I’m pretty busy today, as likely most of you are, so let’s keep today’s topic easy and non-controversial, eh? What are your family plans for the 4th of July? And tell me, why are you proud to be an American? If you don’t happen to be American, feel free to tell us what you love about your home country.
We just celebrated Canada Day. I love Canada for so many reasons – it’s a wonderful part of the world that God created. We are a funny people, who love to laugh at ourselves as much as about each other. We embrace our cultures and appreciate where we come from. Sure, we have our differences, we don’t always agree. Canadians are a family. We take care of each other.
That’s why I am Canadian – to quote a popular commercial. 😉
"I am 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…so, I will gladly stand up…"
Know that song?
Every word of it is the reason I am proud to be an American! Happy 4th of July my dear friends!
Thank you GOD for my gift of faith that I can choose to follow you and not be ashamed or in fear.
We will be hittin the town Parade!!! yay! then the good ol’ AMerican Cook out at the in-laws. Fishing and talking and meeting new babies that God has blessed our family with. We are so thankful.
Happy 4th!
Considering that we are in an unseasonable torrential rain cycle here in Texas, I doubt we’ll be doing much at all tomorrow! If the weather clears up by evening, we’re in luck–we can see fireworks from our family room, which is great, especially when we have normal summer temperatures.
There are many things I love about being an American, but there’s one in particular I’d like to focus on right now: freedom of speech.
This freedom has come under attack recently, with everything from limits on free speech around abortion clinics to the passage of hate crimes legislation which even its supporters admit has the potential to have a chilling effect on free speech. But freedom of speech means that we welcome and allow even that speech which we find distasteful or with which we disagree, and many of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are bolstered by our freedom of speech.
We are traveling two hours North tomorrow morning to have a bbq with my three sisters and their families so the cousins can play marco polo in the pool and no doubt have dunking wars, gorge on watermelon and root beer floats, pick at their burgers and potato salad, run themselves silly, squeel in high pitch tones over sparklers, roman candles and such, lay on quilts and watch the fireworks show after dark, all together.
Then, more than likely, the drive back home will consist of sleeping children in the back of the suburban and dh and I sharing the last of the root beer and chatting quietly up front, and listening to the radio.
I am proud to be an American because despite our problems "it is still the greatest country in the world"
Tomorrow will be a day of celebration in our Home town
Fourth of July Splash!!!Finishing with Fireworks at dusk!
Planned BBQ a traditon with the four of us..
I’m proud to be an American my hubby served Twenty years
in The US Air Force serving in Desert Shield ,Desert Storm
in 91. We retired two years ago. I love this country and it’s freedom we have I’m thankful for the men and women who serve her. I hope they’ll be safe in God care as we here at home as we celebrate our country birthday!
Hello from China! Today is a day I really miss being back in the U.S. If we were there we would be where we are every year, in the Outer Banks, sitting on the beach for a good part of the day and then at 9 pm sitting up at the Wright Memorial to watch the fireworks.
There are many reasons to be proud to be an American. Somedays for me it just takes having to walk around kids going to the bathroom in the streets here.
My brother and his wife are visiting from out-of-state. We haven’t seen them in almost a year, so they will get to see how our children have grown, and see the baby (who is already 9 months old) for the first time! Our families are friends, so my parents, my sister-in-law’s family, and my family will all be getting together for some BBQ ribs and boating on the lake.
Why am I proud to be an American? Well, my pastor made me think about that last week. He was not the celebrant at the Sunday Mass I attended, but happened to be coming into the church during Communion. He stopped some of the people who were trying to leave early (you know, just walk right out the door after receiving our Lord) and chastised them. He reminded them that there are people in other countries who risk their lives to go to Mass, and here they are just flippantly receiving our Lord and waltzing out the door to something more important! It made me think about how blessed I am to worship Jesus Christ and be a part of His Church in plain sight of everyone without fearing for my safety. We are blessed indeed. PS- no, I wasn’t leaving early! I had the fussy baby out in the vestibule and overheard Father.
I will be driving down a Maine peninsula to the annual cookout and mixed couples croquet match at a friend’s house. Hubby and I ALMOST won last year–but I got cocky and was toasted by an older couple. Mass will be inthe field at noon. The DH of host family, a historic novel writter and Revolutionary War reinactor, will read the Declaration to us all–with all of us hissing at each mention of King George–and BIG "Huzza!"’s at " We declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States."
