ThinMint

The West

Good morning! "Rural Sounds," from the White House.

FIFA World Cup -upbeat fun song! Hat tip @Joseph R.

Freedom 250 Plans Seven Hours Of Flyovers In Most Ambitious US Aviation Event Ever The nation’s capital will celebrate America’s 250th birthday Saturday with an ambitious seven-hour spectacle featuring dozens of military flyovers and demonstrations for attendees to enjoy. President Donald Trump’s administration, in collaboration with Freedom 250, has scheduled 33 flyovers and military demonstrations that will take to the skies over Washington, D.C., from 1:15 p.m. to sunset at 8:30 p.m. The program will also feature a speech from Trump at 9:45 p.m. and a fireworks show at 10:30, which is expected to be the “largest fireworks show in history.” https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/03/freedom-250-flyover-aviation-july-4/

-3- Today, we go to Costco. For Father’s Day, the twins and I gave my husband cash towards something he needs and wants from there. I am picking up a cake I ordered. A birthday cake. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday. I choose to be grateful. I choose to celebrate America. I choose to praise God for where and when He placed me. I choose peace over worrying. I am so grateful for America. And my husband. And my family. And for big stores like Costco. And for cake. So be with your family or friends or neighbors. Enjoy their company. Enjoy the good summer food. Enjoy all that’s wonderful about America. Because, there is a lot. Truly. I would love to invite you over for birthday cake. And cookies. And for lemonade and sweet tea, and for BBQ and burgers, and for sparklers, and for shooting off some roadside stand fireworks. Felix is worried about the parking; I’m worried we won’t have enough food. Or sparklers. I hope you choose gratitude and peace, too. Maybe enjoy some cake as well. And if you get to shoot off some roadside stand fireworks, that’ll be a pretty American thing to do! Mostly, I pray you trust God’s good plans for America because He does answer the prayers of the righteous. All my love to you as we celebrate something extraordinary.

-2- There have been stones in our shoes and boulders in our paths. Unexpected news, intense pressure, and swift decisions. Life is hard. Very hard at times. Through it all, we are determined to keep going before our Great Counselor, heeding His instructions for our family as opposed to plunging head first into the unknown, the scary, and the breathtaking without Him. We are deliberately moving slow, if not outright stopping in some areas, listening for His voice and taking refuge in Him --the way all His children are supposed to do. God first, then us, our family. Sometimes plans need to be redrawn or withdrawn. So no tribute at this time. At least, not in the way I originally intended. I will post some of my favorites over the next day or two. Normally, this would bother me, launching my thoughts into overdrive as I over-process and over-worry about what I haven’t accomplished. Yet, I am at peace. God first, then us, our family.

-1- I don’t know about anyone else, but the closer we get to celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the more excited I become! My love for America runs deep, patriotism displayed and taught in my childhood. Blessings from our Creator acknowledged and praised openly. I carry this tradition forward. I had grand plans to create a lovely tribute in honor of America, collecting graphics and videos over the last 12 months or so, making sure each one fit my vision. I thought a lot about what to write. The clock wound down and suddenly here we are (!) on the eve of America’s birthday and I have not organized this collection or the words to accompany it. To be honest, I do not plan to do what I first envisioned.

Wishing a spectacular birthday to all the July babies!

Hello Friends! ⭐️ When you have a moment, please share your favorite patriotic songs ⭐️