Happy Birthday America

It's our birthday today ... 234th to be exact!  This will be a day of celebrations of all kinds, all across this country.  East, west, north and south, in large cities and small towns, the citizens of our country will be celebrating this Day of Independence.

The flag is flying from the porch post.  On this day we fly a flag the represents the first one, sewn by Betsy Ross.  When our country celebrated it's 200th birthday, we found this flag and fly it proudly every 4th.  For me, it makes me think of the history of this day.  We wouldn't have this day to enjoy without the past.

So my hope it that everyone will have a wonderful, fun 4th of July.  Enjoy the day in your own special way.  I hope that everyone has a moment to pause and think of how lucky they are to be living in America. Take a little time to read or sing this song to yourself.  The words say so much ... it's America's birthday song.

O beautiful for spacious skies, 
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plains!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crowned thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And merely more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness
And very grain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crowned thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
America, truly is beautiful!  Take a few moments today to see it and feel it!