In God I Trust

In keeping with tradition, James and I can usually be found eating on holidays, special occasions, etc... and this 4th of July was no exception. We started the day off with Breakfast with my family, and then just continued our feast for the remainder of the day, ending up in Casa Grande watching fire works and munching on kettle corn and licorice with the Zamora clan. Below is a rare snap shot of us in action. Normally, we don't stop long enough for someone to capture such a proud moment!

Anyway, spending time with family, endless munching and fireworks are great, but I just finished a U.S. and Arizona Constitution course and have a new found understanding and respect for the framers of the constitution. Just like the Prophets in the scriptures, these men had the future in mind and they trusted in God. On Sunday we sang The Star Spangled Banner -James thought we were at a baseball game, I was thrilled! The first verse is highly overrated, however the other verses are beautifully constructed and very powerful. I have posted them below for your reading pleasure:

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O thus be it ever when free-men shall standBetween their lov'd home and the war's desolation;Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued landPraise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

It is increasingly imperative that we put our trust in God, and do what we can to preserve this great nation. I would be remiss if I didn't have a day committed to fireworks and good American food; I need a celebration to carry me from Easter to Thanksgiving!

Here are some pics from the fireworks show: