“Living your Best Life” Co-founder, Lauren Littauer Briggs, posted a wonderful blog touting the “Reagan” movie about our 40th President and recounting a wonderful personal story to compliment it. If you missed it, you can read it here).
The movie is fantastic! Lauren’s blog made me think about how important it is to stand firm on a solid foundation in the upcoming Presidential election.
Several years ago, my husband and I attended a marriage retreat. It was suggested that each couple bring something from our home that represented our marriage and to be willing to share the story in front of the other couples. I immediately knew what I would bring to the retreat. It was a small replica of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. I told them that our Christian faith is the foundation of our marriage, keeping us grounded in both good and tough times, and Mount Vernon is the home of our first President, who solidified the foundation of our country, and reminds us of just how blessed we are to be Americans. We have visited Mount Vernon numerous times. The Washingtons had a beautiful love story, and I admire their sacrifice, their faith, and their love of country. Like our marriage, our nation is worth fighting for and we should do all we can to preserve it.
My husband, Scott, and I love Presidential history. I also love dishes. When the twain met, it became a beautiful thing. Before I married my husband, years prior, I discovered Woodmere’s Presidential China, and I eagerly started my collection. After we married, he added to my collection. I now own twelve place settings. I am broken-hearted to announce to my fellow dish lovers, that the beautiful Woodmere Presidential China is no longer available, and I am sad that I did not get to purchase all the designs. So, I cherish each time that I get to decorate a beautiful table for friends and family and make them feel special in commemorating Presidents for the evening. We can all thank First Lady Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison, an artist, for having the idea to create a permanent China collection at the White House. Using the China always inspires enjoyable conversation and an opportunity to reflect on our blessings as Americans.
Between the time that President Reagan was born up to now, it seems that the indomitable American spirit and founding principles of our country are attacked on all sides and on the brink of coming apart at the seams. We are about to witness the most consequential Presidential election of our lives. While this blog site does not endorse a specific political viewpoint, I can only speak for myself in saying that when I step into the voting booth, I will be choosing policies and principles that will restore our country, over personalities. As an American, it is a pure privilege to vote, and our duty. It is my hope and prayer that you will make the effort to vote, get your friends and family to do the same, educate the young, and research the candidates up and down the ballot, and make wise decisions on who will be determining your and our future over the next four years. Most importantly, pray! I believe in our great nation, and I hope that our demographic of sixty-plus will show up in droves to demonstrate just exactly how it’s done.
In closing, I leave you with a quote and verse from a great hymn.
Martha Gelhorn, American novelist, writer, and journalist (1908-1998) said:
“People often say, with pride, I’m not interested in politics. They might as well say, I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future, or any future. If we mean to keep any control over our world and lives, we MUST be interested in politics.”
Edward Mote wrote this beautiful hymn in 1834:
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand….”
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Debbie was honored to serve as Ms. Senior America 2023. She holds a degree in Vocal Performance and has performed across the continental U.S. and abroad. She’s also a talent and interview coach for Miss America Scholarship Organization contestants, high school and college bound performing arts students, and conservative political candidates. Debbie is married to Scott Robbins. They have one son, Jackson, born when Debbie was 44. He is now a Freshman at the University of Louisville.
I love the idea of presidential dishes! Each person at the table gets a different president?
What a great collection!
thank you, Cathy! It was a joy collecting the 12 that I was able to get. each place said came with favorite recipes of the presidents. It’s fun making some of those recipes for special dinners.
Yes! I have 12 Different place settings of 12 different presidents. I have a lot of fun decorating my table and deciding which person matches the personality of the president. I love that place setting also comes with recipes that were favorites of the presidents and I have made some of them in the past. ❤️
I especially love the Martha Gelhorn quote. Mom taught us to be knowledgeable and active in politics, but I have heard those same thoughts about not having interest in politics—with pride even! I never understand that.
Exactly! It just does not make sense. I so admire some of the first ladies who made it their mission to be informed and advise their husbands, especially Abigail Adams. I have a book that is full of letters of hers to many of the local politicians of the day and to her husband and their back-and-forth. She had to run their household and farm while he was abroad for many years. I enjoyed your mom‘s talk on the personalities of the presidents.… I could go on and on. I absolutely loved your blog and I’m not sure that my comment made it to you because I think I may be having an issue on my end, I’m not being able to post… how exciting to have been in that iconic restaurant at that moment in time of such a big transition for the Reagans. Simply amazing!