red, white and blue

 smoothies and carrots on the front porch.  

in favorite summer sandals.

 

neighborhood breakfast and parade.

and of course,

fireworks.

But, you know what my very favorite part of the weekend was?  (well, besides having the Mr. home for an extra day...)  It was singing America the Beautiful with the congregation at our Sunday worship services.  Have you sung it lately?  I mean, really sung it?  You know, paying attention to the message, and surrounded with people you love?  I did on Sunday.  And the lyrics struck my soul so profoundly that tears welled up in my eyes and ran down my cheeks.  The third and fourth verses get me every time.  

Heroes proved.  Liberating strife.  More than self their country loved.  Mercy more than life.

Patriot dream.  Sees beyond the years.  Alabaster cities gleamed.  Undimmed by human tears.

Some of the most beautiful words ever penned.  And lived.    

I love this country of ours.  And I love the men and women who stood up so many, many years ago, and fought for what they believed in.  It was just an idea back then.  And now, it's a grand nation, noble and strong and free.  And I am blessed to be a part of it.  

So very blessed.

O beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet 
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat 
Across the wilderness! 
America! America! 
God mend thine every flaw, 
Confirm thy soul in self-control, 
Thy liberty in law!  

O beautiful for heroes proved 
In liberating strife. 
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life! 
America! America! 
May God thy gold refine 
Till all success be nobleness 
And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 
That sees beyond the years 
Thine alabaster cities gleam 
Undimmed by human tears! 
America! America! 
God shed his grace on thee 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea!