For years I would get a little sad on the 4th of July,  and never knew why?!!   My husband would always ask why/how can you be sad today?  We always have such a good time on the 4th?!!! 

It took a long time but I finally figured it out!!  Yes, its a happy day with cookouts and fireworks and fun for the the kids.  

In the back of my mind, I always wonder what it's like for those who don't have the freedom that we do!!!  It just tugs at my heart, especially today!!!!!  When I hear those songs playing with the fireworks, "America the Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land, The National Anthem, and the one that always brings tears, God Bless America!!!"  It makes the hairs on my arms stand up!!  I just feel very fortunate to live in a place where I can say what I want, wear what I want, and have the freedoms and rights that I have!

 

I see thousands of people from our community get together, every year, to sit and watch fireworks go off together.   I often wonder how many of those people actually think about the cost of our freedom and how lucky we are to have it!!  As I watch the fireworks go off, I always pray and thank the people that lost their lives in the process of getting us the freedoms that we have! 

When I see a soldier walk by me, I just have to stop everything I'm doing and shake their hand and say, "THANK YOU!!"  Even today there are men and women fighting everyday to bring that same freedom to others.  Some not as thankful as we are!!!  They don't realize what an amazing and incredible gift having freedom is!!!!!    

I will say a special prayer for the soldiers and their families that won't be able to watch the fireworks go off today because it will be too traumatizing to them for obvious reasons!!!

Today is a celebration of our freedom and I am so happy that we have it!!   Be safe this holiday weekend and God Bless America!!!!!!