Sunday, July 3, 2011

52 Blessings -- Living in America

Sometimes when I go to bed at night and after I've flipped on my right side with my hand tucked under my pillow and I'm good and comfortable, I think, "I'm so lucky I don't have to worry about a bomb dropping on our house tonight" or, "I'm so glad we don't have to worry about a slug of rebels breaking in and murdering us in our sleep."  I've never been in danger of bombs or thugs, so I'm not sure why I've singled out those two threats, but I think it's just that I'm unconsciously grateful to live where we do.  Now I haven't traveled the world extensively (I've been outside of our borders only five or six times) and I'm certain there are many wonderful places on Earth to live, but as for me and my house, I'm glad we have been able to live in America.

Ten things I love about America are:



Her heroes.
Her founders.
Her beautiful parks and lands (Glacier National Park)
Her interstate freeway system.
Her constitution.
Her ability to grow crops and produce manufactured goods.
Her resiliency.
Her incredible story.  (Counter-Clockwise:  Columbus, Pilgrim, Revolution, Sustaining the Modern Family)
Her people.  (I think this Human Statue of Liberty is very cool.  It took 18,000
men to create -- 12, 000 men in the flame alone.  It took Mole and Thomas
about a week to organize and shoot the picture.  First they nailed down miles of lace
edging into the outline and then on the day of the photo shoot they used a megaphone,
lots of body language, and a white flag stuck to a long pole to direct the ground
workers where to assemble the troops.  This picture was shot in July 1918 from
about 80 feet in the air.  Temperatures neared 105 degrees and, tightly squeezed
into these massive formation and dressed in woolen uniforms, many men fainted.)
Her freedoms.


 America has been a great blessing to many.  What are some things you love about America?

(I thought The FamilyFun website had this fun 4th of July drink idea:  Simply fill two ice cube trays with red and blue fruit-flavored beverages (such as Powerade, Gatorade, or Kool-Aid) and let the cubes freeze solid.  Then drop three or four colored ice cubes into each glass, pour in flavored seltzer water or clear soda and watch the special effects.  As the cubes melt, colored bubbles will swirl through the seltzer.)


7 comments:

Jill said...

I am thankful too and often after I say my prayer at night and get into bed think how thankful I am not to have any fear.

patsy said...

GREAT Post!
Yes- I love her too for all those reasons also. What a thrill it is to be an American- we are truly a blessed people!

Deanna/Mimi said...

This post was wonderful. You should be a writer of articles, books, essays, etc. You have a gift of saying the right words to get into our very souls. Thank you Jane. I love learning from you and also the fuel that you feed to me to make me think, remember and cherish. I love this great country that God made for blessings for His children.

Anonymous said...

How grateful we should be! Thanks for your always great posts! L&V

Clark perrins said...

we love it your bigger is good for you

Deidra said...

All sorts of fireworks are legal in Indiana. Last night as we came home from friends there were fireworks blasting all over the place. I stopped to think how it would be if that was the noise of war instead of merry-making. I'm so grateful for our security and peace.

michelle said...

Wonderful! I love all of those reasons. I've never seen that Statue of Liberty photo before - cool.

Now I want to try that drink.