Happy 4th of July!

No matter the political atmosphere or imperfections or even troubling issues, I believe we are blessed to call this country home. Independence Day. I love that we celebrate not the winning of the war, but the declaration. It's as if to say, "We never dreamed we'd lose," even though the Revolutionary Army wasn't evenly matched or funded. When our forefathers sat down to write the Declaration of Independence, they knew it would come at a great cost. They knew thousands would die. They knew they'd face opposition from their own side. They knew people would call them heretics. But they did it anyway. They put their name on a document that changed the course of history.

This week, we'll barbecue with friends, wave as the parade goes by, and watch fireworks. We'll look into the eyes of strangers, also decked out in red, white, and blue, and feel a sense that we're heading in the same direction. We may disagree. We may value different things. But we are a nation. A beautiful, vast, diverse nation. And though we should always strive to make it better, we are blessed. And like those men who signed the Declaration, we're in this together. Whatever comes our way, we're going to do it together.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I hope it's filled with family, friends, good food, laughter, and sunshine. We are blessed to call this place our home. Whatever comes our way, let's do it together.

Blessings,

Shannon