Upcoming Wedding

June 11, 2016 will see my youngest son wed his beautiful bride. This is a very special day and one that is coming quickly but we are so ready for it. The girl my son will wed is one of his high school friends. They have known each other for some time. My son is now 24 and has been out of school for 6 years. After graduating my son took a job and stayed very busy. The young girl that will be his bride took a ride on a road of life that was not always easy.

She married right after getting out of school. She believed that she was in love and that together they would take on the world. It was not too long after that she found herself expecting a baby. The young man ended up deserting her and the baby and she returned home to her mother. She was broken, her heart was not the only thing damaged but her self esteem was as well. That was then and the story has changed.

Some how my son and the girl who will soon be his wife had their paths cross. My son had always been brought up to do the right thing. Taking part in the silver ring thing and staying true to himself. Not only did his reputation he have to uphold but also that of how he was raised. As he began to talk to this young lady that he had not seen for some time he found out more of what she had been going through in life. Having dated her in highschool but not for long he still had a place in her heart for her. He did not hold it against her for what had happened as he understands we all make mistakes. They began to spend more time together in the past two years building a relationship. My son accepts her son which never sees his real dad as I told you he walked out on them.

My son has had long talks with me and desires to have a Godly based marriage. As he has seen in our marriage that there are struggles but prayer helps through those issues. May he keep God first in his relationship and never forget the lessons he has learned as he watched not only his parents and grandparents but also those who demonstrated marriages in his life. May he one day have the opportunity to have his own marriage be immitated by those who desire to have a love as great as he does with his beautiful wife.

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Get Busy Out There

With the weather getting warm and in between the raindrops we all get the itching to get out side and have some fun. It is no surprise that May is National Physical fitness and Sports Month With the long winter of being inside now is a great time to renew your commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle. The U.S department of health advises that youth get 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. For some this may be a problem because of where they live, learn and play. 

Physical activity not only offers better physical health but regular activity also provides cognitive health benefits as well. Research has proven that children that are physically active also get higher grades and have better attendance. First Lady Michelle Obama has placed interest in children exercise and fitness for quite some time. Lets Move!! was created to end childhood obesity as well as a brighter future for nations youth. 

There are many activities that you can do to keep our children and ourselves happy and healthy. Our children participate in little league sports. Softball, tee-ball, basketball and soccer are all ways we keep our children busy. How do you keep your children out there and busy??

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outdoor wednesday

Get Ready To Barbq

I realize that May so far has had it's share of rain. In between those rain drops barbecues have started to bloom. The longer days allow the month of May to greet those that grill with National Barbecue month. There has always been that debate of whether charcoal or gas should be used and that debate may never go away. Should the ribs be parboiled or cooked directly on the grill?? That choice is up to your taste buds and cooking style. Those minor decisions are what we all may face but we all should feel honored to welcome in the month to barbecue. 

A great majority of Americans would rather cook outside than inside. Many feel that it is easier as well. Cooking outside is also a great time for friends and family that love great tasting food to get together. It is an affordable past time that all should be able to enjoy. Cooking outside also leads to a healthier lifestyle

Every cook has their go to gadgets and cooking on the grill is no different. Some of the must haves are

tongs  

spatula or brush  

rubs and marinades   

skewers   

too cute tuesday
little R&R wednesday

Family Month

Our family is large in number. I am the second to the oldest in a family of 5 children. My husband is the second to the oldest in a family of 4 children. Our family is large as well as I am the mom of six children. But whether your family is large like ours or small it makes no difference we all have a reason to celebrate. National Family Month is celebrated from the second sunday in May through the third Sunday in June. 

That's right National family week starts on Mothers Day and runs through Fathers day. After all somewhere or another the family started with a mother and a father. Another great reason to celebrate during this time is because school is letting out and families have more time to spend together. 

KidsPeace started National Family Month to draw awareness to every member of the family. KidsPeace is a private not for profit organization that works to help children attain confidence and develop the courage to conquer crises that they may find. During this time period spend more time as family. Whether it be a vacation a stay-cation or simply working together to clean the house. Whatever it may be spend some time with the family you love.

 As the school year draws to a close we start to think about what we will do with the time we have together. A bucket list of sorts of fun we want to have during summer vacation. Some things we include are easy things and others are more complicated that will take more time and ability. The ability to check things off of our list is fun as well. 

What is on your bucket list?? 

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Wednesday R&R

Garden Time

With all the rain, many of us may not have all the plants where we want them to be. For the most part that means in the ground. Many of us may know what we want to plant just have not had the time. Others, may not know what they want to plant at all. This post is for all of us that plan on planting a garden.

