swap.

When I saw Nicole's post this morning, I knew I was in. It was just what I needed. Something exciting and fun, something that forces me to shop for fabulous summer things, something all about me? Why yes, thank you, I will be participating in the Summer Essentials Swap! I can't wait to get my partner. She will be very lucky, because I LOVE creating over-the-top themed gifts! What a good start to this week...

climbing.

Andrew and some of his buddies went rock climbing in Garden of the Gods a couple weekends ago. I got some nice pics of them up on the rocks...

something to draw from.

I have a concert with the USAFA Band tomorrow. We are singing all sorts of patriotic tunes- medleys of Yankee Doodle, God Bless America, This Is My Country and all of the military fight songs.

Our conductor, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, said to us at the beginning of a rehearsal last week, "You have to find something to give the words you are singing meaning. You have to find something to draw from here."

I smiled when he said this, because I think if he had a magnifying glass to hold up to our chorus, he'd have seen a whole sea of "something to draw from." An 18 year old military brat who has lived all over the world, following her father. A 25 year old military wife, whose husband just completed his first deployment. A female soldier from Germany, serving in the US military. And so many of our men- once boys with their hair parted to the side, in uniform, kissing their sweethearts goodbye- now veterans of this country's wars.

We've known pride, patriotism and loyalty; war, heartache and death. We've got plenty to draw on! The words we will sing will never lose their meaning.

Feeling awfully proud to be an American today...