We wish for freedom.

Happy 4th of July and Independence Day! I personally love the 4th of July. It’s the one holiday where anyone and everyone can be patriotic, without judgement-instead of trying to be a cool hipster who opposes everything the government stands for.

Instead of viewing this holiday as an excuse to drink and not work, let’s take a look at what it really means to celebrate our independence.

Our freedom means young men and women giving up their best years to fight for a country that sometimes doesn’t support them, and even despises them upon their homecoming. Some return with physical and mental scars they care not talk about, memories they wished they could forget and feelings of regret for what they had to do.

Our freedom means wives and daughters seeing the leader of their home in uniform, packing up, saying goodbye for months on end, or maybe even forever.

It means moving on without that man during those months, continuing on with life and trying not to worry every second of every day that something might happen.

My freedom means attending a Veteran’s Church service and seeing men and women with crutches, missing limbs, wheelchair-but standing there praising the Lord. It’s humbling and continues to make me cry.

Our freedom comes with a high price-and if I’m honest, one I’m not sure that I’m willing to pay myself. I am thankful for the men and women of this country who are more selfless than I am-who have risked it all so that I can sit on my back porch, drink my coffee and write about them.

God-please-still bless America.

Celebrate our Freedom!

Happy Fourth of July! Light the fireworks, grill the dogs, grab the suits and get all patriotic “up in har”.

I love to brush up on the Constitution about this time of year. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from our beloved Constitution.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Amendment 1 – Freedom of Religion: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2 – Right to Bear Arms: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Notice my bare arms? Heh.

Amendment 19 – Women’s Suffrage: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Amendment 26 – Voting Age Set to 18 Years: The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

God bless America.