The Little White Envelope

TNT:

Mot:  THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE:

"It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids – all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.

That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.

Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children – ignoring their new toys – would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us."

For the Man Who Hated Christmas

(A true Christmas Story by Nancy W. Gavin, December 2015)

At a Gas Station on a Cold Christmas Eve............

A NEW CHRISTMAS STORY . . .This story is better than any greeting card.

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been
anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to
him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.

He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last
hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless
man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his
customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank
you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy,
I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger.
"It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're
done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me,
be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy.
Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you
help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with
child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block
looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George
as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old
truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the
garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was
waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever
looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into
the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the
truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George
thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos
was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he
got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It
cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the
truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do.
Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't
cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can
fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the
snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't
going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a
police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left
shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had
received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention.
"Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been
there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct
tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said,
trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for
his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the
policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there
talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone
into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the
officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the
area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the
Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check
for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya.
Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your
gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no
donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun.
"Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was
shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this
before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon
away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now
give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to
the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you
need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that
pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man,
reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released
his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good
at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he
went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last
week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now
and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we
can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from
the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup
of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in
here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort
this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot
you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an
ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.
"Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the
other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just
dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.
"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man
leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks
for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve
some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a
ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha
would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw.
"I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories.
That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared
next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's
something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old
man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that
too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in
the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you
come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say
you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother
was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin'
cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and
besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the
holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold
and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great
doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by
terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and
not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it
as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know
all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when
your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have
to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the
stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill
the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS!

Merry A Capella Christmas 2021! from Rodney

This year's free A Capella Christmas present is wrapped and waiting for you to open and enjoy!

Please share, share and share again!

Spread the good news, with song of the REAL meaning of Christmas! :-)

Here's the Youtube link.

https://youtu.be/PKx-fUEJzBY

Or you can travel back in time and listen to Christmas arrangements

from the past.

They are all here on my Youtube channel. Feel free to subscribe or just drop by for a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/user/musicology47

I pray everyone has a very Merry Christmas :-)

God Bless!

~Rod

"Christmas 1881" Posted by Mot at TNT

Mot: Christmas 1881

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their
means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were
genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him
that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the
world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy
me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that
night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we
could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the
fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling
sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read
Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and
went outside.

I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the
chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in
self-pity.
 
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in
his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out
tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for
Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason
that I could see.

We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of
anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I
knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them
to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat,
and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave
the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.
 
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the
work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going
to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We
never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was
already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him.
The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy.
 
When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of
the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high
sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a
bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever
it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
 
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came
out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down
from the mountain, and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing?

Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or
so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure,
I'd been by, but so what?   Yeah," I said, "Why?"
 
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in
the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That
was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for
another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I
began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it.
 
Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house
and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and
told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying
a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in
his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of
shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he
was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy
too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
 
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to
think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards.
Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was
still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split
before we could use it.

We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that,
but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and
candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer
neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
 
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as
quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door.
We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt... could we come in for a bit?"
 
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped
around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting
in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat
at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
 
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of
flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had
the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out, one pair
at a time.

There was a pair for her and one for each of the children -
sturdy shoes, the best... shoes that would last. I watched her carefully.
She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her
eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she
wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
 
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said,
"Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size
and heat this place up."
 
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had
a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears
in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around
the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her
cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my
soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had
made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of
these people.
 
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids
started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen
looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long
time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the
Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send
one of his angels to spare us."
 
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up
in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but
after Widow Jensen mentioned it, I could see that it was probably true. I
was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started
remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many
others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
 
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed
when they all fit, and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then
I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord, that the Lord would make
sure he got the right sizes.
 
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to
leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. ... They
clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their
Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
 
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to
invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey
will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if
he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about
eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here,
hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest... my two
brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
 
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to
say, may the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't
even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said,
"Matt, I want you to know something. Your Ma and me have been tucking a
little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for
you, but we didn't have quite enough.

Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your Ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a
little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
 
I understood alright... and my eyes became wet with tears again. I
understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle
seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He
had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her
three children.
 
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a
block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I
felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a
rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
 
Don't be too busy today... share this inspiring message. Merry Christmas
and God bless you!

10 Emergency Products To Keep In Your Car While Traveling During The Holidays

10 Emergency Products To Keep In Your Car While Traveling During The Holidays

Felicity Warner   Mon, December 6, 2021,

It's the most wonderful time of year, and tens of millions of Americans are hitting the road for vacations and hometown visits this holiday season. Just this past Thanksgiving holiday, AAA predicted more than 53.4 million Americans to be traveling—the highest single-year increase in travelers since 2005.

