Happy 4th of July!

God Bless American! It is late and we just got back from watching Fireworks with our Granddaughters.We were the first ones to leave because Jeff and I both have work tomorrow. So I need to head to bed. Just wanted to wish you a Happy 4th of July. Wish we could have spent it with our grandson Kai, but as you can see from the photo...he is already celebrating! We are so blessed to live in America!!!

 Let's show our children and grandchildren by our example!

Memorial Day / Jeff's Birthday!

As we celebrated Jeff's birthday today with Amy, John and the girls.

I was touched when at the prayer for lunch, Amy talked about the gratitude we had for those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. For the service they have given to each of us and our country. It made me feel good to realize that my kids know it is much more than just a 3 day weekend. And that they in turn are teaching these important things to their kids ( the next generations ). My Dad served, my oldest brother Mike served and  many others including one of our nephews serving right now. Freedom is not free, and we are grateful every day for those who serve and have served...Thank you!

found photo here:
Watching Amy and Jeff celebrate their birthday together once more is sweet to see.  I feel blessed to have a family that always wants to be together, even if we can't.... that is what we wish. And that wish alone makes me happy and grateful!

I can still remember her sitting on her Daddy's knee for her 1st birthday...how could so many years have passed that quickly. Now she is a Mother, with 3 little ones of her own.
My whole life I wanted to have a family who would be close and there for each other, no matter what...and that is exactly what I have! I am truly blessed.
Good night dear friends!

Everyone is fighting their own battles!

I am reading a book called HOWEVER LONG & HARD THE ROAD by Jeffrey R. Holland, it has been an amazing book so far. Last night I was reading in a chapter about how we all have limitations in our lives but it is how we choose to deal with them, that makes us happy or not. He then goes on to explains about a visit that he and his wife had at a prison. He mentions many things but here are just a few that made me stop and think!
One man who had gotten out of prison and came back to visit said this to the group of men he was speaking to. "Guys, the perspective in prison is really bad. Things really look better on the outside. Try to remember that." Then he turned to the outsiders, to the friends and families who had come in, and said, " You people are a light in a dark place. It it were not for love like yours, we would not be able to get from where we are to where we need to be."
At the end of the meeting  ( which was a graduation ceremony from a year long Bible Study Course ) an inmate who had been conducting the service concluded with some emotion in his voice and tears in his eyes. " This is the most auspicious occasion of our year, " he said of this graduation service. "It is better than Christmas. It's better than Thanksgiving. It's even better than Mother's Day. It's better because we're enlightened, and that's as close as we come to being free."

What a great reminder to all of us to remember that we can choose to be enlightened or not. We can choose to learn and understand or remain in ignorance. But knowledge is POWER, and that is exactly what this book kept reminding you of. This section made me thankful for my ability to keep trying, to not limit myself, to never give up and to remember that everyone is fighting their own battles each day. I think we would all treat others a bit kinder IF we could remember this!
Good night dear friends!

I have a dream!

What an amazing speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave. As one friend said...we should all listen to this once a year, in hopes that we would never forget how to treat each other. You can listen to it when you go here:
Then I also found these ideas on honoring MLK on an ABC news report. Great idea.
Good night dear friends!

5 Ways to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

I found this HERE:

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

How to Honor MLK

Give Something

Even if bone marrow donation is not for you, the program values your time and skills just as much. You can spread the word online as a social volunteer or sponsor a membership drive to identify potential donors. And keep this in mind: More than 1 in 3 black people in this country can't find a marrow match they need to treat life-threatening diseases such as sickle cell and lymphoma.

How to Honor MLK

Learn Something

The life and times of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. fill enough tomes to keep the most voracious readers satisfied until kingdom come, but consider smaller bites for Monday in the form of documentaries (check your TV listings) or even archived news conferences like these from the day after King's assassination: These two -- from a somber President Lyndon B. Johnson and an agitated black activist Stokely Carmichael -- provide a sobering contrast.
The History Channel website puts others within easy reach.

