Festooned for the Fourth!

Hello all!  I am heading out of town for the holiday weekend, but I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Independence Day!  

I've done it again!  I went a bit crazy with the holiday decor.  You'll have to check it out on my creative blog, Out of the Attic or click here.  Unfortunately I didn't put up my big outdoor bunting this year since we will be gone, and I only dare leave them up a few days in this bright sun or they will fade, because I just LOVE it when I have the buntings festooning the front of my house!  Next year.

I absolutely love this holiday!  It is one of my favorites, after Easter and Christmas.  I love this country, and I want to leave no doubt in my children's minds that I love this land, and consider myself a patriot- not just because I decorate to the hilt, and my house looks like a flag factory exploded in it, but because I am constantly talking about this land, its government, for good and bad, and how it should and needs to be here in America, the kinds of things they are just not teaching in our schools that are needed to build patriotism.  I am forever espousing to my children (usually in the car - since that is were we always are) what democracy is, and the beauties of a limited government and the free market system.  I consider this patriotic education of my children one of the sacred duties of being a mother!

Just yesterday I finished reading Glenn Beck's book, "Common Sense."  Wow!  It is very timely and eye opening, and a call for everyday folks who are feeling that nasty feeling in the pit of their stomachs whenever they think about what our government is doing to pay attention, stand up, and be heard.  Powerful stuff, and so right on!  Please pick up a copy and read it NOW!  It is cheap, very short, and enlightening (if it doesn't make you sick first).  I have a copy if you want to read it.  Independence day is the perfect time to read this.

I have decided that my next book will be "The 5000 Year Leap" by Cleon Sklousen.  My good friend Diana just read it and raved over it because it lays out exactly what we as a people need to be in order to keep our democracy alive and thriving.  It was also the book that Beck, in his book, said was a must-read for every American.

Included in Beck's book, is the entire pamphlet "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine.  I haven't read it since high school, and it is wonderful - truly inspired!  I have decided that I need to revisit the words of our founding fathers, and share their inspired words with my children.  Their battle was hard fought, and for US today.  We can't let what they gained at so great a cost, slip away and through our lack of diligence let the American Experiment fail.  It is SO important!

And after the hot dogs, and before the fireworks, I hope each of us will read the Declaration of Independence, Paine's "Common Sense", or any other words and documents of our founding fathers this 4th of July, and share these words with our families.  Let's give this day, and those great inspired patriots who pledged their lives and fortunes for this great cause almost 250 years ago the reverence and gratitude they deserve today, then take what has been given us and preserve it for our children, and their great-great grandchildren 250 years hence.  

Happy Independence Day!  And may God continue to bless and reign over this great land!