I am proud to be an American.  I love the idea that I am free and that I live in a country where I can choose…  I know there are parts in the world that this is still not true.  So I am grateful to live in a country where I have this right.

I am a woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, artist, author, writer, crafter, and anything that my heart, mind or soul wants to be or create….because I am free to do so.

I am grateful for the people that came before me, my ancestors who came here looking for religious freedom and a better way of life.  And I am also grateful for the original stewards of our land, the Native Americans.  I hope that I make them proud with my choices today.

Our country is beautiful.  I love the beaches, mountains, rivers, oceans, cities and country side; all that our country has to offer.  And the place my family calls home, our little piece of heaven on earth.

I don’t particularly care for a lot of the politics that go on in our government; but I do love that the heart and soul of our country is in the desire for freedom, helping and protecting others less fortunate, and God.  I know that there are others who would disagree with me on the last part, and maybe even with the first two (see one of the good things about being an American, is that we can disagree and still have our heads attached :).  There is so much creative energy in our part of the world to grow, heal and rise to new and greater levels; that I can’t separate at least in my mind the idea of a higher force guiding and loving us to do so.

This is one of the few holidays that all of us can participate in, uniting us as one big family….and who knows maybe even some ‘happy’ thrown in for good measure…at least one can hope.

So today as I bake gluten free cupcakes in preparation for tomorrow’s festivities I am wishing each of you and yours a very happy birthday to our home, United States of America!  ….