Happy 4th of July

Happy Fourth of July!!!!! As you enjoy this holiday today, I encourage you to fly the flag proudly and read the poem below carefully, thinking exactly what our flag really does stand for! Most of the time in this country, we take our liberty for granted. And --we seldom take time to stop and truly thank God for those Americans (past and present) who have worked hard and are still working hard for the freedoms that we enjoy.

Today, as we eat our traditional 4th of July meal (hot dogs, slaw, potato salad, and watermelon), I WILL take time to sit and look at our flag (which is pictured above--but obviously during the winter)---and I WILL pray for our soldiers and for our country in general. We all really do have so much to be thankful for. God Bless America--and God Bless YOU. Happy 4th!!!


I AM THE FLAG
by Lawrence M. Jones
I am a composite being of all the people of America.
I am the union if you are united.
I am one and indivisible if you are undivided.
I am as strong as the weakest link.
I am an emblem of your country.
I am a symbol of the shadow of the real.
I am a sign pointing to past achievments.
I am a promise of greater things for the future.
I am what you make me.
I am purity if you are pure.
I am bravery if you are brave.
I am loyalty if you are loyal.
I am honor if you are honorable.
I am goodness if you are good.
I am hope if you are hopeful.
I am truth if you are true.
I am the Constitution.
I am law and order.
I am tolerance or intolerance as you force me to be.
I am liberty as you understand liberty.
I am as a pillar of fire by night, but you must provide the fuel.
I march at the head of the column, but you must carry me on.
I stand for greater and more glorious achievement than can be found in recorded history, but you must be my inspiration.
I AM THE FLAG.




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In honor of AMERICA, I thought I'd show you a couple of Patriotic birds. The male House Finch and the male Cardinal enjoyed a meal together at my plate feeder. How appropriate on the birthday of America!!!!!


Have a wonderful holiday weekend. God Bless America!


Hugs to ALL,

P.S. Our Brown Thrasher babies have NOT fledged yet... I'm going to watch them carefully this weekend!!!! Wish me luck!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

About this time in 2007, George's sister gave us tickets (8 of us in the Adams' family) to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert in Nashville. WOW---what an incredible concert!!! I could have sat there and listened to them sing for hours and hours and hours. It was truly awesome, and brought back so many memories of my younger days singing in choirs like this one.


They sang one of my favorite songs, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." They even sang the exact same arrangement that I used to sing and that I love so much!!!! I was in heaven!!!! SO---on this day BEFORE the Fourth of July, I can't think of a better way to wish you a wonderful 4th --than to close this post with the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."


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"The Battle Hymn of The Republic"
Words by Julia Ward Howe and Music by Phillip Simonds


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword.
His truth is marching on.


CHORUS: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.


I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps.
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps.
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.
His day is marching on. (Repeat CHORUS)


ln the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea.
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free.
While God is marching on. (Repeat CHORUS)
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UPDATE: Mom and Dad Brown Thrasher are still feeding the babies constantly---back and forth ALL day long!!!! They won't let us anywhere near that Jasmine bush right now. See that delicious lunch in the Thrasher's mouth... Those babies are crying for THAT... Think I'd rather have a burger!!!!! We're going to be out-of-town today ALL day---so I'll bet the birds fledge while we're gone. Darn!!!!!


Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!!!! May God Bless You--and God Bless America!
Hugs,