Happy Independence Day!

I'm amazed...

There are only a few days a year here we can fly the American flag, but you can bet that on those days, many people go all out. I mean ALL OUT. Which seems fairly ordinary back home; here, it's a feat! I mean, you only get 2-3 days to display your patriotism with American-themed stuff. So they make it count, storing stuff, ordering things online, or picking things up at the only store here that sells American patriotic products.

I can honestly say that I didn't realize how much I enjoy that junk until I was told I couldn't do it on my terms. Imagine it like this... don't think about your shoes. Don't think about how they fit, their color, where you got them, or which outfit they match best. Don't! So... what are you thinking about? Exactly. I wasn't mad; I wasn't even surprised that I couldn't do it... just surprised at my reaction. All I thought about was how I'd decorate my house, hanging bunting and flag-related garb from anything that would stand still long enough.

Now, realistically, I don't decorate this way. I've no idea how to hang bunting, and though I've never bought any, I'm sure if I were to do so, my Sohlmate would make me remove it... he's a patriot, just not the overtly decorated, outdoor music-blaring type. But back home, I do have the freedom to do it in just about any way I choose.

Nonetheless, I find that Independence day means more to me this year than in years past. We in the states are so free to... whatever. We can dress, we can eat, we can think, we can say, we can print, we can decorate, we can... whatever, however, whenever (obviously within limits of our democratically determined laws).

What's even more interesting is that we've taken that freedom to a "whole 'nutha leevel," as Pastor Ed Young says. We are free to challenge each other on what we're free to do, and when we're free to do it.

I'm so thankful that there are so many who are committed to the idea of fighting for our freedoms that they sacrifice their family time, their individualism, and the idea most Americans have of independence, to defend ours. I'm thankful that I have the independence to decide for myself whom I think will do the best job of deciding what the right path is for our nation, and I'm thankful that person can be me (should I completely lose my mind) if I want to try. I'm grateful for the freedom to pray at anytime and any locale for those selected to choose the direction our country will go. I'm grateful for the ability to choose just about any thing I'd like to do - work or not; be in the military or not; go to school or not; have children - lots or a few - or not.

It's an amazing freedom we have, and I'm thankful that we have so many who willingly volunteer, many multiple times, to serve to protect, defend, educate, and heal our country.

Happy Independence Day! Celebrate how you'd like: it's a free country!