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10 Things of Thankful: Week 5 Patriotic Edition

With Independence Day celebrations still fresh in the memory, I thought I would compose a "10 Things of Thankful: Patriotic Edition."




1.  I'm thankful for spacious skies.  
 
view from my backyard


2.  I'm thankful for amber waves of grain (or wildflowers, in this case.)

California poppy field


3.  I'm thankful for purple mountain majesties.
 
Crater Lake, Oregon



4.  I'm thankful for pilgrim feet.

not literal Pilgrims, of course, but my ancestors


5.  I'm thankful for heroes proved in liberating strife.

Donald Telfer, my great-grandpa


6.  I'm thankful for patriot dream. 

Statue of Liberty

 7.  I'm thankful for religious freedoms.

Los Angeles temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
8.  I'm thankful for the opportunities of education and scientific advances.

Space Shuttle Endeavor's final flight

9.  I'm thankful for the indomitable spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

rebuilding at Ground Zero, World Trade Center, New York City
10.  I'm thankful for the freedom of speech, and for friendship that doesn't require political agreement.

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Although I know there are many wonderful countries in this world, I am thankful to be a citizen of the United States of America.

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Comments

  1. Very nice and much to be thankful for!

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  2. Beautiful pictures, Kristi! We went to see the poppies when we lived in LA and I was pregnant with my son, but they didn't look nearly as good as your pictures. There was a stiff wind blowing, and the poppies had curled up on themselves, trying to stay warm (much like we were doing as we stood on the high desert). Your great grandpa's pic is particularly awesome!

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  3. I really like this week's list! LOVE number 10 and friendships that don't require agreeing on anything!

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  4. These are just beautiful, Kristi. It's so cool that you have photos of your ancestors like that. I think my Mum's got some old pics tucked away someplace but I don't really know their stories.

    Thanks for linking up with us for this. Do you know any good resources which show in a reasonably unantagonistic way, why Independence Day is such a big deal and what went on that led up to it? We don't get taught about it at all here, rather learn by osmosis that July 4th is a big deal.

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    Replies
    1. This site provides a fairly good overview of the American Revolution: http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution. To hopefully ease your mind a little, though we celebrate independence on July 4th, there really is no antagonism expressed toward Great Britain. The focus is on freedom and the ability we have to pursue our dreams.

      (I understand your comment, though. A few years ago, I visited Hiroshima, Japan. I wondered how the visitor's center would explain the bombing of Hiroshima, and was so touched by the matter-of-fact displays, and the hope for a peaceful future.)

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  5. Wow. What a perfect Thankful post. Powerful and significant. I think it's really cool that you were able to include a photo of your great grandpa. Thanks for the reminder that we are indeed lucky and that much of it has to do with the sacrifices men like your grandfather made.

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  6. Hi Kristi; I love my country and I really love your post! We are a very lucky bunch! Thank you for your post a great reminder that we live in a great and beautiful country!

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  7. Wow, those pics are really awesome! The view from your back porch is breathtaking!

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  8. Great reminder Kristi of all we have to be thankful for - we are all truly blessed if we only stop and count the ways.

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  9. very cool idea with the photos.

    'specially like the one 'view from my backyard' holy smoke that is *so* not New England! lol (very good looking geography though)

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