May the "Fourth" be with you!

This picture wasn't from the 4th of July... A few months ago, Bella and I went out to cheer for the injured veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who were cycling through town on bikes or modified wheelchairs (not sure what they are called). It was sobering to see them, the real people who have been making the sacrifices to enable us, and others around the world to live in and strive for peace.

Many of them were double or single amputees, many of them suffered wounds that could not be seen, but were buried below the surface. They were touched that we came out to cheer for them and say thank you ... even though "thank you" always seems painfully inadequate. They gave us high fives, and thumbs up, on their way. They said "Thank you" to us as they rode on by... it seemed really funny to me that THEY would be telling us Thank you. They had miles yet to ride, but we all knew their journeys were very far from over.

America, I love you! I feel so blessed to have called you My Country all my life. I am reminded again and again, that "Freedom is not Free." Thank you to all the people who are serving our country, and their families. Your sacrifices are unspeakable.

This is the only decent picture that came out of the 4th of July weekend... This little girl has Shane wrapped around her finger.

I hope your fourth was happy and safe.