How to Honor MLK

Teach Something

What good is accumulating all that knowledge without sharing it with others, particularly young people for whom King has been reduced to the "I Have a Dream" speech and a day home from school. So corner some young relatives or mentees this weekend, challenge their understanding of King's legacy and help them fill in the blanks. Or lead a group trip to the library if you need some scholarly support, or find a King-focused church service to highlight the influence of where he was spiritually moored.

How to Honor MLK

Commit to Something

King's legacy includes his unwavering commitment to civil rights and non-violent social change. What better way to pick up on the theme than by applying such principles to your own community. Among the questions you might ask yourselves: Do all your neighbors have unfettered access to polling places? Are the elderly as nourished as they should be? Are your best schools equally accessible by all? Are the children physically fit and destined for healthy adult lifestyles? These are a few possible places to begin your mission.

How to Honor MLK

Dream Something

King's dream is well documented, thanks to his 17-minute, Lincoln Memorial speech at the March on Washington nearly 50 years ago.
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain," he said Aug. 28, 1963, "and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."
What's your dream?

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth101472.html#3FvSBCVYXXwIrUmA.99

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let us all give thanks!

Most of today was spent during a few little errands and also cooking in the kitchen while listening to Christmas songs on the radio. Oh I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but you have to understand that I am one of the people who listens to Christmas music all year long. I love the spirit of Christmas and truly wish that we could celebrate it all year long.
I have been so teary eyed lately, why? Maybe because Thanksgiving and Christmas time was always a happy time in our home, it was usually a safer time for me as a child because there were so many people around me... I was more protected, that was a blessing in disguise Maybe it's because I miss my kids so bad, having some of them far away from me and not coming home for Thanksgiving, is tough on a Mother's heart. Maybe it's because I am missing my Mom, my Grandma Johnny and my Aunt Ina while cooking today. Some of the best times were in the kitchen with them. They loved to cook, I have never been quite the cooks that they were. Yes, those were good times, happy times and safe times. But cooking all day in my kitchen alone, was just tough and for some reason I can't stop the tears from coming so freely. I know that I am very blessed and for that I am grateful. I am grateful for each one of you in my life and in the life of my family, thank you for everything!
Happy Thanksgiving! Good night dear friends, hope you enjoy this video! 
This is beautiful, take time to watch it right before Thanksgiving, you will be glad you did.
Watch it here:

My Hero!

"Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That's not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in the lives to keep our country free. I read this explanation about Veteran's Day" here: 

I just want to thank my brother Mike, for the sacrifice and service that he has made. He is one of my favorite Veterans! He has shown our whole family what courage and determination is! He is an amazing man, wonderful husband, Father, Grandfather and brother. Many times I have thought of him, when things get tough in my life, and remembering what he has been through, quickly changes my perspective! My life is good and as you look at Mike and his family's photo, then you realize that his life is good too!
So hats off to my brother Michael, my personal Hero... as well as all of the other incredibly dedicated Veterans out there. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

"Freedom is never free." ~Author Unknown
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." ~G.K. Chesterton
"Our veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called."
- Bill Shuster

Happy 4th of July!!!

Just finished a BBQ with some neighbors and friends. What a beautiful day it has been. Full sunshine and in the 70's ...perfect! Now it is getting dark and Angie is waiting for Nana to come out and watch the fireworks with her. You can see so many good ones right from our deck! Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July and like me are grateful for this wonderful country we live in.

Ok, gotta go it is time to see booming fireworks...good night dear friends!

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; . . . . We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors . . . [they] transmitted them to us with care and diligence."
Samuel Adams

"Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal liberty, and is given him by the Author."  ~ Thomas Jefferson

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." - Thomas Paine

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Benjamin Franklin

Memorial Day / Birthday!

Today is my daughter Amy's birthday! Yes, she was born on Memorial Day, she was our first and we couldn't imagine how much love this 10LB 10Z dark haired girl could bring into our lives. Even though we were brand new parents, and didn't have a clue what to do, we were so in love with her ...it didn't matter. Some how we figured out all the baby details, and we absolutely loved every minute of it.
Now I look at this beautiful blonde haired woman and realize, not only is she a dear friend of mine, but my daughter too! How lucky could a Mother be?  She is now a Mother too, and so the generations have begun and I feel blessed.

