i'm proud to be an american

earlier this week i put my patriotic music player on my blog to get us in the spirit for memorial day. it has been such a blessing for us in our home. the girls listen to the songs over and over.

 

one day i was cleaning the bathrooms in the back of the house. when i was finished i walked to the front of the house to hear "i'm proud to be an american" blaring, and i mean loud, from the computer. i walked into the room and saw three of our daughters dancing and singing along. i watched silently. when the song was over they quickly ran to the computer to start the song over and they began singing and dancing, again!

 

i've thought about this scene many times this week and it makes me smile and reflect. the image of our girls singing:

"i'm proud to be an american, where at least i know i'm free.

and i won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

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!"

...brings joy to my heart.

joy to know that my girls are free to sing about freedom.

joy to know that we are blessed to live in the promised land.

joy to see the smiles and the happiness that our girls know.

joy to know that we are free to worship as we please.

joy to know that we are free from oppression.

joy to know that we live in peace.

joy to know that we can choose for ourselves.

joy to know that i can hug and kiss my girls each night before they go to bed.

joy to know that i will see their smiling faces when i wake up in the morning.

joy....

joy....

my joy is full!

 

i know that nani has been thinking a lot this week about our freedom and how it came to be that we are free. and i know that it is because of the patriotic music that we have had playing in our home every day that she is thinking about our freedom.

 

saturday night, nani and i had the opportunity to attend a special activity day dinner together. on our way there she said, "mommie, i'm sad for the kids whose daddy's are gone to war. and i'm sad for the kids whose daddy's and the mom's whose husbands were killed while fighting." she understands the cost of our freedom. she knows that it wasn't free!

 

so, this memorial day, let's remember those who fought for our freedom and those who continue to fight to preserve it! and let's thank God that we have it!