If Christmas and New Year's are anything like this prediction, be prepared for busy roads and the potential for slowed down or stopped traffic. On top of heavy traffic, the winter season has the potential to bring even more delays with weather like heavy rain or blizzards in the cards around this time of year.

Tackle your holiday shopping with deals and expert advice delivered straight to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the deal-hunting team at Reviewed.

Bad weather conditions can put more than just a damper on driving—it can result in traffic delays that can leave you stranded on the highway for hours on end. In this scenario, you won't want to be caught without essentials like snacks, water, battery packs and warm blankets, especially if you're stuck in freezing temperatures.

If your local officials warn against travel, be sure to follow their guidance before anything else. However, if it is deemed safe to travel with caution, it's better to be safe than sorry with emergency essentials packed in your car. Here are 10 key emergency products you should always keep in your car—especially during a busy season of travel.

1. A first aid kit in case of injury

Accidents happen. Always keep a first aid kit in the car just in case.

No matter the time of year, it's always a good idea to keep a first aid kit in the glove compartment or another accessible spot in your car. No matter if it's a small cut or a more serious wound, keeping a kit in the car can help make accidents or injuries more manageable.

This travel-size kit from Swiss Safe features everything you’d need in case of emergency: Band-Aids, gauze, alcohol prep pads, an ice pack and more—all in a conveniently compact bag. Plus, this model comes with a comprehensive 18-page first aid guide to help you properly administer first aid in a variety of emergencies.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/severe-weather-may-disrupt-thanksgiving-134220308.html

Holiday Tidbits From Recaps Archives

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

~~~~~~~~~~

*Adventure With Grandma* 

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I
remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big
sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even
dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day
because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told
the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier
when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were
world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. 

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her
everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous!
Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes
me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go." 

"Go?  Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second
world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General
Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we
walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle
in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. 

I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but
never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and
crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For
a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill,
wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. 

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the
kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.  

He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess
during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he
had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and
he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.
I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm,
and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady  behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes," I replied shyly. "It's .... for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and
ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible)
and wrote on the package, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.  

Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. 

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept
noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk Then Grandma gave me
a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

 I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on
his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and
Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door
to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering,
beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that
those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they
were: ridiculous.  Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. 

I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.

Pentatonix - Mary, Did You Know? (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

Home Free - Do You Hear What I Hear?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIQQDYaoWpc

Bits and Pieces in Dinarland Saturday Night 12-4-2021

Note From Dinar Recaps:

To our newest readers,

If you are new to the Dinar and Currency investment and wish to educate yourself further please go to Dinarrecaps .com . At the top of our blog page click on the categories button and go to The Dinar Recaps Archives or Post RV Categories for all our past posts on history of past RV’s, Exchange tips, Security and other valuable information.

We hope all of our dreams come true very soon.

Your Dinar Recaps Team

Courtesy of Dinar Guru

Walkingstick  [via Guru Frank26] A dinar is a dinar in country...Iraqi citizens are not 'cashing in' any of their 3 zero notes.  Not like you are.  They're simply exchanging their 3 zeros for the lower denominations for more purchasing power.

Pimpy  There's one heck of a report that came out on behalf of Iraq.  A really positive step.  Report  "IMF Staff Concludes Virtual Visit to Iraq"  the write up is really good.  To start off you can see that Iraq is definitely on track...they're expecting a 12% growth in GDP.  That's good...that is a nice little write-up from the IMF staff.  Of course it just indicates Iraq is definitely heading in the right direction. Their economy is strengthening...looking good but we still need Iraq to get yanked off that so-called blacklist over there in the UK...we need this election to be finalized and we need peace and stability to remain...we need the troops to get out of there.  All these things seem to be happening... 

~~~~~~~~~~

TNT:

Biotechnology and the Iraqi economy

​Biotechnology is one of the very important scientific developments that humanity has reached in the current era. Biotechnology is defined as the application of science in the fields of biological systems and living organisms in order to reach their use for industrial purposes. That is, it is a process of merging between biology and technology.

The use of this technology has begun to expand in many fields, especially in the fields of agriculture, nutrition, food science and medicine. With the use of biotechnology, many great results can be achieved for consumers.

Perhaps the most important uses of this advanced technology are in the fields of agriculture and food industries, which contributes to doubling and improving agricultural production and achieving great economic gains in the event of expanding and developing the uses of this technology.

As well as the pharmaceutical industries that can be developed by the pharmaceutical industry. Perhaps the uses of biotechnology in the agricultural fields are among the most important of these uses. Through this advanced technology, the quantities of agricultural production can be doubled and the production of biofuels that compensates for fossil fuels that pollute the environment, which represents an invaluable achievement in order to preserve the environment from pollution factors and access on sustainable sources of energy.

