i’m proud to be an American

this morning i took Elijah to our local parade for the 4th of July celebration.
i got him all excited about the horses and the big trucks and floats and balloons and candy.
{but apparently throwing candy is now a liability so they didn’t have any, lame!}

i got him so excited for all the little features that when the soldiers and armed forces marched by i realized i was focusing on the wrong reasons to be excited about the 4th of July.
as the big tanks and men in uniform passed us, i knelt down next to Elijah and tried to explain who they were. i told him that they were the men and women that help us and fight for our freedom.
they were the ones who helped us be able to live the lives we have now.

i realized as i was talking to him that our lives are pretty easy compared to the men and women that have gone before us to pave the way.
because of them, my son can grow up to be whatever he wants to be.
because of them, i can write on this little blog.
because of them, we can worship and believe how we choose.
because of them, my family can live in peace.

i have always been so grateful to be an American.
but watching my son look at the soldiers and try to help him understand their importance magnified the incredible blessing that we have to be citizens of this nation.
i hope i can raise Elijah to be grateful for this country and to those who have sacrificed so much for us.
i hope he will always understand the privilege we have to live in this day and age.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
thank you to all who fight to protect our freedoms every day!