a voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags

Sunday, July 3 – 4-10:30 p.m.
Red Hot & Boom
Central Winds Park in Altamonte Springs
Voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags

Monday, July 4 – 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Geneva Independence Day parade and festival
Rural Heritage Center
SOE Ertel will walk in the parade and there will be a voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags until 2:30

Monday, July 4 – Noon-9 p.m.
Oviedo Independence Day Celebration
The Oviedo Mall
Voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags

Monday, July 4 – 5-9 p.m.
Star Spangled Sanford
Fort Mellon Park in Sanford
Voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags

Monday, July 4, 5-9:30 p.m.
Celebration of Freedom
Central Winds Park in Winter Springs
Voter registration and information booth with free voter guides and American flags

For more information about the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office, check out their website at VoteSeminole.org. 

Happy Father's Day from Marco Rubio [VIDEO]

Here's a Father's Day message from our Senator, Marco Rubio:


YouTube | SenatorMarcoRubio | Sen. Rubio's Father's Day Message

...while I'm a United States Senator, and that's an important job, the most important job I have is as a father and husband. In fact, it is in the role of father and husband that I can make the greatest contribution to our country and to our future, and that's true for each of you as well...

And a special Happy Father's Day to two great fathers in my life:

Dad in 1969, the year he married Mom.

...to my Dad, who can fix almost anything, taught me to love coffee and classic automobiles, has been a great and steady presence in my life and my brother's life, and is now a very happy and proud Grandpa to my little niece...

...and to my "little-big brother" Tom (he's younger but taller), who is hands down the best brother a girl could want, finds the cool new bands before I've ever heard of them, is one of the funniest people I know, and a wonderful father to his little girl.

Love you guys!



[Video cross-posted at The Minority Report]

Happy Easter

Today, for Easter, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite hymns, "Thy Word," based on Psalm 119:105. I've always really loved the beautiful, simple message of the main line of the song:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.

YouTube | Thy Word | Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith

May the Love of Jesus Christ be a light unto your path today, and always. Hope you have a happy and blessed Easter.

St. Patrick's Day with Ronald Reagan

Matt Lewis posted a great story at the Daily Caller this morning about how President Reagan celebrated St. Patrick's Day in 1988:

Sláinte!

The Daily Caller | A 'Ronald Reagan' St. Patrick's Day

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so I thought it would be fun to share with you the story of President Reagan’s surprise visit to Pat Troy’s Irish pub in Alexandria, Va.

The event, which occurred in 1988, was retold beautifully by Tom Purcell in 2003.

Here’s an excerpt:

When Troy was finished, he handed the president the microphone. The normally raucous crowd - remember, this was St. Patrick’s Day – became extraordinarily quiet. “They were spellbound,” said Troy. “I’ve never seen a large crowd that attentive in more than 20 years.”

Reagan spoke off the top of his head. He graciously thanked Troy for having him for lunch. He said it was his great surprise — that his advance men set it up, and he was thankful. He talked about his father, an Irishman.

“When I was a little boy, my father proudly told me that the Irish built the jails in this country,” he said, pausing expertly, “then proceeded to fill them.”
The crowd laughed heartily.

“You have to understand that for a man in my position, I’m a little leery about ethnic jokes,” he said. The crowd roared. “The only ones I can tell are Irish.”

He told a story about his visit to Ireland. He went to Castle Rock, the place where St. Patrick erected the first cross in Ireland.

“A young Irish guide took me to the cemetery and showed me an ancient tombstone there,” he said. “The inscription read: ‘Remember me as you pass by, for as are you are so once was I, and as I am you too will be, so be content to follow me.”

As Reagan paused, the crowd eagerly awaited his follow up.

“Then I looked below the inscription,” he said, “where someone scratched in these words: ‘To follow you I am content, I wish I knew which way you went.’”

The crowd roared loud and long, causing the president to deadpan to his advance men: “Why didn’t I find this place seven years ago?”

Here is a video of Reagan's visit to Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Pub:

YouTube | President Reagan visits Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Pub

The notes from the YouTube video:

President Ronald Reagan pays a surprise visit to Pat Troy's Ireland's Own pub in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The President, accompanied by journalist James Kilpatrick, stopped by for lunch and a pint of Harp on Saint Patrick's Day in 1988.

If you come by the pub today you can see pictures and items from the President's visit, preserved in a table right next to the stage.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

The RNC is selling limited-edition green elephants, named "Patrick," of course