I also feel blessed when I think of all the men and women ( and their families ), who have served... and now serve our country. Words cannot not express the gratitude we feel! How glad I am that we have this wonderful holiday to remember and honor them by.

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Memorial Day!

It is the Soldier

(Charles M. Province)

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag, who
serves under the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag, who allows the
protester to burn the flag."

"Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits."

"Birthdays are good for you.  Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."  ~Larry Lorenzoni

20/20 vision

We listened, as probably much of the world did last night as our President Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden. As we watched the excitement around the world, we realized how many years we all have been waiting for this day. We also listened to the phone interviews with many of the people who lost family members in the Sept. 11th attack. It was interesting to hear how some were still angry, some excited and some... a mixture of both.

Many of the kids that were celebrating at the White House were young adults, who at the time of Sept. 11th were only probably around 9-10 years old. Still their whole life they have been watching the world look for Osama bin Laden. I liked seeing the ones who were holding up the American Flag and singing songs, much better than the kids that were just screaming and jumping around in front of the camera.

We have a nephew in the service right now, and we were grateful to hear that there were no American soldiers were hurt during this attack. I thought as I listened and watched last night, how different everyone's view on this whole thing was. When you have children or loved ones that are serving in the Military, every day you are concerned and watching the news. And yet to others who aren't as involved, it seems a world away at times.
I do think we need to daily pray and think about all those who defend and protect our country. Each day they are putting their lives at risk ...to save ours! 

I also believe the only way we are going to have 20/20 vision on this subject, is if we never take for granted our freedom and liberty!

I pray we will continue to have more success. God Bless America!

 

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."  ~Abraham Lincoln

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."  ~Elmer Davis

"How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy."  ~Paul Sweeney

We are all different and ...that's ok!

I heard this quote the other day that went like this..."Freedom comes the moment truth is revealed" I believe that is true, and one truth that was revealed this past week is that I am not organized, I am a saver ( of just about everything ). I make messes easily and that I work best in the middle of a mess! Ok, the truth is out there, I said it out loud! The other truth I learned this past week, is that my daughter Amy is very organized, very orderly and does her best when everything is in it's place. ( I actually have known all of this for quite some time! ) This week I asked Amy to come over and help me go through some of my stuff, so that I might be more organized. I can't even tell you how many times, she would hand me a box of my treasures and say " Mom, what is this?" Just because I couldn't explain at that very moment what these treasures were, and why I needed them, she wanted me to throw them away or put them in the give away pile.

We have always said that she was O.C.D. and I was A.D.D. and together we just get MAD! You may be smiling, but we certainly weren't smiling too much when we were working together this week.
So we are different and ....that's ok, right? I am always amazed at how much differently her brain works than mine. What I think is rational and logical, she thinks is not real rational and ...well you get the point. All joking aside, I am always amazed how a child of mine, can be like me in some ways and so different in others?  All four of our kids are different, and yet have some of the same similarities, how can that be, when we raised them all the same? It happens, what one person sees so clearly, the other can't see at all, what about the one that hears exactly what you said and the other who didn't hear a thing? Or the child that would say something one way and the other wouldn't even think of saying anything like that at all. Families, you have got to love them? :)

I am so thankful for the diversity of our fun family. If we were all alike, think how boring it would be? Plus, I would never get my house in order! :) I also like the quote that goes like this... "You can't break away from a pattern unless you solve the problem"  I realize that I save too many things, and that I need to let go of some of it, (especially the stuff I haven't used in years ) and I am trying to set new patterns for myself. Old habits are hard to break but... I am learning!

" Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day." 

"Variety is the spice of life"   ~ American Proverb

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."  ~Jane Howard

 

 

Happy 4th of July!

Well, the 4th of July is coming to a close, but I can sill hear a few fireworks going off outside. And although this wonderful holiday is almost over, may we never forget the freedom we enjoy. May we pray daily for the men and women who fight for our freedom, and their dear families that sacrifice too!