Through this technology, it is possible to reach the production of types of plants that can withstand high temperatures, by transferring some genes that enable them to adapt to these high temperatures. ​

Thus, it is possible to expand the agricultural production of some agricultural crops that may not be compatible with the environmental conditions in their current state, before the genetic developments that can be introduced to them by biotechnology. Some estimates state that biotechnology will be among the most growing industries in the world, especially in the pharmaceutical industries, which will be relied upon in this field by more than 60%.​

The interest in biotechnology is a very important matter for every country in the world, so it is necessary for the competent authorities in our country to pay attention to this important technology because it will bring great benefits to the Iraqi economy, as it can achieve sustainable development for the agricultural sector and the pharmaceutical industry as well as industries It works to fill the shortfall in agricultural production in our country and to expand the cultivation of various agricultural crops.

It is possible to seek help from the efforts of researchers and specialists in various scientific fields, especially in the field of agricultural sciences and sciences in its various specializations, in order to start establishing specialized factories for this technology and to provide the materials and supplies you need. Experts from developed countries can also be used to develop the reality of this technology in our country and work to encourage investments.

Foreign and local companies and start setting up factories with all their specializations in the fields of biotechnology.

The interest in this advanced technology is enough to develop the economic reality of our country due to the vital areas that can be developed and which will benefit our national economy  link

From Recaps Archives

15 Things To TEACH Your CHILD about MONEY

Alux.com

In this Alux.com video we will be answering the following questions:

What are the most valuable things to teach your child about money?

How to teach your child about money?

What is the best way to talk to your child about money?

How to educate your child about money?

How to teach your child money lessons?

What should every parent teach their child about money?

What are the most important things to teach your child about money?

What are some lessons you wish your parents would've taught you about money?

How to explain money to a child?

Why it is important to explain money to a child?

How to teach your child the value of money?

What lessons every parent should teach their children about money?

What are the lessons about money that your parents didn't teach you?

What to teach your child about money?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNkGnSqJcbg

Lynette Zang and The Swedish Investor 12-2-2021 -- Videos

A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IN FIVE CRASHES (BY SCOTT NATIONS)

The Swedish Investor:  Apr 30, 2020

In this video I will present five of the greatest stock market crashes in history – The Panic of 1907, The Great Depression of 1929, Black Monday of 1987, The Financial Crises of 2008 & The Flash Crash of 2010. We shall see that these previous mess-ups have something that they can teach us about how to make money in today’s stock market environment.

Mastering the Market Cycles (by Howard Marks): https://youtu.be/ebWL2TrIssA

Navigate the market crashes: 01:11

1907 – The Panic 04:40

1929 – The Great Depression

08:26 1987 – Black Monday

11:34 2008 – The Financial Crises

16:09 2010 – The Flash Crash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIAWUXXSoQM

---

GOLD RATIO & PRE-RESET…Q&A WITH LYNETTE ZANG & ERIC GRIFFIN

Dec. 2, 2021

Question 1: 1:13 Say I have food, water, shelter, precious metals, security etc... and I'm now 'Lynette ready' and then boom, there's the reset! From what I understand, I wait for the price of gold to shoot up, and I sell 50% of my physical gold to buy, now cheap, assets like say, Tesla, that took a temporary stock price beating from the reset? 

Question 2: 2:23 What if I just hold on to the gold instead, I guess it means that I'll live relatively 'comfortably' throughout the reset but, in the end, I'll be only slightly ahead from where I started before the reset? If so, why is that?  

Question 3: 4:04 After the reset, what happens to my (pre-reset) cash at home... is it still worth something? If not, in your opinion should I own more gold than disposable cash for that reason before the reset happens? 

Question 4: 5:13 Then when life returns to 'normal', the plan is to resume accumulating gold for the next financial cycle for the offsprings and their offsprings' well-being? And am I missing anything? 

Question 5: 11:01 What will get money velocity moving to the point of hyperinflation? 

Question 6: 12:08 Can Lynette explain why she prefers coins over gold bars?

Question 7: 15:37 Is it a good idea to wait for silver ratio to get better and trade the silver for gold?

Question 8: 21:47 How do we know when Gold and silver is overvalued?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-alSp6_HPHMn

Open Letter to Whomever Is Pulling the Strings "It's Time"

Emailed to Recaps

[Forwarded from D**** W*****]

Open Letter to whoever is pulling the strings:

 This has been an extremely long year for all of us. Countless tens of thousands have died during this “war”. 

Families have been divided, and it’s getting worse. Our liberties have been attacked. Wearing a mask, or being turned away for not taking a shot, has been HUMILIATING. 

