::cluck cluck::

Until last weekend, I had no idea that chickens ate watermelon.

Guess what?

They do.

 

The Flag Still Stands for Freedom

What did Independence Day mean for you this year?

We hung out with our family, watched a parade, walked around a small town, and baked in the sun.

The day progressed with lots of food, homemade ice cream, laughter, and a healthy dose of noise...'cuz there's a lot of us and we're good like that.

So about this parade we went to....it was a small-town parade filled with more tractors than I’d even seen together in one spot, but it had one particular moment that I can’t get out of my head.  

I heard clapping start down the street, but I didn’t know what it was for…not for the big green tractor, surely.  

Finally I saw a truck coming, pulling three large trailers, each filled with several rows of chairs.

On these chairs sat war veterans; some old, some appearing younger than myself.  

The applause got louder as the truck slowly wheeled its way toward our portion of the street.   When I finally saw who was on the trailers, I joined in the applause that was erupting all around me.  

These men, clothed in full uniform, sat proudly as they passed us by.  They were proud to have served their country; proud to be called Americans.   The very last trailer held a casket, draped with a flag, guarded by two soldiers.  Above it hung a sign that read “Freedom isn’t free.”  

Lest we forget that, amidst our bowls of potato salad and mounds of watermelon.  

Those solders had come home from war, but so many haven’t.  They’ll never forget about the ones who didn’t, but most of us I’m sure quickly do.  

Behind them came a car that had one of my favorite songs blaring from its speakers:

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me. 

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

You will never know what it cost my generation to preserve your freedom.  I hope you will make good use of it. – John Quincy Adams

Sweet Land of Liberty

Today isn't just about the Freedom we have.

It's about remembering how we got it.

The price that was paid for it.

And thanking our great and merciful GOD who has allowed us to have it.

May God continue to shed His grace on us, as undeserving as we are as a nation.

Happy Independence Day