Happy Independence Day!

4th of July. Red, white, and blue. Flags. Fireworks. Family. Friends. What a wonderful celebration, no?


How blessed we are to live in this amazing country! I really mean it when I say that...in this twisted, fractured world, it is such a gift from God to be able to worship Him without fear of being arrested or killed, to have food and clothes and shelter and more, to enjoy fellowship with friends at church, to move around freely at home and abroad - in other countries, my family wouldn't be able to travel around together like we are! And we're having so much fun! We're driving down the highway right now, listening to upbeat music (tobyMac!), singing and smiling and having an overall amazing time! :) {Speaking of having an amazing time, I have some incredible pictures to share later from the Grand Canyon!!}


Anyway, I am so thankful for the independence of this amazing country called the United States of America! Oh, sure, we have problems. We're human, tempted by our flesh, the world, and the enemy. Our government isn't perfect. Some of our laws are screwy and saddening (you know, legal abortion, gay rights, etc.) and we need to continue praying against those laws and for the people behind them, to love them like Jesus loves us in our imperfection.


But, in spite of the junk, I love this place. I love walks with my family and meeting up with friends and going to church and having little church in our RV and listening to Christian radio stations and seeing the sunshine. I love living in freedom in my faith. Most of all, I love my awesome God Who has given me all these things.

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The Bill of Rights

1st Amendment - Protects the people's right to practice religion, to speak freely, to assemble (meet), to address the government and of the press to publish.

2nd Amendment - Protects the right to own guns.

3rd Amendment - Guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board.

4th Amendment - Protects the people from the government improperly taking property, papers, or people, without a valid warrant based on probably cause (good reason).

5th Amendment - Protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, that they may not be tried twice for the same crime, and that you need not be forced to testify against yourself. It also contains due process guarantees.

6th Amendment - Guarantees a speedy trial, an impartial jury, and that the accused can confront witnesses against them, and that the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer.

7th Amendment - Guarantees a jury trial in federal civil court cases. This type of case is normally no longer heard in federal court.

8th Amendment - Guarantees that punishments will be fair, and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set.

9th Amendment -Simply a statement that other rights aside from those listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn't mean they can be violated.

10th Amendment - Says that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states.