One Month

"A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason - and indeed all the sweets of life." - Joseph Addison


How in the world have 7 months flown by since Josh got down on one knee and proposed to me? I truly believe that time does fly....and fast. I have really not been nervous or anxious about the upcoming nuptials....but as I woke this morning and realized that in one month I will no longer be a Ms. but a Mrs.....I started to ponder. I pondered how after 33 years did I really go without being with this wonderful man? It is so true that when you know "you know". As I drove into work this morning I kept thinking of all of the wonderful events in my life and how blessed I have been. I also thought how lucky that I am to be in this moment now. I joke around a lot with people about this next statement, but I "truly was and will not be ready to marry until August 28th". I think God has just an amazing way of planning our lives. The song lyric that says "if you want to make God laugh..tell him your plans". So true. I think back to all of the years that I wondered if I would ever get married or would I be right to be married to someone....but all along he knew. God was molding me, allowing me to have experiences and embrace challenges that would only make me a better wife and hopefully someday mother. I am a religious person...but you don't even have to be religious to "get that". There is a power out there that is much stronger than us that guides us...

So one month to go. Yes....all of the little details (wedding programs, seating charts, flowers, honeymoon plans) they all start to come into full circle. However I keep reminding myself that although all of that is wonderful....at the end of the day, I just want to be married to Josh. I am looking forward to being a "Not so Single Southern" and embracing this marriage thing that everyone has been ranting and raving about all of these years! I look forward to being the next generation of Mrs. Hammond and I can't wait to be a family (with Winston of course!).

So I suppose the moral of my story is from a little country tune by Garth Brooks....

"Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered"
"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

However the greatest prayer that he did answer was that of happiness. I know life is not easy and I am sure Josh and I will have our bumps along the road like everyone else. But in the end.....I love him and he brings me the most happiness.

One month.

JAR

God Bless the USA

"There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream." ~Archibald MacLeish

As we approach this Fourth of July weekend, I could not help but think about all of the things that I am most thankful for. Being an American is truly a privilege and often times it takes a trip to another part of the world to appreciate it. Fortunately I have had the chance to go abroad a couple of times....and there is no feeling like the feeling you get when the wheels of the airplane touch the sweet American soil. With all of the events in the world currently, I think living in the ole' US of A is still a pretty lucrative deal.

While I was watching the news the other night, I started to think about all of the things I love and appreciate most about being an American and living in the land of the free. Here are a few that came to mind:

• Freedom of Speech
• Right to practice my choice of faith
• the ability to obtain an education.....at all levels
• the right to vote
• having laws that protect our animals, homes, choice of sexual orientation, faith and ways of life
• being a woman and being allowed to do anything that a man can do
• choosing my own health care (not for long)
• having as many children as I wish
• living in a safe and clean environment (fresh water, trash-free streets, rules and regulations on food, war zone free)

Of course there many, many more that each day I think about...and I am grateful for. I know that for each of these freedoms that I have, I have the men and women who served this great nation to thank. We are a great land with great opportunity and I never take that for granted.

On a final note, this month (July 14th) will serve as the 6th anniversary of my Nanny Kirk's passing. I think that it was fitting that she left us during our most patriotic month of the year. She herself was the most patriotic person I've ever known. She would go all out with decorations for the fourth and she loved to sing God Bless America by Lee Greenwood (she played it over and over on her little tape player). She supported our troops and loved being an American. So every time I see a little flag or anything that is adorned with the stars and stripes I smile and think of her.

So on this fourth of July, I will pause in remembrance of those who have protected this great nation and pray in thanksgiving for the freedoms I am granted everyday as an American.

God Bless the USA!

JAR

p.s. If you have never seen the original "God Bless the USA" video....here you go!