Freedom

The Decorator (The Princess) is sitting on the floor creating "Flag holders" for the table. Notice the bandannas on the backs of chairs, etc. Please ignore the boxes sitting on top of the fish tank. I didn't know they were there until I posted the picture. They are gone now. :)
My girl and me for a quick self portrait.
Notice the sweet homemade flag holders. She loves any holiday! She's a "Crafty" kind of kid!

After having been away from the kids for 6 days, we arrived home in the early morning hours of July fourth. We tried to skype some family members as was promised and when that didn't work...we went to bed...about 2:30AM. After sleeping in, we woke our sweet urchins and just loved on them. Because life over here is fairly random and we don't go to an organized church we didn't have it that morning. We took the kids out to eat for a late lunch and ice cream and back home to talk about the week.

I made us a Mexican food dinner (which is rare over here) with as many fixings as I could. We had our own patriotic worship service in our home. We sang every patriotic song we know as well as said the pledge of allegiance. We read 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and prayed together for our government leaders. It was a sweet time.

I've wondered if I will cry at the first sports game I attend when I am back in the states...not over the game...but when I hear the national anthem with my feet on the ground in that country. There was something very poignant about being purposeful to celebrate our national heritage while living in another country. We are living here by choice, but we are blessed to be Americans. We are reminded of it every day in life over here...in the eyes of those who are not FREE to choose for themselves.

But as proud as I am to be an American...I am even more proud, yet completely humbled, to be called a follower of Christ. That's the FREEDOM I cherish most. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE."