oh, to be an American.

 here is my belated fourth of July post. 

the fourth is one of my very favorite holiday's, and i have been wanting to blog/journal about it for awhile now. 

ever since i traveled to Mexico and Europe i have been extremely humbled and proud to be an American. i love this amazing country and wouldn't rather live any other place. this is my home. 

a few reasons why i love being an American:

-safety and security. i know that not all places in America are this way, but i feel so blessed and fortunate to be able to lay my head down at night feeling pretty safe and happy.

-the "American dream" i truly believe that any individual who is willing to work hard and sacrifice can live a good, prosperous life here in America. this is not to say you will be extremely wealthy, but if you set your mind to it, you can rise above the slums. 

-beautiful skies and fields.

-our inspired, noble founding fathers. 

-the declaration of independence. 

-the sweet message of Jesus Christ was restored here. 

-people are generally good. 

-our flag.

-noble men and women who have fought to keep our country free and safe. 

-i feel that we have good men leading us. sure, i know that politics are corrupt, people lie and steal, but i also believe that president Obama is a noble man who is doing his best. i may not always agree with everything he says or does, but as the president of our nation, i will respect and pray for him. 

-my family is here.

-people from all over the world have come to live here. we are all immigrants, really.

-i am quite fond of country music and it is so unique to America. 

-i love a good burger and fries. :)

there is always more to be grateful for, and I'm not going to sit here and assume that America is perfect, because we all know that we are a flawed nation and people. bottom line is, when i am laying under the stars surrounded by people i love and other fellow Americans listening to "America the beautiful" or other patriotic songs watching fireworks, i can't help but get a little emotional. i love it here. 

one of many favorite quotes from one of my favorite people: 

"I marvel at the miracle of America, the land which the God of heaven long ago declared to be a land choice above all other lands. I love America for her great and brawny strength, I love her for her generous heart. I love her for her tremendous spiritual strengths. She is unique among the nations of the earth - in her discovery, in her birth as a nation, in the amalgamation of the races that have come to her shores, in the strength of her government, in the goodness of her people. 

God bless America, for she is His creation." 

-Gordon B. Hinckley 

behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.

-Ether 2:12