Your truth speakers to us - Brad Barton, Phil Godlewski, Simon, Charlie, Mel, Scott, Nino, Juan, Nancy Drew, etc., have done a tremendous job of communicating the truth to us.

Hundreds of thousands, if not in the millions, eyes and minds have been awakened through these journalists.

Personally, even though the last decade or so I have studied conspiracy “theories”, my eyes weren’t truly opened to the extent of the cabal until the January events, and being introduced to a video of Simon, Charlie, and the late Robert David Steele.  

And this has undoubtedly happened across the country, with record numbers now following these people. Phil reported well over 200,000 tuning in to a recent live show.

 We are awake.

We are awake. 

We are awake. 

At the beginning of October, we were told of a Red October, with rumors or mass arrests across the world. We were given hints by “Q” experts that November was to be THE month. Post 101 was to be “followed”. 

11/6 - didn’t happen in front of our eyes.

11/11- didn’t happen in front of our eyes. 

Same with 11/21, and this Thanksgiving weekend. We have seen nothing happen. I told a few of my “awake” friends that either this would be the best Thanksgiving ever, or the worst. Guess which one it was? 

 Maybe there have been mass arrests. Maybe Trump really has been in the White House. 

Maybe Pelosi has spilled all the beans. 

Maybe Pence is no more. 

Maybe this and maybe that…

We need to know. 

We deserve to know.

We have suffered long enough.

 It’s time.

It’s time. 

It’s time. 

What is the hold-up? 

And why are high-ranking Patriots fighting amongst themselves? Either:

1)It is a psyop, or 

2) it is really happening, maybe because they are getting sick of this too.

Either way, you are beginning to lose us. 

For months, I have anticipated each day with excitement knowing that I was watching my president and his crew of Patriots take back our country and our freedom. I am losing that excitement now. This is starting to get very old.

I will not be checking Lin’s page, or Flynn, or any others for a good while. I’m already tired of it.

On a personal level, my wife is struggling physically. She has an autoimmune disease that is great and increasingly causing her more pain and suffering as the weeks drag on. She could use a MED BED. And so could two of our children who have to take the vaccine.

They think I am a nut for believing in all this.  And how many millions more across the country need a MED BED? My family is struggling, and so is our country. 

It’s time for the EBS.

It’s time for the EBS. 

It’s time for the EBS.

 Whatever the hold-up is, take care of it. If it’s high-ranking officials that we thought were Patriots, then arrest them and bring charges. If it’s Three Gorges Dam, then blow it to pieces. 

Whatever it is, TAKE CHARGE OF IT. You have the strength and the resources to do it. So do it!

 We’ve suffered since 1913 when the FED was put in place. Enough.

 We’ve suffered since 1963 when our President’s head was blown off. Enough.

 We’ve suffered since the 80’s when they tried to kill Reagan multiple times. Enough. 

 Now we’ve suffered watching buffoons “leading” our country down the toilet. Enough.

 It’s time. It’s for us Patriots to stand up and demand it too. 

 All of us. 

 We demand the EBS this week. 

It’s time!

How Does the Government Regulate Exchange Rates?

How Does the Government Regulate Exchange Rates?

Money mix of foreign currency notes

By Kimberly Amadeo   Updated May 09, 2021  Reviewed By Thomas J. Brock

The government indirectly regulates exchange rates, because most currency exchange rates are set on the open foreign exchange market (forex). In some countries, like China, the exchange rate is fixed, and the government directly controls it. This control of the yuan, in turn, affects the U.S. dollar. The yuan is loosely pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Government Influence

The U.S. government has various tools to influence the U.S. dollar exchange rate against foreign currencies. The nation's central bank—known as the Federal Reserve (Fed)—is an independent arm of the government. It indirectly changes exchange rates when it raises or lowers the fed funds rate—the rate banks charge to lend to each other.

For example, if the Fed lowers the rate, this drives down interest rates throughout the U.S. banking system and increases the supply of money, which tends to weaken the dollar relative to other currencies, given the anticipated inflationary pressure. The diminished rates also tend to weaken demand for dollar-denominated assets, which can have a knock-on effect on the value of the currency.

Treasury Department Role

The Treasury Department is a government agency that also indirectly affects the exchange rate. It prints more money. This printing increases the supply and weakens the dollar. It can also borrow more money from other countries. That's done by selling Treasury notes, which increases the supply of money and increases the U.S. debt, and both will send the dollar's value down.

