Celebrate Your Right To Love on the 4th of July!

Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  Independence day for the USA.  I am proud to be an American (most of the time).  Many of my family members are military and I am thankful of what they have done for our country.  I don't always agree with our government or our military.  I think it is run by a bunch of schmucks for the the most part.  I do believe that as a member of this country it is my responsibility to take upon myself to see change happen.  It is my freedom to do so.  My right to make a difference. 

Many people think that they are free to do whatever they want or have this right or that.  However, they want to do nothing for it in return.  They want clean air but drive an SUV.  They want freedom to practice their religion but disrespect other religions.  We want all these rights but without doing anything to get it.


We are free but not truly.  We are in fact slaves to our own wants and desires.  As Americans we want the biggest car, the fanciest house, the largest soda, the newest electronic.  We desire to be number one at everything we do.  Our clothes must be the nicest.  Our children the smartest and most talented.  Even our tv shows reflect the slavery we hold ourselves to.  The Real Housewives, really?  Fake women being paid money they aren't worth to spend money they don't care about on crap they don't need.  But its their right. Their freedom.


Freedom used to be about the right to happiness.  To be free of dictatorship.  The right to practice your own religion without persecution.  The right to love someone of a different nationality or race.  Now we fight to be able to love someone of the same sex.  We fight so we can be able to love.  Is our country messed up or what?  We fought so that anybody could sit at the lunch counter or anywhere on the bus that they chose.  That is what Independence Day is about.

Yes, we are free to want what makes us happy.  The "American" dream.  I am an American and this is what I dream of: I dream of a country, no a world, where my children will know love.  A love that is not decided by color, nationality, money, sex, fame, education but by the person as an individual.  As a human being deserves to be loved.  I dream that our freedoms will not ruin our world with our love of excess.  I dream that our happiness will not be based on what we have but who we love and the love they return to us.  That is what freedom is about.  Not the right to bear arms.  Not the right to freedom of speech.  The right to love.  The most important freedom we have.  This is what we should be fighting for.  Without love we are just slaves to what we think are our rights.

I Have a Dream...

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The kiddos are out of school and the hubby is off of work. He works at the post office which of course is closed for this holiday. Its a day that is added to the weekend allowing for short little trips for the family or a day to just sit back and relax. But it is so much more than that.

I grew up right outside of St.Louis, MO. You could see the Gateway Arch from my back yard. Our community was very diverse since we lived outside a big city. There were people of many cultures. My parents taught me at a very early age to treat everyone with respect. It doesn't matter what a person looks like or what their religion is, you respect them.

Even though my parents wanted us to be accepting of all races, my dad was pretty adamant that we (my sisters and I) were not to date anyone of a different race. Of course we did not understand. My dad grew up in Alabama. He knew and understood the difficulties an interracial relationship can bring. Back then I thought my dad was close-minded. Now as a parent myself, I see that he was just looking out for us.

My dad's view has changed since then. My youngest sister is in a relationship with a man blacker than night itself. They have a beautiful son together. I am so happy for them.

I apologize to anyone that is offended to the remark above. "blacker than night itself". We are all different colors. I would glow if it weren't for the insane amount of freckles counteracting against the effect of my very white skin. Apparently the Native American part of me is buried beneath the Irish.

The point of this post is to share with our children that we all are different. Right now my family lives in a small mid-western town that is not very diverse. But I think because of the books they read,the shows on t.v.,and of course their darling cousin, they get to see that not everyone looks like they do.

My dream is that my children will grow up to live in a world where everyone is treated the same. It is a big dream, I know. But it starts with me and what I teach my children. Then they share it with their friends. When they grow up to be parents they will teach their children the same. Its like a snowball. It starts off real small. Then as it rolls it gets bigger and bigger.

Help me make the snowball bigger. Begin with yourself. Then your family. Let's make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream a reality.

PS: Discrimination isn't just about race. It includes religion, political views, gender, sexual preferences, income, what we wear and so much more. God created everyone in his image and by his love. Don't we all deserve respect and love from one another.

My husband...

Oh what to say about my husband? At the moment he is driving me crazy. I probably shouldn't be writing right now about him. But since he was picking on me I am allowed to write whatever I want.

My husband and I met about 12 years ago at a summer camp. It was not love at first sight. He was dressed up as backwoods hobo with his teeth blacked out for our staff auction. He was crazy. Still is.

That summer I worked in the office. It was air conditioned so I had lots of visitors. He would come in constantly singing some silly song. Then when he would leave I would be singing the song. That is how it started. In all honesty he has been annoying before we were even dating.

Once we were "dating" (as if one can date while at a summer camp)we fell in love. I knew in my heart that he was the one. That November we moved in together and were engaged. The following June we were married. In July we were pregnant. We move fast, I know! Then in April of 2000 we welcomed our first child, a daughter.

Almost eleven years later we are still happily married. I know compared to other marriages it really isn't that long. But when you look around and couples are splitting up and getting divorced, eleven years seems like something to celebrate.

We have had our ups and downs. We have moved 4 times since we were married. Our jobs have changed. Our finances have changed. But our love has stayed the same.

He is my best friend. No one makes me laugh like he can. Even when I am extremely mad, he makes me laugh. Which makes me madder because its not fair. He will sit with me through scary movies. I love scary movies. But after the movie I am a pain in the rear end because I am so jumpy. He puts up with it.

My husband is my rock. When my mother passed away unexpectedly he was there to hold me up. We had two very young children when she passed. My concern was to take care of them, my dad and my sisters. My husband took care of me. Even to this day when I unexpectedly get torn up about the loss of my mother, he will hold me close and tell me everything is alright.

He supports me. He may not show it all the time but he knows that I want to reach certain goals in my life. Going to school has put a bit of a hardship on my family. It costs money. But in the long run it will help us more financially and I will be happy with a career that I love. He gets that.

My husband accuses me of false advertisement. When we lived at the camp I would do laundry. I was little Miss Suzie Homemaker. He accuses me of fraud now. I tell him that a girl has to do what a girl has to do to get her man. Plus, he did the same. Buying roses and candy. I can't tell you when the last time was that I got roses. He tells me he was just trying to get lucky. Well he did. You can't get any luckier with a catch like me!!

Even now as I sit at the kitchen table writing this he is picking on me. He knows I love to write. I was trying to decide what I wanted to share this evening. Since he was bugging me I decided to share about him.

I wish that every woman could be blessed with a husband like mine. I know some of you that know him might not see. But that's ok, because I do. And that is all that matters. Plus he is a great cook. I think I will keep him. At least for another eleven years!