Happy 4th of July!
Happy Happy 4th of July!
I just wanted to pop in say hello, and chat a little bit about why I feel so grateful today. This morning was pretty much the prefect morning. The kids got up quietly and started their own movie downstairs, Cason and I laid around till about 9:00am, just pretty much being lazy and enjoying some quiet time together, the weather is beautiful, and today my Instagram and Facebook feeds were filled chuck-full of 5k photo recaps, happy families at parades and yummy 4th of July food that people were prepping to take to BBQ’s and gatherings.
I couldn’t help to think, while flipping through all of these fun, happy pictures, how lucky we really are.
I loved these thoughts from Karla Dorman:
The the main reason we celebrate the Fourth of July is – FREEDOM.
We are free to live our lives the way that we choose.
We are free to celebrate in the way we see fit.
We are free to believe the way we want to.
We are free to come and go.
We are free to say what we want, without fear.
We are free to spend our money the way we want.
Thank God for our freedoms. They are not to be taken lightly.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I count myself incredibly lucky to be able to have the freedoms and independence that I have today, with very little sacrifice on my part.
“They had nothing but their will, their dreams, and a yearning to be the masters of their own destinies. They started out with no allies, no supplies, no uniforms, and no leadership, and still they fought, and sacrificed, and died. They continued on when everything told them that their situation was hopeless, and yet the fire in their souls would not be quenched; they fought on. Men with no shoes, bloody feet, and very little to eat surviving through that brutal winter, and the next, and the next until one day they realized that they had won.” – source
I really don’t know if I could have done it. Can you even imagine the strength, determination and bravery that it would have taken to be one of the very few who fought that hard for ALL of us, knowing that none of the odds were in your favor?… and still today, all of the lives risked and even taken, to defend that same freedom for us?
Whether or not we agree with every political leader or decision that comes our way, I think that we should all at least try to remember how blessed we are to live in a country where we have Freedom.
Today I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for MY Freedom.
I’ve asked my sweet designer friend Amelia from Brighsides Designs if she’d be willing to make these adorable prints in her shop downloadable for us today, and she happily agreed! And because she’s increadibly generous, she also marked them down 50% for all of you. These prints are the perfect, last minute finishing touch to put along with your 4th of July displays today. Just simply purchase the file, and it will be sent to you within the hour, so you can print it and pop it into a frame; either for just today, or as a simple reminder year round.
8×10 Print: The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave
8×10 Print: Land that I Love
Happy 4th of July everyone!
Miranda @ Pressing On says
Happy 4th to you too! What a beautiful grouping of prints! I adore "The Land that I love" since it also has Alaska on it. โฅ
Girl In Beta says
"They had nothing but their will, their dreams, and a yearning to be the masters of their own destinies. They started out with no allies, no supplies, no uniforms, and no leadership, and still they fought, and sacrificed, and died. They continued on when everything told them that their situation was hopeless, and yet the fire in their souls would not be quenched; they fought on. Men with no shoes, bloody feet, and very little to eat surviving through that brutal winter, and the next, and the next until one day they realized that they had won."
Thanks for sharing that. They put it beautifully.
We take the liberties of this nation for granted far more liberally than we realize. And it's amazing, and incredibly humbling, when you think of what must have been required to establish this country.
Unfortunately, I think we're so divided these days, there's no way we could have accomplished this in a modern time. Which makes me even more grateful that this was a legacy left for us.
Happy fourth!
Maria M. says
Happy 4th to you! I hope you have a wonderful, beautiful day! ๐
Anonymous says
Happy Fourth of July!! We are lucky, aren't we, to have such freedom?!
I love your description of how our feeds were full of happy families preparing for the day…you're so right. makes me smile to think about it.
hope your day was great!
Alissa says
This was lovely and the prints are adorable! ๐
Susan says
Just catching up on my blog reading…how's the foot? I know how it feels to NOT be able to work out after you have been acing it. I had PF too last summer, and I use these now-
footsmart.com/P-Powerstep-Pinnacle-Maxx-pr-10736.aspx
Nike sneaks helped a lot too- vip.zappos.com/nike-air-relentless-black-white
I don't need the supports in the Nikes( YEA).
My daughter is a dancer, and she likes to use foam rollers to ease muscle issues-and sine FP is the result of shortened calf muscle issues, using a roller to help stretch your calf is a good thing. It really helps.
I had an knee injury-dog chased squirrel with me attached to leash while we were on a run; torqued it good-took three months to heal. I still went to my boot camp workouts, and just did whatever I could-I was so afraid of losing ground! So I get where you are coming from. Just do what you can-and if you can find a second hand recumbent bike, get one. I needed it for my knee, but I still use it while watching TV. Wow, this was a bit long, but hope that's ok-