The gardener should keep in mind that the garden is theirs. It is their place to do what they want to do. There are no rules and no one has to dictate what needs to be done. They can plant what they want to, where they want to and simply do what they want to do. Ensuring that the plants are put in the ground correctly.

What are the vegetables that you and your family will enjoy the most?? Are there veggies that will be enjoyed more than other?? How about trying a new plant or two. Now, with your plan in mind can you grow the plants where you want to. Do a bit of research and find out if the plants you want to grow will grow in your garden. They may fit into the garden in the spring and others like to grow in fall months better.

What will you plant first?? What needs to be planted later?? How much room will each plant take?? All great questions that any good gardener needs to know.

Now, if you have not all ready is the time to purchase your plants and seeds.

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wednesday R&R

Plans To Eat Monday May 23 ----- Sunday May 29

http://orgjunkie.com/2016/05/menu-plan-monday-may-2316.html#more-37108

Monday:

Tonight was a ball game for both of my little sluggers so we enjoyed a meal that included a summer casserole with onions, sausages and peppers. 


Tuesday:

will be a busy day for the entire family. With the grade school kids going to the cupcake bakery, me and hubby having business uptown and several working the day will be quite busy. We will meet up at the end of the day at Sonic's drive in. I love to take advantage of deals and tommorow they have a great deal on their awesome corndogs .50 for each. So we will enjoy them and head hone for

a spring time fruit salad that I will have chilling waiting for us all.

Wednesday:

We will fix one of my Princess's favorite recipes. She has many now as her taste buds are advancing but will always enjoy chicken nuggets. 

Thursday:

Another night where I am hoping that the day will go good so the night will as well. We will find our selves in the court room with yet another full day. That night we will enjoy watching princess play ball and at the end of the night we will all gather around fire pit for hotdogs and banana boats 

Friday:

Head back to work, yet I think it will be good and I have to make money as it helps all go round. But the evening will be one to enjoy friends and family as we barbq. Is the spring and summer months not wonderful. Being able to enjoy our dinner outside is awesome. Tonight we will try one of our favorites we found last year. Bacon Wrapped Chicken legs served with slaw, baked potatoes and fried corn.

Saturday: we will enjoy a night out after shopping for items needed for the upcoming wedding. Yep, thats right another child getting married May 11th. So some of the last minute items will be purchased today

Sunday: 

We will enjoy a roast cooked in crackpot and crack potatoes 

What are you having this week?? check out more here http://orgjunkie.com/2016/05/menu-plan-monday-may-2316.html

Penny for your thoughts

May 23rd is National Lucky Penny Day. The old rhyme of See a Penny, Pick it up.... All day long you'll have good luck has been around for quite some time. My husband is one that pays close attention as he walks and picks up coins that he finds. Our grand-children have followed suit. Whether it be their lucky day or not it becomes lucky with a smile on their face as they have a few cents more than they did before. 

Years ago the penny had some worth. From and collecting them was very worthwhile. Now it takes longer to save them than it did before before enough have been collected to purchase anything. The inflation rate has made pennies less valuable. In 1793 the first pennies were made of copper. Since that time the metal value and cost of minting pennies exceed their face value. There are currently efforts that are being made to end routine use of pennies in several countries including the U.S. What do you think?? 

Some people believe it's only good luck to pick up a penny if heads is showing. A penny with the tails side up should be turned over for another person to find. On the other hand, many people believe any penny you find is good luck. What do you think?? 

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Summer Time Cooking and a casserole recipe

I simply love the spring and summer months. It is a great time to get together with all those friends and family members that we may not see all that often. Family reunions, picnics, and other events that brings loved ones together. These picnics are often potluck style. I love to bring great dishes that may be new to others. This pepper, onion and sausage recipe I share today is one that can be baked inside, shared at potlucks or even grilled. I hope you enjoy!!!!

