Blessed Americans

Regardless of living in the middle of a pandemic and

the unrest in our country at this time,

we are blessed to live in this great nation and call ourselves 

Americans.

July 4th gives us the opportunity to celebrate all that 

we are as a nation and to appreciate all those that

have worked, struggled and sacrificed to bring us to this point in time. 

We are not a perfect nation because we are an imperfect people.

It is our duty to strive to be better on every level.

As we work today down on the dairy farm, 

we are celebrating the fact that we have the 

freedom to farm,

                                                   
                                     freedom to work everyday to provide food for Americans,

                                                       
                                                                                and
                                              the freedom  to  celebrate what July 4th means
                                                    with the next generation of Americans.

                                                           God Bless America!

A Tradition of Remembrance

As a child I only associated Memorial Day with

a holiday that brought our family together for a picnic or

 the beginning of summer with the first trip to  the swimming 

pool.  Perhaps I was born a little too close to the end of World War II

 for anyone ready to talk about our fallen heroes.

I can't imagine what our country would be like today were

it not for all the men and women that have served our country 

to protect our freedoms.

Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate

their devotion to our country.

Fortunately for our family, my father-in-law

did make it home from his experience in Japan during

World War II.

Because of men like Bill, 

we have the freedom to farm and  live free.

                                                               We pause on Memorial Day
                                           to give thanks for those who have given their all.

Memorial Day...a tradition of remembrance.

Salute to Veterans

Thank-you to all veterans who have served in the military

in wartime or peacetime.

Your dedication to country is what allows the rest of us

 the freedoms that we enjoy everyday and often take for granted.

Veterans Day began as "Armistice Day" on November 11,1919, 

to commemorate the end of World War I.

President Eisenhower officially changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.

According to Veterans Day Facts at www.history.com:

-16.1 million living veterans served during at least one war
-5.2 million veterans served in peacetime
-2 million veterans are women
-7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War
-5.5 million veterans served during the Persian Gulf War
           -Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II,
 about 558,000 are still alive

Ryan and I appreciate the service of both of our fathers.

They were proud to serve  and instilled in us an appreciation

for all those who continue to serve our country.

                                                       Happy Veterans Day!

Freedom to Farm

My Country,'Tis of Thee

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing: 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the Pilgrims pride.

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring.

                                          --Samuel F. Smith

                                                                   
                                     Words are inadequate to express my thanks and gratitude
                                       for the men and women who have given their lives to
                                                          insure our  American freedoms.
                                         

May we never forget.

Memorial Day Reflection

Even though it's another day of work on the dairy farm,

Memorial Day for us is always a  time

 for remembrance and thankfulness for the men and women 

who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the

 freedom to farm and all the freedoms we Americans enjoy.

Ryan's Dad served in Japan during World War II.

 Fortunately for us, he did return home.

Although he  never talked about the war, 

we knew it was  a life changing experience from the way he 

loved us and shared his love of country.

We must never forget the sacrifices of those serving to protect our freedoms .

I'm grateful for this day of remembrance across our great nation.

Happy Veteran's Day

As I traveled to the monthly Benton County Farm Bureau board meeting tonight, I tuned into a special KURM  radio broadcast of a Veteran's Day assembly at one of our local schools.

Students were singing the most beautiful  arrangement of America the Beautiful.

Listening to the music reminded me of all the blessings of freedom 

 we enjoy daily thanks to the service of  our Veterans.

May we never take our freedom for granted.

Happy Veteran's Day!