Smiles, Cheers and an Occasional Song

I have been so excited about posting this week and have had some technical difficulties to deal with online. Just as I was thinking that I would have to start a new blog, suddenly everything works again. So, I guess the Internet gremlins have finally left me be and I'm free to share my thoughts with my readers once again. Thank goodness!

I had a rather odd but relaxing 4Th of July this year. Odd because it was lacking a group gathering or traditional picnic our family always had in the past. Relaxing because we worked in our wonderful veggie garden as a family, digging in the dirt, setting up hot wire to keep out bunnies, woodchucks and deer. As a reward for working so hard, we then went across the road to the Crow River to fish as a family. I guess it really was a celebration of sorts, just different.

It was relaxing to watch the hypnotic river current pass by while watching an occasional carp leap out of the water in front of us. Gosh does that ever get your heart racing!

We saw leopard frogs sitting on the bank below and Hunter was feeding them bits of night-crawlers. It was actually quite entertaining wondering which frog would get the their favorite food first. It was a simple day and it was so relaxing. A moment in time where all cares and worries ebbed away from each of us and were replaced with smiles, cheers and an occasional song.

The cheers happened when I caught the first and second catch of the day! I barely landed the second one by myself.

It was simply a wonderful day. It was a celebration of freedom from monotony and stress. It was also a celebration of our most precious family.

We are truly blessed as a family, to live in this free country where we can worship and love and play without fear. Though recently the family has been under attack and it concerns me deeply. Having raised four wonderful sons, I know how important it is to have a mother and father figure in their lives. I do realize that is not always possible in some families. But they must do their best in these trying times we live in.

Recently our church who remains aloof when it comes to politics, has made a statement concerning same sex marriage. The process by which our constitution is upheld, has come into question by four judges in the state of California is about to effect all Americans across the board.

Below is a link to what the first presidency of the LDS church is now telling our members and the world. We have joined with many other churches to stand up for the Constitution. I pray you will too. Become aware of what is going on in our beloved free country. Remember what our ancestors fought and died for. Study, search , ponder and pray about what to vote for when you go to the polls this year. Uphold our constitution and our rights and our right to preserve the votes that pass what the people want, not what a handful of men have interpreted to be the law.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/california-and-same-sex

I am so glad I took the time to enjoy the 4Th of July with my family. It was the most restful day I've had in a long time. What a beautiful place we live in--what a blessing this country is!