Freedom did not come cheap.

We all slept until almost noon Saturday.  No.  I am not kidding.

I woke up at 2 am with head congestion and took some nighttime cold medicine so that is my excuse.  I can't speak for the rest of the family, however. 

The Dracenator was the first one up.  He came into our room and announced that he had already eaten breakfast. 

"Really?  What did you have?", we asked. 

His reply:  "Strawberry ice cream"

Us:  "Well, that's not a very healthy breakfast."

The Dracenator:  "Well, I had a really crazy dream and strawberry ice cream was the only thing that could make me stop thinking about it." 

He would not elaborate on the dream so I suspect there really was no crazy dream at all.  Rather, he seized a once in a lifetime opportunity (because I swear we never, ever sleep that late) and had his dream breakfast.

One would think that sleeping a 12 hour marathon would make for a productive Saturday but one would be wrong.  We did take down most of the remaining wallpaper in the kitchen, which entailed balancing on the sink while gripping with my toes like a circus monkey in order to get above the cabinets. 

This morning in church, we were blessed with a special Memorial Day performance by one of our very musically talented members who played guitar and sang Trace Adkins' Arlington as we were shown a very moving powerpoint presentation. 

Every year Memorial Day kind of sneaks up on me, especially this year since school is in session here tomorrow for a snow makeup day. 

I was reminded once again during that performance this morning just how very much most all of us take for granted on a daily basis.  So many Americans have given their lives so that we have the freedom to live where we please, say whatever we want about whomever we want to say it about, even our government, and to worship (or not) as we choose.

While all the Memorial Day sales and cookouts are all fine and good and fun, let us not forget the reason why we celebrate this day and give our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the countless freedoms we are blessed with each and every day of our American lives.

~Happy Memorial Day~

For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

All we have of freedom, all we use or know -
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson