Freedom

What is Freedom?

Is it merily a word that we sing about, learn about in school, and hold as a banner... yet something we take for granted each day in our lives? I never want to forget the price of freedom, the price that must be paid each and every day, because as soon as we stop fighting for it, we lose it.

• This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

Freedom must be maintained on two fronts ~

We not only have to maintain our freedoms as a nation, but we must work daily to maintain our freedom spiritually. Just as our brave soldiers must be ready to fight for the freedoms of this nation, we must be alert and ready to fight against the things that bind us spiritually.

I know you may think I'm only talking about "religious freedoms", and YES, that is so important. But I think we create our own prisons more often. Why not choose to live free?

• Are we bound by inforgiveness or grudges? - That will steal our freedom!
• Have we begun taking our relationship for granted, therefore allowed things to slip in and come between us and God? - That is a lack of freedom!
• Have we failed to maintain a constant communication with Him? - No more freedom!

There may be many things in each of our lives, things that we hold on to, and all it has done is rob us of our freedom in God... release it... we must fight off the things that seek to steal our freedom, things that will come between us and our relationship with God. We have full access (unrestricted) to God and growth in HIS Spirit... are we exercising our freedom? Or are we settling for mediocrity??

I have compiled a list of definitions of Freedom, think of them from both aspects... both in appreciating the Freedom of our Country, and analizing our Spiritual Freedom.

Freedom is:

• The condition of being free of restraints.
• Political independence.
• Frankness or boldness; lack of reserve
• The capacity to exercise choice; free will
• The right to unrestricted use; full access
• The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship
• A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference

As I took time to reflect today, I just had to share! I also couldn't help but be reminded of a great song that our Pathfinders Youth Band sings...

Freedom Song

Do you want to go
to the place they call freedom
Do you want to see
like the free see
Do you want to dance
in the land they call freedom
Do you want to go
Do you want to go

Jesus, come take us
to the foot of the cross
Where we have been
bought now
Freedom is ours
We take it up
We take it up

Jesus, come make us
a free generation
Spreading salvation
Freedom is ours
We take it up
We take it up

Freedom for the world
Freedom for a generation
Let us call to every nation
Come

I hope everyone has a Blessed Independance Day!

Captured...

Yesterday, Brian and I went to the local music store that he loves to frequent, because he had a gift certificate burning a hole in his pocket. (Father's Day gift from my parents) I had also promised him a Father's Day-IOU for some new effects pedals, but we were so busy that weekend, he decided to wait for adequate shopping time. (Anyone who knows my husband, knows that "adequate" shopping time at the music store can only be measured in HOURS)

Well.. When we got there, the owner was busy - and as Brian frequents this shop often, he likes to deal with the owner. (they have quite a relationship formed - another clue as to how much time he spends there) So as we waited for him to complete another sale, we browsed the store.

That is when he saw it......

THE American-made Fender Strat with upgraded Humbucker pickups that he has been eyeballing for MONTHS! Of course, he has only dreamed of it, because it has been way out of our price-range! But there it was on the wall.... it was used, a trade-in but it was in Mint Condition!! I watched as he picked it up, with a look in his eyes I can remember fondly from the "dating days" ....

I must take a moment to mention that my husband is a great musician! But he predominantly plays the guitar, and has built a good collection of guitars. He has an acoustic that he got as a teenager, a Korean-made strat that he played in the USO tour oversees, a beautiful Koa wood "bluesy" strat (Korean-made also), and a Crafter combo electric/acoustic guitar that he plays all of the time on the worship band at church..... and he loves all of his guitars, but oh how he has wanted this American-made Strat for so long.

All I can say is, my honey was due for a blessing, that's the only explanation I can think of... The owner was motivated to sell, and sold that guitar to us for a small fraction of the asking price! I think he could see that Brian might sleep there that night if he didn't!! We walked out of that store, completely within our budget, and my darling husband had the guitar he's been dreaming of! I'm so thankful, not because we have a 5th guitar.. but for the smile he can't wipe off of his face. :)

In the meantime, I thought I would play with some photo editing and took some pics while he was having his love-affair with his new little red "hottie"! :)

Congratulations Dad!

