God Bless This Great Nation

I love this time of year... it's great to reflect on the blessing it is to live where we do.  It makes me sad to see and hear so many things that make our country less than it used to be, but over all, we are very blessed and I'm grateful for it.  

Obviously, the thing I'm most thankful for in life is my family... these sweet kids of mine.  There are a lot of things I could do without in life, even though I wouldn't want to.  I've wondered a time or two if our family would ever find themselves without the freedoms we enjoy now and I've decided if that was how it had to be, we could survive.  But I would never want to make due without my kiddos.  

I'm often reminded of what a daunting task I have ahead of me to teach and guide them so they grow up to be intelligent, caring, unselfish adults.  When I think of the issues in government or society in general, I worry even more.  But if nothing else I will try my best to teach them the value of a free country that was founded on the concept of liberty and faith in God.  Here are a few quotes on the matter that spoke to me and a few pictures of my darling children.

"The heart of patriotism lies in attitudes that are rooted in family relationships, for the family unit undergoes most of the stresses which test the larger societies that make up a nation.  The qualities that distinguish patriotism are all of the "homely" variety: respect, integrity, loyalty, self-sacrifice, considerations, fairness, appreciation, and devotion.  No exhortation to respect his country's flag can mean much to the youngster whose casual, permissive upbringing has left him with little respect for anything.  And the child who equates freedom with indulgence may never understand the consideration for others that is fundamental to a workable democracy."

-Robert K. Thomas & Shirley Wilkes Thomas
(you can find the entire article here)

"Freedom is not something that anybody can be given.  Freedom is something people take, and people are as free as they want to be."

-James Baldwin

 "What light is to the eyes, what air is to the lungs, what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of men."

-Robert Green Ingersoll

"Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom."

-John Adams

"Someday, the realm of liberty and justice will encompass the planet.  Freedom is not just the birthright of the few, it is the God-given right of all His children, in every country.  It won't come by conquest.  It will come, because freedom is right and freedom works.  It will come, because cooperation and good will among free people will carry the day."

-Ronald Reagan

God bless the USA and God bless these little ones.  Our future needs them to be strong and bright.