                                         recipe source from facebook group Darla's recipes   


1-2 bell peppers, sliced
1 package (at least 1 lb) of your favorite sausage links (johnsonvilles, evergood, generic smoked sausage, whatever you like. i used polish sausages, 4 to a pack)
4-5 decent-sized potatoes (i prefer yukon gold or red bliss)
3 tbsp olive oil (yes, it has to be OLIVE oil)
1 small jar banana peppers
1 large onion, sliced
salt & pepper
*optional — 2 tsp dried rosemary (bachelors, ignore this. your salt and pepper will be fine. i know that asking you to procure olive oil was already a stretch.)
*optional — tsp creole seasoning

spray a large baking pan w/ nonstick spray (make sure there is at least a small “lip” that provides a “side” to the pan, don’t use a flat baking sheet.
slice sausages into thin rounds, about 1/5″ thick. if you know how to slice using a “bias” cut, do that. if not, don’t worry about it.
cut potatoes into 1/2″ chunks
slice onion and pepper into strips
place all ingredients on baking sheet and drizzle oil over. use your hands to toss everything together in the oil, making sure everything feels coated.
add salt & pepper and spices (if using)
top w/ sliced banana peppers
bake at 400 for about 30-35 min, until potatoes are tender
EAT

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Spring Time Fruit Salad

May is the month that salutes strawberries and May 22nd is the day to acknowledge vanilla pudding. I enjoy both fruit salads and pudding so when I found this recipe I was delighted. It combines both of them and offers a delicious dish. 

2-3 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups blue berries
1 (15 oz) can peaches in juices
1 (15 oz) can pineapple in juices
1 (3 oz) box instant vanilla pudding

Add fruit and juices to a large bowl, then pour in the dry instant pudding. Mix well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Enjoy!

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Small Victories Sunday

Sunday Stealing

Here we are at that special day of the week when I join in on a blog link up where the main point is stealing. Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

1. What type of criminal would you be?
wow!! I am not sure if I could pull off being a criminal. I think that it would be a bank robber that was smart enough to get away and hide the money for the family even if I got caught

2. What are you listening to right now?
watching Food T.V.

3. If you had to choose a stripper name, what would it be?
angelique

4. If your phone started ringing, who would you hope is calling?
If the person could be dead or alive I would choose my dad, would be great to hear his voice again

5. Do you drink alcohol?
at times, I am not a real hard drinker and wine coolers are about it for me

6. Do you smoke?
nope

7. What is the first thing you notice in someone?
how they talk looks I can see over but speaking is something that makes a difference

8. Do you get attached easily?
Yes, that is not always good

9. Do you like your eye color?
When I was growing up I did not like my brown eyes. Now I am happy to have the same color of eyes as my daddy had

10. Have any stupid human tricks?
nope, none that I would like to mention

11. Humor me. What physical ideal do you imagine in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner?
well, been married for the past 30 years but I would say when I was younger and looking eyes always attracted me. Hair style was another

12. Any other essential quirks/interests/other you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner?
I always admired muscles and someone who could carry a good conversation

13. Have you ever stolen anything?
on a dare I stole a .50 candy bar and got caught costing my mother $50 in fines. After that she held the ticket until my oldest was in highschool and showed her what type of trouble I found myself in back then.

14. Any romantic gestures you really like?
hugs, holding hands really means a lot to me.

15. What’s your favorite color and why?
blue has always been my favorite color not sure why. The earliest reason I can remember is that I shared a swing set with my older sister. She got the red swing and I had the blue That blue swing was mine no matter what and I never let her get on it

16. What were you like when you were a kid?
I was always a talker, never really shy. I even had an imaginary friend to do things with or at least that is what I was told

17. What would your dream house be like?
would love it to be in the mountains. With large fire place, lots of room for me and all my children and their children

18. What last made you laugh?
I am not sure but would say my grand-kids

19. Do you have a place you like to go to collect your thoughts?
We go to the river a lot and sit and ponder our thoughts. It is really nice to just sit and relax

20. What is your favorite word?
wow, never really thought about this much don't think I really have one right now but I do say the word dork a lot

21. What is your least favorite word?
It is not only a word but a terrible word in the vocation that I work in. The word retard is not something that anyone should say

22. Would you go bungee jumping/sky diving if given the chance?
nope never terrified of heights

23. Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I am part of a large family. There are 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I am also the mother of a large family 3 girls and 3 boys.

24. Do you like to dance?
only for fun

25. What is your definition of cheating?
not sure how else it would be described cheating is taking advantage of or anything from someone who does not know about your motives

This week in our house:

We created some delicious goodies to celebrate National Chocolate Chip day. If you want to create magic squares for your bunch then visit our blog annies home and the post Great Time To Make Up Something Yummy:

The week continued on and the rain did as well. With all the rain I started to wonder when planting season would start. I found a great way to plant our  plants without digging in the ground. Using buckets was the answer. To find out more about this inventive way to have a garden check out the post Plant That Garden In A Bucket

If not now soon there will be fruit stands in our area selling strawberries. Strawberries appear early and are one of my favorite fruits. I shared a yummy recipe that included strawberries. Strawberry Salsa recipe can be found at the blog post Strawberry Time and a bit of strawberry

If the rain gets to be too much for you then I have an idea for you. How about having your friends over for a game night?? Whether you play on the porch out of the rain or in the house a game night and snacks to go along with it is a great idea. Read the post Rain Rain go Away we all want to play to find some great ideas and recipes.