 
ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR
It's that time of the year
for the red white and blue
They stand for freedom
in all you say and do
Show off those colors
for all the world to see
Fly them proudly over 
the air the land and sea
We celebrate the birth
of our blessed country
It surely is indeed
the land of the free
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! 

http://www.funmunch.com/events/4th_july/4th_july_poetry_for_free.shtml

"Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!" ~ George Washington

"Freedom is never free."  ~ Unknown

Sweet Land of Liberty

How grateful I am to live in this sweet land of liberty. In church last Sunday we were singing this hymn and it made me cry. Why? One is because my oldest brother was severely hurt in the service, he was in the hospital for 18 months, that is when I was 10 years old and he was 19 years old. From the time he signed up to go into the Marines, it was always tough for our family to hear this song and not worry about him. That memory is still fresh in my mind. The second reason is because I feel so grateful to be here and have all the blessings of freedom that we do. I hope this 4th of July, we all take time out to say a prayer of gratitude, for being able to call the United States of America... our home!!!

 

My Country 'Tis of Thee ( America )'

My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our father's God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

(written by Samuel Francis Smith; the tune used for this song is "God Save the Queen", the British National Anthem)

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."  ~Abraham Lincoln

"The cement of this union is the heart-blood of every American."  ~Thomas Jefferson

Memorial Day

Well even though today was a day off work and we did get to relax and have a BBQ with family and friends but I didn't my post to be about that. I wanted to take time out to remember the men and women who have served in our military through out the years. How grateful I am for their sacrifice and service. Freedom doesn't come free!

I was looking on the news and found this story and photo of one such military family.

Nearly a year ago, as Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum was preparing to leave the country for Iraq with his Army unit, his family gave him a tearful goodbye. One member of the family—four-year-old Paige—didn’t want him to leave, however. She was so attached to her father that she held his hand until he boarded the plane, even as he stood in formation with his fellow troops. Paige’s mother, Abby, captured a photo of the powerful moment, and within the space of days, it had been broadcast all over the world. The touching image showed the pain of the sacrifices that soldiers and their families must make every day, and resonated with millions who’d faced similar challenges.

http://gimundo.com/news/article/soldiers-daughter-paige-bennethum-welcomes-father-home-from-iraq-for-good/

So thank you from our family, for all you do and have done.

 

"The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage."  ~ Thucydides

"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americas have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission."   ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

May we always remember them

I received this poem and photo today on my email. What an incredible reminder it was for me. My oldest brother was in the service and I can still remember how that impacted our family. So tonight I will dedicate my post to all those wonderful, dedicated men, women and their families who are serving our Country and protecting our freedoms. Because of them, we are able to celebrate the Christmas Season .They are our heroes. Merry Christmas to all of you and THANK YOU!

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

"  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

 

"How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy."  ~Paul Sweeney

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."  ~Elmer Davis

Veteran's Day

I am proud to be an American and grateful for all those who have served our Country, my dad and brother were some of them. I was only a small girl when I began to understand what that sacrifice truly meant for our freedom. My oldest brother got seriously hurt in Vietnam and then as a 10  year old, I saw what all the worry and fears of my parents were all about. He only had a 10% chance of living, but after 18 months in the hospital and with a lot of pain, tears,  faith and prayers, he made it and went on with his life and has been an inspiration ever since. So please take time tomorrow to say thanks and pray for all those men, women and families that sacrifice so much to protect our freedom.

John McCrae lived from 1872 to 1918. A Canadian physician, he fought on the Western Front in 1914. Soon he was transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. He is perhaps most remembered for his poem about the famous poppies concurrent with the soldiers who had died. He wrote his famous poem In Flanders Fields the day after presiding at the funeral of a friend and former student. His poem is now a memorial to all Veterans.


In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you."  ~Author unknown

"Freedom is never free."  ~Author Unknown

Mental fences

I received an email from simpletruths.com and they told me of a book that they were selling called Living a Five Star Life, by Betty Mahalik. I like the simple things that she challenges the readers to do. Here is a small part of what was in the email. It did make me stop and think.

