Some things can always be counted on. The dawn of a new day, the tide ebbing and flowing, a smile received when a smile is given... and a little bit of old-fashioned riding as we parade down 15th and Independence. Oh, yes. America the beautiful, I love you.

Happy Fourth of July!

It was interesting to find out that very early celebrations of Independence Day were done with the color green, and not the red, white, and blue typically associated. On July 3, 1778, General George Washington directed his army to put "green-boughs" on their hats as part of Independence Day celebration the next day. Happy Independence Day to you!

I love to celebrate Independence Day in the nation's capital. It isn't where it all began, but, it is where all the action is. How about you? Tell me about your 4th of July plans? Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” by Erma Bombeck

Heart with an arrow through it. Oh, how I love my hearts.

What makes a nation's pillars high
And it's foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?
It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.
Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.
And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.
Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flowers. There must always be flowers. To color my world.

Oh, the complexion of the day is yet to make up its mind. The flowers dance, bending in the breeze. The gentle wind, waltzing precisely, right through the trees. Happy Fourth of July to you. Again. And again!

Happy Birthday, USA! While life is not always perfect here, my love for you is deeply entrenched.

¸.♥´¸.•♥*¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

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Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.

I always post this poem down at the bottom of my posts. It is one that has become so near and dear to my heart. I only post the most famous part of it, but, wanted to post it in its entirety today.

they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,

"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"

warsan shire

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