I’m proud to be American because even though China grooms athletes from early childhood, we clean-up at the Olympics!
For Sarah L.
Q. Who was the first person to leave Mass early?
A. Judas.
We will be lounging in the morning, and then plan to join friends on top of Mercy hospital’s parking ramp to tail gate until the fireworks. It is crazy, but people start parking their cars a day in advance to get a spot downtown just to see the fireworks over Cedar River.
I am proud to be an American because I can read my Bible and go to Mass freely. I know how very blessed we are for that gift. I can also have children as God decides to bless us with them. For that I am MOST thankful.
We will be running around in the morning picking up last minute supplies before our DAILY DRENCHING occurs. I plan on making homemade fried chicken, potato salad and a traditional dessert around our house called "Berries and Stars". The only fireworks we expect to see will be the ones the kids make to decorate with.
I agree with anonymous below… Lee Greenwood said it best!
We are blessed in the U.S. because although our Nation spews evil on a daily basis, we still have the freedom to try and change what is wrong. We can vote, protest, pray, call senators/congressmen, campaign for someone, pass out flyers, go door to door, have bumper stickers, blog, e-mail….on and on. Now THAT is awesome!
God bless our soldiers and their families today and everyday!
We live right outside of Washington D.C., in Northern Virginia. So, we like go see the Washington Nationals play baseball, a good all American thing to do on the 4th!
We live in the UK (near London) right now and really miss being in America. I am proud to be an American when I see how the politicos and pundits cowtow to the Terrorists in this country…though some in the US do, most do not. If it weren’t for podcasts from folks like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Medved we would go nuts.
To celebrate, we are painting American flags and making an American flag cake. I tried to download patriotic tunes to my ipod but am having trouble bypassing the UK ITunes store. Otherwise I would be blasting Lee Greenwood right now!
God bless America!
Our son, Ryan, is an Army Captain, serving in Germany. He completed a 12 month stint in Baghdad. He is an inspiration to all of us, and we are so proud of him! My heart breaks because he is so far away, and he and his wife of only three years split up, because she has lots of mental health issues. But we are thankful that he is safe and I hurt for those who lost loved ones in this awful war. God bless America!
Well, my husband has to work today, so we aren’t quite having the 4th of July I would have liked. The baby and I are spending a quiet day at home together. Her first birthday is Friday and all the family will be here Saturday to celebrate with a good old-fashioned hamburger cookout and some birthday cake. Local blueberries are in season so we’ll be enjoying some blueberry treats as well.
But all will not be lost today, if our baby girl is up for it, my husband should be home in time to see the fireworks.
Wow, this subject brings tears to my eyes. I can still feel so deeply the pain I felt as I watched my husband board a plane as he went off to war. I can still remember so vividly the empty chair at our table every night for every meal, the empty spot at birthday celebrations for our children, and all he missed, and all we missed of him while he was away. And I can still remember the prayers our 8 children pleading with our dear Lord to let their daddy come home to us. I am very proud to be an American. I am very proud of my husband who serverd honorably and was awarded 2 bronze stars among other awards for heroic actions in combat. Please remember to pray for our soldiers still fighting for our country and please also remember to pray for the families waiting at home for their safe return. Oh yeah, and enjoy the 4th, of course!!!
Today’s celebration began with an annual community footrace. The kids ages 5 and 8 competed for ribbons and the baby even took a stab at the crawling race. Then the family competed together in a 2 mile walk/run as a team, aptly named by my son, Team Chaos!!
Now at home for naps and showers, we are baking cookies to bring to the town fireworks celebration.
My American pride beams on days like today. Thank you God. Thank you for the little things in life, like neighbors and friends and picnic blankets and chocolate chip cookies
We are on vacation at the beach. So, we spent the cloudy, rainy 4th just relaxing, doing some window shopping and cooking a nice meal on the grill. Then the fireworks began! We walked up to the ocean to watch all the beatiful fireworks! That lasted about 45 minutes, till we were rained out LOL. All in all it was a good day! We love spending the 4th at the beach!