I am grateful to live in a free country. I am grateful to have the opportunity to worship, travel and learn how I please. I'm glad I've been able to spend time in many parts of this great country, experiencing the kindnesses of very different people. Most people are trying to be good. Most believe in God.
There are plenty of scary things about this world, but there are also plenty of things for which to be grateful. There isn't peace outside, but I feel inner peace. I am grateful I am not alone.
Twelve years ago I was in the Holy Land on the Fourth of July. A result of that study abroad trip that I hadn't anticipated was a greater appreciation for my country. You don't know what you've got until it's gone, right? I understood better how my oldest brother felt when he returned from living in Sweden for two years. I was only thirteen, and hadn't given much thought to the meaning of liberty. He got off the plane in New York and started crying. I'm sure some of those tears were because he was glad to see his family, but he spoke mostly about how glad he was to be back in the USA. I was taken aback. Here was my big brother crying about our country. With my limited experience, I didn't get it. I hope I have gained a deeper understanding as I've matured. I don't want to treat the blessing of freedom lightly.
I appreciate the servicemen and women in the military. What a marvelous experience to have been in that world for a time! Respect, Patriotism, Cleanliness, Duty, Order, Loyalty--just a few adjectives that come to mind. We met some of the greatest people we know while in the Army. We will cherish those friendships and memories all our lives.
It is neat living near Washington, DC. I want our family to tour as many sites as possible during our time here. Who knows if we'll ever be back? I got to be a chaperone for the second grade field trip to the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian a couple months ago. (the Hope diamond, insects, mammoth, skeletons) I asked a bunch of the kids if they had ever bee
n to this museum before. To any of the sites in Washington. To Washington at all. Surprisingly, most hadn't remembered ever traveling the hour north to see things that most of the population of our country will never see. I was talking with my little group of four kids about that very fact--trying to get them to slow down and really look at things. I said, "You know, you might not ever get the chance to come here again." One little boy replied, "Oh, I came last year with my other school class." So, obviously, he didn't believe me that he might not return; he comes every year! :-)I love America! Happy Independence Day!
