I'm Proud to Be an American

Sometimes I wish I wasn't a blasted chicken.  I wish I could share what I believe without being nervous.  I can get up and be a fool and comedian anytime, but when it comes to being serious and expressing things that are near and dear to my heart I chicken out.
I am LDS (Latter-Day Saint) and every month we have a sabbath day set aside to fast and bare our testimonies.  I love this Sunday.  I love being lifted up by others and by knowing I believe exactly what they believe.  I just wish I could share my experiences and my love for my Savior vocally just like they can.
When I lived in Virginia I went to a singles branch there and there was a lady who had an accident that left her disabled and unable to move or speak.  She did however have eye movement and could communicate that way.  On my first fast Sunday at this branch a girl got up with this note book and said the girl in the wheel chair (I forgot her name) wanted to share her testimony.  She read from this book where her testimony of what she believed and felt was written down in.  It made me want to cry because it was so tender.  So tender that someone took the time to watch her eye movement to figure out what each letter to each word for each sentence she wanted to share with us was.  To have someone be her voice when she didn't have one.  Years later and still able to communicate with my voice, fear comes into play and I just say maybe next time I'll get up and be brave?  Someday it will happen, but today I'm going to blog a simple testimony.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  It's one of my most favorite holidays.  I love this country and the freedoms we are provided.  I love being in a country where we can free to believe what we will.  I love my church, the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior, I know Jesus Christ lives and I'm grateful that he atoned for me and died on the cross that I might have the opportunity to live with my Heavenly Father again someday.  I am grateful for the temple and for the peace and knowledge it brings to me.  I'm grateful that I can have an eternal family and can eventually be sealed to a spouse of my own and raise my children in a home that will be filled with the spirit and love.  I know that we have a living prophet that leads and directs this church today.  I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I believe the Bible to be the word of God. 
Some say faith cannot exist where fear is.  It makes sense, but I am one to fear and I am also one to feel like I am faithful.  One of my fears is this country and the things that are going on with it.  The economy, the leaders, the war, and people not doing what is right.  I read a quote often to remember how great this nation is and it helps take away some of my fears.  I may have shared this before, but it's a favorite so I will share it again.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America ; you and I must have faith in America , if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."
...Harold B. Lee

I love this Country and I am so grateful for those who fight to keep us safe.
I have two brothers fighting for this country and I pray daily they and all the men and women over there will be safe and be able to his love surround them.  I know this country will not fail and we need to have faith in that.

I don't feel my words ever come out clearly, but I hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July.