I'm Proud to Be an American

I feel so blessed to live in the greatest (no matter what our President may say or do) country in the world. This past weekend we spent our days buying and light off fireworks, listening to patriotic music, hanging the American Flag, yard saleing eating yummy food, and visiting with friends and family - you know, just being good ole Americans!! What a relaxing and refreshing weekend.

My favorite patriotic song is by Lee Greenwood, "Proud to be an American". I remember when Dad would take us to Darien Lake (now a Six Flags) in NY during the summer. At night, they would play that song at the end of the laser light show at night. I remember the crowd would join in and sing, and I would sing as loud as I could the part where it says:

"And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me."

As an adult, it brings tears to my eyes. I am so proud to be apart of such a beautiful place, proud to have the founding Fathers as part of my country's heritage, proud to visit all of the beautiful places in our country, proud to support the local farmer's markets as people live out their "American Dream" of providing for themselves, proud to teach my children the love America and to thank God for our freedoms and rights that we enjoy as we live in the "land of the free".

Now, my favorite line to sing as loud as I can is:

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!"

Celebrating our Great Nation:

Scotty playing in the bounce house with Jadon (although he would only go up the wall when I went in and helped him - I guess I just gave him a little more confidence :)).

On Sunday we went over to Ocea's house (Kassie's older sister) and had a BBQ with her family. What a fun way to celebrate. Later that evening, we went to the Symphony in the Park at Ross Park and had listened to patriotic music, it was amazing. Shwanns handed out free ice cream - yummy!!

Monday night Kassie and Jay came over (and then a bunch of Kassie's family came too) and we lit off a bunch of fireworks... good thing the cops showed up after the illegal one's were done. Janey was in bed way before the show started, she had a rough day, so we didn't keep her up. We did keep Scotty up though. We started him off with a few sparklers, and then crackler, and his choo-choo train. He was OK with the sparkler, but the crackler and train were too loud and he got pretty scared. Poor little guy, I even took him inside to watch from the living room window, but he didn't want any part of it. When we were inside he looked up at me and said "Me go night night, k?" and headed down the stairs. I couldn't believe it.

Right after Jay lit this crackler, Scotty jumped in Dad's arms, wanting nothing to do with the fireworks for the rest of the night.

Happy Independence Day everyone!, and God Bless the USA!!