So ...

Hell. O. (The O was just a little late joining the conversation. I wasn't swearing. Promise.)

So, I seem to have over-estimated my abilities to continue on with "normal" things (like blogging) this summer. I have also under-estimated the amount of time and energy it takes to get a child ready for a two-year mission. Because of my miscalculations, I seem to be short on time. And that means I'm going to skip posting this week, as well as skip a prize for July. My sincere apologies to those of you who were planning on using this month's prize as part of your dowry/portfolio/bequeathment. 

I'll talk to you again in August, assuming I'm not sequestered at the State Mental Hospital posthaste. :0

Land That I Love

  

Happy Birthday America! 

The 4th of July is always a favorite holiday of mine because 1. the weather is nice 2. it's exciting
3. there's food.

But maybe it's time I look past all the festivities and think about the true meaning of the 4th. (Santa Claus!) (I mean the Easter Bunny!) (I mean Leprechauns!)

See what I mean?

Recently, we had the opportunity to go to an advanced screening of America, the movie, presented by Bigfork resident and one of the kindest men in all the world, producer Gerald Molen. This movie makes you think. This movie makes you feel. This movie makes you want to DO.

Rather than blogging about a silly topic, I thought I would challenge all of us to DO something. Be better informed. Read the Constitution. Study history to see what was important to our founders. Pay attention to the news; and that means doing your due diligence to make sure you are reading both sides of the story. News agencies are not fair and impartial. What was once reserved for the OPINION sections is now front page. You need to read the same subject from several different sources so you can see both sides and then YOU can make an informed decision. Once you have made a decision: do something about it. Help to inform others. Let your voice be heard, even if it might not be the popular opinion. Support organizations you believe in. There's a thousand and one ways you could donate money, but it's just as important to donate your time. Find a way to get involved.

America is a house divided, and we all know what happens to houses which are divided.

I have a simple solution to help bridge the divide.

LOVE MORE

Instead of criticizing, complaining, bellyaching, shouldn't we all be more vocal about that which we love? And if someone expresses an opinion different from our own, rather than cutting them down, calling them names, and bullying them into silence, shouldn't we EMPATHIZE with them and their circumstances? We don't all have to think the same. We should RESPECT different view points.

Be passionate about America. How many hundreds of thousands have given their lives so that we may have freedom? Can't we all do just a little bit more to fight for what we believe in?

GO and DO.

In the comments, share something you love about America. When you stop and think about it, it's almost impossible to choose just one thing. :) I love that America is still a land of opportunity. If you can dream it, you can do it. What do you love?

And ... I bet you thought I forgot to pick a winner! (Almost guilty as charged.) For the month of June, I added the comment threads from both weeks together for a total of 17 comments, giving everyone who commented a chance (and then some!) to win. Random.org spit out comment #16, LivingstonlifeinMT! (Cutting it kind of close with your last day comment; is this how you do your visiting teaching?) I'll have Nicole J. get in touch with you. And THANKS SO much Nicole. Jamberry wraps are the bomb! Go buy some from her guys, like now! (Because we love them and we are supposed to support the things we love!)

OK, your turn. Show some love for 'Merca.