July is a month for celebrating freedom and we have done our fair share of feasting and fireworks.
Lots of celebrating.
I am grateful to live in the United States of America.
Grateful that my kids
have a safe place
to live
and play
and go to school.
Grateful that they have opportunities
to chose their education
and career
and to worship freely without persecution.
Grateful that their great-great {and even up to 10 and 12 greats}
grandparents
had the courage to cross an ocean
on a boat
and take a train or a horse or a wagon
across the plains.
Grateful that some fought for freedom even in the Revolutionary war
and for those that endured the Dirty Thirties, dustbowl and depression days.
There were no trees on this prairie.
At times just dirt and grasshoppers.
And yet, because they endured, we live here.
I am grateful.
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These photos below are what Erin thought of the noisy fireworks.
I just had to share them too...because they are part of the reality
of our little celebrating here on the ranch.
Happy Birthday U.S.A.!
Have a great weekend!
Photos & text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw
P.S. My daughters green eyes are NOT enhanced with photo shop...that's the real thing.