Happy Retirement!

Dad,

I know you've waited a long time for this day, and now that it's here you probably feel sick with uncertainty... but Oh what an exciting day it is! :)

We're so happy for you, you've worked hard all of these years and you totally deserve this day! (And all of the days to come, of course!)We are happy that you will now be able to spend your time doing things around the "farm", since that's where your heart is!!

Love you so much... what a great accomplishment!

It's time to celebrate! :)

Brian, Brooke, and Nathan!

Bon-Bons

I'm a housewife,

I sit around and eat bon-bon's all day!! :)

Any of you that hold the very esteemed title of "Domestic Goddess", "Domestic Engineer", "S.A.H.M" (Stay-at-home-mom), etc... You know the above saying is SOOOO far from the truth. Yes there is a reason this position is very coveted, as there are times we can sit with our feet up, or relax on a pool lounge in crystal clear water, watch our chick-flicks and cry at the sad parts (alone, without being teased) even though we've seen them 100 times... but I believe I can get any one of you in the same position out there to agree, we are busier than we ever were when we worked a J-O-B! The small but mighty difference is... we are busy doing the things that benefit our family, our church, and most of all our sanity! So busy or not, it definitely is the best job around.

Believe it or not, though, I am not here to write about being a DG, or eating bon-bons... I'm taking a moment to reflect on how much I appreciate my position... bon-bons or not!

Why you may ask?

Because... I hung up my DG Crown for the day to go help my hubby work on a big and tedious job that he needed to get done in a short amount of time. Hubby owns a painting business, and at times - especially during the summer, he gets quite booked up and has to squeeze jobs into shorter time frames . (Not complaining, we are blessed!) But when this happens, sometimes he will ask me to come help him do prep (masking off, cutting in, remove hardware, etc) to save him time... and this happened today. I was a good sport, but this was a huge job with TONS of prep, and boy was my entire body screaming at me. Up and down, squatting down, on my knees, on a ladder, over and over and over again. I couldn't help but think about my poor hubby and how he does this day in and day out... Each time I leave a job after working with him, I have a whole new appreciation for what he does and how hard he works to support our family. I am so greatful, I could just cry sometimes! He always blows it off and says "oh, it's just hard because you aren't used to doing this kind of work" but I know he's just being modest and I love him for it!

Thank you, Honey, for working so hard and allowing me the freedom to stay home and do all of the wifey and mommy things that I love so much! You are the best hubby a girl could ever ask for!!

... and now that I'm done reflecting, I must get back to my bon-bons! :)

Happy Father's Day

First of all, I'm sorry this is late, I forgot to publish yesterday!!

Today is a day to honor Fathers, which I personally believe doesn't happen enough!

I feel completely blessed that I grew up in a home that remained intact. Our home wasn't perfect, as none are... but we were together, and that was what mattered. The love, loyalty and longevity that I learned, still sticks with me today. It programmed the way I see life, the way I make decisions, the way I feel about family... all of it! I'm proud of that!

I honor my dad! He taught me so many things, it would be hard to list them all.. but I'm thankful for him and all I learned from him.

I appreciate the dad he is and the grandpa he is. He is so good at teaching Nathan things around the "farm"... priceless knowlege and memories they are making! I'm so greatful!

I love you, Dad!

I also want to honor my grandpa... we have lived apart most all of our lives (he in North Carolina, me in California), but I have always been Grandpa's girl! I am his only grandchild, therefore I get to be the favorite! :) Last Fall, he completely thrilled us, by agreeing to move here and share the rest of his life with us! I couldn't be happier! I love the relationship and immediate bond he built with my son, I love the bond he quickly built with my husband! I am so greatful for the man he is and the legacy he passes to us!

You are the best, Grandpa! I love you!

And last, but DEFINITELY not least, I honor my wonderful husband! Brian, you are everything I could have ever hoped for in a man, husband, father! I am so proud to be your wife and so blessed to share my life with you! It's so fun... this forever we live each day! You are an awesome father and I thank God every day for the man He gave me!!!