Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Proud To Be An American!!



I've been thinking about Independence Day and our country and how there are so many people willing to join the military to protect and defend our country. Then I started thinking about how I felt when I came back to the United States after being in the Philippines for almost three years.

I was comimg back to be in my friend's wedding. I know I was emotional because of my impending divorce and I was very tired from the long trek just to get to LA via the military stand by flights and airports I'd been in for thirty hours, but I truly was elated to be on U.S soil.

I remember I was taking a shuttle bus from the military airport to the civilian airport. I had had enough waiting and sleepless nights. I was listening to a tape in my walkman (yes, I said tape and walkman. Oh how technology has come a long way.)

I was listening to some Christian music. I was looking out the window and I just started to cry. I couldn't stop. It was unusual for me to cry on a bus, but as you read, my situation had my emotions quite frazzled by that point.

I missed the U.S. sooooo much. I loved the U.S.
I had never loved the U.S. before.
This was a good feeling. I actually wanted to kiss the ground
when I got off the bus. I chickened out and just walked proudly on it instead.

I was only out of the U.S. for three years & I had been home once about two years earlier. It was different this time. I was a Christian now and I cared. I missed my family and friends more. I think I can say I had grown up some in the previous 18 months.

I think that missionaries must feel this way. They love the countries they serve in, but they love home too. We are proud to be Americans and I welcome anyone who truly wants to be an American by way of proper immigration.

I don't think you have to leave the country to appreciate it, but for some of us it helps to give us perspective. I admire people who didn't have to leave America to find out they love America.

Pray for the military and their families and think of how much they love America and want to come home. Fly the flag proudly on Independence Day and stick up for your country and what it stands for. Enjoy some fireworks and a picnic too while you're at it!!

10 comments:

  1. We are blessed to live in this country...I hope that I never take that for granted or take for granted the brave service men and women that fought for my freedom.
    Great post.
    I took a missions trip to the philippines. What an experience.

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  2. Oh I love this picture! It is so pretty!

    I know my brother was so glad to be home after living in another country for a few years. And we were so glad to see him. My youngest brother and I "grew up" while he was going, according to him!

    I don't think we really appreciate what a military person and their families go through!

    I am going to grab your button!

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  3. Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing from your heart. Andrea

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  4. What a wonderful post. I love America too!

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  5. Nanette!
    Wow! What a great post! I think so many of us who have never gone to a different country or at the most been somewhere where life is VERY different.. take for granted our liberties and freedom and even just the beauty that we are surrounded by here.

    I love this post!! Thanks for the reminder. As a family we always try to lift our service men and women up in prayer!
    Blessings
    Mikki

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  6. God Bless America!!!

    I praise God for our freedom and for the men that have served to protect it! My grandfather served in WWII, my dad in the Vietnam War, and my hubby was USAF - and is now a police officer.

    Praise God for willing men (and women)!!!

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  7. PS - Yes, my dad really did sew that shirt. My mom made my sisters and my outfits...and my dad actually MADE his shirt. He's a Mr.Handy Man and can do anything he sets his mind to!

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  8. Isnt't that the coolest picture? I loved it as soon as I saw it. I looked at many others, but this one made it to my post today.

    God Bless America, land that I love!!!!

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  9. I like your little button; it is very sweet. I am grabbing it and putting it on my blog. Thanks for the notice.

    ♥Hope

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  10. What a great post. I hope to never forget the wonderful country we live in, it is awesome! I am a kinder teacher at a school right outside a military base, so last year more than have my kids were miltary babies. I can see what a hard life it is and the tolls it puts, but I am grateful everyday! Thanks again for sharing.

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