Happy 4th

(after the Armed Forces Bowl--Brigham was barely 1)

I have always been a patriot. American History has always been my favorite subject in school. John and Abigail Adams have always been some of my favorite characters from history. 1776 has always been one of my favorite movies (I watch it yearly). And the 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.

But for a variety of reasons this 4th of July is hitting a little closer to home than others in the past. One of my most memorable 4th of July's was spent in London on a Study Abroad. It was a Sunday and I remember going the entire day not realizing we yankees had need for celebration--needless to say the locals don't talk about it much over there. Finally, at about 9 p.m. someone in a large group of us asked the date and you could almost visibly see the neurons flashing as someone replied, "It's the 4th of July." We cranked open the windows of the second story classroom and blasted patriotic carols for about an hour until we remembered we had already won the war and the Brits might just be mean enough to deport us before getting our fill of Cadbury chocolate if we didn't stop.

(signing airplane)

But as I said, for some reason it is hitting closer to home this year. Maybe because I have so many friends who willingly stand up and fight for our nation every day. Maybe it's because I have a husband of my own who puts on a uniform daily and stands with his fellow airmen. Maybe it's because I have a lot of friends who are celebrating the 4th of July this year without their loved ones by their side. It is all of these things that fill my heart with pride this year--but not the "I am so cool" pride--the "other people are so cool" pride.

I often joke that if I would have known what it meant to be a military wife before I got married I would have thought twice about this cute cadet in his Air Force blues. If I knew about all of the sacrifices my husband and my family would make in behalf of our country maybe I would have backed away from the greatest privilege and opportunity of my life.

(Four Fans of Freedom)

I am grateful for the chance my family has to serve our great nation. I am grateful and amazed at the friends I have met along the way who are likewise freely giving of themselves for the greater good. I am grateful to feel like I can take my place with Abigail Adams and so many others in sharing with this great nation my greatest love--my husband.

God bless the U.S.A. and Happy 4th of July.

Miss you bgb.