I'm Proud of America Everyday! Happy Birthday America!

If I had to, I could go back and name a hundred reasons for each day (I'm 64) that I am proud of America, not just once in awhile:

I'm proud of the young men and women who defend freedom for us everyday - away from their families and friends and away from the comfort and safety of their homes. A nation that instills responsibility in our men and women in the Armed Forces is a nation to be proud of everyday.

  Pat In the Hat!

  Giant Allium Firecracker

I'm proud of a land where we can work as independent agents - laying back when we need to and working hard when we don't - doing a job that makes us proud to be called Realtor.

I'm proud of all of us who get up everyday and go to a job to keep America moving.  We sometimes don't like the job yet something in our makeup makes us proud to do our jobs and do them well.

I'm proud of the men and women at the World Trade Center who carried quadriplegic, John Abrusso down 69 flights of stairs to safety.  All over America, there are neighbors helping neighbors - it's the American Way! 

I'm proud of the hundreds of men and women in Missouri and other states who have sandbagged millions of bags to help someone they don't even know protect their home from the floods.  I am proud of the American spirit that helps those go on who have lost homes and memories because of the floods.

I'm proud of the teachers who spend more time with our children and grandchildren than we do sometimes.  Yet theses same teachers have to spend as much time disciplining as they do teaching.  They shouldn't have to do the parent's job.  Thanks to the parents who do teach respect for teachers and school personnel, for the property of others and for themselves.  (I'm so proud of children with manners)!

I'm proud of my children, now grown who still check on Mom and Dad and help with the hard stuff.

I'm proud that I can go to church when I want and where I want.  Say a prayer for our troops.

I'm proud that America is a nation that values freedom and is willing to fight for it. Freedom isn't free as someone said - it is earned in the battles of the ages by men and women who valued it enough to ensure it for future generations.

  You have to name the capital before you can eat the state (jello USA)  My friend Marna makes it and is always the school teacher.

I celebrate freedom each and every day but I love the 4th of July and anyone who knows me gets the hint.  If you come to my house for the 36th annual 4th of July party, you might (will) have to wear a funny hat and have your picture taken, you will have to listen to patriotic music and be plied with patriotic sentiments.  You might have to applaud a giant firework that fizzles and tell my husband or my nephew Jerry or my neice Amber that it was great. You will have to see the flag that Amber (as a 6 year old) made for me by sawing a tree branch and coloring the stars and stipes on paper (I'm really proud of it).  You will also get to view the beautiful needlepoint picture that her Mom made too.  And my brother was a Marine so we're always proud of his service.

Guess what - it's a party with a theme and that theme is "God Bless America". 

So I celebrate freedom and America's birthday everyday.  You should too - enjoy the holiday with family and friends, stay safe if traveling the roads and remember that it is America's birthday.

Happy Birthday America!