Freedom

I took this pictures years ago on my back patio and absolutely love it!

There is nothing more beautiful than driving down the road and witnessing the American Flag waving in the breeze. Sends shivers down my spine. I also reflect on those serving our country un-selfishly for our freedom. Freedom to say and do whatever it is we want. How great is that? It makes me sad to see those religions and others who belief that we shouldn't be fighting in this war. Of course nobody wants to fight in a war but don't belittle or protest those fine soldiers who fight so people can protest and say what they want. I read somewhere that there is a religion that will go and protest at our fellow American soldier's funerals, against war. How inconsiderate can one be? Brings me to a story that I want to brag on and it as I am writing this brings a tear to my eye.

Jace was noticing all of the flags being flown on flag day. He was in the drive thru getting some lunch waiting, when he peered in his rear view mirror and thought he saw someone wearing camo. He looked again when he saw the elbow sticking out the window and it was one of our beloved soldiers in their camo gear (sorry, don't know the correct term). Jace could see the patched and the American Flag, the real deal. So Jace being the thoughtful person told the person at the window he wanted to buy lunch for the car behind him. The employee struggled a little confused but ended up getting it figured out. As Jace is telling me this we talked about how little respect our soldiers get and this is the least he could do. I am proud! Proud of Jace and Proud to be an American.

As our Independence day rolls around and we are grateful for this great nation we live in, I encourage everyone to do something for a solider, veteran, and/or both. Not that we all need to buy them something, we need to let them know how much we appreciate them risking their lives so we can be free. I think a simple THANK YOU is deserved.

God Bless America and our Soldiers!

How Rude!!

I am not an emotional person, I can't remember the last time I cried. That leads me into my story. My sister-in-law and I are giving our other sis-in-law a baby shower. I have to admit I do like to do parties like this. So I made some invites kind of last minute but I still thought they were cute. I put them in our mailbox and I had missed the mail. Bummer - maybe tomorrow. Because I had a stack of them I put a rubber band around them to keep them together. I also had another package attached to them. So as I am driving out of the drive way the next morning and down the road I think, there is a lot of garbage on our lawn what is the deal. The neighborhood dogs always get into stuff so I didn't think much of it until I saw a bunch of blue and brown paper and blue toole. My invites were spread from one stop sign to another (maybe a 100 yards). They were all torn up and a mess. The other package I had in the mail was all torn up. Who, what would do this?

So as I am picking up the remains I am ready to swear, no CURSE I am livid. Then I cry. I don't cry so this was a surprise to me (and my boys). I was so frustrated, annoyed you name it. So I huff around and the mailbox lid is closed so I ruled out they were blown out by the wind and a dog got them. How rude! So I get in the car and the boys don't know what to do. Apparently they haven't seen me cry. I call Jace and I can't talk I start blubbering and he said we don't have a red flag so what if mail person threw them out. I respect the postal workers so I know they would never do that. We were outside playing until late the night before and I would have noticed the snow of envelopes in our yard & the neighbors so it happened when we went to bed. Again I don't cry much and so I don't know how to handle myself. I just have to vent because I thought that was very rude. A mile or so from our house there was a smashed mailbox on the side of the road so someone was out and about.

Life lesson. I talked to Tyler about pranks and how kids think they are funny but they aren't. I did spend some time, energy & money on making the invites but that isn't the point. It is respecting other people and their property. There were some neighbor kids riding their dirtbikes around the neighborhood the night before and Tyler said mom do you think it was him(a kid he looks up to)? I said no, he knows better and his dad would kick his butt if he found out and your dad would kick his butt too! So hopefully when Ty gets older he will remember how disappointed we all felt that someone would do this.

Then I see these pictures on my phone and can't help but smile and be grateful for my little ones. These pictures are the result of someone taking my phone (Tyler) & having fun! I LOVE them!