A Happy Hodgepodge to you all, friends! As we go into this week of celebrating our nation's birthday, let's take a moment to realize just how truly blessed we are, and to give thanks for those who have given all so that we may be free.
I think that as Americans, we have so many freedoms that we don't truly realize how truly free we are - and how good we've got it. And I don't think you are ever really able to do what you please without consequences. Liberty - to me it just seems to go hand in hand with pride. That deep, welling down in your heart, the tear in your eye when you see our flag raised high, soldiers at attention, and our national anthem sung.
As a military spouse, both things mean giving up that which is precious to us for something greater. Three months ago a friend of mine lost her husband - he had been deployed for two weeks. This is her children, at his funeral. Freedom... is not free.
2. Nathan's sponsors a hot dog eating contest every 4th of July. Last year over 40,000 people attended the event and almost 2 million watched it on TV. The winner ate over 60 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. How do you like your hot dogs?
Wow - I mean, I like hot dogs and all, but 60? That's crazy. I prefer them one at a time... with a toasted bun, grilled on the grill, with mayo and ketchup.
3. If you were going to enter an eating contest what would be on the menu?
Ice cream. Any flavor.
4. Do you run your house more as a dictatorship or a democracy?
It really depends on the circumstance - we definitely have set rules and expectations, but we are also pretty good at discussing things with the kiddos and being open with them. But, when push comes to shove, we have the final say.
5. Where was your favorite summer place when you were a kid?
Every summer we would go to a Christian camp - they had family camp up there, and when I got older, I got to go to the jr high, sr high, and college retreats. Up in the woods, so quiet, so many good memories... Loved it!
6. Do you have a guest room? Would you want to stay there?
We don't have a guest room, all of our rooms are filled with children! Eventually I know we will have a guest room, and I actually dream about what it will be like to have a room that is clean and tidy all the time, beautifully decorated, just waiting for the next set of guests to arrive!
7. Next Wednesday America celebrates her independence. Do you have any special plans for the 4th of July? If you live outside the USA when and how does your country celebrate its own patriotic holiday?
We don't have any plans quite yet - our town here has a fireworks display, so we may go over to a friend's house and watch the display from there.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
What a strange, sad week this has been so far... and it's only Tuesday! My sweet Middle C was supposed to go to her very first sleep-away church camp this week with her three best friends... but then Sunday night she developed a bad infection in her hand from scraping it at our city pool and then swimming for a couple more hours - ended up in the ER and is on heavy antibiotics, and dr said no camp for her. Poor thing. But a praise is that the campw was wiling to transfer her registration and she will get to go to another camp in a couple of weeks with one of her friends. And then tonight we got a call from my FIL that my husband's grandmother is in her final hours. A huge praise, though, is that we have all been down there in the past month and have gotten to see her. And my DH is home now (not deployed, not traveling) and so he can go and be with his family.
... mixes of sadness and gratitude...
have a blessed 4th of July, my friends. I'll leave you with a pic of my three precious Cs - taken a few years ago... ok, more than a few years ago... like, 6 years ago... where did my babies go?
have a blessed 4th of July, my friends. I'll leave you with a pic of my three precious Cs - taken a few years ago... ok, more than a few years ago... like, 6 years ago... where did my babies go?
6 comments:
Sorry your daughter had to miss. Hope her hand is healing and she has a great time at camp when she gets there!
The picture of the sweet little ones sure does remind us that freedom isn't free. Thank you to your husband and your family for serving. Prayers for you to get you through the week. <3
such cuties...enjoy your 4th!
That funeral picture is so sad. My condolences to your friend's family and to you. What a loss. Thank you again to you n your hubby for your sacrifices. I don't think we ever give you all enough appreciation.
That picture is just heart wrenching. We still have friends stationed there & they went to the funeral and she said it was heartbreaking.
Hope your daughters hand heals quickly and yay for her being able to go to another camp. So sorry about your husband's grandmother. It is never easy to say goodbye.
I am so sorry for the loss you friend and her children have to deal with. So sad! I do like your answer to the question though. Too many people take for granted what we have in our country.
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