Betty challenges all of us "to live a great life by discovering the life we have right now, instead of trying to invent a whole new life."

Today, I'd like to share her chapter titled: Fences in your Mind. Enjoy!

"I've watched the movie Chicken Run at least a half-dozen times. Just beneath the surface of its simplistic look and story line lie a number of wonderful messages told through the eyes of a bunch of Claymation chickens trying to break out of their chicken-wire world to escape their fate at the chopping block. Their freedom leader, a feisty little hen named Ginger, comments profoundly in one scene: "the fences are all in your mind." She reminds her fellow chickens (and us), that a bigger obstacle than the physical fences they're surrounded by are the mental fences that hold them captive.

It's been a good reminder for me on those occasions when I've been dealing my own mental fences...those created by self-doubt, uncertainty, fear. Can you relate? Where have you fenced yourself in mentally in recent days or weeks? Perhaps your mental fence is procrastination, a deadening habit that keeps you stuck. Maybe yours, like mine, is related to self-doubt, and the on-going internal noise it produces that keeps you immobilized. Perhaps yours is the belief that you don't deserve success, so you sabotage yourself to avoid having to find out how successful you could be. There are a million variations of the theme, but the result is still the same: we stay stuck like the chickens in the movie.
One of the key questions in the Best Year Yet® program is: "How do I limit myself and how can I stop?" Those limitations are never external. They always live inside us. The antidote to being trapped by our mental fences is to create a compelling enough vision that, like Ginger and her flock of chicken friends, we're willing to resort to amazing measures to break out. The formula:
VISION + CONSISTENT ACTION = FREEDOM!

.
FREEDOM IS JUST THE OTHER SIDE OF ACTION.
Recognize that your mental fences can only keep you stuck as long as you're looking at them. They can only contain you as long as you're not taking actions consistent with your vision. Go ahead, take the action you've avoided and leap into a future filled with possibilities. And remember, the fences are all in your mind!"

Like I said, I haven't read the book, but I certainly enjoyed the part of it they sent me. I am always looking for ways to conquer my fears and limitations. I do believe that most of our fences that keep us trapped or held back, are truly in our mind. So like she said, we need to go ahead and take action  and leap into the future. Good night dear friends!

4th of July Weekend

Well, we realized early this week that Jeff had Friday off for the 4th of July. Since his heart problems and my cancer, we have run out of vacation days and so we really didn't have any plans for this summer (other than around here). But when we realized that Friday was a vacation day, we decided at the last minute, to go to Port Townsend for the weekend. Hopefully the weather will continue to hold up.

My big concern is actually about Amy. We asked them to go with us and she is only 6 weeks away from delivering Miss Jenny. She has a hard time sleeping in her own bed, much less a blow up mattress... but she wants to try. This will be Angie's first time camping but she loves the outdoors and so we are hoping she will do fine. We have had the tents up for a couple of days in the back yard and she loves them. She keeps saying that she is going to the ocean to swim with the whales and get sea shells. Never seen a whale there before but hey...there is a first time for everything!  Port Townsend means a lot to our family, for over 10 years that is where we held our Family Reunions. We used to have a lot of family come and of course the bigger the group, the better. But then year by year, more and more of them stayed home and pretty soon we were celebrating by ourselves or with friends that the kids brought.

It is a quirky little town but it seems almost magical to us...the water, beach, stores and camping. Now I haven't camped in a while because of my back, and that is another thing that I am a bit worried about. Seems like when I do something like this, that physically I will have to pay for it a long time. But like Amy, I don't want to miss our family having the chance to be together so...we are going to wish for a comfortable Miracle!  :)

I won't be near my computer for a few days but I did want to wish you all a Happy Independence Day! How blessed we are to live in the LAND OF THE FREE. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the military service men and women, and their dear families (who also sacrifice a lot).

"I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
One nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all."
~ The Pledge of Allegiance

"Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." ~ John Quincy Adams

"America will never be destroyed from the outside.
If we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed "
--Abraham Lincoln