I Heart My Country

We just moved all the way across the country to California. It is a beautiful part of our incredible country but honestly I have been just soaking it all in before I get my camera out. 

This week iheartfaces wants to know why we love the country we call home. My husband is in the military so we have moved all over this country and there are many stories I could tell. I could tell you the challenges of being sent to places we have not enjoyed, the wonder of living in our nation's capital, the comfort of our hometowns in Indiana, the sheer joy of falling in love with California… I could tell you the stories behind our homecoming photos, stories of fear, longing and loneliness, moments of reunion and indescribable happiness… 

but right now after several years of wondering what our country was asking us to do and why we were giving up our life together as a family – right now my country means hope and redemption to me. My country is a place where years of sacrifice and hard work have brought us back to a place we love, where my husband is home for dinner and my children are finally happy again.

I am thankful to live in a country where hard work can pay off, where my kids are free to be educated in the way that fits them best, where we can worship as we want and dream big! I know a lot of people's dreams are being ripped away from them right now, times are tough. My prayer this fourth of July was that my children would grow up to know and love America as I do, and that she would still be there for them – the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

p.s the photos are from our neighborhood bike parade in honor of the USA this 4th of July 🙂