Greetings friends. I hope this post finds you enjoying a happy holiday with friends and family. Maybe, however, you’re not hanging out on the back deck with your best pals. If that’s the case, I can relate. I spent many holiday alone last year. I thought for sure that my July 4th was going to be yet another lonely day. I had recently moved to Georgia and didn’t know a soul. The J-man was off fighting that war in the desert. My family was partying it up in the Northeast, as were my friends in NC.
Thankfully, my next door neighbor saw me standing on our back deck looking completely forlorn. He and his wife were kind enough to invite me over to the barbecue they were hosting along with another neighborhood family. I had nothing prepared to contribute, but they didn’t mind. I felt so special! We even drove to town later that night to see the firework display. I don’t even like fireworks. But I was socializing with real live people, and it did my heart a world of good.
They say that this is how it is in military towns across the world. Most folks are quick to embrace new people because they know what it’s like to be the new person feeling lonely and far from friends. I hope that I never forget how wonderful it felt to be welcomed. I look forward to one day helping any new folks I meet.
So…it’s July 4th, 2011. We’re 235 years old. Wow! We sure are a young nation. Heck, we’re just a bitty baby in the grand scheme of world history. And what a place to be! How exciting to be part of history in the making. Who, but the good Lord, knows what the future holds? And the impact (hopefully positive) that you and I can have on the story of the USA. Gives me chills.
I do love the USA…and that handsome soldier husband of mine. Many thanks to all of our soldiers (past and present…male and female) who have sacrificed so much (time with family, health, comfort, and of course, the ultimate sacrifice) to protect this country and her citizens. Yes, I’m proud to be an American. May the good Lord continue to guide us through the years ahead.
And now it is time for a light-hearted 4th of July recipe that you can enjoy all summer long. It’s simple, healthy, satisfying and gorgeous!
Red, White & Blue Breakfast
Find a pretty bowl and layer the following ingredients in the order listed below:
1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt (Fages is the very best…in my humble opinion)
1/4 cup granola (my current fav is Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond Crunch…yum!)
1 teaspoon real maple syrup (I’m a maple syrup snob…maybe that will change if/when we have a herd of food devouring boys…but for now we splurge on the real stuff)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh strawberries (leave them whole or slice them into bite sized pieces)
Now, grab a spoon, dig in and enjoy!!!
Happy 4th my friends!
Sara B
Note: Those two companies that I mentioned above…Fage and Bare Naked Granola…well, they don’t know me, and they didn’t give me a dime to mention them. I just think they’re super cool. Maybe you will too, maybe not. No bigs. It’s a free country after all 🙂