God Bless America.

Steve is sleeping on the couch. Taking a nice Sunday nap. I hear thunder...dang. I really wanted to go on our weekly Sunday walk together.

I just wanted to write a few things about our young women lesson today. Robin taught today about the importance of keeping the laws of the land. It was an AMAZING lesson. The spirit was super strong and it just reminded me of how lucky I am to be able to live in America. To have my freedom. Freedom really isn't free though. It cost the lives of so many brave young men. How lucky are we to be able to stand and be proud as we say the pledge of allegiance. God has always had a hand in everything. Our founding fathers, even though the gospel wasn't on the earth at the time still prayed and asked for help. It was in God that they trusted. I really am so grateful to our founding fathers, the brave young men and women who fought for us and who are still fighting and for my father in heaven for this great country that I'm able to live in. That I have the freedom to choose to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

This lesson really hit me. It's not too often that I remember how lucky I am, and how really blessed Steve and I are.

Robin and Camille (one of the little beehives, and her daughter) had the opportunity of traveling to DC for Cami's school. They were able to see and hear so many amazing stories.

I want to go there someday. Steve does too.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I know that every time I see a flag now, I'm going to stand a little prouder.