What a crazy ride of a year!!! 2020 has proven to be the most interesting year in my lifetime thus far. I’m hoping that this Christmas would be a good time to reflect on how merciful God is and how many blessings He always gives us despite trying times. God is so good, and He has been very kind to my family with my Mom’s heart surgery going well. I wanted to say thank you for all the prayers and love from everyone for God saving her and for her healing. This is also why this card is so late this year…. It’s been a whirlwind month! :D I’m praying for health and thankful hearts as we enter 2021! 😊 On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me… Eleven pipers piping! I have been doing the 12 Days of Christmas series for over a decade now! I’m featuring Roderick Parris again but this time in his military duds from the War of 1812. American was at war with Britain again from June 18, 1812 to February 17, 1815. It was caused by the British Royal Navy’s impressment of American sailors. The young America was also looking to expand its territory in Midwest and Canada. It’s a little-known war and some call it the Second War of Independence. However, it was just more of a stalemate as no one gained or lost territory. The Treaty of Ghent ended the conflict with Britain. The Eleven Pipers Piping stands for the eleven faithful Apostles to Jesus Christ.    The 11 Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James.  (Luke 6:14-16). © Characters and story of Penn’s Woods belong to Shelly Garner/Saylem Studios 2020 #art #saylemstudios #roderickparris #pennswoodscomic #merrychristmas #christmas #christmas2020 #12daysofchristmas #elevenpiperspiping (at Roseville, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJMJbClFaGv/?igshid=1093iu4j7vbgx

11 days before Christmas! #elevenpiperspiping #christmas2021 (at Bo.Sta Maria Pedro Gil Paco Mla) https://www.instagram.com/patdocious/p/CXbzXkPAUJe/?utm_medium=tumblr

We are in the home stretch #day11 of #the12daysofchristmas I hope you have done all your shopping #🛍 Me I am like #bahhumbug but thats just me!! #😂#jokingnotjoking #happychristmaseve #christmaseve #santaclaus #santaiscoming #santa #saintnick #11piperspiping #elevenpiperspiping #📷 credit @h2o_atlanta https://www.instagram.com/p/B6dyHWuBqrx/?igshid=enq83d8w665l

The 12 Days of Christmas. On the 11th day of Christmas, the House gave to me...11 Trumpers Trumping. #impeachment #trump #elevenpiperspiping #11piperspiping #christmas #xmas #art #drawing #sketch #ink #12daysofchristmas #twelvedaysofchristmas #day11 #penandinkalliance #alyssasarttherapy #resistthroughart https://www.instagram.com/p/B6c4uBIhqCL/?igshid=p5vb682bbaqq

#12DaysOfChristmas, Well this song was originally written by #catholics as a means to #celebrate their faith in secret, away from the prying eyes of the Christians. Between 1552 and 1829 it was illegal in England for Catholics to practice their kind of Christianity, so they decided to make a song with secret messages to enjoy the festivities. However, lots of people have pointed out that these hidden clues could be interpreted by Protestants and other Christians too, so it's still vague as to whether this story is true. Here is what each line supposedly meant: #Partridgeinapeartree = God, as a partridge was used as a symbol for a sacred king. #Twoturtledoves = The Old and New Testaments of the Bible. #ThreeFrenchhens = The Christian Trinity: God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. #Fourcallingbirds = The four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. #Fivegoldenrings = The five senses. #Sixgeesea-laying = The six days of creation. #Sevenswanaswimming = The seven 'liberal arts' studied in medieval universities. #Eightmaidsamilking = The eight beatitudes, Jesus' teachings on happiness. #Nineladiesdancing = The nine muses from #GreekMythology #Tenlordsa-leaping = The Ten Commandments in the Bible. #Elevenpiperspiping = Eleven thousand [meaning a lot of people] who had been martyred for the Christian faith. #Twelvedrummersdrumming = The twelve disciples of Jesus. #christmas #music #history #education #carols #12days #rhythmnnews_edu #rhythmnnews https://www.instagram.com/p/BrdHZBFhlhq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=l4ai8xefseoa

#ElevenPipersPiping now cheap like #borscht!

#elevenpiperspiping for day 11 of the #12daysofchristmas illustration challenge. Stuck a little bit of Cornish tartan in there, of course 😊