Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Birthday, USA! You will be 243 years old  this week.  I remember  how much fun it was when we celebrated the Bicentennial year in 1976!  Was that really 43 years ago?!? I was 26 then and had taught fourth grade  for 3 years.  It was so much fun to teach   Virginia history that particular year.  So many celebrations and historical adventures to  take part in!
It was a different world back in 1976.  A lot has changed   a bit for the better,  and  I  feel  a lot that isn't  so great,    but  we  must always be  glad   that we live in a free nation under God and can still celebrate that liberty.  Raise you  flags proudly and give thanks  to the One who  is Great who  makes all things possible! 

Let's join Sandra's blog for the Happy Homemaker 

Monday meme!

On the breakfast plate:::
My   glorious  first cup of coffee and fruited yogurt!

The Weather:::

Not my favorite kind of weather,,  but we  endure it! Thank goodness for A/C

On my reading pile:::  I am about 2/3 through my latest mystery, Chamomile Morning by Laura Childs  I do love her  books  with so much emphasis on tea time!!  Same as last week..  I had no time to read  last week!!!  I hope to  this week!!!

What am I listening to:::

Unfortunately, Glenn Beck.. Hubs got  control of the air waves this morning!

Movies or Shows I watched this weekend:::

I am so sad..I finished the Call the Midwife  series,, and  Hubs and I started  season 4  Outlander last night..  I loved the Scottish story best, I do believe

On my TV this week:::

We will probably finish  at least one  cd of the season 4  Outlander,  other than that,  it will be catch as catch can...  I like to watch the Home  and Garden  channel and food network...  and  at bedtime I  love to  watch   old  programs on YouTube.  I want to check out  the  Steve Allen  Show..  I always really liked him...actually, he always reminded me of my daddy!

On the menu for this week:::

leftovers (green beans,    cucumber and onions, country ham and corn bread

Grilled cheese and tomato soupgrilled  shish kabobs  with veggies and fries
Hot dogs, slaw, and chips
dinner out with friends

On my to do list:::

laundry
reading
 important meeting at church
On Mission activity-prayerful journalling
Hair appointment
Breakfast out with friends

Looking forward to:::

I  always look forward to  my  time together with my Gal Pals...   we meet  to share about  our our lives  as Christians,    our  victories and our    low places,  and to pray  for ourselves and   other pertinent local  and global issues. This week we are meeting for breakfast, too! 

Looking around the house:::

Hubs put the  fourth of July bunting up  around the porch and we are  proudly flying  our  flag.    I hope to see many more flags  being flown around the neighborhood..

From the camera:::

Summer celebration picnic indoors...  to hot  to take it outside!!!

 What I'm wearing today:::

white   top and denim  bermudas

One of my simple pleasures:::

Journalling about  my time with the Lord..    this week we are starting a new initiative..  We are challenged to go On Mission to    pray for and  study scripture about sharing the gospel  with others..  It is so easy to  put this off,  make up all kinds of excuses,  and particularly, if  the  ones who need the 
Lord  so desperately, well, everyone does,  but when it is a beloved family member  who is  a very hard nut to crack..  it is  especially hard..this week  we are to pray  for them  to  be  open to  the suggestion and   willing to    hear  from the Lord..I will be journalling along with my prayers  in the coming weeks

Bible verse, Devotional, prayers:::

When you think about July 4th, what comes to mind? 

Perhaps you think about a day off from work with picnics, fireworks, and those red, white, and blue flags displayed in front yards along your neighborhood.

This is all good, but the one word that comes to my mind is freedom.

It is a fact that we live in the United States of America where we can voice our opinions freely and can vote for the people of our choice. These are very good reasons why we should never take our freedom for granted.

Each year, I notice that some people really go all out decorating for every holiday. For the 4th of July, I display my flag in the yard for the entire month. The flag means a lot to me because of those in my family who have been in wars. I have also had friends who served our country, and I have known some who did not come home in the past and present war.

My father served in World War II. My mother was a Red Cross volunteer during that war. My niece and her husband served in Desert Storm. I also have had loved ones in the Vietnam War and a friend now in Afghanistan. 

Because of their contributions in keeping us all free, I proudly display the flag.

Have you thought about the American flag and all that it stands for? This emblem of the greatest nation on earth is placed on graves of our honored dead who fought for us to remain a free nation, and it flies high during times of peace, as well as war. “Old Glory” is its name.

There is another real freedom we can have. We can display it every day of the year, and that is our freedom “In Christ” to live a life to glorify Him, so that His banner of love, truth, and peace can be seen by all.

It is a flag flown high in the castle of my heart (taken from a song). We can be free in our spirit to serve the Creator of the whole universe and that my friends, is True Freedom.

Romans 8:2 says,

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death." 

Just like the flag that represents freedom, Jesus is a banner over us, protecting and shielding us. He is the “Glory and the Lifter of our heads” at all times. Let freedom ring out in your heart today.