It's Our Independence Day!

"Freedom is Not Free". No truer words were ever spoken. Here in America, an alarming number of us think freedom is something we're born with, not something we fight to have and to hold. For those Americans, I'm here to tell you...you're wrong. See this fine young man in the picture below? The one holding his infant daughter? Look at him closely...
That's the face of a man who is mere days away from heading back into the fray of the War on Terror. It's the face of a man who is leaving his wife and child and going back to a region of the world where bullets fly, bombs explode, missiles are launched. It's the face of a man who stands up for you and me and everyone else in the world who craves freedom. It's the face of a man who does what has to be done because it's the right thing to do. It's the face of a man who has volunteered to go back into the hotspots of this war, not because he is a warmonger, but because the battle still rages and his job is to help win it. For us. For you and for me. It's the face of my son. I'm proud of my son. I'm proud of the job he does, just as I'm proud of all the other men and women who are fighting for our freedom and for the freedom of other human beings on this planet. Those military men and women all have this one thing in common; they're willing to sacrifice their comforts, their joys and their well-being to pay for our freedom. Thank you. Thank you, Nick, and thank you to all the others who have done, are doing and will do this. As an American, I appreciate what you do. As a mom, my heart aches with fear and pride and worry and wonder because you're my baby and I want you safe at home. Everytime you head into harms way, Nick, I realize anew the truth of that saying; freedom really is not free -
If you'd like, you can leave messages for Nick and for his wife, Jodie, at her blog. Click here.. They're currently stationed in Okinawa, so while Nick's deployed, Jodie will be there alone - away from family - with little Kara. As a military spouse, she's paying a price for our freedom, too.
Happy Independence Day everyone. While you're out celebrating (and I hope you are!), take some time to remember and thank all of those who are paying for our freedom.