The third government tool is the use of expansionary fiscal policies. Generally, these policies weaken the dollar, because they increase the supply of money.  However, these policies can also improve economic growth, which tends to attract domestic and foreign investors to dollar-denominated assets. This demand can often overshadow the expansion in the supply of dollars.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.thebalance.com/how-does-the-government-regulate-exchange-rates-3306087

Currency Photocopy Rules

Currency Photocopy Rules - straight from the U.S. Secret Service

KNOW YOUR MONEY
Illustrations of Currency, Checks or Other Obligations
The law sharply restricts photographs or other printed reproductions of paper currency, checks, bonds, revenue stamps and securities of the United States and foreign governments.
For additional illustrations of U.S. currency, visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

U.S. Currency
The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550, in Section 411 of Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations, permits COLOR illustrations of U.S. currency provided:

• The illustration is of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of the item illustrated

• The illustration is one-sided

• All negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, and any other thing used in the making of the illustration that contain an image of the illustration or any part thereof are destroyed and/or deleted or erased after their final use. ​

Other Obligations and Securities

Photographic or other likenesses of other United States obligations and securities and FOREIGN CURRENCIES are PERMISSIBLE for any non-fraudulent purpose, provided the items are reproduced in BLACK & WHITE and are less than three-quarters or greater than one-and-one-half times the size, in linear dimension, of any part of the original item being reproduced.

Negatives and plates used in making the likenesses must be destroyed after their use for the purpose for which they were made. This policy permits the use of currency reproductions in commercial advertisements, provided they conform to the size and color restrictions.

Motion picture films, microfilms, videotapes, and slides of paper currency, securities, and other obligations may be made in color or black and white for projection or telecasting. No prints may be made from these unless they conform to the size and color restrictions.

Coins

Photographs, printed illustrations, motion picture film or slides of United States and foreign coins may be used for any purpose.

With few exceptions, existing law generally prohibits the manufacture, sale or use of any token, disk or device in the likeness or similitude of any coins of the United States, or of any foreign country, which are issued as money.

U.S. Postage Stamps, Foreign Postage Stamps and Revenue Stamps

Printed illustrations of United States and foreign stamps are permissible for any non-fraudulent purpose. Black and white illustrations of uncanceled United States and foreign postage stamps are permissible in any size.

Color illustrations of uncanceled United States and foreign postage stamps must be less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half times the size of the genuine stamp.

Cancelled United States and foreign postage stamps may be of any size whether the illustrations are in color or black and white.

Note: Canceled U.S. and foreign postage stamps must bear an official cancellation mark, i.e., the stamps must have been used for postage. Also, the plates and negatives, including glossy prints, of any United States or foreign obligations must be destroyed after their final use for the purpose for which they were made.

Printed illustrations of United States and foreign revenue stamps are permissible in black and white only. There are no size restrictions for revenue stamps.

http://www.secretservice.gov/money_illustrations.shtml

Currency Reporting Info

U.S.Customs and Border Protection Currency Reporting

It is legal to transport any amount of currency or other monetary instruments into or out of the United States.

However, if you transport, attempt to transport, or cause to be transported (including by mail or other means) currency or other monetary instruments in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000 or its foreign equivalent) at one time from the United States to any foreign country, or into the United States from any foreign country, you must file a report with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This report is called the Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments, FinCEN Form 105.

Furthermore, if you receive in the United States, currency or other monetary instruments in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000 (or its foreign equivalent) at one time, which has been transported, mailed, or shipped to you from any foreign place, you must also file a FinCEN Form 105. ​

This form can be obtained at all U.S. ports of entry and departure or on the Web at
www.fincen.gov/fin105_cmir.pdf.

Monetary instruments include:

1) U.S. or foreign coins and currency;

2) Traveler checks in any form;

3) Negotiable instruments (including checks, promissory notes, and money orders) that are either in bearer form, endorsed without restriction, made out to a fictitious payee, or otherwise in a form that the funds can be transferred to another person;

4) Incomplete instruments (including checks, promissory notes, and money orders) signed, but with the payee’s name omitted; and

5) Securities or stock in bearer form or otherwise in a form that the funds can be transferred to another person.

However, the term “monetary instruments” does not include:

1) Checks or money orders made payable to the order of a named person which have not been endorsed or which bear restrictive endorsements;

2) Warehouse receipts; or

3) Bills of lading.

Reporting is required under the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act (PL 97-258, 31 U.S.C. 5311, et seq.), as amended. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal penalties and may lead to forfeiture of your monetary instrument(s).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports can be located at - LINK

www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C. 20229

CBP: Securing America’s Borders

Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Website at - LINK
www.cbp.gov

CBP Publication No. 0000-0503 Revised June 2006

Currency Reporting -- LINK

https://search.usa.gov/search?query=currency+reporting&op=Search&affiliate=cbpgov