Independance Day

Hi Everyone,
I know I have been a total blogging lame-o, but I do have a couple of good excuses: 1) I haven't really had access to the internet, but never fear, that will all change on the 14th of July (then you will be sick of me!) when we move over to ASU's Polytechnic Campus Family Housing and 2)After Jon graduated, he immediately started studying for the bar - so we have been kind of boring since bar studying is all-consuming. Don't worry world, I promise we will come back.....just 28 more days!!!

But I am not going to talk about all of the stuff I have been doing lately (mainly keeping up with "The Bachelorette" - does anyone else think that Kasey had a screw lose?? - and "So You Think You Can Dance") and instead talk about Independence Day and this great country.

I have always considered myself to be pretty patriotic. I have had incredible examples of real patriots who have sacrificed in one way or another to preserve our countries' freedoms and liberties. I have always proudly stood for the National Anthem and put my hand over my heart for the pledge. I have always loved America.

But I think that this past year in particular I have grown a whole new respect and deep love for America and what it stands for. As some of you already know, I am a self-proclaimed politics junkie lately. I love watching the news and listening to political radio. I, of course, have my own firm opinions on things and tend to lean towards certain analysts more than others - but I really just like knowing what is going on in the world and, more particularly, in our country. I feel like this in depth knowledge and extra-curricular study of current events, and the founders of this country, and the history of the great men and women who have given their lives for it, as well as learning more about the constitution and what an inspired document it really is has given me a whole new outlook on what it means to be a true patriot.

I have so much more to learn and study - and I am so excited to dive right in - but I can say that I love my country. I am so proud of what it stands for. I am so proud to say that I am an American. I consider it to be more than just where I live, I consider it to be my nationality, my race. This country is in my heart.

How can I put into words how grateful I am to my family members and your family members who have fought for my freedom to worship how I want, to marry who I want, to have this blog and say what I want on it? There are no words.

Now when I stand for the National Anthem or put my hand over my heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, I stand a little straighter and listen a little closer.

On this Independence Day, let's not get so caught up in the parades and the barbecues and the fireworks that we forget to remember what the day is really about.

God Bless America!