The biggest news and one I share with pride is that She hit the ball. Yes, Many of you may remember Princess , and she is now playing ball. Well, last night she hit the ball and I am so very proud of her

That is what has been happening in my neck of the woods. How is your life going?? If you are not busy start living, share and let everyone know how splendid your life is. Join in at Five on Friday

Big News in Summer Ball

SHE HIT THE BALL!!!! Yes, she did and she was so very proud of it. This is her year between t-ball and softball. If you are not ball alert this is the year that you have 5 balls to strike on before you have to hit off the tee Last game she did not do real well, this game she did great!!! SHE HIT THE BALL

Rain, Rain Go Away We all Want To Play

This time of year should find us out chasing lightning bugs, having picnics, or enjoying watching the starts on these late spring nights. The problem is the weather is not cooperating. The rain in this area forces most outside activities to cancel leaving us looking for indoor things to do. Once again the age old game night is perfect in any weather or season. It's a great way to meet new people, have fun with you friends or spend time with family. The best part is if you have the plan of playing board games no one will expect any special decorations. 

Snacks are always a must. While it does take a bit of talent to eat and play but then who doesn't like a snack. Finger foods is the way to go. Whether ones that work well at room temperature or in a slow cooker work best. 

The checkerboard  snack platter is not only cute but easy to make. A plain checkerboard can be found at the dollar store near you. It serves as a great place for serving treats. Use different colored cheeses or other treat to represent the opposing checkers. 

This easy recipe is completed by popping some yummy popcorn and adding in your favorite snacks. M&M's, pretzels or whatever small snack is your favorite. Oh so yummy. and ready for all to share. 

Take some time , think about what you and your guests would consider the perfect snack. Then go ahead, laugh at the rainy day, and have a wonderful get together.

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friday funday blog hop

Ride Your Bike To School or Work Today

Many communities are inviting others to get involved with biking to work and school for the day. I remember a time when biking to school was something that was as natural as going to school. Everyone rode their bike to school The bike stand was filled with bikes instead of just a few. Biking to school is great for you and your health.

Strawberry Time and a bit of Strawberry Salsa

Growing up in a family of farmers from everyone from uncles and aunts, grandparents and so many others working the fields I grew up knowing what hard work was. My father and mother lived in town but often was found in the fields, barns and surroundings helping so many others. Planting the crops and waiting for them to produce is something that a kid looks forward to. One of the first plants to produce in early spring is strawberries. Strawberries are so delicious and can be used in so many different recipes. 

My childhood home, yes in town, had a yard filled with so many plants. My daddy had a strawberry patch he was very proud of. When the weather was right and the berries started to bloom it was warned to not go near the patch. When the time came right daddy would bring some in for the family to share. Now, I do not know a lot about strawberries but this little trivia that should help us all learn a bit more .

Strawberry Trivia Facts

1. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.

2. Strawberries are the only fruit with the seeds on the outside.

3. Strawberries are actually a member of the rose family.

4. Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid and potassium.

5. In medieval times, strawberries were served at important functions to bring peace & prosperity

As I mentioned strawberries can be used in many ways. From eating them fresh from the strawberry patch as I did as a kid to using them in a great assortment of recipes. Strawberry salsa is a great way to share the berries with many and perfect for a warm spring night. I hope you Enjoy!!!!

1 cup finely chopped strawberries
1/4 cup finely chopped peeled avocado
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeno pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Gently mix all  in a medium sized bowl. Serve immediately.  You can make this a couple of hours before serving, but if you let sit too long, it will develop a liquid base.

Serve with cinnamon tortilla chips, or over top of grilled chicken, pork, or fish for a sweet and savory addition to your meal.

Plant that Garden In a Bucket

Great idea for those that love to garden but do not have a lot of space.

For those that live in a home without a yard or an apartment or really any compartment size living area and would love to have a garden. There is a way that this can be done. Bucket gardening is the answer and can be done without a lot of space and is economical as well. 

Any container or bucket will do. They come in many sizes, shapes and colors. The one thing that you must be sure of is that the bucket has never hosted toxic material in it. In other words do not use old paint buckets, buckets that have held building suppies, or any buckets that have held cleaning materials. 

To prepare the bucket use a drill or nail to punch holes in the bottom of the bucket. This will allow for drainage. Another great way to do this is to line the bucket or container with rocks so the bottom few inches allow the bucket to drain.. 

