About Freedom......

Happy Independence Day! I won't go on and on about the Fourth of July like I would like to......Let me just say that I have had the privilege of spending two Independce Day holidays outside the United States in places that wanted freedom desperately. I always have been a proud American, but those experiences gave me tremendous gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy! I am grateful today for the fact that our freedom as Americans is protected by so many volunteers all over the world, and as I write this there are many thousands who are putting themselves in harm's way to give me the opportunity to thank them. I'll bet those rag tag rebels who gathered together to sign and send the Declaration of Independence 232 years ago had no conception of how they would affect the rest of world history.

Freedom is not free.....I am also grateful today for the Savior who gave His precious life to allow me to be free from sin and death, and free to live in His grace every moment of every day. As I am free, I am also reminded that I am bought and paid for with a price. Praise God for His tender mercies which are new every morning.

Okay, enough preaching. Our July 4th dawned with a gray sky and thunderstorms, which are very welcome here. We are having another very dry summer. We are looking forward to a fun day filled with family and food and hopefully some fireworks! Dabby and Grammy, aka Dad and Karen Stokes, will be here some time this afternoon, and Grandpa and Grandma, aka Mom and Dad Capps are coming over for the afternoon and a cookout. We're excited about having a fun day together!

Now about the photos.....last night we took the girls to the park for the community celebration in Hendersonville. We walked around lots of people and had a good time together. Laura and Mommy got to Bungy jump together. Too bad Kevin was giving the baby a bottle and couldn't document Mommy harnessed and flying through the air. :) I did that on my 31st birthday at Fisherman's Wharf in San Fransisco. My mom got it on film and I looked pretty dorky. But, nonetheless, I decided that 39 wasn't too old to Bungy jump just one more time. I can still flip both directions, although I think that will be the last time. Laura did great and had a fun time jumping. She wasn't ready to flip yet although she tried. We were not going to stay for the fireworks because Laura doesn't like the booms and we were afraid the noise would send Lindy Grace into orbit. But we wound up staying longer and caught the fireworks on the way out. I covered Lindy's ears to keep her from the full blast of the booms, and she cried anyway. So I took my hand off her ear for a moment and she quit crying and went to sleep! And as you can see, Laura thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks display. So we're going to try the fireworks in Gallatin tonight. I'll let you know how it goes! Enjoy a happy day with family and friends on this day celebrating our precious freedom!