"Common Ground": my little corner of the blogosphere where I talk (a lot-wink) about the things that matter most to me: My relationship with my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, homeschooling, adoption, homemaking, parenting, "spousing." (yeah, yeah....I know that's not a word.....I made it up-it’s my blog-I can do things like that! Ha!)

Since my life isn’t all that different from yours, hopefully we can find some COMMON GROUND & learn from each other. Please share your thoughts!

Through the Lords’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness!
Lam. 3: 22 & 23

Click on pics to see us up close & personal! :)


Wednesday, July 9, 2008

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 & bright stars,
Through 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!

Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave….
O’er the land of the free,
And the home of the brave?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You know……for some reason, this Fourth of July meant more to me than any other one I have celebrated.

& I think I know why.

We have worked REALLY hard to bring 2 children home, make them ours, & make them UNITED STATES citizens.

(last year, over the 4th, we camped at Yellowstone, so we didn’t really celebrate)

But, having been in a foreign country now 4 times, for a total of a month & a half….

we have seen how privileged we are to be United States citizens.

~When we visited the US Embassy, & were seen the day we show up
(unlike many of the Guatemalans who stand in line day
after day to deal with US government officials -
let alone getting anything done from THEIR government).

~We have fairly safe streets to drive on, & people generally follow the rules of the road here (I said “generally” HA!!)

~We are treated with respect at foreign airports, especially when flashing a US passport.

~We are much richer, even as middle-class citizens.

~We live safer lives in the US. Gangs, crime & disease…..running rampant in Guatemala.

~Healthcare here (while it has it’s problems) is much more universal……& available.

~We have a much cleaner environment. Air, water, & food-three things I can think of.

Anyway…….I’m sure there are more privileges that being an American provides.


Can you add to my list?

(& to think that our children, by God’s incredible grace-are growing up here, instead of there! Oh, how privileged we feel to be a part of THIS miracle!)

Please pray for this country so close to our hearts.



“And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I’ll gladly stand up
Next to you & defend Her still today.
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land!
GOD BLESS THE USA!!!”

& finally, in closing…..thanks you to all of you who serve/
have served in the military of this great nation.
We are proud of you & are so thankful to you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We spent the day at a living history farm, Rock Ledge Ranch,
with my sister, her hubby & boys.
The slide show:



17 comments:

Tina said...

Looks like you had a great time. Those are some beautiful kiddos you have and dressed so patriotically. :)

jenica said...

You are right. I'm so thankful to be an American! Freedom is a great privilege, especially religious freedom. (There's an addition.) And as citizens, we can only give credit to God's blessing, so really we are humbled and proud at the same time.

Kim & Dave said...

Thanks, Tina!

& Jenica-religous freedom is right! & it is only by God's blessing that we ended up as citizens of this nation, & as you say, that is humbling that He would choose us to live here!

Anna said...

Hi Kim,
Loved your slide show! Liked the ones when all 3 kids were lying on the ground.
It looks like you've had a wonderful weekend.

I feel the same as you about Australia. We are really SO blessed and fortunate in our countries to have the security, freedoms and luxuries that we do.

Take care,
Anna

Jules said...

I have not been out of the country (except to Niagara Falls Canada as a child) but I'm still thankful to be American. I love the words to the Star Spangled Banner. Thanks for printing them!! :)

Your pictures are sooo precious! I thought I'd tell you such & such one was my fav and then another one yanked my heart. ;) Darling!!

Kim & Dave said...

Anna-any democratic country with religous freedom is SUCH a blessing. You are right. Just as a cute aside, Ana used to call your country "Aussestralia" :-)

Joyce-thanks for your sweet comment on my kiddos. FINALLY we got some decent ones of all of them.

Hannah said...

Great pictures. I love the ones of the kids laying in the grass. Too cute.

I totally understand how you feel. With each adoption (Russian and Guat) we have felt a deeper love of our country. I love the countries that were my children's first homes but nothing compares to America.

Hannah

Anonymous said...

I thank God everyday that im a American! we are truly blessed!

Your children at sooo adorable!!! Thank you for posting that strong message about American! AMEN!

Blessings,Leslie

MICHELLE said...

YOUR KIDDOS LOOK SO CUTE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD A GREAT TIME, LOVE THE SLIDE SHOW. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Kim & Dave said...

Hannah-I think once you travel to another country, you feel so blessed to be an American! Blessed & humbled. Why me, you know?

Leslie-I love my country. I think part of the reason is my hubby & my brother & a lot of GOOD friends are/have been in the military!

Rebekah said...

GREAT Post and very true ... there is no other lace I'd rather live and I have no desire to ever leave either ... God Bless America. Love your pictures too and hope your weekend is wonderful!

Rebekah, Jaden & Baby#2 TOO!

Dena said...

Perfect! I think sometimes people forget! When I drive myself to a store I own and don't have to worry about car bombs or floggings I say GOD BLESS THE USA!

Sarah said...

Kim... I love your post and of course the pictures of your beautiful family together! You are so right about how lucky we are to be US citizens!

Stacey and Dewey said...

What a beautiful post!! You know when we landed in the U.S after our two months in Kaz we both cried. It was amazing to be back on American soil.
It looks like you had the erfect fourth.
Have a great weekend!
Stacey

Becca said...

Love this post! Have a great weekend!

Peace and Hugs,
Becca

JuJu - said...

really cool pics and gorgeous family:)

Anonymous said...

For Chad's annual birthday trip, I took him to San Diego, which included his actual birthday in Tijuana. (No debauchery for us.)

Chad can now appreciate the effect the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't have in Mexico. The ramps there were clogged with market vendors, and were a little steeper than normal.

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