Fill the bucket with soil it is best to use a good blended potting soil that is rich in nutrients. Plant your selected plants in your bucket.

These plants will grow nicely in a bucket container

TOMATOES: Cherry, patio or bush varieties work the best. Place your tomato plant in the center of
the bucket and stake it. Drive a four foot pole several inches into the soil about 3” away from the
stem. Tie the plant loosely to the pole with some type of cloth. One tomato plant per bucket!!!

CUCUMBERS/MELONS/SQUASH: Plant the seeds or plants in the front of your bucket and train
them to grow over the side onto your porch, steps, deck or windowsill.

PEPPERS: Place these bush-like plants on either side of the tomato plant.

POLE BEANS: Plant seeds to the rear of the bucket and train the vines to grow up a string tied to the
edge of the bucket.

To just repeat some of the reasons to consider gardening in buckets or container are:

• the containers are easy to move to allow more sun 
• If you live in an area where soil may be contaminated container gardens make it worry free. Containers are a great way to allow your garden to thrive without having to be planted in soil. Apartment dwellers do not have to worry either as soil can be replaced with potting soil. 
• Consider the fact that if you do not have horizontal space you may have been blessed with vertical space. Get creative with your garden and consider places that others may not

shared at inspire me tuesday




originally shared here on my blog annies home april 24

Great Time To Make Up Something Yummy

National Chocolate Chip Day

When: Always on May 15th

National Chocolate Chip Day celebrates and enjoys sweet, tasty chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are a great invention, and certainly deserve a little recognition. After all, where would chocolate chip cookies, cakes and muffins be without the chocolate chip!?

Chocolate chips are popular in cooking and baking, for a wide variety of breads, cakes, and cookies. There is an almost endless number of recipes. They are also used in decorating. Have you ever had chocolate chip pancakes? How about chocolate chips in trail mix? If you've never had these, then you're leading a sheltered life.

Rare is the leftover chocolate chip. If you don't use the whole bag, you and/or your kids will likely eat them as a snack before they make it to the storage container. 


So often you will find chocolate chips in cookies. This recipe shows that chocolate chips can be used in other great recipes as well They are not just for baking cookies

Marble Squares

Makes 24 squares
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients
• 8 ounce package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 375.

Butter and flour a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 baking dish.

Combine cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Add egg and mix well. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine margarine, water, and 1/2 cup of the chocolate pieces. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the flour and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.

Pour batter into your prepared pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture over batter. Cut through batter with a knife for marble effect. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup chocolate pieces.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool and then cut into squares.

recipe source here


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Melt In Your Mouth Monday

Stealing Sunday

Doodley-Do Meme
Stolen from: i take surveys

Doodley-Do Meme

Stolen from: i take surveys

Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? 

sometimes I do if made by someone like my children or someone I cherish

How many true best friends are present in your life? 

never quite sure about this answer would have to say my children as well as my husband as best friends

Do you currently have a significant other? 

yes been with me for the past 30 years

Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? 

there are times that we have to act like adults that does not mean that there won't be eye rolling or whispers occuring

Do you depend on people at all, in any way?

how far does depend go?? I depend on my husband to stay faithful

Have you ever lost a close friend? 

yes I have very sad

Has anybody ever held a grudge against you for a dumb reason? 

its up to them for their reasoning, but yes there have been and still are

Have you ever stayed up late talking to someone you like on the phone or online? 

yes I have

Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? 

yes, so sad how some people treat friendship

Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? 

yes for later learning something awful had happened or finding out they were really in my corner

Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? 

my boyfriend who has  been my husband for 30 years

Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? 

write all the time and in the past year have created literary pieces. Food is what I create for everyone now there is not very much talent

Do you tend to hide your emotions from certain people? How do you hide them? 

yes, some individuals are terribly mean, others I simply do not want them to worry about me and yet there are those that I have to look strong and keep going

Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times?

they try awfully hard whether it works or not is still rough but I do acknowledge them

Could you picture yourself on a reality TV show?

oh my goodness I hope not they are all pretty rough in one way or another

 Are you better at drawing or coloring?

coloring I have lots of practice with my grand-kids

Do you prefer meat or seafood?

I have enjoyed the seafood I have tried and I am a meat lover. I think I would try something new of either

Have you ever read the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence? 

yes, in high school had to memorize and recite

Would you rather become a police officer or a firefighter? 

how do I answer this one nephew is police officer and the grand-kids admire their dad as a firefighter. I think I would say police officer