Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A stirring in my soul......

I had the opportunity to spend the 4th of July this year with some pretty amazing people. I have not been home for a celebration of this variety in a really long time. I have been away from home for the summer for 4 years, but in so being, I have met some really good people. One of which is my dear friend, Bryce Arnold.

Let me tell you a bit about him. He is originally from Washington State and moved to Idaho in his youth with his family. He is a pre-med major and is in my ward here at BYU-I. He is really funny and smart. He has white blonde hair and a small build. He plays competitive baseball here on campus and enjoys most sports. He is good at card games and always seems to have a good time. My favorite thing about Bryce is that he always speaks his mind. He believes in certain things very passionately and spares no words in expressing those thoughts and feelings. I admire him so much for that.

For the 4th of July Bryce asked if we would like to go to his families big cookout and to watch fireworks in Idaho Falls. We all readily agreed. We left about 2:00 pm and headed over for a day of fun in the sun. We ate burgers, played football, frisbee, soccer, and threw a baseball for a while. We, most of the girls, sat in the shade all day and I still got sunburned. We were able to partake of the spirit that usually accompanies a large family enjoying a good hot day outside. There were babies galore and Bryce was so cute when he would pick them up and play with them. Whether he would comfort Presley, the 2 year old, from the scary airplanes, or move Preston out of the middle of the playing field so he didn't get ran over, he seemed to be as absorbed by them a the rest of us.

Mike and Courtney came with us also and it was such a comfort to see a good man treat his girlfriend with respect. He rode in the back of Bryce's car and gave her the front seat, I think my heart melted. He brought food for them and they cooked it together. They were snuggled under a blanket watching the fireworks together and I couldn't help but feel at home. I know that they are both wonderful people and are so good together. I love them both so much!

We spread out blankets and all settled in for the fireworks at around 10:00 pm. We sat mostly in a line with Bryce, Me, Dollie Mae, Kenzie, Boden and Bailey sitting on the side of the little hill and then Mike and Courtney sitting behind us. We sat on a blanket and the more Bryce moved the further down the hill he slid and eventually he was sitting on the grass by the edge of the blanket. We laughed at his folly and then everything kind of got quiet as we watched. Bryce said to me, "It's amazing how patriotic I feel right now. I want to run for President." I whole-heartedly agreed with him.

It is funny how something as small and insignificant as fireworks can speak so clearly and universally to the heart. It made me feel a huge responsibility and even more blessed to live where I do. To have been born in the Good ole U. S.of A! Surrounded there on the side of that parking lot in Idaho Falls, by some of the best people on earth, my dear friends, I realized how important it was for this nation to have been created by loyal god fearing people. There is a plan in place now for each of us and being born in the United States of America, is a large part of mine. I have many friends and family who have served and are serving in the military to defend the freedoms that we enjoy today. The right to barbecue and play all day in the sun, the right to pursue education at this university, and to strive for happiness no matter what life hands us. I felt, as did Bryce and many others I am sure, that stirring in my soul to be a little better, to make more informed decisions, and be more loyal to my country. My father in heaven created this country so that we could come here and worship as we see fit. He restored his gospel in this land of religious freedom so that we may all worship him and return to his presence, as his children, sons and daughters of a king. God Bless America, this land that I love!

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